Professional liability defense
Defending businesses and professionals against professional liability and negligence claims, with matters including:
Sandberg Phoenix · Kansas City, Missouri
Matthew Merrill
Business law and complex litigation attorney
Advising and representing businesses in Missouri and Kansas for over 27 years, with trial and appellate experience in both state and federal courts.
- 27+
- Years advising and representing businesses
- MO & KS
- State and federal courts
- Top 100
- Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers
About
More than 27 years of business law and commercial litigation
Matt is an equity shareholder of Sandberg Phoenix and a member of the firm’s seven-person Compensation Committee. He has been advising and representing businesses and commercial clients in Missouri and Kansas for over 27 years and has tried cases and argued appeals in both state and federal courts.
Matt was born in Kansas City, Missouri, attended a local high school and graduated from the University of Kansas and the University of Kansas School of Law.
When Matt is not working, he enjoys spending time with his family, weightlifting and motorcycling. He is actively involved in various organizations within the Kansas City community.
Practice
Consulting, business law and commercial litigation
Matt’s practice emphasizes litigation and consulting for businesses and commercial clients.
Complex civil matters
Lead attorney in hundreds of lawsuits spanning complex, commercial, business and health care litigation.
Contractual & risk management consulting
Consulting with businesses to provide contractual and risk management services. In addition to trial work, Matt has obtained hundreds of favorable mediation outcomes for his clients.
Representative results
Verdicts and judgments
Numerous verdicts, judgments and dismissals. Selected examples:
12–0
Unanimous defense verdict for a business client
In a personal injury and wrongful death case.
$25 Million
12–0 unanimous defense verdict for a business client
In a wrongful death case. Named the #4 defense verdict in Missouri in 2023 by Missouri Lawyers Weekly; affirmed on appeal April 2025.
- Judgment in favor of a professional practice in a professional liability claim, St. Louis County.
- Judgment in favor of a professional group in a professional liability claim, Kansas federal court.
- Judgment in favor of an individual professional, St. Louis County.
- Judgment in favor of a group of professionals in Wyandotte County, Kansas.
- Complete defense verdict for a business client in the Circuit Court of Jackson County, Missouri at Kansas City (May 2013) — one of the highest-dollar defense verdicts in Missouri in 2013.
- Defense judgments in favor of individual professionals (2012 and 2011) and a professional group (2010); defense verdict in favor of an individual professional (2008).
Past results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome in any future matter.
Recognition
Awards & recognition
- Super Lawyers Top 100: Missouri & Kansas2012, 2014–2026
- Super Lawyers Top 50: Kansas City2012, 2014–2020, 2025–2026
- Missouri Lawyers Weekly #4 Defense Verdict in Missouri2023
- A.M. Best Client Recommended Attorneys2021–2022
- Kansas City Business Journal Best of the Bar — Business Litigation and Insurance Coverage2010, 2012, 2016
- Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers Rising Star2008
- Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyer Up & Coming Lawyer2007
Awards and recognitions are conferred by the respective organizations listed.
Speaking & writing
Selected presentations and publications
Recent presentations
“30(b)(6) Handling in LTC Case” — CLE presented at attorney seminar
“Defending LTC Facility Pressure Injury Claims” — presented at medical malpractice insurer seminar
“Artificial Intelligence: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly” — CLE presented at medical malpractice insurer defense counsel seminar
“Litigation Hot Topics Roundtable Discussion” — medical malpractice insurer defense counsel seminar
“Medical Records Review for Dental and Long Term Care Cases” — presented at CLE conference
Publications
- “Cross Examination of Plaintiff’s Treating Physician & Other Medical Experts,” Missouri Products Liability Handbook (Rev. March 2004)
- “The Sheep Heard ‘Round the World: Legislation vs. Self-Regulation of Human Cloning,” Kansas J.L. & Pub. Pol’y 169, 185 (1998)
Credentials
Admissions & education
Bar admissions
- Missouri
- Kansas
Federal courts
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri
Education
- J.D. University of Kansas School of Law
- B.G.S. University of Kansas
Professional affiliations
- Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis
- Defense Research Institute
- Johnson County Bar Association
- Kansas Association of Defense Counsel
- Kansas Bar Association
- Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association
- Missouri Bar Association
- Missouri Organization of Defense Lawyers
Contact
Get in touch
Matt practices from Sandberg Phoenix’s Kansas City, Missouri office.
Office
Sandberg Phoenix · Kansas City, MO
Firm bio
sandbergphoenix.com