Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner

Business & Commercial Disputes

Associate - Litigation and Investigations

Grace practices with the Business and Commercial Disputes Practice Group, guiding clients through all stages of litigation. Grace has worked with companies on both the plaintiff and defense side of complex business disputes, including claims for breach of contract, negligence, breach of fiduciary duty, tortious interference, and trademark and copyright infringement. Grace also handles matters involving non-compete agreements, non-disclosure agreements, arbitration agreements, and employment contracts. Grace’s clients range from multi-national corporations to middle-market companies, small businesses, and nonprofits across a variety of industries. Grace also aids individuals needing pro-bono assistance. Grace offers her clients an approach grounded in excellent legal research and critical analysis, empowering her clients to make the most strategic decisions throughout the litigation process to achieve their desired result.

Before joining the firm, Grace served as a law clerk for the Honorable Stephen R. Bough and the Honorable Willie J. Epps, Jr. of the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri. Clerking afforded Grace the opportunity to experience the federal judiciary firsthand; conduct legal work on a variety of civil, criminal, and administrative law matters; and hone her analytical skills.

While in law school, Grace served as the managing editor of the UMKC Law Review and as co-president of the Hispanic Law Students Association. Grace also served as an intern for the Honorable Karen King Mitchell of the Missouri Court of Appeals – Western District and for the Missouri Attorney General’s Office. Upon graduation, Grace founded and is currently the chair of UMKC Law’s Diverse Alumni Network.

CIVIC INVOLVEMENT & HONORS Missouri Up & Coming Lawyers, pro bono, 2023 UMKC Law Foundation Board, Trustee UMKC Law Diverse Alumni Network, Founder Mattie Rhodes Center, Board Member, 2020 – 2022 Missouri Bar Leadership Academy, 2020 – 2021 Ross T. Roberts Trial Academy, 2018 – 2019 CALI Award Recipient—top grades in Torts, First Amendment, Contracts 1, Civil Procedure 2, Lawyering Skills 2, Transactional Lawyering Skills, Consumer Protection PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS Hispanic Bar Association of Greater Kansas City, President Missouri Bar Association Kansas Bar Association Kansas City Missouri Bar Association