Eric L. Dirks

Principal Attorney

Direct: (816) 945-7165

Eric is a founding attorney of Williams Dirks Dameron LLC. Eric represents companies involved in business disputes and workers, and individuals who have been injured on a contingency basis. Eric’s litigation practice includes: commercial litigation, trademark and copyright infringement, class action, wage and hour and personal injury. Eric has extensive experience on both the plaintiff and defense side of cases. Now he focuses on representing individuals and businesses who are looking for an alternative to paying a lawyer by the hour.

Eric started his career at one of Kansas City’s largest law firms. While there, he represented well-known corporate clients in the areas of products liability, class actions, and complex litigation. From there, he became a partner at one of Kansas City’s most prestigious plaintiffs law firms.

Eric is routinely recognized by “Best of the Bar” and “Super Lawyers” as one of the top attorneys in Missouri and Kansas. In fact, Eric has been recognized as one of the top 50 lawyers in Kansas City by Super Lawyers. Eric is AV rated by Martindale Hubbell. He is also active in his community. For example, in July 2015, Governor Jay Nixon appointed Eric to the Missouri Ethics Commission. The Missouri Senate confirmed Eric to the Commission in 2016. The Missouri Ethics Commission serves the public interest by promoting and maintaining transparency, accountability, and compliance with campaign finance, lobbying and conflict of interest laws. Eric served the Commission and the State of Missouri through 2018. Eric also serves on the board of Steam Studio, a nonprofit STEM program for students in the City’s core.

Eric has represented individuals and classes nationwide and obtained relief for clients totaling over $75 million, including settlements against companies such as Bank of America and Wells Fargo. He has also handled numerous copyright and trademark disputes for plaintiffs and defendants across the country achieving favorable verdicts and settlements. Eric won the first ever wage and hour overtime class action trial in the state of Kansas against Tyson Foods in 2011. Eric also successfully argued the issue of class certification before the Missouri Supreme Court in State ex rel. Fogle Enterprises, et al. v. Johnson, No. SC95949. Eric has also helped recover millions of dollars for clients injured by the negligence of others.

Eric serves as lead counsel on numerous class and collective actions in the Midwest and elsewhere. As a contingency lawyer, Eric provides legal representation for those who need outstanding representation without the cost and expense of a large firm.

Eric has been designated to serve as independent advisor by a catholic archdiocese to provide assistance to victims of priest sexual abuse. Eric provides these services pro bono.

Eric’s success as a contingency lawyer was no accident — he worked hard to become such an accomplished professional. He attended the University of Iowa for law school where he received his J.D., with high distinction and was elected to the Order of the Coif. Eric received his B.A. in English from the University of Kansas in 1999.

Before college, Eric enlisted in the United States Army Reserves where he was a combat medic and went on to obtain the rank of Sergeant. He takes the discipline, professionalism, and respect for others he learned in the military with him whenever he goes to court — contingency fee cases are no exception.

AREAS OF PRACTICE

Commercial Litigation

Trademark and Copyright Litigation

Personal Injury

Class Actions

Wage and Hour

BAR ADMISSIONS

Missouri

U.S. District Court Western District of Missouri

U.S. District Court Eastern District of Missouri

U.S. District Court District of Kansas

U.S. District Court District of Colorado

U.S. Court of Appeals 10th Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit

EDUCATION

University of Iowa College of Law, Iowa City, Iowa, J.D.

Honors: High Distinction

Honors: Order of the Coif

University of Kansas, B.A.

PAST EMPLOYMENT POSITIONS

Stueve Siegel Hanson (partner)

Shook, Hardy & Bacon (associate)