Baker Sterchi Cowden & Rice Member Kara Stubbs was elected to serve as Chair of the Board of Directors of ALFA International (ALFA) at the 2018 Annual Meeting, held October 24-26 in Montreal, Canada. Stubbs’ term as Chair begins immediately and will run through October 2020, after which she will serve as Chair Emeritus through October 2022.
ALFA is a non-profit premier network of independent law firms providing clients with high-quality, cost-efficient legal services throughout the world, as well as offering additional value through seminar and CLE programming, compendia offerings, and networking and relationship building opportunities.
Founded in 1980, ALFA was the first and continues to be one of the largest and strongest legal networks of law firms throughout the world. ALFA’s 70 international firms are located throughout Europe, Asia, Australia/New Zealand, Africa, Canada, Mexico and South America. ALFA’s 80 U.S. firms maintain offices in 95 of the 100 largest metropolitan areas. Baker Sterchi Cowden & Rice is the ALFA member firm in the Kansas City, Missouri; Overland Park, Kansas; and surrounding areas.
“ALFA is a premier network of 150 law firms not just in the United States, but worldwide. To have a member of Baker Sterchi serve as Chair of the organization is the highest honor. Kara Stubbs is a terrific leader and will do a tremendous job heading up ALFA,” said Baker Sterchi Cowden & Rice Managing Member, Scott Kreamer.
Stubbs previously served on the ALFA Board of Directors as Vice Chair (2016-2018), Secretary (2012-2013), and Member (2010-2013). She has also served as a Member of the North American Membership Committee, Chair and Vice Chair of the Product Liability & Complex Tort Practice Group, and Chair of the Medical Device and Drug Practice Group.
In addition to her service to ALFA, Stubbs has been an active member of various other legal organizations over her career, including the International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC), American Bar Association (ABA), Defense Research Institute (DRI), and the Missouri Bar Association, where she has served in various chair, vice-chair, and liaison positions.
A Member of the firm since 1998, Stubbs has extensive experience in the area of products liability, particularly the defense of manufacturers of pharmaceutical and medical device products, construction equipment, flavorings, prepared foods, commercial fireworks, various consumer products and children’s products. Her practice is also committed to the defense of premises liability matters for several restaurant chains and various other commercial matters, including the defense of class action and multi-party matters in Missouri, Kansas and throughout the country.