Blake A. Shuart

Mr. Shuart is a trial lawyer who works hard to advance the interests of his clients and the legal community as a whole, both in state and federal courts. Mr. Shuart and his colleagues at the firm have handled several of the most high-profile cases across the state over the past decade – ranging from plane crashes to illegal police activity, medical malpractice and hospital negligence to auto dealership liability and most everything in between. Mr. Shuart has spent nearly 20 years handling a wide variety of catastrophic injury and wrongful death claims across the United States from case intake through trial and appeal. He has emerged as a leader in the Kansas bar, having just completed his term as President of the Federal Bar Association Chapter for the Districts of Kansas & Western Missouri and serving as President-Elect of the Kansas Trial Lawyers Association, in addition to serving the Court in many different committees and appointed positions.

Nationwide Practice

Mr. Shuart has passed bar examinations in Kansas, Florida, New Jersey and Illinois (where he spent his first two years in practice, defending hospitals, physicians and insurance companies, and learning about litigation through the lens of a defense lawyer), and he maintains active licensure in all four states. He has also appeared in cases in other jurisdictions across the country, including New York, Oklahoma and Rhode Island.

Diverse Cases

Mr. Shuart enjoys the constant challenge of handling unique and complicated tort cases, and has successfully represented injured victims in cases arising out of car wrecks, semi-truck collisions, motorcycle or pedestrian collisions, ATV & go kart crashes, uninsured or underinsured motorist claims, negligent entrustment claims, medical malpractice, hospital malpractice, veterinary malpractice, dental or orthodontic malpractice, first-party insurance claims based on life insurance or other policies, product liability, dangerous drugs and mass torts, premises liability, day care negligence, § 1983 civil rights cases, fraud and other business litigation, nursing home negligence, dog bites, shootings and assaults, aviation disasters, security breaches, sidewalk or other defects on public property, pharmacy filling errors, Kansas Tort Claims Act claims, Federal Tort Claims Act claims, Vaccine Compensation Act claims, E&O claims against brokers, Professional Liability Screening Panels, and others.

Experience

Shuart has tried many cases to verdict in jurisdictions across Kansas, in solo, first-chair and second-chair capacities. He has also handled many appeals in the state and federal appellate courts.

Results

Mr. Shuart has successfully resolved well over 500 cases, recovering many millions of dollars for his clients. Mr. Shuart is mindful that the “gross” settlement amount (the total amount recovered from the defendant or insurer) is less important to clients than the “net” amount goes in his or her pocket, after case expenses, attorney’s fees, and reimbursement for medical expenses paid by insurers – commonly referred to as “liens” or “subrogation.” Shuart understands this and works to negotiate these liens as aggressively as possible, having also lectured at Continuing Legal Education programs on the topic of lien resolution.

Peer Recognition

Mr. Shuart maintains an AV® rating with Martindale-Hubbell and has been named to Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers® or Rising Stars™ every year since 2011. He received the Thomas E. Sullivan Award from the Kansas Trial Lawyers Association (KTLA) in 2017, which recognizes significant promise and commitment as a developing leader. He was also named to the Wichita Business Journal’s “40 Under 40” in 2021, and received the Chapter Leadership Award from the Federal Bar Association in 2025 for his work as President of the local FBA chapter.

Professional Activities

Mr. Shuart has been a leader within the Kansas Trial Lawyers Association (KTLA) for many years and currently serves as President-Elect for 2025-2026. He has testified on KTLA’s behalf at the State Capitol many times as an advocate for pending legislation, serves as an Editor of the KTLA Journal, and has served in many other roles within the organization.
In the federal arena, Mr. Shuart served on the Bench-Bar Committee for the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas from 2017-2019, served as President of the Federal Bar Association Chapter for the Districts of Kansas and Western Missouri in 2024-2025 and has served on a Merit Selection Committee for a U.S. Magistrate Judge appointment in the District of Kansas.
On the state court level, Mr. Shuart has served as a Pro Tem Judge in the Eighteenth Judicial District and has been appointed many times by the Chief Judge to serve as the attorney-chairperson for Medical Malpractice Screening Panels, in addition to actively serving as an investigator and member of the Wichita Bar Association’s Committee on Ethics.
Mr. Shuart has also lectured at numerous CLEs on various topics, has published extensively on a wide variety of legal topics and has testified as an expert witness in state court proceedings.

