Topeka Bar Association Committees and Divisions

Topeka Bar Association committees and divisions offer members an opportunity to serve the legal profession and the public. They are appointed annually by the president of the Association to address issues and coordinate activities of the bar.

Interested in Joining a Committee or Division?
To find out more information including meeting dates and times, contact information and announcements, contact the people below.



Young Lawyers' Division
The TBA's Young Lawyers' Division meets the second Tuesday each month at Lawyer's Title of Topeka at noon. Lunch is provided by Lawyer's Title. This section encourages TBA members ages 36 and under and members of the bar 5 years or less to become active in the association and network with other young lawyers. Throughout the year, the YLD has activities and programs like a scholarship for a law student, philanthropy and networking events with colleagues and students. For more information, contact the President of the YLD Matt Bergmann by clicking here or call him at (785) 354-1100.

Government Lawyers' Division
The Topeka Bar Association's Government Lawyers meet the third Thursday of each month at noon at the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library. Starting in 2007, they will meet the third Tuesday of each month. This division puts on fun programs and CLEs that benefit all attorneys, not just government lawyers. Miss one meeting, miss a lot! For more information, contact Doug Shima by clicking here or call him at (785) 296-5408.

Committees

Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee Chair William F. Ebert William F. Ebert, PA 2110 SW Belle Ave., Suite A Topeka, KS 66614 (785) 272-1600; Fax: (785) 272-1694 wfepa@ebertlaw.com Mission: To cooperate with the court and the bar to foster the use of various ADR techniques such as mediation and arbitration in appropriate cases.	Bench Bar Committee Chair Stephen W. Cavanaugh Cavanaugh, Smith & Lemon 2942A SW Wanamaker Dr., Suite 100 Topeka, KS 66614 (785) 440-4000; Fax: (785) 440-3900 scavanaugh@csl-law.com Mission: To work for the improvement of the legal and judicial systems through cooperation with the judiciary.
CLE Committee Chair David R. Cooper Fisher, Patterson, Sayler & Smith, LLP PO Box 949 Topeka, KS 66601 (785) 232-7761; Fax: (785) 232-6604 dcooper@fisherpatterson.com Mission: To plan and implement a comprehensive program for providing quality continuing legal education to attorneys at a reasonable cost.	Family Law Committee Chair Alan F. Alderson Alderson, Alderson, Weiler, Conklin, Burghardt & Crow, LLC 2101 SW 21st St. Topeka, KS 66604 (785) 232-0753; Fax: (785) 232-1866 alana@aldersonlaw.com Mission: To address family practice issues that impact upon practicing lawyers, their clients, the judiciary, and the public.
Law Day Committee Chair Terelle A. Mock Fisher, Patterson, Sayler & Smith, LLP PO Box 949 Topeka, KS 66601 (785) 232-7761; Fax: (785) 232-6604 tmock@fisherpatterson.com Mission: To plan, develop and implement a comprehensive program for the celebration of Law Day throughout the city and in the schools.	Lawyers' Assistance Committee Chair James “Jeb” E. Benfer, III McCullough, Wareheim & LaBunker PO Box 1453 Topeka, KS 66601 (785) 233-2323; Fax: (785) 233-1955 jebbenfer@mcwala.com Mission: To confidentially provide assistance to any attorney needing help by reason of a mental or physical infirmity or disorder or addiction to or excessive use of drugs or intoxicants.
Legislative Committee Chair Melissa A. Wangemann Kansas Secretary of State Memorial Hall, 120 SW 10th Ave., Room 140 Topeka, KS 66612 (785) 296-4801; Fax: (785) 368-8032 MelissaW@kssos.org Mission: To identify legislative issues that impact upon the legal profession and bring such issues to the Board of Directors for consideration.	Medical-Legal Committee Chair Catherine Walberg KaMMCO 623 SW 10th St., Suite 200 Topeka, KS 66612 (785) 232-2224; Fax: (785) 232-4704 cwalberg@kammco.com Mission: To address issues that impact matters relating to the interaction of the medical and legal communities.
Membership Committee Chair Amanda Kiefer Security Benefit One Security Benefit Place Topeka, KS 66636 (785) 438-3635; Fax: (785) 368-1325 amanda.kiefer@securitybenefit.com Mission: To encourage membership in the Topeka Bar Association.	Memorials Committee Chair Daniel J. Gronniger KVC Behavioral Healthcare, Inc. 3712 SW Burlingame Rd., Suite A Topeka, KS 66618-3437 (785) 861-3607; Fax: (785) 266-8963 dgronniger@kvc.org Mission: To provide for the preparation and presentation of memorials in honor of deceased members of the Association.
Naturalization Committee Chair Pedro L. Irigonegaray Irigonegaray & Associates 1535 SW 29th St. Topeka, KS 66611 (785) 267-6115; Fax: (785) 267-9458 Mission: To participate with the United States District Courts for the District of Kansas in Topeka in the process of developing for naturalized citizens ceremonies that provide them with a speaker, musical entertainment, and a formal color guard for the official naturalization ceremonies.	Probate Committee Chair Scott S. Sumpter Alderson, Alderson, Weiler, Conklin, Burghardt & Crow, LLC 2101 SW 21st St. Topeka, KS 66604 (785) 232-0753; Fax: (785) 232-1866 sumpter@aldersonlaw.com Mission: To address probate practice issues that impact upon practicing lawyers, their clients, the judiciary, and the public.
Professional Ethics & Grievance Committee Chair S. Lucky DeFries Coffman, Defries & Nothern 534 S. Kansas Ave., Suite 925 Topeka, KS 66603 (785) 234-3461; Fax: (785) 234-3363 ldefries@cdnlaw.com Mission: To have charge of all matters relating to the conduct of lawyers with respect to each other, their clients, and the courts.	Program & Entertainment Committee Chair Elizabeth R. Herbert Irigonegaray & Associates 1535 SW 29th St. Topeka, KS 66611 (785) 267-6115; Fax: (785) 267-9458 Mission: To provide programs at regular or special meetings of the Association when requested by the Board of Directors.
Public Relations Committee Chair Natalie Haag Security Benefit Corp. One Security Benefit Place Topeka, KS 66636 (785) 438-3121; Fax: (785) 368-1364 natalie.haag@securitybenefit.com Mission: To generate programs to improve the public image of the legal profession and to respond to the issues of public concern.	Public Service Committee Chair Eric Rucker 3422 SW Arrowhead Rd. Topeka, KS 66614 (785) 271-6016 Mission: To be responsible for providing liaison between the Topeka Bar Association and Kansas Legal Services of Topeka, and provide ongoing support for and encouragement of all pro bono activities of members of the TBA.
Publications Committee Chair Terry E. Beck Beck Law Office 434 S Topeka Blvd. Topeka, KS 66603 (785) 235-3415; Fax: (785) 235-8089 beckesq@swbell.net Mission: To prepare the Association's publications including the monthly newsletter, The Briefings.	Young Lawyers Committee President Matthew R. Bergmann Davis, Unrein, Biggs & Head LLP PO Box 3575 Topeka, KS 66601-3575 (785) 354-1100; Fax: (785) 354-1113 matt@davisunrein.com Mission: To study problems confronting young members of the bar, make recommendations for the solution thereof, and to provide opportunities for young lawyers to become acquainted with other members of the bar.