T: (816) 460-5520
F: (816) 292-2001

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Assistant
Amy Smith
(816) 460-5572

2345 Grand Blvd.
Suite 2800
Kansas City, MO 64108

Practices
Business Litigation Insurance


Additional Information
Professional Affiliations
Honors


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Richard N. Bien

Experience
Mr. Bien's litigation practice involves defense of class action claims and other claims for self-insured or partially insured entities, financial services companies, life, health and disability insurance defense, ERISA, general business and financial litigation, insurance professional liability litigation, insurance coverage litigation and real estate litigation.  Mr. Bien has served the firm as Chair of the Litigation Division and the Business Litigation Department.

Mr. Bien has defended dozens of class action matters involving benefit plans, financial services, insurance sales practices, consumer protection claims, warranty claims, merchandising practices and lending practices. Two notable cases were resolved on motions early in the case.  Recent reported cases in this area are S.G. Metals v. New England Life or Doe v. Chicago Title Insurance.

Mr. Bien has been in the forefront of ERISA/employee benefit litigation. He was lead counsel in the leading case concerning preemption of state "penalty" statutes. Additionally, he has handled over 250 matters defending claims handling activities by insurers, plan administrators and other ERISA fiduciaries.

Mr. Bien also has other business practice experience. He previously served as outside counsel for a national transportation firm and in this representation he was involved in corporate policy development (human resource, employee benefits, governance, insider trading, conflict of interests, antitrust, customer relations), transactions, litigation and litigation management, antitrust, regulatory and other business matters.

Education
  • University of Missouri - Columbia, J.D., 1983
  • University of Missouri - Columbia, B.S.P.A., 1979
Admissions
  • Missouri, 1983
Court Memberships
  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the First, Eighth & Tenth Circuits
Honors
  • Named as Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers Corporate Counsel Edition, 2008
  • Selected by peers, Best of the Bar, Kansas City Business Journal, 2007
  • Selected among The Best Lawyers in America®, 2007 and 2008
  • Selected for Missouri/Kansas Super Lawyers, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008
  • Kansas City Business Journal - Best Lawyers in Kansas City (Multiple Years)
  • Who's Who in American Law
  • American Jurisprudence Award in Torts
  • Thomas E. Deacy Award in Trial Advocacy
  • University of Missouri School of Law - Distinguished Recent Graduate
  • Martindale-Hubbell® "AV" Rating
Professional Affiliations
  • American Bar Association, House of Delegates (2006- )
  • American Bar Association, Judicial Division, Chair (2003 - 2004)
  • Missouri Interest on Lawyers Trust Account Foundation Board (IOLTA), Board, 2005, President, 2008
  • DRI - Life, Health and Disability Insurance
  • Missouri Bar Board of Governors, (1996-2004) Executive Committee, Finance Committee
  • American Bar Association, Judicial Division Lawyers' Conference, Chair (2000-2001)
  • Blue Valley Recreation Commission, Chairman (1999-2000), Commissioner (1996-2004)
  • Director, Lawyers Association of Kansas City, (1993-1997) (2008 -  )
  • Assembly Speaker, ABA Young Lawyers' Division (1992-1993)
  • Past President, Young Lawyers' Section, Lawyers' Association of Kansas City




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