Kirk D. Holman - a Kansas City, US Civil Rights Lawyer

Kansas City Civil Rights Lawyer

Updated: 04/27/2026

Areas of Practice

Civil Rights
Constitutional Law
Discrimination
Employment Law -- Employee
Labor Law
Sexual Harassment

Litigation: 100%

Attorney Information

Overview

Kirk D. Holman of Holman Schiavone, LLC, comes from a hard-working New England family with humble beginnings. From the time he was a young boy, he yearned to be an attorney so that he could defend the rights of the underdog and champion worthy causes. He represents clients in Kansas City, Missouri, in cases involving civil rights, constitutional law, discrimination, employment and labor law and sexual harassment.

While in his first year of law school at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law, Mr. Holman grew interested in employment law after a life-changing event in his family. His father was working in a ditch when the dirt collapsed because of a lack of proper supports. He endured numerous surgeries but was never able to work after the accident. His parents struggled on just his mother's income, and he watched his father grieve the loss of a job that represented 35 years of employment.

As a result of this experience, Mr. Holman realized that he could help others protect their rights. He began clerking for the United States Department of Labor in an effort to learn employment law. He is now admitted to practice law in Missouri, Kansas, the U.S. District Court of the Western District of Missouri, the U.S. District Court of the District of Kansas, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit.

As a respected speaker in the legal field, Mr. Holman has been asked to speak on numerous topics, such as issues in human resources, the Missouri Human Rights Act and the plaintiff's perspective of corporations. Mr. Holman is considered one of the Top 100 Lawyers Missouri & Kansas “Super Lawyers”, a member of the Top 50 Kansas City “Super Lawyers” and has been named a Missouri & Kansas “Super Lawyer” every year since 2011. He has also been honored as "Best of the Bar" for Employment Litigation by the Kansas City Business Journal. Mr. Holman is also a Member of “The National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Trial Lawyers” for the State of Missouri. The Association is a national organization composed of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers from each state. Membership is obtained through special invitation and is extended only to those attorneys who exemplify superior qualifications, leadership, reputation, influence, stature, and profile as trial lawyers, both civil plaintiff and criminal defense. He is rated AV Preeminent® by Martindale-Hubbell. This mark is a significant rating accomplishment - a testament to the fact that his legal peers and the judiciary rank him at the highest level of professional excellence. He has tried to verdict as first chair three verdicts in excess of $10,000,000, one additional verdict in excess of $5,000,000, and four additional verdicts in excess of $1,000,000. In addition to these seven and eight figure verdicts, he has to verdict as first chair thirteen verdicts in excess of $125,000.

He has been a member of both the National Employment Lawyers Association and the Labor and Employment Section of the American Bar Association since 2000.

Awards and Honors

Super Lawyers® Selectees

Kirk D. Holman included in a Super Lawyers® list

Honors

Super Lawyers: 2011 – 2025
Top 100: Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers: 2019 - 2020, 2024 – 2025
Top 50: Kansas City Super Lawyers: 2020, 2024 – 2025
Missouri & Kansas Rising Stars, 2008-2010
Million Dollar Advocates Forum, 2002
The National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Trial Lawyers
Martindale Hubbell Peer Review Ratings™ AV Preeminent
Martindale-Hubbell® -Judicial Edition - AV Preeminent
Best of the Bar for Employment Litigation, Kansas City Business Journal
Selected by Missouri Lawyers Weekly in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 as one of “The Power 35 – Employment Law”

Other Sources of Feedback About Kirk D. Holman

Included on the 2025 Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers list

Past Lists

2024 Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers list
2023 Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers list
2022 Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers list
2021 Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers list
2020 Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers list
2019 Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers list
2018 Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers list
2017 Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers list
2016 Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers list
2015 Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers list
2014 Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers list
2013 Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers list
2012 Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers list
2011 Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers list
2010 Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers list
2009 Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers list
2008 Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers list

Education

Legal Education
- University of Missouri - Kansas City School of Law, Kansas City, Missouri, 1999
  J.D.
Non Legal Education
- Assumption College, Worcester, Massachusetts, 1995
  B.A.
  Major: Politics

Current Employment Position(s)

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Partner
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Classes and Seminars

Retaliation Claims Under the MHRA-Cradle to Grave (Plaintiff Perspective) - October 2015
Plaintiffs' Lawyers Perspective on Trying Cases Before Juries - June 2015
"The Plaintiff's Perspective, Dehumanizing The Corporate Defendant", Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, 2008
Cutting Edge Issues in Human Resources, Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, 2006
Anatomy of the Missouri Human Rights Act, The Missouri Bar, 2006

Representative Cases

$10.8 Million Verdict in retaliation and disability claim.
$13.9 Million Jury verdict in a false imprisonment claim.
$10.12 Million Verdict in retaliation claim.
$6.8 Million Jury verdict in what is believed to be the first sexual harassment claim tried in the Missouri state court system.
$1.58 Million Jury verdict in whistleblowing case under Kansas State Law.
$1.24 Million Jury verdict in an unlawful disclosure of medical information case.
$1.2 Million Jury verdict in an employment retaliation case.
$1.1 Million Jury verdict in a retaliation case.
$870,000 Jury verdict in a commercial tort claim in December 2015.
$810,000 Jury Verdict in disability discrimination claim.
$806,075 Jury Verdict in disability discrimination claim.
$450,000 Jury verdict in whistleblower case under Missouri law.
$420,000 Jury verdict in a sexual harassment claim.
$362,000 Jury verdict in a retaliation claim in Missouri State Court.
$350,000 Jury verdict in a racial discrimination case in Kansas State Court.
$341,000 Jury verdict in a retaliation claim in Missouri State Court.
$300,000 Jury verdict in an excessive force claim against two Kansas City, Missouri, police officers in Missouri State Court.
$300,000 Jury verdict in a retaliation case in Missouri State Court.
$163,500 Jury verdict in a sexual harassment case in Kansas Federal Court.
$140,000 Jury verdict in a retaliation verdict in Missouri State Court.
$125,000 Jury verdict in a disability discrimination case in Missouri State Court.
$125,000 Jury verdict in a retaliation case in Kansas Federal Court.

Bar Admissions

Missouri, 1999
Kansas, 2000
U.S. District Court Western District of Missouri, 1999
U.S. District Court District of Kansas, 2000
U.S. Court of Appeals 8th Circuit, 2000
U.S. Court of Appeals 10th Circuit, 2000

Other Affiliations

National Employment Lawyers Association, 2000 - Present
American Bar Association, Labor and Employment Section, 2000 - Present
Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys, 2010 - Present

Contact

Kansas City, MO

4600 Madison Avenue
Suite 810
Kansas City, MO 64112

Directions

Phone: 888-493-5074

Fax: 816-283-8739

Email: Send a message

Website: https://www.kdh-law.com

Free Consultations
Virtual Appointments

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Kirk D. Holman - Kansas City, MO