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David Bell

Criminal defense Attorney at Kansas City, MO

5.0   54 reviews

Licensed for 25 years

Virtual consultation available

Free consultation

About David

Learn David’s areas of practice.

DAVID BELL IS A TOP-RATED CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY IN KANSAS CITY WITH SIGNIFICANT EXPERIENCE IN CRIMINAL MATTERS AT THE LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL. HE SPECIALIZES IN HELPING GOOD PEOPLE NAVIGATE THROUGH A BAD SITUATION. CALL 816-844-6916.

HELPING GOOD PEOPLE NAVIGATE A BAD SITUATION

Empathy assists David Bell in being able to better understand his clients and their circumstances. It ensures that they are not only being provided with the legal guidance they need but also with the emotional support they require. It helps to establish respect and trust, and to achieve the best outcome possible.

Mr. Bell has significant experience in criminal matters at the local, state and federal level. When combined with his educational background and other life experiences, Mr. Bell is uniquely situated to help individuals and companies with investigations and charges that could result in serious personal and professional consequences.

​After obtaining his business and tax law degrees, Mr. Bell worked as a tax and estate planning attorney. Combining his desire to help people with his love of the law, Mr. Bell then served as a trial attorney with the Missouri Public Defender’s System in Jackson County, Missouri. After representing thousands of clients in matters ranging from misdemeanor assault to first-degree murder, Mr. Bell joined the Firm in 2007 where he is now a shareholder.

​While Mr. Bell continues to represent clients in local and state courts, he has leveraged his business background to develop a significant white-collar practice in both Kansas and Missouri federal courts.

Photos and videos

Licensed for 25 years
State KS
Status Active
Acquired 1998
Updated 02/04/2023
State MO
Status Good Standing, Active
Acquired 1997
Updated 01/01/2023

We have not found any instances of professional misconduct for this lawyer.

