Our Story

Willie founded Denning Law Firm in 2020, but the foundation of Denning Law Firm began long before 2020.  Willie met his wife Emily in high school in Nevada, Missouri.  After getting married, Emily began working as a paralegal at a local law firm.  Willie worked third shift at a factory while taking classes at Pittsburg State University.  In 1994, Emily and Willie welcomed their first daughter Paeten.  After the birth of their second daughter, Addison, Willie and Emily made the decision to move to Kansas City so Willie could pursue law school. 

In 2000, Willie began law school at the University of Missouri - Kansas City.  Emily worked at a small Kansas City firm and the girls attended school at Christ the King.  Willie would pick Paeten up after school and take her back to the law library where they would both work on “homework.”  Paeten even attended classes on occasions and got called on in a contracts class.  She spent multiple Halloweens trick or treating around the halls of the law school.    

When Willie graduated, he and Emily worked together for nearly two years at the local law firm where Emily worked while Willie was in law school.  Willie left that firm and joined a mid-size Overland Park insurance defense firm in 2005.  When Paeten and her sister were not in school, they would go to work with Willie.  Willie became a partner, tried multiple jury trials to verdict and obtained numerous favorable verdicts and results for his clients.  He argued before the court of appeals in both Missouri and Kansas including arguing before the Kansas Supreme Court.  Willie remained at that firm for almost 15 years before leaving and starting Denning Law Firm.  

In 2016, Paeten graduated from the University of Kansas and immediately knew she wanted to go to law school.  In 2019, she graduated from the University of Kansas School of Law.  She began her practice at a local Kansas City plaintiff firm as an associate attorney doing plaintiff personal injury work and handling police brutality cases.  In March of 2021, Paeten joined her dad and mom at Denning Law Firm.   

Our family has been working together for over 30 years.  When you trust Denning Law Firm to handle your personal injury claim, you are getting more than a personal injury law firm, you are getting a family that will work for you, your loved ones and the compensation you need for medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages and other damages you have suffered.  WHEN YOU OR A LOVED ONE HAS BEEN INJURED, LET OUR FAMILY FIGHT FOR YOURS.