Best Lawyers in Wichita 2008 Profiles

A glimpse into the lives of four of Wichita's best attorneys and a 100-year-old judge.

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We  asked four of Wichita’s top attorneys and a long-time judge about everything from memorable cases to their favorite legal movie.

MIKEL STOUT
Bet-the-Company, Commercial & Personal Injury Litigation
Foulston Siefkin

Mikel Stout arrives wearing a blue jacket that at first appears to be a typical suit jacket. Upon closer inspection, however, there’s a patch on his left breast pocket that reads “Admiral Windwagon Smith,” a token of the Foulston Siefkin attorney’s role during the 2001 Riverfest. Two nights earlier, Stout’s peers roasted him during a dinner for the Kansas Bar Association. It’s easy to see why the good-natured attorney is so popular. Throughout our conversation, he wears an ever-present smile and has an easy-going manner. Yet behind Stout’s grandfatherly charm is one of the most successful trial lawyers in Kansas. He’s among the best around when it comes to high-stakes commercial cases, having represented companies like Coleman and Boeing.

Stout’s accomplishments outside the courtroom are also impressive. He was editor of the Kansas Law Review at the University of Kansas School of Law. Today, he’s won nearly every legal honor imaginable. In fact, he was recently elected to serve as president of the American College of Trial Lawyers, a prestigious organization of nearly 5,500 attorneys around the nation. We recently sat down with Stout at Foulston Siefkin’s offices for a brief chat.

Q & A
What’s a typical day?
We don’t try nearly as many lawsuits as we used to. I used to try one or two cases per month; now, it’s more like one or two per year. Most of the time is spent analyzing and preparing for cases, many of which never make it to trial. You can tell people that you’re a trial lawyer, but the truth is that if they ask how many times you go to trial, they might be disappointed.

What’s the most rewarding part of your job?
There are two parts of this job that are really fun: One is when you’re first presented with the problem and have to figure out how you’re going to handle it. The other part is if you get to go to trial. You feel like you’re doing something for somebody that will hopefully help their situation.

How do you unwind?
I grew up in the small town of Bazaar, Kansas in Chase County. We still have a place there. I’ll go up when I get a chance and maybe cut firewood or fix fence. It’s physical and different than legal work, but it’s relaxing.

What’s your favorite law movie?
My Cousin Vinny. His technique wasn’t perfect, but he had good results.

Do you still get nervous before a big trial?
I think every good attorney gets nervous. I’m one of those people that if something starts at 9 in the morning, I’ll be there at 8. I do a lot of fretting and pacing. It’s not very productive, but it’s the way I operate.