Other Interests

Mr. Shuart has a deep interest in the intersection between politics and the law, and has published nearly 100 opinion columns in regional newspapers providing commentary on political and legal issues affecting citizens across Kansas and the U.S.

Personal

A native of Topeka, Kansas, Mr. Shuart now resides in Wichita with his wife, Christina, and their three daughters.

Education

• University of Illinois Chicago School of Law (The John Marshall Law School)
  • Chicago, IL
  • Juris Doctor
  • 2007
    • Received a Dean’s Scholarship and was named to the Dean’s List
    • A+ Grades (Top in Class) in Trial Advocacy and Advanced Trial Advocacy
    • Solicitation Editor, Journal of Computer & Information Law (JCIL)
    • Trial Team Captain, Buffalo-Niagara Mock Trial and AAJ Mock Trial Competitions
    • President, The John Marshall Law School chapter of AAJ
    • Studied abroad in Dublin, Ireland with Irish Barristers (Comparative Trial Advocacy)
• University of Kansas
  • Lawrence, KS
  • B.A., English / Minor in Leadership Studies
  • 2004
    • Received Campanile Award (awarded to the outstanding member of senior class) at commencement

Awards & Peer Recognition

• Listed in Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers®, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
• Wichita Business Journal, “40 Under 40”, 2021 & “Leaders in Major Companies”, 2025
• Martindale-Hubbell AV® Preeminent Peer Review Rating
• Listed in Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers®, Rising Stars℠ 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020
• Thomas E. Sullivan Award, Kansas Trial Lawyers Association, 2017
• Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America (LCA), 2022-Present
• Federal Bar Association Chapter Leadership Award – Large Chapters, 2025

Active Bar Licensures

• Supreme Court of Illinois, 2007 and U.S. Dist. Ct., N. Dist. of Illinois, 2008
• Supreme Court of Kansas, 2010 and U.S. Dist. Ct. of Kansas, 2010
• Supreme Court of Florida, 2010 and U.S. Dist. Ct., N. Dist. of Florida, 2022
• Supreme Court of New Jersey, 2010 and U.S. Dist. Ct. of New Jersey, 2010
• U.S. Ct. of Appeals, 3rd Cir., 2010
• U.S. Ct. of Appeals, 10th Cir., 2012

Legal Publications

• “Compliance with Supreme Court Rule 216 after Brookbank v. Olson,” Chicago Bar Association Record (May 2009)
• “How Saying ‘I’m Sorry’ Can Help Reduce Medical Liability,” (with Robert L. Nora, Esq.), Chicago Hospital News (August 2009)
• “The Intervening Cause Defense in Medical Negligence Cases: On Code Blue After Puckett v. Mt. Carmel Regional Medical Center,” Journal of the Kansas Association for Justice (September 2010)
• “The Common Fund Doctrine: A Primer on Illinois Case Law,” Chicago Bar Association Record (November 2011)
• “Siruta v. Siruta: A New Supreme Court Opinion that Belongs in Your Briefcase,” Journal of the Kansas Association for Justice (July 2015)
• "Bridge Over Tested Waters: Substituting Judges AfterBowman v. Ottney," Chicago Bar Association Record (April/May 2016)
• "The Long and Winding Road: Navigating the Kansas Tort Claims Act," Journal of the Kansas Trial Lawyers Association (February 2019)
• "Long Arms Across the Ocean: Holding Foreign Product Manufacturers Liable in Domestic Federal Courts," Journal of the Kansas Trial Lawyers Association (November 2019)
• “From Toxins to Two-Ply: Revisiting Crisis Litigation Amidst a Pandemic,” (with Matthew M. Dwyer, Esq.), Journal of the Kansas Trial Lawyers Association (August 2020)
• “Necessary Evil: Understanding Common Benefit Fees in Multidistrict Litigation,” Journal of the Kansas Trial Lawyers Association (August 2021)
• “Safety Dance: The ‘Texas Two-Step’ in Mass Torts and its Implications,” (with Kaylea D. Knappenberger, Esq.), Journal of the Kansas Trial Lawyers Association (November 2022)
• “§ 230’s Immunity for User-Generated Content: Free Speech with Dangerous Consequences,” (with Kaylea D. Knappenberger, Esq.), Journal of the Kansas Trial Lawyers Association (November 2023)§ 230’s Immunity for User-Generated Content: Free Speech with Dangerous Consequences,” (with Kaylea D. Knappenberger, Esq.), Journal of the Kansas Trial Lawyers Association (November 2023)
• “In pari delicto in Kansas product cases: An aberration or a future trend?” Journal of the Kansas Trial Lawyers Association (May 2025)

