/ Lawyers
Contact Rachel - rsmith@smithcoonrod.com
Rachel Smith primarily represents plaintiffs in personal injury litigation. She also works with small business clients handling contracts, disputes and other litigation issues. She graduated from Kansas State University with honors and graduated from the University of Kansas School of Law in 1999 with a law degree and a Masters in Business Administration. Ms. Smith is admitted to practice law in both Kansas and Missouri. In 2005 she and Brett Coonrod formed The Law Office of Smith/Coonrod LLC, in order to better assist those in need of her services. Ms. Smith is very active in her community. She is an executive member of the Board of Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Kansas City and is a Big Sister. She also serves as general counsel for the organization. She co-founded and volunteers for the Entrepreneurship Center assisting local business owners and start-ups. She is a member of the Kansas Bar Association, the American Bar Association, and the Missouri Bar. She is also a member of the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, the Bar Leadership Academy, the American Trial Lawyers Association and the Earl O’Connor Inn of Court
Contact Brett - bcoonrod@smithcoonrod.com
Brett Coonrod graduated from the University of North Texas in 1974 and from the University of Kansas Law School in 1977. He is currently admitted to practice law in Kansas and Missouri. Mr. Coonrod has extensive experience in all areas of litigation and currently represents defendants in civil cases as well as ensuring that those injured through the negligence of others obtain a fair recovery. He also has an extensive practice assisting business with all of their litigation needs. He practiced insurance defense work for many years which gives him the experience to defend individuals and business clients as well as providing him with a unique perspective on what it takes to prepare and present a successful plaintiff’s case. Mr. Coonrod also has experience in toxic tort, real estate and general business litigation having previously served as general counsel for a small corporation responsible for all aspects of its litigation and other legal needs. Mr. Coonrod has also worked extensively with franchisees of a national franchise network. He has successfully tried numerous cases in both state and federal courts. Mr. Coonrod is active in the Northeast Johnson County community serving as General Counsel and ex officio board member of the Northeast Johnson County Chamber of Commerce and having recently completed the Leadership Northeast program, an educational leadership program designed to identify and strengthen the leadership skills of the participants and to put that knowledge into action in the Northeast Johnson County community. Mr. Coonrod is a member of the Missouri Bar, the Kansas Bar Association, the American Bar Association and the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association.
Contact Charles - cmiller@smithcoonrod.com
Charlie Miller is a newly admitted attorney concentrating his practice on personal injury litigation, family law, and business litigation. Charlie graduated from Kansas State University in 2006 and from the University of Kansas School of Law in 2009. Mr. Miller worked with the Law Offices of Smith/Coonrod as a law clerk since September 2007 before joining the firm as an associate attorney in June 2009. In law school, Mr. Miller was a member of the Law School’s Moot Court Council and competed at the National Environmental Law Moot Court Competition held in White Plains, New York. Mr. Miller also served as a staff member for the University of Kansas Journal of Law and Public Policy. During Mr. Miller’s tenure at KU Law, he was awarded a CALI Excellence for the Future Award for receiving the top grade in the Media Law Clinic. Mr. Miller is admitted to practice law in the state and federal courts in Kansas and Missouri.
Contact Rhonda - rmckinzie@smithcoonrod.com
Rhonda McKinzie joined the firm in March of this year as a paralegal/investigator. She is also managing many office functions and is crucial to assisting the attorneys with moving cases along efficiently. Rhonda graduated from Johnson County Community College with an associate’s degree in Paralegal Studies and a Paralegal Certificate in 2007. In addition to her skills as a paralegal, Rhonda is also licensed in Kansas as a Private Investigator. She is a member of the Kansas Association of Licensed Investigators and Heartland Association of Legal Assistants.
