Kevin Checkett, Attorney

Kevin Checkett established his general practice of law in Carthage in 1977, after a one-year appointment as research attorney to the Missouri Court of Appeals. Since that beginning, Mr. Checkett has narrowed his practice to general civil trials with emphasis in commercial and bankruptcy litigation as well as estate and business planning. His lectures in both areas have been presented frequently in southwest Missouri. He has served as trustee in thousands of bankruptcies under Chapters 7, 11, and 12, and has been published in professional journals in the areas of creditors' rights, workouts and bankruptcy. Mr. Checkett's litigation experience includes personal injury, all perspectives within bankruptcy, lender liability and other areas of business and commerce, and estates and trusts.

Mr. Checkett is AV rated by the Martindale-Hubbell Service.  The rating attests to a lawyer's legal ability and professional ethics and is based upon the confidential opinions of members of the bar and judiciary.  The A indicates a high to pre-eminent legal ability, while the V is an endorsement from other members of the bar of the highest ethical standards denoting an adherence to professional conduct, ethics, reliability, diligence, and other criteria relevant to the discharge of professional responsibilities (http://www.martindale.com/ratings).

The Kansas City Magazine and 417 Magazine of Springfield recently named Kevin Checkett as top Missouri lawyer.  This distinction is voted upon by other attorneys and awarded to those in the top 5% of their profession. 

Mr. Checkett was one of five organizers of federally chartered Hometown Bank and remains on its board of directors.  He was also one of the founders of Southwest Missouri Community Foundation and served as one of its directors.

He belongs to the Missouri Bar and is admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri and the United States Supreme Court. He is also a member of the panel of trustees for the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Missouri, the National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees and the legal counsel section for the Missouri Bankers Association. Mr. Checkett is board certified in business bankruptcy by the American Board of Certification. (http://www.abcworld.org/abchome.html)

Certification is by the American Board of Certification and is accredited by the American Bar Association.  Neither the Missouri Supreme Court nor the Missouri Bar review or approve certifying organizations or specialist designations.  He is also a Rule 17 Certified Mediator.