Founder and ex officio member of the Johnson County First Amendment Foundation Advisory Board

Of Counsel | Shook, Hardy & Bacon

Gene is a retired partner in the law firm of Shook, Hardy, and Bacon L.L.P., having more than 60 years of experience in the practice of law. He has tried more than 100 jury trials and has argued over 100 appellate cases in his distinguished legal career. Gene graduated from the University of Kansas School of Law and was honored as a Distinguished Alumnus for his contributions to the community and legal profession. Gene, along with Judge David J. Waxse, served as council for the litigants in Case vs. USD 233 Olathe that led to the founding of the Johnson County First Amendment Foundation and eventually the Kansas 1st Amendment Foundation. Gene has been awarded numerous honors including the Robert K. Weary Award from the Kansas Bar Association, the William Kahrs Lifetime Achievement Award from the Kansas Association of Defense Counsel, and more recently he received the President’s Award from the Johnson County Bare Association and the Lifetime Achievement Award from FosterAdopt Connect for his work helping to complete more than 1300 pro bono adoptions of foster children.

JCFAF Advisory Board Member

Pro Bono Attorney/Lathrop GPM

Sara began her professional career as a Social Studies educator before entering the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law and graduating in 2014 with “highest pro bono honors.” Sara began her legal career as an assistant public defender for the Missouri State Public Defender’s Office in Kansas City and then joined Lathrop GPM in 2021 as their Pro Bono Attorney, representing clients in every stage of the criminal defense process. She teaches Trial Advocacy 1 classes as an adjunct professor at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, her alma mater. She has won numerous awards including being named to the Missouri and Kansas list of Super Lawyers and Rising Stars in 2021, 2022, and again in 2023. Sara began working with the Johnson County First Amendment Foundation in 2012 and was instrumental in creating the Constitutional Lecture Series program for the foundation. Presentations by then retired Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, Professor Laurence Tribe, and First Amendment attorney and scholar Floyd Abrams highlighted that series. In 2015 Sara joined the Johnson County First Amendment Foundation Advisory Board.

JCFAF Advisory Board Member | KS1stAFoundation Board of Directors

Partner | Shook, Hardy & Bacon L.L.P.

Mitchell Engel is a partner at Shook, Hardy & Bacon where he counsels clients on environmental law issues, including toxic tort and exposure litigation. Mitch earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees in mathematics, which he then used to understand the technical aspects of environmental and regulatory law. His ability to translate complex concepts into clear, comprehensible ideas earned him a two-year clerkship with The Hon. Gary A. Fenner of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri, where he drafted 150+ orders ruling on motions seeking dismissal, relief from judgment, remand, and jury instructions in both civil and criminal matters. Mitch also serves on the Board of Directors for the Kansas Appleseed Foundation.

JCFAF Advisory Board Member

Partner and Co-Chair Environmental & Toxic Tort Litigation | Shook, Hardy, & Bacon L.L.P.

Dave has more than 35 years of experience in litigation and environmental law. He has been responsible for directing and handling litigation on both the state and federal levels on issues ranging from environmental liability and allocation of responsibility to individual, group and class action toxic tort claims.  In 2022, Dave was inducted into the Legal 500 United States Hall of Fame and was named The Best Lawyers in America’s “Lawyer of the Year” in 2019 and 2022. He has also been named a Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyer. Dave joined the JCFAF Advisory Board in 2021 and he has been instrumental in helping the growth of the Kansas 1st Amendment Foundation.

Founder and ex officio member of the Johnson County First Amendment Foundation Advisory Board

June 29, 1945-March 4, 2023

U.S. District Court, District of Kansas Judge Retired | Shook, Hardy & Bacon