History
The Burmeister Gilmore LLP law firm began helping its clients more than four decades ago. In 1976, Steve Burmeister founded his law practice on a simple principle: put clients first and help solve their legal problems.
Putting clients first means taking the time to explain all of the options so the client can make an informed decision, returning client phone calls promptly, and going the extra mile to exceed expectations. Solving legal problems means developing creative solutions, fiercely pursuing our clients’ interests, and ensuring that our work generates a great result.
By following this simple principle, Steve grew his law practice through client referrals rather than advertisements. He knew that by delivering superior results, and treating clients fairly and with respect, his clients would send their friends and family to the law firm.
To this day, our attorneys depend primarily on referrals from satisfied clients to grow our law practice. Each of these lawyers is committed to continuing the law firm’s tradition of putting clients first and helping solve their legal problems.
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Our Team
Brett T. Burmeister
Brett Burmeister practices in civil litigation with a focus on serious personal injury and wrongful death matters. He also represents clients in business litigation, bankruptcy, and other practice areas. He is a licensed real estate broker and handles property transactions and disputes as well. At Burmeister Gilmore LLP, the law firm’s maxim is “Clients Come First.” It is a fundamental principle that Mr. Burmeister follows in every case. He is honored to help personal injury victims and wrongful death surviving family members recover, and enjoys problem-solving with business clients.
In 2021, Mr. Burmeister recovered $3.5 million for a client seriously injured in a vehicular collision. Prior to filing suit, the insurance companies’ top offer was $25,000. Mr. Burmeister filed suit, conducted nearly 30 depositions, and invested over $100,000 in expert witnesses to prove that the defendant was at fault for the collision, and that his client’s injuries were permanent and severe. Just before trial, the case settled for 140 times the insurance companies’ pre-lawsuit offer.
In 2017, Mr. Burmeister secured a $5 million recovery in a wrongful death case. He has also obtained multiple settlements in excess of $4 million for clients injured in high-speed police pursuits. In 2013, he had the distinct honor of arguing and winning a case in the Supreme Court of Missouri. Mr. Burmeister appealed a jury verdict in an automobile collision case on the basis that the trial court wrongly excluded his client from trial. In a 5-2 opinion, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Mr. Burmeister’s client and ordered a new trial. (Bair v. Faust, No. SC92904 (Mo. July 16, 2013)).
For each of the past 11 years, Mr. Burmeister’s peers named him to the Super Lawyers list in Missouri and Kansas—an award given to less than 5% of attorneys in the region. In 2013, the Kansas City Business Journal listed him among the Best of the Bar. Mr. Burmeister is also a lifetime member of the prestigious Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum (MDAF), whose membership is limited to attorneys that have demonstrated the ability to obtain substantial monetary recoveries for their clients. Fewer than 1% of lawyers in the United States are members of MDAF.
Mr. Burmeister graduated summa cum laude (with highest honors) from the University of Missouri at Kansas City School of Law where he finished in the top 2% of his graduating class. He is licensed to practice law in both Missouri and Kansas.
Education
UMKC School of Law
Juris Doctor, 2006
Summa cum laude (with highest honors)
Providence College
B.S., Finance, 2003
Cum laude (with honors)
Activities & Awards
2012-2019 Super Lawyers Award
2013 Kansas City Business Journal Best of the Bar
Lifetime Member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum
Member of Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys
Board Member, UMKC Law Foundation
Bar Admissions
Missouri
Kansas
Kelle C. Burmeister Gilmore
Kelle Gilmore practices domestic and juvenile law, including dissolutions, modifications, contempt actions, guardianships, and adoptions. Prior to joining Burmeister Gilmore LLP, Ms. Gilmore clerked for Commissioner Robert M. Scheiber, Division 43, and Family Court Presiding Judge Jon R. Gray, Division 18—both of the 16th Judicial Circuit in Jackson County, Missouri. During these judicial clerkships, she developed a passion for helping families through child advocacy.
Ms. Gilmore also represents children as their Court Appointed Guardian Ad Litem through Jackson County CASA, a non-profit agency, and by appointment in private matters. She finds great satisfaction in advocating on behalf of children who have been abused or neglected.
Education
UMKC School of Law
Juris Doctor, 2004
University of Kansas
B.S., Journalism, 2001
Activities & Awards
John M. Specca Family Law Award
Bar Admissions
Missouri
Kristi L. Burmeister
Kristi Burmeister practices in civil litigation. Beginning her career as an associate and later a partner at one of Kansas City's largest large law firms, Kristi spent most of her time working as national counsel for a Fortune 100 company dedicated to providing life-saving products and services. She had the opportunity to litigate high-stakes cases across the United States and learn from some of the country’s best attorneys.
One of her most memorable cases was a plaintiff’s case in which she served as lead trial counsel working with an all-female trial team. Although Kristi had spent most of her career representing defendants, this time she represented the plaintiff. She secured a favorable jury verdict for her client following a week-long trial in Franklin County, Kansas. The jury awarded her client nearly $500,000 after finding that the defendants wrongfully took annuity proceeds.
In 2021, Kristi tried a three-week trial in Pennsylvania. The case involved a commercial dispute between two large companies with the plaintiff seeking more than $100 million in damages from her client. Kristi secured a complete defense verdict for her client. She has also tried personal injury cases and cases involving business disputes. She now focuses primarily on helping injured plaintiffs and relies on her breadth of experience to achieve the best outcome for her clients.
Kristi graduated summa cum laude (with highest honors) from the University of Missouri at Kansas City School of Law where she finished in the top 3% of her graduating class.
Activities & Awards
Rising Star and Super Lawyers Award
UMKC Law Foundation Past Board Member
MO Lawyers Weekly, Women's Justice Award Winner for Litigation (2021)
Association of Women Lawyers Past Board Member
Former Kansas City Liquor Control Board Member
Bar Admissions
Missouri
Kansas (inactive status)
Education
UMKC School of Law
Juris Doctor, 2007
Summa cum laude (with highest honors)
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
B.S., Marketing, 2004
Steve D. Burmeister
Over the last 40+ years, Steve Burmeister has had the privilege of counseling and representing more than 6,000 clients. A trial lawyer at heart, he has litigated approximately 600 cases in more than 50 counties across the State of Missouri at the trial court, appellate court, and Supreme Court levels.
Many of Mr. Burmeister’s clients are everyday people who find themselves pitted against large corporations and insurance companies. Faced with this “David vs. Goliath” scenario, he enjoys leveling the playing field for his clients. Utilizing years of litigation and trial experience, Mr. Burmeister works to achieve the best possible result for his clients both in settlement negotiations and in the courtroom.
Mr. Burmeister has represented numerous clients in high stakes litigation involving serious personal injury and wrongful death matters, tractor-trailer accidents, defective products, medical malpractice, environmental disasters, and multi-million dollar investment fraud. He also has experience with business disputes and marital dissolution disputes in which millions of dollars are at stake.
In 2013 and 2014, Mr. Burmeister was named by his peers to the Super Lawyers list—an award given to less than 5% of attorneys in the region. He now serves in an advisory "of counsel" role with Burmeister Gilmore LLP and is heavily involved in certain cases.
Education
UMKC School of Law
Juris Doctor, 1976
University of Central Missouri
B.S., Criminal Justice, 1973
Activities & Awards
2013-2014 Super Lawyers Award
UMKC Law Foundation Board Member (and Past President)
Redemptorist Social Services Foundation Board Member (and Past President)
University of Central Missouri Alumni Foundation Board Member (and Co-Founder)
Bar Admissions
Missouri