Jeffrey A. Kennard

Jeffrey A. Kennard

Shareholder, Scharnhorst Ast Kennard Griffin PC
  • Construction Law, Arbitration & Mediation
  • Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma
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Biography

Jeff chairs the Firm’s construction and design practice group. Since 1994, Jeff has had the privilege to represent owners, design-builders, design professionals, general contractors, construction managers, and subcontractors of all types and sizes, ranging from publicly-traded international companies to small local businesses, on a wide variety of projects, including: petroleum and bio-fuel refineries; fossil-fuel and geothermal power plants; industrial and food processing facilities; military facilities and government housing; earthen dams; sports stadiums; commercial office towers; heavy highway, transportation, and civil; distribution facilities; retail developments; and condominium developments. Although Jeff assists clients at all phases of a construction project, litigation is the principal focus of his practice. Jeff has tried or arbitrated more than 20 construction disputes to verdict or award, and he has been recognized as one of the leading construction attorneys in Kansas and Missouri. The nature of the disputes he has litigated is varied and includes: claims for delays, disruptions, lost productivity, and acceleration; claims for additional compensation due to unknown or changed site conditions; claims for wrongful termination; claims for defective design drawings and specifications; construction defect claims; claims under the Miller Act and similar state statutes; and mechanic’s lien claims.

Practice Areas
Construction Law
Construction Contracts, Construction Defects, Construction Liens, Construction Litigation
Arbitration & Mediation
Business Arbitration, Consumer Arbitration, Family Arbitration
Additional Practice Areas
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Premises Liability
Fees
  • Rates, Retainers and Additional Information
    Although we handle most litigation matters on an hourly-fee basis, SAKG has entered into and successfully utilized alternative fee arrangements on several matters. Some examples include: (i) we defended a construction dispute under a phased flat-fee arrangement where we divided the case into four discrete phases – pre-discovery investigation and analysis, discovery, dispositive motions, and trial – and SAKG received flat fees for each phase of work; (ii) we represented the claimant in a commercial arbitration under a pure contingent-fee arrangement; (iii) we represented a client in a commercial dispute in federal court under a hybrid contingent-fee and hourly-fee arrangement, whereby the firm received a discounted hourly fee along with a contingent “success fee” upon conclusion of the case; (iv) we recently handled an appeal in a commercial matter on a fixed-fee basis; and (iv) since 2007, we have defended all premises liability matters for one client under a blended hourly-rate arrangement.
Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
Kansas
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Missouri
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Oklahoma
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10th Circuit
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U.S. Supreme Court
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US District Court for District of Kansas
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US District Court for District of Nebraska
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US District Court for Western District of Missouri
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Languages
  • English: Spoken, Written
Professional Experience
President
Construction Law Section of Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association
- Current
Member
ABA Forum on Construction Industry
- Current
Co-Founder and Past President
Construction Law Section of Kansas Bar Association
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Education
University of Kansas
J.D. (1994) | Law
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Activities: Staff Member, University of Kansas Law Review
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University of Kansas
B.S. (1991) | Business Administration and Advertising
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Honors: Graduated with high distinction (i.e. upper 3 percent of graduating class)
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Awards
Selected for Inclusion in Super Lawyers, Construction Litigation
Super Lawyers
Best of the Bar in Construction Litigation
Kansas City Business Journal
Selected for Inclusion in Super Lawyers, Construction Litigation
Super Lawyers
Selected for Inclusion in "Top 100 : 2013 Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers"
Super Lawyers
Best of the Bar in Construction Litigation
Kansas City Business Journal
Selected for Inclusion in Super Lawyers, Construction Litigation
Super Lawyers
Best of the Bar in Construction Litigation
Kansas City Business Journal
Selected for Inclusion in Super Lawyers, Construction Litigation
Super Lawyers
Best of the Bar in Construction Litigation
Kansas City Business Journal
Selected for Inclusion in Super Lawyers, Construction Litigation
Super Lawyers
Best of the Bar in Construction Litigation
Kansas City Business Journal
Selected for Inclusion in Super Lawyers, Construction Litigation
Super Lawyers
Best of the Bar in Construction Litigation
Kansas City Business Journal
Selected for Inclusion in Super Lawyers, Construction Litigation
Super Lawyers
AV Preeminent Peer Rating
Martindale-Hubbell
Professional Associations
Fellows of American Bar Foundation
Fellow
- Current
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Publications
Articles & Publications
Construction Law Update, Chapter 10 — Midwest Region
Aspen Publishers
Construction Law Update, Chapter 10 — Midwest Region
Aspen Publishers
Introduction to Construction Contracts, Kansas Construction Law Handbook (2nd ed)
Kansas Bar Association
Speaking Engagements
Electronic Discovery and the New Federal Rules, 8+4 Review of the Law, Overland Park, KS
UMKC School of Law
Navigating the Social Media Maze: How to Use Facebook, MySpace and Twitter as Litigation Tools, Kansas Bar Association CLE Seminar, Topeka, KS
Kansas Bar Association
Law of Engineering Malpractice, Kansas Engineering Law and Ethics, Overland Park, KS
Halfmoon Seminars
Websites & Blogs
Website
SAKG Website
Contact & Map
Scharnhorst Ast Kennard Griffin PC
1100 Walnut, Suite 1950
Kansas City, MO 64106-2197
Telephone: (816) 268-9403
Fax: (816) 268-9409