Meyerkord, Russell & Hergott

Bios

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  Matthew D. Meyerkord

  Matt’s goal is to leave a positive imprint on people’s lives. He admires people who choose to see the positive, to take initiative, and who work to better themselves. Those people fuel his desire to make a lasting and meaningful contribution to his clients’ lives. Matt founded the beginnings of Meyerkord, Russell & Hergott in 2008 to help those who have been injured due to someone else’s negligence and he loves what he does. He sees himself as a counselor, an advisor, and a fighter. He enjoys helping people, especially in their time of injury or loss. He recognizes that you are the ultimate decision maker and sees his job as advising you to make informed decisions.

  Link: Matthew D. Meyerkord

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  Brian C. Russell

  Brian is passionate about leveling the playing field and forcing companies to pay for their negligence and greed. He loves finding new ways to get better results and making sure that people are treated fairly by insurance companies. He provides straightforward and honest advice that helps clients make the best of their situation. After earning degrees in English and Psychology at the University of Missouri-Columbia, Brian was motivated by the events of September 11th to put law school on hold. Instead, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and went to basic training shortly after graduation. He then went to Officer Candidate School in Fort Benning, Georgia and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the infantry. He served nearly four years and his favorite job was as a rifle platoon leader. After exiting the military, he attended the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law. He graduated with honors, was appointed to the Order of the Barristers, earned the top grade in Evidence, and earned Best Overall Performance in the Ellison Moot Court Competition. He was also on the National Moot Court Team with his now partner, Nick Hergott. Following law school, Brian practiced at a mid-size firm before partnering in 2012 with his lifelong friend, Matt Meyerkord, to create Meyerkord & Russell. Two years later, they partnered with Nick Hergott to form Meyerkord, Russell & Hergott. Brian enjoys helping people understand the legal process and ensuring they don't get taken advantage of. The legal process can be a scary experience and he takes pride in the fact that he can take some of the mystery and dread out of litigation through straightforward and honest advice. Moreover, Brian isn’t afraid to take risks or take a case to trial if you both agree that is the best decision for your case. Brian and his wife, Andi, live in Kansas City with their two young sons. In his free time, Brian likes to spend time with his family and friends and teach his sons about the history of the Galactic Empire and Rebel Alliance.

  Link: Brian C. Russell

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  Nick Hergott

  Nick is a natural born competitor who is always challenging himself to learn, to be more creative, and to take strategic risks. He enjoys putting himself out there and figuring out large, complicated cases. He takes pride in getting to know his clients and ultimately winning for them, trying jury trials throughout the area. He fights for his clients, collecting millions of dollars on their behalf, including several jury trial victories and multiple million-dollar medical malpractice settlements. Nothing is more fulfilling to him than going to trial and getting a win that brings justice to deserving individuals. Nick graduated from the University of Kansas with degrees in both Philosophy and Psychology and then attended the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law. While at UMKC School of Law, he was a staff member of the UMKC Law Review and The Urban Lawyer, and the faculty selected him to compete on the UMKC National Moot Court Team. During the Ellison Moot Court Competition, the judges awarded him with the Best Overall Appellate Brief. Graduating in the top 10% of his class, he received CALI awards for his academic achievements in Civil Procedure and Civil Litigation Drafting, and the faculty selected him to the Order of Barristers, a national distinction given to ten members of a graduating class recognizing excellence in legal advocacy. Prior to joining Meyerkord, Russell & Hergott, Nick founded Hergott Law to serve those who have been injured due to someone else’s negligence and gained experience with medical malpractice cases, auto accidents, premises cases, and workers' compensation matters. After years as a solo practitioner, he joined forces with Brian and Matt’s successful Kansas City law firm to form Meyerkord, Russell & Hergott. Since day one, Nick has prided himself on his client-oriented approach. He recognizes that this is your case, and he wants you to be as involved as you would like. If you call and leave a message, Nick will return it. If you email, Nick will reply. Many people are unsure of the details of a legal proceeding, and Nick takes pride in his clients feeling comfortable and prepared. Plus, Nick’s competitive nature means he will do what it takes to win, including taking your case to trial if you decide that is the best action to take. Nick was awarded the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association’s 2015 Young Lawyer of the Year Award and the Kansas City Business Journal selected him as Best of the Bar. In addition, he has been named a Rising Star in the areas of medical malpractice and personal injury. He is a graduating member of the Ross T. Roberts Inn of Court Trial College and a graduate of the KCMBA's Bar Leadership Academy. He also serves on the KCMBA YLS Board of Directors as Co-Chair of the Special Projects Committee, is the junior member at-large for KCMBA’s Solo & Small Firm Committee, and is a Big Brother (along with his wife) in Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kansas City. He formally served as a board member of the Midwest Innocence Project’s NexGen Board. Nick and his wife, Christina, lived in the River Market for a decade, leaving in 2018 to live on acreage near Wyandotte County Lake. In his free time, Nick enjoys outdoor adventures such as backpacking, long distance trail running, and paddling. He ran his first ultramarathon trail race in 2016 and completed Missouri’s 340-mile paddling race, the MR340, in 2018.

  Link: Nick Hergott

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  Katelyn M. Ryan

  Katelyn, a personal injury paralegal, enjoys the genuine help she can provide clients through very traumatic and uncertain situations. She prides herself on building relationships with her clients, so they can work together and put their best foot forward. Beyond collaborating with clients, Katelyn enjoys working closely with the attorneys on every step of each case, noting that working with a great open-minded legal team means better ideas are formulated and ensures the best work is provided. She has always been interested in the legal system and working in the personal injury realm allows her to see many different sides of the law and many different sides of society while ensuring each case goes smoothly and that her clients are taken care of throughout the process. Katelyn has a dual degree in Psychology and Sociology from Northwest Missouri State. When she isn’t working, she enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with her family.

  Link: Katelyn M. Ryan

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  Erin Hessenflow

  Erin brings 15 years of legal experience to the Meyerkord, Russell & Hergott team. Her experience includes both defense and plaintiff work, giving her a broad perspective on the legal system. She is active in the legal community, serving as the Second Vice President of the Kansas City Paralegal Association and she has an Associates degree in Paralegal Studies and a Paralegal Certificate from Penn Valley Community College. Erin loves being a paralegal, gathering and organizing the details of each case and helping people who have been wronged. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her husband and son, cheering on the Kansas City Royals, traveling to the Caribbean, and crafting.

  Link: Erin Hessenflow

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  Brittany Trammell

  Brittany recognizes that most people don't know who to turn to or what they're entitled to when they've been injured and enjoys guiding clients through the legal process and helping them move forward with their lives. With Bachelor's Degrees in Psychology and Criminal Justice from Northwest Missouri State University, and a Paralegal Certificate from Johnson County Community College, Brittany is uniquely qualified to help people make right the wrong that's been done to them. She also has experience working for the State of Missouri in both juvenile and adult detention facilities. Outside of work, Brittany volunteers with KC Pet Project and hangs out with her four siblings and her dog, Pepperoni. She enjoys playing bingo each week and is working on her bucket list of visiting every MLB stadium.

  Link: Brittany Trammell