Current Employment Position(s)

Partner

Lawyer Overview

Mr. Botts is Chair of the firm's Construction Law Department.  His practice focuses on many issues of importance to the construction client including: government contract claims, construction defects, breach of warranty, bid protests, claims for delay, differing site conditions and extra work, Miller Act and payment and performance bond claims, and mechanic's lien claims. Sherman also has extensive experience in claim analysis and drafting and negotiating general construction contracts, invitations for bid, subcontracts and related documents for all phases of the construction project, including the preparation of required notices and correspondence to sureties, owners and construction managers in order to preserve and pursue the claims of the construction client. He often lectures on risk management issues and assists clients in establishing project management procedures, such as the proper documentation of project files, to minimize the risk of litigation.

Areas of Practice

• Construction
• Business Litigation
• Construction and Design Industry

West Practice Categories

Business & Commercial Law, Construction Law, Litigation & Appeals

Bar Admissions

• Missouri, 1985
• U.S. Supreme Court
• U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri
• U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas
• U.S. Court of Federal Claims

Professional Associations and Memberships

• Certified Arbitrator - American Arbitration Association
• The Missouri Bar, Chair, Construction Law Committee
• American Bar Association, Construction Law and Public Contract Law
• The Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, Chair, Construction Law Committee; Chair, Alternative Disputes Resolution Committee, Chair

Honors and Awards

• Selected among The Best Lawyers in America®, 2010
• Martindale-Hubbell® "AV" Rating

Education

• Creighton University School of Law, 1985
  J.D.
• Drake University, 1978
  M.M.E.
• Drake University, 1975
  B.M.E.

Published Works

• 56 Lathrop & Gage Attorneys Named Best Lawyers in America, 2009
• Litigation Newsletter, In-Court Report No. 5 -- Fall 2006, 2006
• Litigation Newsletter, In-Court Report No. 4 -- Winter 2006, 2006
• Lathrop & Gage Trial Technology Focus-Litigation Insert No. 4-Winter 2006, 2006
• Lathrop & Gage Construction Focus-Litigation Insert No. 3--Summer 2005, 2005
• Missouri Construction Law Update, 2005
• Litigation Newsletter, In-Court Report No. 2 -- Winter 2005, 2005
• Litigation Newsletter, In-Court Report No. 1 -- Fall 2004, 2004
• Legal Alert: Kansas Lien Filing Extension, 2003

Address

2345 Grand Blvd.
Suite 2800
Kansas City, MO 64108

Phones

(816) 460-5523 (Business Phone)

Faxes

(816) 292-2001 (Business Fax)

Emails

Contact Us (Business Email)

Websites

http://www.lathropgage.com/