Wickham & Wood

In the landscape of Missouri's workforce, protecting the rights of employees and supporting labor unions is a critical endeavor that demands specialized legal expertise. For over three decades, working families and labor organizations across our state, particularly within the Kansas City metropolitan area, have sought trusted legal counsel to navigate complex employment and labor law matters. This article is designed to provide a clear, engaging, and informative overview of Wickham & Wood, a prominent law firm that has dedicated its practice to championing the rights of workers and unions throughout Missouri. We'll explore what makes this firm a significant and reliable resource for locals, from their deep experience in labor law to their commitment to collective bargaining and litigation.

The intricacies of labor and employment law, whether involving collective bargaining agreements, grievance handling, or challenging unfair labor practices, require not only profound legal knowledge but also a steadfast commitment to advocacy. Wickham & Wood has built a formidable reputation for providing dedicated and effective representation, with a consistent focus on empowering unions and defending the rights of their members. Their practice is firmly rooted in a belief in the power of working people and a passion for justice in the workplace. For individuals and labor unions in Missouri, having access to attorneys with such a proven track record and deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by workers is an invaluable asset. This overview will detail their professional background, the comprehensive range of services they offer, and why they are a suitable choice for those seeking robust legal support in labor and employment matters.

Location and Accessibility

For labor unions, workers, and organizations in Missouri seeking expert legal assistance in employment and labor law, the convenience and accessibility of their chosen law firm are important considerations. Wickham & Wood maintains its office at The Cosby, 107 W 9th St, Kansas City, MO 64105, USA. This strategically chosen address places their practice in a central and highly recognizable part of downtown Kansas City, ensuring straightforward access for clients throughout the metropolitan area and extending to surrounding communities across the state.

The downtown Kansas City location benefits from excellent connectivity to major transportation arteries. For clients traveling by car, the office is easily reachable via interstates such as I-70, I-35, and US-71, providing direct routes from various parts of Missouri. While downtown parking typically includes numerous parking garages and metered street parking, it is always advisable for clients to plan their arrival to account for potential traffic and parking availability, especially during peak business hours. For those who prefer or rely on public transportation, Kansas City's popular KC Streetcar system has convenient stops within walking distance of The Cosby building at 107 W 9th Street, offering a free and efficient way to navigate the downtown core. Additionally, various bus routes operated by the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) serve this central location, further enhancing accessibility for clients arriving from diverse neighborhoods. This prime downtown location underscores Wickham & Wood's commitment to being readily available to the working people and unions they serve across Missouri.

Services Offered

Wickham & Wood specializes extensively in labor and employment law, offering a comprehensive suite of legal services tailored to the needs of labor unions and their members across Missouri. Their expertise covers a wide array of issues faced by working people and their organizations.

• Collective Bargaining and Contract Negotiations: Providing expert guidance and relentless advocacy to help unions secure favorable collective bargaining agreements and contracts for their members, ensuring fair terms and protecting workers' rights at the negotiating table.
• Grievance Handling and Arbitration: Representing unions and their members in grievance procedures and arbitration, working to resolve disputes related to labor contracts and workplace issues effectively.
• Labor Litigation: Vigorous defense of workers' rights in the courtroom, handling a wide range of cases from unfair labor practices to wage disputes and beyond, challenging employer violations, and enforcing contract terms.
• National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) Proceedings: Representing clients in matters before the National Labor Relations Board, including unfair labor practice charges and representation elections.
• Unfair Labor Practices (ULPs): Advising and representing unions and individuals in cases involving unfair labor practices committed by employers.
• Workers' Compensation: While their primary focus is labor and employment, one attorney's profile (Brian Wood) indicates experience in workers' compensation, suggesting assistance with workplace injury claims.
• Mediation: Engaging in mediation to resolve disputes outside of traditional litigation, seeking amicable and lasting solutions.
• Administrative Hearings and Appeals: Representing clients in various administrative hearings and subsequent appeals.
• Compliance and Strategic Advice: Providing full-spectrum legal services for unions, including advising union leadership on compliance matters and developing strategic approaches to protect and empower workers.
• General Legal Advice for Union Members: Offering discounted legal services for all non-job related issues to AFT Missouri members, indicating a broader scope of general legal assistance for union members beyond their core labor law focus.

Features / Highlights

Wickham & Wood distinguishes itself within the Missouri legal landscape with several key features and highlights, reflecting its deep commitment to labor rights and its proven track record.

