Emily J. Kirk has over 15 years of experience leading Complex Litigation and Class Actions on behalf of plaintiffs in Product Liability, Environmental, Consumer and Commercial Litigation cases.
In one of Ms. Kirk’s most notable cases, she represented a small publicly-traded company against its dominant competitor in a lawsuit involving antitrust allegations. The matter resulted in a business deal and settlement under which the client received tens of millions of dollars. She was also an instrumental part of the team that worked to uncover the financial fraud of Volkswagen, leading to a $40 million settlement on behalf of the citizens of the State of Arizona in the emissions fraud scandal. Since 2018, she has focused her practice on litigating consumer financial services related class actions and arbitrations and has been named co-lead class counsel in class actions related to financial institutions’ improper and unfair overdraft fee practices. Ms. Kirk currently services as McCune Law Group’s Financial Services Practice Group Leader.
Ms. Kirk graduated from Washington University School of Law in St. Louis. After graduating, Ms. Kirk served as Counsel to the U.S. Senate’s Committee on Governmental Affairs, Oversight of Government Management Subcommittee in Washington, D.C., where she advised the Subcommittee on regulatory oversight issues and reform in the areas of federal personnel, homeland security, and food safety. After leaving the Senate, she returned to her home in Southern Illinois, where she worked as an associate attorney for one of the region’s largest plaintiff-focused firms. Ms. Kirk also worked as an associate attorney in the business litigation department at Thompson Coburn LLP in downtown St. Louis, Missouri before joining the McCune Law Group in 2016.
In 2009, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin appointed Ms. Kirk to a bipartisan screening committee that selected Stephen Wigginton as the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois.
In addition to her litigation practice, Emily is involved in the American Bar Association Litigation Section where she currently serves as the Co-Chair of the Social Media Committee and as a member of the Advisory Committee on Nominations. Previously, she served as the Litigation Section’s Co-Chair of the Solo and Small Firm Committee, Liaison to the Membership and Marketing Committee, and as a member of the Mental Health and Wellness Task Force for Lawyers. She was also appointed as a 2018-2019 American Bar Association Membership Advocate and is an American Bar Association Fellow. She regularly serves as a speaker for ABA panels and events. Ms. Kirk is also the former Chair of the Board of Directors for the Illinois YMCA Youth and Government Program, where she continues to volunteer on an annual basis, including currently serving as the Chair of the organization’s CEO search committee. In addition, Ms. Kirk regularly volunteers at her church as a member of its hospitality team and mental health and wellness care ministry.
Emily currently lives in the St. Louis, MO area with her husband, Chris, and three children Kenzie, Delaney, and Liam – and their two Malitpoos, Quincy and Maisy Grace. In her spare time, you will likely find her cheering on her kids on the soccer field and in marching band competitions around the country. She’s also in the process of becoming an avid college football and basketball fan as Kenzie attends the University of Nebraska and Delaney will soon be heading to the University of Arizona.
