Advisory Council

George C. Bruce – Wichita

George C. Bruce practices law in Wichita with Martin, Pringle, Oliver, Wallace & Bauer, LLP, with a focus on banking; business, energy; real estate; and international matters. He has represented clients in litigation and business transactions in over 25 countries.

Bruce received a BA degree from the University of Kansas in 1977, and his JD from Washburn University in 1980.

Robert L. Howard – Wichita

Mr. Howard’s legal experience spans six decades with the Foulston Siefkin law firm, representing both plaintiffs and defendants in virtually every kind of litigation. As lead counsel, he successfully tried and handled appeals in numerous high-profile cases involving complex business transactions. He is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers. He consistently received Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory’s highest “AV” rating and for more than twenty years has been selected by his peers for inclusion in Woodard & White’s Directory of Best Lawyers of America®. He chaired and served as senior counsel to Foulston Siefkin’s Commercial Litigation and Appellate Sections and was Chairman of the firm at the time of his retirement from active management. Mr. Howard’s current practice areas involve consultations on varied matters, evaluation of major litigation, and resolution of religious entity property and personnel disputes.

Mike O’Neal –  Lawrence

Mike is a legal and governmental affairs consultant for O’Neal Consulting, LLC, having started this business after his retirement as CEO of the Kansas Chamber of Commerce in 2016.

Mike was selected as the President & CEO of the Kansas Chamber after serving 28 years in the Kansas House of Representatives and serving two terms as the Speaker of the House. Mike chaired the House Judiciary Committee for a total of 16 years, chaired the House Education Committee, and twice chaired the House Redistricting Committee. He was at the forefront of all economic development and legal reform legislation since the mid-‘80s and was a key player in legislative responses to school finance litigation for the past decade. Honors include being named to Outstanding Young Men of America, Kansas/Missouri “Super Lawyers”, KBA “Making a Difference” award, Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in American Law, and Who’s Who Among Emerging American Leaders.

Mike earned his B.A. from the University of Kansas and his J.D. from the University of Kansas School of Law. He has served on the Board of Governors of the KU Law Society and practiced law in Hutchinson, Kansas from 1976-2012.

Kathleen R. Urbom – Topeka

Kathleen R. Urbom is a graduate of St. Mary of the Plains College and Washburn University School of Law in Topeka, Kansas. She opened her own practice in 1984 through the present, with the exception of three years as General Counsel for a technology start-up company. She practiced in corporate formation, commercial real estate transactions, equipment leasing, construction contract drafting and review, negotiations and other governance and operational functions, non-complex civil litigation, special education law, business succession, and end-of-life planning. She is active in many professional and not-for-profit organizations.