Formerly the president of two companies, David has a firsthand knowledge of business that most attorneys lack. It's what gives him an edge.

“Attorneys can specialize in business transactions or corporate finance, but those who have actually operated a business have a two-dimensional perspective,” he said. “After being responsible for the performance of two companies, I view my role as not to sit passively in my office and wait to be tapped for legal counsel. Instead, I take ownership of and proactively help my clients advance their business objectives and improve their overall performances.”

David's law career spans more than 15 years; his business career, nearly five years. Before joining Levy Craig in 2006, he worked a dual role as President and General Counsel at KLT Inc., the strategic investment subsidiary of Great Plains Energy (the parent company of Kansas City Power & Light). He also served as President of KLT Gas Inc., a natural gas exploration and development subsidiary.

“During my tenure at KLT, I not only developed successful strategic business plans, but also implemented them in achieving both short-term and long-term goals,” David said.

Prior to KLT, Haydon was senior corporate counsel of Farmland Industries, Inc., for six years. Before that, he practiced at two other local law firms.

ACTIVITIES
> Director and Financial Committee Chair, Whitefield Academy
> Director, Integrity Resource Center

PUBLISHED WORKS/PRESENTATIONS
> Author, “Identifying and Preserving the Attorney-Client Privilege in
   Various Business Transactions,&rdquo The Journal of the Kansas Bar
   Association, Sept./Oct., 1992
> Presenter, Choice of Business Entity, University of Missouri-Kansas
   City-sponsored CLE program, 1995

EDUCATION
> J.D., University of Virginia School of Law, Charlottesville, Va., 1990
       > Honors: With Distinction
       > Articles editor, Virginia Tax Review
       > Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Project
> B.S. (Business), University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kan., 1987
       > Honors: With Distinction
       > Beta Gamma Sigma
       > Head teaching assistant, Business Statistics

BAR ADMISSIONS
> Kansas, 1991
> Missouri, 1990