Leland has been an American Arbitration Association arbitrator panel member since 1979, serving on hundreds of arbitration cases, both private and through the AAA. He has also served as a mediator and/or special master on hundreds of other cases. He has personally litigated a multitude of lawsuits in numerous jurisdictions and brings to ADR the knowledge and experience from that litigation, as well as his prior representation of numerous businesses and individuals.
Leland is the former managing partner of the Kansas City-based law firm Shaffer Lombardo Shurin. He is now self-employed/of counsel with offices in Kansas City at 2001 Wyandotte, Kansas City, Missouri 64108, and in Phoenix at 6178 North 28th Place, Phoenix, Arizona 85016.
• Leland mediated a lawsuit against an automobile dealer; the formula which the parties agreed upon for settlement was used in over 120 other cases against that automobile dealer.
• Successfully mediated a claim in St. Louis, Missouri, of a subcontractor against a contractor in a large construction project.
• Successfully mediated a nine-year litigation battle among four family members.
• Successfully mediated a family business succession case involving a senior owner of a business and his sons before any litigation ensued.
• Successfully mediated a zoning matter between a city and large fast-food franchisor.
• Successfully resolved a dispute between a low-income housing organization and many of its residents, resulting in a change of by-laws and an election for a new Board of Directors of the housing organization. He was then requested by all parties to act as the sole monitor for the election. He established the voting procedure, election date, ballot language and monitored the campaigns of candidates, as well as oversaw the voting and counting of the ballots.
• Leland resolved a dispute when two partners discharged the third partner of a successful business. The parties' financial adviser attended the mediation in addition to the parties and their respective attorneys.
• Successfully mediated a dispute over millions of dollars among a widow and children of the deceased's prior marriage. The deceased died intestate.
• Leland mediated two disputes in Springfield, Missouri between a contractor and developer.
• Leland has been the sole arbitrator or chair and/or member of a three-arbitrator panel in hundreds of cases. He makes a decision based upon application of the facts to the law. Leland has arbitrated numerous employer-employee cases involving alleged sexual harassment and/or wrongful discharge, franchisor/franchisee disputes, and various commercial and construction issues. His experience includes acting as sole arbitrator in construction cases, professional/client disputes, real estate ownership, bodily injury, and intellectual property matters.
• Chair of a three-panel arbitration that held for the general contractor against a nursing home in a multi-million dollar construction claim.
• Sole arbitrator on a seven-count complaint filed by an employee against an employer alleging discrimination, wrongful discharge, bodily injury, and other claims. After a two-week hearing, all issues were found in favor of the Respondent.
• Sole arbitrator in an arbitration that involved the Missouri lemon law. The award was entered after a four-day hearing in favor of Claimant, including punitive damages against Respondent.
• An award was issued on an Order of Arbitration entered by a circuit court of Missouri. The question was whether or not an employee was exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Missouri Minimum Wage Law. After multiple days of hearing, the issues were found in favor of the Respondent.
• Sole arbitrator concerning AIA standard form sub-contract agreement. The issue was whether or not a sub-contractor did certain work which was intended to be included by reference in the sub-contract. The award was for the Claimant.
• In a bodily injury case an award was entered for a Claimant/employee for injuries incurred while on the employer’s premises, but not subject to workers compensation.
• Sole arbitrator in an arbitration of claim of an IT company against a rural hospital association. After a four-day hearing, an award in favor of the IT company was entered.
• An award after a two-day hearing in favor of an employer educational institution on claims of wrongful discharge and slander. Leland was the sole arbitrator.
• Leland entered an award in favor of a subcontractor against a general contractor after a two-day hearing on issues of quality of work and termination of services issues.
• Appointed by the Cole County Missouri Circuit Court as Special Deputy Liquidator of the General American Mutual Holding Company; total liquidation proceeds were greater than $1.5 Billion Dollars.
• Special Master on claims of individuals delivering bakery goods against one of the largest bakery companies in the world. The issue was whether the individuals or the bakery company owned the delivery routes.
• Special Discovery Master on claims against a school district employer. Case settled following written and deposition discovery and a two-day mediation.