• Over 30 Years of Dedicated Service: The firm proudly highlights its long-standing commitment of over three decades to fighting for labor unions and their members. This extensive history demonstrates deep experience and a consistent focus on labor law.
• Exclusive Focus on Labor and Employment Law: Unlike many general practice firms, Wickham & Wood has a clear and specialized focus on labor law, representing public and private sector labor unions, as well as joint labor-management benefit funds. This specialization means they bring concentrated expertise to every case.
• Experienced Attorneys with Deep Roots: Fred Wickham has practiced union-side labor law in Kansas City since 1990, and Brian Wood since 1992, both having graduated from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law. Their long careers in this specific field, coupled with active roles (e.g., Fred Wickham on the Kansas City Jobs with Justice Workers' Rights Board), showcase their profound understanding and dedication to the local labor movement.
• Comprehensive Advocacy: The firm provides legal representation in every area of labor law, from collective bargaining and arbitration to NLRB proceedings and courtroom litigation. They are equipped to handle cases at various stages and before different tribunals.
• Commitment to Workers' Rights: Their mission is deeply rooted in defending workers' rights and empowering unions through experienced advocacy, practical guidance, and proven results. They are not just legal advisors but "trusted allies in the fight for fairness, equality, and justice in the workplace."
• Strong Track Record of Success: The firm emphasizes its "long track record of success" in collective bargaining, grievance handling, and labor litigation, demonstrating their ability to achieve favorable outcomes for their clients.
• Educational Contributions: Brian Wood has taught Labor Law, Employment Law, and Business Law at Park University, highlighting the attorneys' academic credentials and their commitment to educating others on these critical legal areas.
• Member Benefits Programs: Wickham & Wood offers an exclusive legal benefit to AFT Missouri members, providing a free initial consultation and a 25% discount on regular attorney fees for non-job related issues. This is a significant direct benefit for union members in Missouri.
• Local Presence with Broad Impact: While firmly rooted in Kansas City, their work impacts workers and unions across the state, making them a significant resource for the entire Missouri labor movement.

Promotions or Special Offers

For labor union members in Missouri, Wickham & Wood offers a notable and direct benefit through their partnership with AFT Missouri. This is a specific and valuable promotion that directly serves locals who are members of this union.

• Free Initial Consultation: AFT Missouri members in good standing are eligible for a free initial consultation with Wickham & Wood. This provides an excellent opportunity for individuals to discuss their legal concerns, understand potential pathways, and assess if the firm's services align with their needs without an upfront financial commitment.
• 25% Discount on Regular Attorney Fees: Beyond the free consultation, AFT Missouri members also receive a 25% discount on regular attorney fees for all non-job related issues. This offer significantly reduces the cost of legal services for a wide range of personal legal matters, making quality representation more accessible for union members in Missouri.

These offers highlight Wickham & Wood's commitment to supporting working families beyond just their direct labor law representation, making their services more affordable and accessible for a significant portion of the local community. For those who are not AFT Missouri members, it is advisable to contact the firm directly to inquire about their standard fee structure and consultation policies.

Contact Information

For those in Missouri needing to contact Wickham & Wood for legal assistance, the following details are provided:

• Address: The Cosby, 107 W 9th St, Kansas City, MO 64105, USA
• Phone: (816) 753-8751

Their office is located in a well-known building in downtown Kansas City, ensuring a professional and easily accessible point of contact. When reaching out, providing a brief overview of your labor or employment law inquiry, or indicating your AFT Missouri membership for non-job related issues, will help their dedicated team assist you efficiently.

Conclusion: Why this place is suitable for locals

For working individuals and labor unions across Missouri, particularly within the Kansas City metropolitan area, Wickham & Wood stands out as an exceptionally suitable and highly recommended legal resource. Their suitability for locals is rooted in their deep specialization, decades of dedicated service, and clear commitment to the rights of working people.

Firstly, the firm's singular and unwavering focus on labor and employment law for over 30 years means they possess an unparalleled depth of expertise in this critical area. For Missourians, navigating complex issues like collective bargaining, unfair labor practices, or workplace disputes demands attorneys who are not just familiar with the law but live and breathe it. Fred Wickham and Brian Wood's extensive careers and active involvement in the labor community demonstrate this level of commitment, making them true specialists who understand the unique challenges and needs of local workers and unions.

Secondly, their strong advocacy and proven track record of success instill confidence. The firm's dedication to achieving favorable outcomes, whether at the bargaining table, in arbitration, or in the courtroom, means that Missourians are supported by attorneys who are relentless in defending their rights and interests. This results-oriented approach is highly valued by clients seeking tangible solutions to their employment and labor challenges.

Furthermore, the tangible benefits offered to AFT Missouri members – including a free initial consultation and a 25% discount on non-job related legal fees – highlight their commitment to making legal services more accessible and affordable for a significant segment of the local workforce. This direct promotion underscores their dedication to supporting the very community they serve.

Finally, their central Kansas City location provides excellent accessibility for clients throughout the region, reinforcing their role as a local and approachable legal partner. This combination of deep specialization, proven advocacy, community benefits, and convenient location makes Wickham & Wood an ideal choice for any Missourian seeking robust and effective legal representation in labor and employment law. They are not just lawyers; they are dedicated champions for workers' rights in our state.