Jim is a seasoned litigator who specializes in civil rights violations, but also operates extensively in the fields of commercial and employment law. He worked for eight years at a sizable, international law firm before starting KW Law, where he specialized in commercial litigation of all kinds, such as contract and complex tort claims, class and collective actions, labor and employment, and white-collar defense and investigations. Jim has also defended several clients pro bono, even aiding the freedom of a man finally declared innocent after 16 years in prison.
In the beginning of his career, Jim served as a judicial clerk to the Hon. William R. Price, Jr. of the Missouri Supreme Court. He held a two-year clinical graduate fellowship at Georgetown University Law Center in the Criminal Justice Clinic, and also served as an assistant public defender with the Missouri State Public Defender’s office in St. Louis, Missouri.
Jim and his wife Elissa, who practices law in St. Louis, have a profound respect for social justice, technology, history, music, and sports. They currently live in the Shaw neighborhood with their two children and two dogs.
EDUCATION
New York University – J.D. (2001)
Saint Louis University – B.A., Computer Science and Russian Studies, magna cum laude (1998) St. Louis University High School (1994)
LEGAL BACKGROUND
Founding Partner, Khazaeli Wyrsch (2014-present) Associate, Bryan Cave (2005-2014)
Assistant Public Defender, Missouri State Public Defender (2004-2005)
Prettyman Fellow, Criminal Justice Clinic, Georgetown University Law Center (2002-2004)
Judicial Clerk, Hon. William R. Price, Jr., Missouri Supreme Court (2001-2002)
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
American Bar Association
ArchCity Defenders, Board Member
Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis
City Garden Montessori School, Member of Anti-Bias/Anti-Racism Committee
Leadership St. Louis program by FOCUS St. Louis, Participant 2015-16
Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, Member of Young Friends Steering Committee
ADMISSIONS AND DISTINCTIONS
Missouri (2001)
District of Columbia (2002)
United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh and Eighth Circuit
United States District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Missouri, and Central and Southern Districts of Illinois
Award from the Foundation for Improvement of Justice, Inc. (2010)
Missouri/Kansas Super Lawyers (2012-2014)
Missouri Lawyers Weekly Up & Coming Lawyers (2011)
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS AND PRESS
• Bryan Cave Team Helps Free Man Wrongfully Imprisoned For Murder, (March 11, 2009)
• How Municipalities in St. Louis County, Mo., Profit from Poverty, Washington Post (September 3, 2014)
The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely upon advertisements.