Continuing Legal Education Presentations

• “Be the Hammer – Not the Nail: Tailoring Motions in limine and Jury Instructions to the Facts of Your Case,” Wichita Bar Association, “Personal Injury Trial Techniques” CLE (6/6/11) & Topeka Bar Association, “Personal Injury Trial Techniques” CLE (3/30/12)
• “Lien Negotiation 101 – Why It’s Important, and What You Need to Know,” Wichita Bar Association, “Personal Injury Trial Techniques” CLE (4/27/12) & Topeka Bar Association, “Personal Injury Trial Techniques” CLE (3/18/14)
• Lien Negotiation CLE Presentation, National Business Institute (5/21/14)
• “The Long and Winding Road: Navigating the Kansas Tort Claims Act on Both Sides of the ‘V’”, Office of Chief Counsel, “Fall 2017 Continuing Legal Education
• Seminar” CLE (9/22/17)
• “Tough Jams in Injury Cases...And How to Get Out of Them,” Kansas Trial Lawyers Association, “2019 Summer Conference” CLE (5/17/19)
• “Law of Jury Selection in State and Federal Courts,” Kansas Trial Lawyers Association, “Trial Academy: Jury Selection Workshop” CLE (2/22/20)
• “Liens, Subrogation & Set Asides: Step-by-Step,” National Business Institute (8/10/21)
• “Motorcycle Injury Litigation: What You Need to Know,” National Business Institute (5/27/22)
• “The Long and Winding Road: Navigating the Kansas Tort Claims Act on Both Sides of the ‘V’”, Wichita Bar Association, Medical Malpractice Litigation CLE (6/29/22)
• “Discovery and Evidence in Auto Injury Litigation,” National Business Institute (1/13/23)
• “Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage Litigation, National Business Institute, Auto Injury Claims in Kansas CLE (5/15/23)
• “Be Honest…But Don’t Say That! The Pitfalls and Rules of Witness Prep & Presentation,” Wichita Bar Association, Spring Ethics CLE (4/12/24)
• “The Kansas Tort Claims Act: Everything You Need to Know for Your First Case,” Ellis County Bar Association, 34th Annual Gene F. Anderson Memorial CLE (5/3/24)
• “Jury Selection in Media-Intensive Cases,” (Moderator, with Richard A. Harpootlian, Esq. & Roberta A. Kaplan, Esq.), Federal Bar Association (8/21/24)
• “State of Kansas v. Thomas Bird (Murder Ordained)” (with Bobbi Mlynar), Kansas Bar Association & Federal Bar Association, “Notorious Criminal Cases in Kansas: Lessons to Learn from these High-Profile Cases” CLE (5/9/25)
• “Deposition Techniques (and Questions!) for Truck Accident Cases” (with Matthew M. Dwyer, Esq.), National Business Institute CLE (6/6/25)

Expert Witness Testimony

• AV Homes, LLC v. AmGuard Insurance Co., 2021 WL 3708000 (Kan. Ct. App. 2021).

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