Mr. VanDerGinst received his law degree from DePaul University. He is licensed to practice law in Illinois, Iowa and the federal courts and during his career he has represented clients in almost every state in the country. Mr. VanDerGinst has been very active in several county, state and national bar associations. He has served on the Board of Managers for the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association. He has been the Illinois State Delegate for the Association of Trial Lawyers of America. In addition, he has served on the Board of Trustees for the Pound Civil Justice Institute. He is admitted to the Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin State Bar Associations.

Igers Vangjeli’s desire to pursue a career in law began during his childhood when he witnessed the complexities of his parents’ divorce at the age of 9. That personal experience sparked a deep interest in helping others navigate similar challenges, ultimately leading him to specialize in family law. He went on to earn his law degree from the University of Connecticut School of Law, where he honed his passion for advocating on behalf of families in need of legal guidance. Upon graduation, Igers made the move to Kansas City, quickly finding it to be a place he could call home. He has been dedicated to serving the Kansas City community ever since. As the Managing Attorney at Kansas Legal Group, Igers brings a unique approach to his cases, aiming to foster a sense of cooperation and mutual respect from the beginning. He believes in working collaboratively with opposing counsel to find solutions, whenever possible, that benefit all parties involved. His philosophy is rooted in the idea that legal matters, particularly in family law, are best handled with professionalism, empathy, and a clear understanding of his clients’ needs. Known for his skilled negotiation tactics, Igers is adept at identifying what is truly important to his clients and structuring his approach to protect their interests throughout every phase of the legal process. His clients trust him not only for his legal expertise but also for the confidence and security he provides as he guides them from beginning to end. Whether it’s through mediation or litigation, Igers stands by his clients every step of the way, ensuring they feel fully supported and understood.

Patti Vannoy is a partner with Mattson Ricketts, where she focuses her practice on investors’ rights and insurance issues. She has represented more than 400 clients with claims involving private placements, real estate investment trusts, variable annuities, life insurance, and all manner of securities, including cases against broker-dealers, registered investment advisers, insurers, and clearing firms. She has also led work on bad faith claims related to the financial services industry, against both errors and omissions and directors and officers insurers, and has represented several whistleblowers seeking protection under the Dodd-Frank Act and Sarbanes-Oxley. Before practicing law, Patti worked as a reporter and editor with major newspapers in the Midwest. ? Patti also enjoys a general civil practice, which includes labor law, civil litigation, contract negotiation, real estate, estate planning, and advising startup and small businesses. She currently serves as a Commissioner on the Nebraska Commission of Industrial Relations.

Lilit Vardanian joined Hurrell Cantrall LLP as an associate in 2022. She focuses her practices in civil rights defense, employment disputes, general liability, and products liability matters. Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Vardanian was an associate with an AM100 law firm, where she represented individuals and private entities in a variety of employment and business related disputes in state and federal courts, arbitration, and administrative proceedings. During her professional experience, Ms. Vardanian has assisted in the successful defense of civil, arbitration, and administrative matters throughout all stages of pretrial civil litigation, including pleading disputes, discovery and depositions, law and motion practice, dispute resolution efforts, and trial preparation. MS. Vardanian earned her law degree from Pepperdine University School of Law. While in law school, she also served as the Moot Court Board Chair, Literary Citations & Symposium Editor for the Journal of Business, Entrepreneurship and the Law, and earned several awards throughout her participation with the Moot Court Team. Ms. Vardanian also attended the University of California, San Diego, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. Ms. Vardanian is admitted to practice in all California State Courts, the United States District Court for the Central District of California, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit