Meet Our Team
Mike S.J. Albano
Mike Albano is a Senior Partner at Albano, Richart, Welch & Bajackson (F/K/A Welch, Martin & Albano), where he has practiced for over 50 years. He received his Juris Doctorate degree from UMKC School of Law in 1968. He is a noted family law author, lecturer and litigator who limits his practice to family law. He has been listed in every edition of "Best Lawyers in America." Mike has been honored as" Kansas City Business Journal and Kansas City Magazine "Best of the Best;" UMKC Law School Practitioner of the year award; Missouri Bar Association Family Law Section Practitioner of the Year; and has been a member of Super Lawyers listings from 2005-present. Mike is a Fellow and a Past National President of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers; the 2010-2012 President of the Missouri Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers; a Diplomate and Executive Committee member of the American College of Family Trial Lawyers; and a recipient of the Missouri Bar Association President's Award in September 2011. Mike has served as the Chair/President of the university of Missouri System Alliance of Alumni Associations and Extension beginning June 2012-2014. He is also a recipient of the Bill French Alumni Service Award in 2014 and was named as Marquis' Who's Who in Family Law in 2017. Mr. Albano was one of two attorneys charged with drafting the current Dissolution of Marriage Act in the State of Missouri.
Professional Associations and Memberships
American Bar Association, Family Law Section, Chairman, 1984-1985
American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Foundation, President, 1997-1999
The Missouri Bar, Chairman, Family Law Committee, 1977-1978
American College of Family Trial Lawyers, Member, Executive Committee
American College of Family Trial Lawyers, Diplomat
University of Missouri - Kansas City Law School Alumni Association, President 1996-1997
University of Missouri - Kansas City Alumni Association, President, 2001-2003
American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, President, 1993 - 1994
Published Works
Two Chapters of the Missouri Family Law Handbook, 1995
"The Best of the Best", Kansas City Business Journal, 2002
"The Best of the Best", Kansas City Magazine, 2002
Honors & Awards
AV Rated
University of Missouri - Kansas City School Of Law Practitioner of the Year Award, 2001
University of Missouri - Kansas City Presidential Ciatation for Alumni Service, 2003
Best Lawyers of America
Recipient, Missouri Bar Family Law Section Practicioner, 2004
Missouri and Kansas "Super Lawyers", 2005-2006
Recipient, University of Missouri, Kansas City Law School "Best Friend" award, 2006
Fellow, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
Areas of Practice
Family Law
Fraternities/Sororities
Phi Delta Phi
Omicron Delta Kappa
Education
University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law
JD 1968
University of Missouri, Kansas City
BA 1965
Erin B. Bajackson
Erin Bajackson is a partner who limits her practice to family law issues including dissolution of marriage/divorce, paternity, custody modifications, third party custody matters, minor guardianships, juvenile law, and adoptions. Her practice also includes mediation for domestic law matters. She is licensed in both Kansas and Missouri, and practices primarily in Jackson, Clay, Platte, Cass, Johnson (KS), and Wyandotte Counties.
Erin has been selected by Super Lawyers as a Rising Star in 2018 and 2019 and currently serves as the Executive Secretary/Treasurer of the Eastern Jackson County Bar Association. She has also authored the family law case law summaries for the Missouri Bar since 2015.
She joined the firm after working in sports television as an anchor/reporter in both Texas and Kansas City for 10 years. When she is not busy with her cases, she enjoys time at home and on the lake with family and friends.
Areas of Practice
Dissolution/Divorce
Child Custody Modifications
Paternity
Adoption
Juvenile Law
Minor Guardianships
Orders of Protection
Mediation
Education
University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law
JD 2013 Emphasis on Child & Family Law
University of Kansas, Lawrence Kansas
BS 2001 Broadcast Journalism & Mass Communications
Erin B. Bajackson
Erin Bajackson is a partner who limits her practice to family law issues including dissolution of marriage/divorce, paternity, custody modifications, third party custody matters, minor guardianships, juvenile law, and adoptions. Her practice also includes mediation for domestic law matters. She is licensed in both Kansas and Missouri, and practices primarily in Jackson, Clay, Platte, Cass, Johnson (KS), and Wyandotte Counties.
Erin has been selected by Super Lawyers as a Rising Star in 2018 and 2019 and currently serves as the Executive Secretary/Treasurer of the Eastern Jackson County Bar Association. She has also authored the family law case law summaries for the Missouri Bar since 2015.
She joined the firm after working in sports television as an anchor/reporter in both Texas and Kansas City for 10 years. When she is not busy with her cases, she enjoys time at home and on the lake with family and friends.
Published Works
Best Interests of the Child - Legislative Journey Still in Motion, Journal of the Am.Acad. Matrimonial Lawyers, Vol 25, No. 2, 2012
Classes/Seminars
"Best Interests of the Child: Custody Standards, Past Present & Future", MO Family Law Symposium 2012
UMKC Family Law Summit, 2019
Honors & Awards
Super Lawyers - Rising Star 2018 & 2019
Candler S. Rogers Writing Award
The John Speca Family Law Award
Terry L. Thomas Trial Practice Award
Areas of Practice
Dissolution/Divorce
Child Custody Modifications
Paternity
Adoption
Juvenile Law
Minor Guardianships
Orders of Protection
Mediation
Education
University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law
JD 2013 Emphasis on Child & Family Law
University of Kansas, Lawrence Kansas
BS 2001 Broadcast Journalism & Mass Communications
Professional Associations & Memberships
American Bar Association - Family Law Section, Member
Eastern Jackson County Bar Association, Executive Secretary
KCMBA, Member
Missouri Bar, Family Case Law editor
Bar Admissions
Missouri, 2013
Kansas, 2014
U.S. District Court of Western District of Missouri, 2013
U.S. District Court of Kansas, 2014
R. Scott Richart
R. Scott Richart is a senior partner and currently the managing partner at Albano, Richart, Welch & Bajackson, LLC (f/k/a Welch, Martin & Albano), where he has practiced since joining the firm in 1997. He received his Juris Doctorate degree from Creighton University School of Law in 1992.
