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Rouse Frets White Goss Gentile Rhodes, P.C.
4510 Belleview Avenue, Suite 300
Kansas City, MO 64111
Direct: (816) 502-4711
Email: jbowers@rousepc.com
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Bar & Court Admissions

Missouri, 1971
Supreme Court of the United States
U.S.  Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
U.S. District Court, Western District of Missouri

Education

  • University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law, J.D., 1971
  • University of Missouri-Columbia, B.S.B.A. Public Administration, 1968

Experience

Jim is a leader in land use and real estate development throughout the greater Kansas City area. The focus of Jim’s practice is public law, including development, redevelopment, zoning, variances, tax increment financing, and condemnation.  As a former Assistant City Attorney for the City of Kansas City, Jim has a thorough knowledge of building codes and building permit requirements. He has been an adviser for many economic development projects and forums.

See what Economic Development Incentives, Government Relations, Land Use & Zoning, Municipal Law & Governance, and Public Law projects James has helped complete on our Project Map.

Areas of Practice

  • Economic Development Incentives
  • Land Use & Zoning
  • Public Law
  • Municipal Law & Governance
  • Government Relations

Areas of Emphasis

  • Real Estate Tax Incentives
  • Development
  • Redevelopment
  • Eminent Domain

Activities and Memberships

  • The Missouri Bar
  • Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association
  • National Institute of Municipal Law Officers
  • Deputy City Attorney, 1984, City of Kansas City, Missouri
  • Assistant City Attorney, 1972-1983 City of Kansas City, Missouri
  • Acting City Attorney, 1983, City of Kansas City, Missouri
  • Missouri Municipal Attorneys Association, President 1980-1981

Honors and Recognition

  • Selected Best of the Bar, Kansas City Business Journal, for Land Use & Zoning
  • Chambers USA – America’s Leading Lawyers for Business
  • Top Attorney in Missouri, KC Magazine
  • Selected among The Best Lawyers in America®
  • Selected three times by The Best Lawyers in America®  as Lawyer of the Year – Land Use and Zoning Law
  • Selected as Super Lawyer, Missouri and Kansas
  • Received highest attorney rating from Martindale-Hubbell – AV Preeminent Rating for 25 years