Jill Kanatzar
PARTNER
Jill Kanatzar is one of the most respected plaintiff attorneys in the region. Her deep experience in cases related to sexual abuse, child injury and wrongful death, nursing home abuse and medical malpractice spans more than 20 years.
Jill’s entire career has been dedicated to helping people who often cannot help themselves. From small children to disabled adults to our elders, she has stood next to and fought for people’s rights. Jill is respected by attorneys throughout the Midwest, hence why she has earned the Women’s Justice Award by Missouri Lawyers Weekly.
Jill is currently on the 16th Circuit Judicial Commission that helps fill judicial vacancies, pursuant to the Missouri Nonpartisan Court Plan, in Jackson County, Missouri. Jill is one of 2 elected attorneys serving with 2 laypersons and the Chief Judge of the Western District of Missouri. The commission interviews and nominates a panel of 3 applicants for the Governors consideration for appointment to the Jackson County bench.
In addition, Jill was appointed by the Missouri Supreme Court to its Advisory Committee. She has also been appointed special prosecutor by numerous prosecutors’ offices across Kansas City area jurisdictions.
The Voice of Victims
Jill has managed all aspects of litigation dockets, including the review, investigation, discovery, depositions and the trial of the cases. “My entire career, I’ve been committed to be the voice of people who are victims of abuse or neglect. Our firm can speak for them, give them a voice, when they might not be able to speak for themselves.”
Prior to joining the firm, Jill was an assistant prosecuting attorney in Jackson County, Missouri, where she prosecuted felony criminal cases including robberies, burglaries, assaults and homicides. Jill spent the majority of her tenure with the Prosecutor’s Office in the Child Abuse & Sex Crimes Unit. She participated in numerous jury trials including cases of adult sex crimes and crimes perpetrated against children.
Jill entered private practice in 1998 when she joined Stigall, Humphrey, Lucas, Henry & Dollar. She soon began representing families and patients injured by abuse and neglect in nursing homes. Jill was appointed by the Supreme Court of Missouri to serve on the 16th Circuit Bar Ethics Committee. This panel reviews complaints brought against other lawyers to determine whether probable cause exists and if ethical violations have occurred.
Credentials
Area of Practice
Sexual Abuse
Child Injury and Wrongful Death
Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect
Catastrophic Injury
Wrongful Death
Medical Malpractice
Bar Admissions
Missouri, 1994
U.S. District Court Western District of Missouri, 1998
Kansas, 2006
Education
Notre Dame Law School, Notre Dame, Indiana, 1994
Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa, 1991
B.S. – Major: Economics; Major: Political Science
Contact Jill Kanatzar
Professional Association and Memberships
16th Circuit Judicial Commission, Member
Association for Women Lawyers of Greater Kansas City, Member and Denise Henning Connections Mentoring Program
Advisory Committee for the Missouri Supreme Court
Missouri Supreme Court Regional Disciplinary Committee, Former Chair
Jackson County Child Sexual Abuse Task Force, Former Chair
Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, Member
Nursing Home Negligence Committee, Member
The Missouri Bar, Member
The Kansas Bar, Member
Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys, Member
Brain Injury Association of Kansas and Greater Kansas City, Member of Board of Directors, Past President
Awards and Honors
Best Lawyers in America – 2019-2024
Super Lawyers – Top 50 Women in Missouri/Kansas – 2023
Super Lawyers – 2018-2023, 2008
Who’s Who Top Lawyers – 2020
Missouri Lawyer’s Weekly – Women’s Justice Award, Litigation Practitioner – 2018
Jackson County Child Advocacy Coalition – Child Advocate Award