Mr. Richart practices exclusively in the area of Family Law. In that regard, he assists people who are going through a dissolution proceeding or a modification of a prior dissolution action and has extensive experience in advocating for his clients in the courtroom when litigation is necessary.
In addition to his matrimonial work, Mr. Richart has lectured extensively on family law matters to include prenuptial and postnuptial agreements; paternity establishment actions; complex high asset property divisions; the initial establishment and subsequent modifications of maintenance and child support orders; and contested guardianship and adoption actions.
Many of Mr. Richart's professional affiliations reflect his practice area, and they have included being listed as a Super Lawyer in the State of Missouri as well as becoming a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. He is also a member of the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, where he has served as President of the Family Law Committee, and the Eastern Jackson County Bar Association.
Professional Associations & Memberships
American Academy Of Matrimonial Lawyers, Diplomate
National Academy of Family Law Attorneys
Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, Chairman, Family Law Committee, 2002 - 2003
Eastern Jackson County Bar Association, Member
American Bar Association, Member
Classes/Seminars
Bumps in the Road to Margaritaville: Issues in Dividing Retirement Plans in Divorce, 2017 Missouri Advanced Law Symposium
When is a Judgment Final in Law?, 2016 Missouri Bar Annual Meeting
Co-habitation Agreements, 2015 Family Law Conference, Missouri Bar Association
Honors & Awards
BV Rated
National Academy of Family Law Attorneys, Top 10 Nationally Ranked Attorney, 2017
American Institute of Legal Counsel, Top 10 Attorney
The National Advocates, Top 100 Lawyers
2016 Centennial Lion Award, Greater Kansas City Sigma Alpha Epsilon
Past Employment Positions
Cpt. U.S. Army Reserve, Armor Officer
Fraternities/Sororities
Phi Delta Phi
Pro Bono Activities
Executive Director, National Board of Anesthesiology, Inc.
Military Order of World Wars
Areas of Practice
Family Law
Juvenile Law
Bar Admissions
Missouri, 1993
Education
Creighton University School Of Law, Omaha Nebraska
JD 1992
University of Missouri, Colombia Missouri
B.A. 1985
Andrea M. Welch
Andrea Welch is a partner, practicing in criminal defense. She also serves as the Chief Prosecutor for the City of Suga Creek, Missouri.
Andrea has been an active member of Missouri Bar and was previously the President of the Eastern Jackson County Bar Association (board member since 2001, member since 1999). She was also the President of the Missouri Municipal Prosecutors Association (member since 2000). Andrea has been a member of the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association Municipal Court Committee since 1999 and a member of the Missouri Criminal Defense Attorneys since 2001.
She has been a Sugar Creek Optimist member since 2007 and on the Sugar Creek Parks and Recreation Committee since 2005.
Professional Associations & Memberships
Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, Member
Eastern Jackson County Bar Association, Member, Board of Directors, President
Missouri Municipal Prosecutor Association, Member, Board of Directors, President
Cambridge Who's Who, Lifetime Member Registry of Executives, Professionals and Entrepreneurs
Trial Advocacy I of the National District Attorneys Association - National Advocacy Center
Best Law Firms in Missouri as published in the U.S. News & World Report
Currently
Former Private Practice in Criminal Defense with Welch, Martin, & Albano law office
Private Practice in Criminal Defense with Albano, Richart, Welch and Bajackson Law Office.
Assistant Prosecutor, City of Sugar Creek since 2017
Chief Prosecutor, City of Sugar Creek since 2018
Past Employment Positions
Jackson County Prosecutor
Head of DWI Unit in Western Jackson County
Jackson County Assistant DA
Prosecutor, City of Blue Springs
Areas of Practice
Criminal Law
Bar Admissions
Missouri, 1998
Fraternities/Sororities
Delta Theta Phi
Education
University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law
JD 1998
Avila College - Dual Degrees
Bachelor of Legal Studies 1992
Bachelor of Science 1992
Alyssa Kempf
Alyssa is an associate attorney, who joined the firm in July 2019. Prior to coming to ARWB, Alyssa practiced at a firm in North Kansas City after admission to the Missouri Bar in 2017. She limits her practice to all family law matters including dissolution of marriage, paternity, custody modifications, and minor guardianships.
Alyssa is originally from St. Joseph, Missouri. She received her undergraduate degree at Northwest Missouri State University, earning a Bachelor of Science in Political Science. She graduated from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law a semester early with an emphasis in Child and Family Law. Alyssa was a member of the Phi Delta Phi Honor Society while in Law School and was consistently on the Dean’s List. She was the Research Editor on the Executive Board of The Urban Lawyer, an American Bar Association law journal. During law school, Alyssa worked for two family law firms. She quickly discovered her passion for Domestic Law and all related areas. In her second year of law school, Alyssa began practicing as a Rule 13 certified attorney with the Child and Family Services Clinic at the University of Missouri-Kansas City representing indigent parents in child custody matters and assisting in Termination of Parental Rights cases with the Juvenile Officer.
In her free time, Alyssa enjoys traveling and spending time with family,friends, her husband and her dog, Ollie.