The Kansas City Business Journal has published the 21st class of Women Who Mean Business. Each of these women has influence in industries that touch nearly every part of the metropolitan Kansas City area. This award recognizes outstanding professional women who have made significant strides in their business or industry, as well as their community. A panel of six judges selected this year’s 25 honorees.

Among the honorees is Mara Cohara, GMLC Class of 2010 and partner at Lathrop GPM, LLP. Mara also serves as a member of the Board of Advisors for Greater Missouri Leadership Foundation.

As Leader of the Environmental and Tort Practice Group and a member of the firm’s Executive Committee, Mara Cohara focuses her practice on litigation matters involving toxic tort, nuisance, product liability, premises liability, breach of warranty and the defense of religious institutions. She has significant experience coordinating large-scale “bet the company” matters and defending high-profile lawsuits that involve media and community attention.

Mara defends companies and religious institutions in jury trials, mediations and arbitrations. Her track record spans state and federal courts in more than 20 states and includes multiple outcomes favorable to her defendant clients in notoriously “plaintiff-friendly” venues. She advises clients in a wide variety of industries, including manufacturing, religious organizations, agribusiness and hospitality.

She is active in many civic and legal organizations in addition to GMLF, serving as a board member with groups including Camp Fire, Lawyers Encouraging Academic Performance, and the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Foundation.

To learn more about Mara and to contact her to congratulate her, you can click here.