Russ Peterson is a seasoned trial attorney with extensive experience representing both plaintiffs and defendants in civil litigation. He left his litigation practice in 2021 to focus on mediation and arbitration full time. He draws on this courtroom experience during the mediation process, employing a combination of the facilitative and evaluative mediator approaches. During his career as a trial counsel for both plaintiffs and defendants, Mr. Peterson tried 98 cases to jury verdict, as well as several bench trials.
He participated in approximately 1,800 mediations as an attorney, and completed over 4,000 depositions. He has served as a CLE instructor in programs regarding Jury Trials, Voir Dire and use of computer evaluations by Insurers, among many topics.
Mr. Peterson been a member of the Missouri and Kansas Bars his entire legal career, as well as numerous local Bar Associations.
Professional Experience
Private mediator
4/21-present
Wallace, Saunders, Austin, Brown & Enochs
Overland Park, KS
4/16-4/21
Defense Counsel
Private mediator
1/16-4/16
In House Claims Counsel for Trucking Insurer (now defunct)
10/15 -1/16
Nationwide Insurance
Overland Park, KS
11/14-10/15
Defense Counsel
American Family Insurance
Kansas City, MO
3/11-11/14
Defense Counsel
Peterson Law Offices
Overland Park, KS and Lee’s Summit, MO
6/05-3/11
Plaintiff Counsel
Hardee & Peterson
Overland Park, KS
6/00-6/05
Plaintiff Counsel
Law Offices of Bradley McTavish
Allstate Insurance
Independence, MO
9/94-6/00
Captive Allstate Defense counsel
Wallace, Saunders, Austin, Brown & Enochs
Overland Park, KS
8/91-9/94
Defense Counsel
Education
- BSE – Northeast Missouri State University – 1980
- JD – University of Missouri – 1991
Mediation Related Training
- Missouri Bar Association, 2016
- Kansas Bar Association, 2003
