Chambers Review
Provided by Chambers
Private Wealth Law - Missouri
What the Team is Known For
As of January 2025, Kirkland Woods & Martinsen became known as Kembell Woods & Martinsen. Kembell Woods & Martinsen is a boutique estate planning, administration and litigation firm in Missouri and Kansas. The firm has strong expertise in non-contentious succession planning and administration, and in contentious trusts and estate matters.
Strengths
Kembell Woods has incredible people, and that's what sets them apart from other firms. The level of knowledge, experience and client focus is truly central to their model, and it comes across as such.
They're a boutique focused on HNWIs and families, endowments and foundations. They're not a department of a larger firm - this is the only thing they do, so you don't have to worry about conflicts.
Kembell Woods & Martinsen has some very good estate planning attorneys and trust and estate litigation specialists.
What distinguishes Kembell Woods the most is the ability to take its extensive technical knowledge on complex estate planning techniques and apply it with clients in a way that is easily understood.
Notable practitioners
John Challis practises in a number of areas such as fiduciary litigation, trust, estate and probate administration and alternative dispute resolution.
John Challis is an excellent lawyer. He has the highest degree of litigation skills.
John Chalis is the one that we would basically send all our work to if we could. He is very personable, straightforward and he does good work.
John Challis is always a pleasure to work with. He has a depth of knowledge as well as a keen focus on advising clients as to what will serve their needs most effectively.
Robert Selsor focuses his practice on complex estate and trust litigation.
Robert Selsor is the best trust litigator I've ever had the pleasure of working with.
Robert Selsor is simply the best fiduciary litigator in the region. He is exceptionally responsive and, for being a litigation lawyer, very nice!
Andrew Mitchell's practice includes trust and estate planning and administration matters. Mitchell also advises on and helps negotiate pre-nuptial agreements.
Andrew Mitchell has an extremely high level of acumen and is always a pleasure to work with.
Andrew is through and timely. He is professional in every way.
Andrew Mitchell does great work. He is a thoughtful guy and he knows his stuff.
Andrew Mitchell is extremely responsive, very detail-oriented, and beyond his acumen, a great understanding of the law and how to apply it. He has a great manner with clients.
Emily Kembell is an estate planner who regularly advises wealthy individuals and families on business succession plans, probate administration and tax planning.
Emily Kembell works on sophisticated and complex matters.
Emily Kembell epitomises the highest level of professionalism.