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Craig S. O’Dear, CSO Law
Staff Report//May 14, 2026//
Founding Partner
Kansas City
Craig O’Dear has practiced complex, high-stakes business litigation for 43 years, noting he loves “the competition and challenge presented by the litigation practice,” as well as the variety and complexity that business disputes bring.
Among his most notable matters was the defense of World Wrestling Entertainment in the accidental death of Owen Hart, including a subsequent four-week trial against British manufacturer Lewmar on a contribution claim.
O’Dear’s representative clients have included Tyson Foods, Sprint, H&R Block, Mercy Health, UMB Financial Corp. and the Hyatt Skywalk defendants, among others. He has also identified increasing client demand for experienced counsel and the growing role of AI legal tools as defining shifts in the year ahead.
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