• Appointed as Special Master to determine the exact amount of damages due the plaintiff in a breach of contract lawsuit following a judgment entered by the court in favor of the plaintiff in an "amount greater than 161 Million Dollars.”
• Co-Allocation Master of a mass tort environmental case settlement. Duties were to allocate a multi-million dollar settlement among approximately 250 plaintiffs.
• Special Discovery Master in class action case in Ray County Missouri Circuit Court against a bank and law firm.
• Special Discovery Master in a class action case in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri. After discovery and class certification, the case was dismissed by order of the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals on other issues.
• Special Master on cases involving product liability claims resulting in alleged severe bodily injuries against an automobile manufacturer and sub parts manufacturer.
• Special Master on numerous class action cases since 2017.
• Currently self employed/of counsel with offices in Kansas City, Missouri and Phoenix, Arizona
• Shaffer Lombardo Shurin, P.C., Shareholder/Director, 1996-2016
• McDowell Rice & Smith, 1989-95, Shareholder/Executive Committee
• Horowitz, Shurin & Johl, P.C., 1968-89, Shareholder/Director
• Jackson County, Missouri, 1969-73, Assistant Counselor/Land Tax Attorney
• University of Missouri at Kansas City, J.D., 1968
• University of Missouri at Columbia, B.A., 1965 (Economics Major)
• Nominated by President Clinton to be a Judge of the U.S. District Court, Western District of Missouri; nomination withdrawn at Leland's request due to delays in the nomination/confirmation process
• Named to 2021-2025 The Best Lawyers in America©
• Named to 2020-2024 Missouri Lawyers Power 30 List
• Super Lawyer, 2009-2023
• Ingram's Business Magazine - named as one of Kansas City's best commercial litigation attorneys 2011-2021
• Reviewer in the Prudential Remediation Plan Appeals Committee
• Multiple judgments/settlements on behalf of clients of a million dollars or more
• Represented Minnesota Twins baseball club in negotiations with player Kirby Puckett when Mr. Puckett lost the sight on one eye due to glaucoma
• Counsel for BB King's 70th birthday weekend celebration in Memphis, TN; the weekend included music from 30 different groups and singers including Bonnie Raitt, Keb’ Mo’, Sting and Tony Bennett
• Represented numerous individuals in negotiating employment terms as CEO, CFO, COO and/or President of large companies, including Fortune 500 companies
• Attorney for Jackson County Transition Commission, changing county government from three person governing board with numerous elected positions to separate executive and legislative branches with appointed administrative positions
• Keynote speaker at Governor's dinner for 35 judges in MO appointed by Governor, May 2016
• “Drafting Effective Arbitration Clauses,” AAA Seminar, March 2004
• Sports and Entertainment Law Class, UMKC Law School, 2009
• "Negotiating Contracts with Sports and Entertainment Personalities," 2005
• “ADR, Advantages and Disadvantages,” ROMEO Meeting, January 2017
• “Annual Employment Law Update,” for large Kansas City-based client, 1996-2008
• "Special Masters - Authority and Procedure," MO Bar CLE, 2018-2021
• Numerous speaking engagements in regard to police policies / gun violence /crime issues at various fraternal, business, luncheon, and dinner groups.
• Missouri Bar Association
• Kansas Bar Association
• Kansas City Bar Association
• Arizona Bar Association
• American Bar Association (Litigation Section; Alternative Dispute Resolution Section)
• Distinguished Fellow, International Academy of Mediators
• National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals
• Chairman of the Missouri Gaming Commission, 2015
• Member of the Board of Police Commissioners of Kansas City, Missouri, July 2015-2019; served as President 1/2017-4/2018
• Chairman of the Board of Allen Village School 1999-2002
• NAACP, Lifetime Member
• Rotary Club 13
• Chairman of the Board of Working Families' Friend 2004-2006
• Mr. Shurin and his wife, Jill, enjoy domestic and international travel
• Reads biographies, world and American history and mysteries
• Collects American political campaign buttons and is a member of the American Political Items Collector Organization