Litigation

Paul Harper is counsel in the firm’s Jefferson City and Columbia offices, where he advises clients on litigation, administrative law, education law, regulatory compliance, and government relations. Drawing on more than 20 years of senior legal and leadership experience in Missouri state government, Paul helps clients navigate complex legal and regulatory challenges with practical, strategic, and efficient solutions.

Before joining the firm, Paul served in several high-level legal and policy roles across Missouri state government. Most recently, he was Legal Counsel for the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, where he advised agency leadership on rulemaking, administrative hearings, Sunshine Law compliance, FERPA, civil rights matters, investigations, and public policy issues affecting education and early childhood programs.

Previously, Paul served as General Counsel for the Missouri State Auditor’s Office, where he directed the office’s legal department, supervised litigation, advised executive leadership on legal and operational matters, and oversaw public records and transparency compliance. His experience also includes serving as Legislative Director and Deputy General Counsel for the Missouri Department of Revenue, where he worked extensively on taxation, regulatory enforcement, legislative strategy, and large-scale government operations.

Earlier in his career, Paul served as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Missouri, representing state agencies in litigation and appellate matters across Missouri courts, including appearances before the Missouri Supreme Court and Missouri Court of Appeals.

Paul’s broad public-sector background gives him unique insight into how agencies make decisions, how regulations are developed and enforced, and how clients can effectively navigate government processes and disputes.

While attending the University of Missouri–Kansas City School of Law, Paul served as Managing Editor of The Urban Lawyer, a national legal journal focused on local government and urban law.