Kirk D. Holman of Holman Schiavone, LLC, comes from a hard-working New England family with humble beginnings. From the time he was a young boy, he yearned to be an attorney so that he could defend the rights of the underdog and champion worthy causes. He represents clients in Kansas City, Missouri, in cases involving civil rights, constitutional law, discrimination, employment and labor law and sexual harassment.

While in his first year of law school at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law, Mr. Holman grew interested in employment law after a life-changing event in his family. His father was working in a ditch when the dirt collapsed because of a lack of proper supports. He endured numerous surgeries but was never able to work after the accident. His parents struggled on just his mother’s income, and he watched his father grieve the loss of a job that represented 35 years of employment.

As a result of this experience, Mr. Holman realized that he could help others protect their rights. He began clerking for the United States Department of Labor in an effort to learn employment law. He is now admitted to practice law in Missouri, Kansas, the U.S. District Court of the Western District of Missouri, the U.S. District Court of the District of Kansas, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit.

As a respected speaker in the legal field, Mr. Holman has been asked to speak on numerous topics, such as issues in human resources, the Missouri Human Rights Act and the plaintiff’s perspective of corporations. Mr. Holman is considered one of the Top 100 Lawyers Missouri & Kansas “Super Lawyers”, a member of the Top 50 Kansas City “Super Lawyers” and has been named a Missouri & Kansas “Super Lawyer” every year since 2011. 

He has also been honored as “Best of the Bar” for Employment Litigation by the Kansas City Business Journal.  Mr. Holman is also a  Member of “The National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Trial Lawyers” for the State of Missouri. The Association is a national organization composed of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers from each state. Membership is obtained through special invitation and is extended only to those attorneys who exemplify superior qualifications, leadership, reputation, influence, stature, and profile as trial lawyers, both civil plaintiff and criminal defense.

He is rated AV Preeminent® by Martindale-Hubbell. This mark is a significant rating accomplishment – a testament to the fact that his legal peers and the judiciary rank him at the highest level of professional excellence.

He has tried to verdict as first chair two verdicts in excess of $10,000,000, one additional verdict in excess of $5,000,000, and four additional verdicts in excess of $1,000,000. In addition to these seven and eight figure verdicts, he has to verdict as first chair thirteen verdicts in excess of $125,000.

He has been a member of both the National Employment Lawyers Association and the Labor and Employment Section of the American Bar Association since 2000.

Areas Of Practice

  • Civil Rights
  • Constitutional Law
  • Discrimination
  • Employment Law — Employee
  • Labor Law
  • Sexual Harassment

Bar Admissions

  • Missouri, 1999
  • Kansas, 2000
  • U.S. District Court Western District of Missouri, 1999
  • U.S. District Court District of Kansas, 2000
  • U.S. Court of Appeals 8th Circuit, 2000
  • U.S. Court of Appeals 10th Circuit, 2000

Education

  • University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law, Kansas City, Missouri
    • J.D. – 1999
  • Assumption College, Worcester, Massachusetts
    • B.A. – 1995
    • Major: Politics

Classes/Seminars

  • Retaliation Claims Under the MHRA-Cradle to Grave (Plaintiff Perspective) – October 2015
  • Plaintiffs’ Lawyers Perspective on Trying Cases Before Juries – June 2015
  • “The Plaintiff’s Perspective, Dehumanizing The Corporate Defendant”, Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, 2008 to 2008
  • Cutting Edge Issues in Human Resources, Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, 2006 to 2006
  • Anatomy of the Missouri Human Rights Act, The Missouri Bar, 2006 to 2006

Honors and Awards

  • Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers, 2011-2023
  • Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers Selected to Rising Stars: 2008 – 2010
  • Selected by Missouri Lawyers Weekly in 2022 and 2023 as one of “The Power 35 – Employment Law,” recognizing Kirk as one “the 35 most powerful employment attorney
  • Million Dollar Advocates Forum
  • The National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Trial Lawyers
  • Martindale Hubbell Peer Review Ratings™ AV Preeminent
  • Best of the Bar for Employment Litigation, Kansas City Business Journal
  • Member of National Association of Distinguished Counsel
  • Dean’s Achievement Award for Excellence in Employment Law
  • Top 100: 2020 Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers
  • Top 50: 2020 Kansas City Super Lawyers
  • Top 100: 2019 Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers

Professional Associations and Memberships

  • National Employment Lawyers Association, 2000
  • American Bar Association, Labor and Employment Section, 2000
  • Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys, 2010 to Present