DAVID VOGEL

With 25 years of experience in the trenches of employment defense litigation, David Vogel learned what it takes to succeed at trial – and also learned that things did not always go as planned. Dave is now putting that knowledge to use as a mediator, helping parties resolve their disputes before they reach the courtroom.

The Kansas City-area native earned his law degree in 1996 from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law, finishing first in his class. Out of law school, he quickly found his niche in employment defense law, practicing with one of Kansas City’s largest law firms for nearly 20 years before joining a national employment defense firm.

Over the course of his career, he helped large and small businesses across the country work through employment discrimination and other employment-related disputes. He also counseled clients on day-to-day employment matters and handled multiple appeals.

In 2016, after becoming a certified mediator through the University of Missouri-Kansas City, he began mediating cases while maintaining a full case docket. Over time, he came to find that he most enjoyed the mediation portion of his practice, and the challenge and satisfaction of helping both sides resolve their problems.

His goal in mediation is to serve as a true neutral, appreciating the interests, expectations, and concerns of all parties involved in litigation and doing his best to help bring the matter to a close with a satisfying outcome for all.

Dave approaches each mediation with rigorous preparation. Before meeting with the parties, he becomes familiar with the underlying facts, the law governing the dispute, the forum where the matter will be heard, and the judge or arbitrator before whom the parties are appearing.

He is skilled at listening, empathizing with individuals and businesses, and giving the parties a realistic view of their respective case.

As a recent practitioner, he understands the real-world concerns that surround disputes and can give parties a neutral assessment of where their cases stand. He is also adept at conveying the advantages of resolving cases through settlement.

Outside of his legal practice, Dave previously served on the boards of The AIDS Council of Kansas City, Legal Aid of Western Missouri and the Kansas City Free Health Clinic, now known as KC CARE Health Center.