Mara handles cases involving toxic torts, nuisance, product liability, premises liability, contracts, breach of warranty, consumer protection litigation, and the defense of religious and educational institutions. She often defends odor nuisance cases arising from auto plants, industrial farms, feed lots, industrial facilities, and mills, and defends claims for some of the world’s largest manufacturers and distributors. Mara has considerable experience coordinating large-scale bet-the-company matters, conducting internal investigations, and defending high-profile lawsuits that attract media and community attention such as:
- Odor Nuisance Litigation: Individual Claimants to Class Actions
- Religious Institutions as Defendants
- Breach of Warranty
- National Coordinating Counsel
- Consumer Protection Litigation
With an established record of bringing adversarial parties to agreement, Mara is an effective and efficient advocate throughout the litigation process. She often secures summary judgment dismissals, discovery victories and favorable settlements for her clients. Her reputation is built on resolving issues and her take-charge attitude.
Mara enjoys serving clients in a coordinating counsel role. She provides straightforward and intentional guidance using her finely-honed problem-solving and solutions-oriented approach, and client service skills. She is collaborative, empathetic and prioritizes staying on top of clients’ businesses and industry trends and proactively providing clients with ideas, opportunities and solutions to legal and other potential business challenges.
With strong community ties, Mara is active in dozens of civic and legal organizations. She serves on the Kansas City Sports Commission and Foundation Board of Directors. She is on Park University’s Board of Trustees and chairs the Trusteeship Committee. She is on the Latino Coalition Board and is the Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the Lantz Welch Citizen Brigade. Her support of Operation Breakthrough has earned her the election of lifetime member of Lawyers Encouraging Academic Performance (LEAP) board.
According to Mara, “I don’t simply tell clients how to solve their problems; I work in collaboration with them to identify the best approach and the best solutions. I take time to understand their goals and needs, and to identify the solutions that are most effective and efficient. I take each client issue seriously and make sure we have the right person on the team to manage each matter. Identifying a client team is as much about legal skill and prowess as it is about culture and fit, while achieving the resolutions that are in the best interest of each client.”
