Mischa Buford Epps chosen to lead The Missouri Bar

The Missouri Bar’s Board of Governors on March 5 unanimously approved Mischa Buford Epps as the bar’s next executive director.

Epps succeeds Sebrina Barrett, who resigned in 2019 to relocate with her family to New York. Epps will be the bar’s fifth executive director in its 76-year history. Her hiring wraps up a search process which began in November.

Starting April 1, Epps will oversee the day-to-day operations of the bar, which employs 45 people at its headquarters in Jefferson City. In a statement, she said she’s honored and grateful for the opportunity.

“The bar provides relevant and meaningful services every day to improve the profession, the law and the lives of Missouri citizens,” she said. “I’m excited to help lead those efforts.”

Missouri Bar President Tom Bender said in a statement that Epps “has a history of being successful both as an attorney and in leadership areas which align with our organization’s strategic goals.”

“Her strong track record, her ability to build relationships and her diverse knowledge of the profession makes her uniquely qualified to continue building on our commitment to help lawyers even better serve their clients and communities,” he said. “We are thrilled to have her join our greatteam at the bar.”

Epps is a former partner of Shook, Hardy & Bacon in Kansas City who resides in Columbia with her husband, U.S. Magistrate Judge Willie J. Epps Jr., and their young daughter.

She practiced at the firm for more than 20 years, focusing on business and tax law.

During her time at Shook, she was a founding member and past chair of the firm’s diversity community. She also has held leadership roles in several bar organizations, including the Jackson County Bar Association and the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association.

Epps also has been recognized for her volunteer service. She has served as legal counsel to a police board and also on the board of Legal Aid of Western Missouri.

Missouri Lawyers Media recognized her and her husband jointly for their mentorship of young lawyers at the 2014 Up & Coming Awards. She also received an Up & Coming award in 2009, as well as a Women’s Justice Award in 2010.

Epps received her undergraduate degree in economics from Washington University in St. Louis and her law degree from the University of Texas at Austin School of Law.