Contact David

Wyrsch Hobbs & Mirakian, PC
1200 Main, Suite 2110
Kansas City, MO, 64105

Reviews

5.0 / 5.0
  54 customer reviews
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Posted by Mason | March 4, 2019
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Excellent lawyer !
He’s kind, informative and always available when you need him. Day or night, he’s a phone call or text message away and looking out for your best interest. Thank you so much David for your fantastic work.
Posted by anonymous | February 7, 2018
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Facing a Felony Charge
My husband travels to K.C. for work every week to the same place of business and has done so for twenty years. He is known and respected there. However, upon arriving at work one week last year he found himself in a compromising predicament. He is required to show proper identification when entering. He did so as always except the color of the identification card changes from week to week and he had the previous weeks color. He was approached by a hot head security officer that told him he was not authorized to be there because of the color of the badge. To make a long story short it escalated unnecessarily from there and my husband was asked to leave. When my husband didn’t leave and asked for management to rectify the situation the officer took things into his own hands. The officer proceeded to pepper spray and assault him. My husband then reacted to defend himself. He was arrested and facing a felony charge. We had no idea who to contact in the area for counsel as neither of us had dealt with any sort of legal issues in the past and we are from another state. We were very happy to have been referred to David Bell from another colleague. David was very professional and spent a great deal of time with us when we initially met for our first consultation. He was obviously very well connected in his field as he was making calls while we were going thru the details of the case on our first visit. He was very down to earth and laid out the best and worst case scenario for my husbands case. Although David is very qualified and a very good attorney he did not take advantage of us financially, as he very easily could have. He treated us like old friends and I will never forget what he said when we got ready to leave from our consult. He said, “now, on a personal note, you two go home and do what you do, I’m going to take care of this.” David did just that! Not only did my husband get the charges dropped but it was done so in a very reasonable time frame. We are definitely back to doing what we do! We have all the confidence in the world in David’s genius skills and he definitely knows and practices the law at a high level! We would highly recommend David to anyone facing trouble in the K.C. area!! Amazing attorney!!
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Posted by anonymous | January 21, 2023
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Caring, Smart, Responsive
David is a fantastic attorney. He handled our son's case with care and concern. He was very responsive to our questions and never made us feel like we were bothering him. He helped our family navigate through a very difficult situation, ending with no charges being filed. I would highly recommend David to anyone who needs a thoughtful, effective defense attorney.
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Posted by Julie | January 17, 2023
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Excellent attorney
David Bell is an excellent attorney. Not only did he go above and beyond the call, he did with determination, skill and patience. His level of expertise and knowledge of the law gave me the confidence that my case would be resolved in the best way. He’s always available and easy to talk/work with. It’s no doubt he’s deserving of “Super Lawyer” as he’s clearly a KC best.
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Posted by anonymous | November 16, 2022
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Honesty
When I had my first appointment with Mr. Bell I did not hesitate for a second, he gave me confidence from the beginning. He listened to me, he validated my words and above all he was honest. Thank you David Bell; I could not have found a better attorney for my case.
Posted by David | August 4, 2022
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Dismissal
I felt comfortable with the consultation from David Bell to go with him as my Lawyer. He was very meticulous gathering the details he needed for the defense. His team was very nice, helpful, and responded quickly. He got the charge dismissed on the first court appearance. I would highly recommend choosing David Bell to be your Lawyer.
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Posted by anonymous | May 30, 2022
This review is from a potential client who consulted with this attorney.
| Consulted Attorney
Amazing Guy
David was my first experience with a lawyer and provided me so much comfort and knowledge about what to expect. He truly cares and shows so much compassion. The ONLY reason we did not go with him was due to our finances. Even then, he got me in touch with another great attorney. He has remained open and available during the entire process for any questions or concerns I have and just to make sure I’m taken care of. He doesn’t make you feel stupid or less than for making a mistake. Very great guy and great lawyer.
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Posted by anonymous | May 18, 2022
This review is from a potential client who consulted with this attorney.
| Consulted Attorney
Review
Very informative and professional. Flexible on meeting times and made sure he met the clients needs and schedule. Varied experience and able to meet needs of even small cases.
Posted by Lana | March 22, 2022
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Best Criminal defense lawyer & firm in Kansas City, MO
David was hired after a thorough search for the best criminal attorney for our needs in Kansas City, MO. Other attorneys we spoke with offered promises and did not seem to be too passionate about our situation, but David was very devoted to our concerns even before we retained him and we thought he could actually deliver and help us from the first time we met with him. He proved his knowledge of the law and the particulars of the court system within first moments of being hired. The stakes were extremely high for our family, we lived in different state and did not know anyone in Kansas City. David made us feel hopeful, he cared and always remained calm and compassionate during our times of extreme anxiety. He kept us informed and was very easy to get in touch with. He gave us the guidance we needed and instead of years of our case going through the criminal court system, we had complete resolution within months. I am sure this is not always the case, but for us it was truly a miraculous outcome. I cannot recommend David, his team and his firm highly enough! Best criminal defense lawyer in Kansas City or and city and any state!
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Posted by John | February 28, 2022
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
The best of KC's best
He helped my family in a time of need 2020, navigating multi cultural issues. Very few lawyers have the sensitivity, heart and mind of Mr. David Bell-. or the financial ethics. He's a family focused person and very caring.
Posted by Fran | January 30, 2022
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
A wise choice
If you ever get in a situation where you are fearful of someone’s behavior—and law enforcement cannot, or will not be able to make you feel safe——and, you are at a loss as to options available. There is a sensible, knowledgeable, and resourceful attorney named David Bell who can help you get through it all. We are now much better off, and we know what to do, because of Mr Bell. We are relieved and are grateful to him.
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Posted by anonymous | December 16, 2021
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
This attorney is phenomenal
This attorney is a blessing. I had a very unique case that most attorneys do not come across. 16 years ago I took prescribed diet medication that I had a horrible reaction to. It lead me to have insomnia and psychosis. I ended up taking the life of another person, during this state. I was found Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity and committed to the Departmentof Mental Health. The future for most people in this situation is grim. The majority spend the rest of their lives in an institution. We reached out to David Bell in hopes that by a slim chance, I would be able to regain my freedom. David took the case on, full force. He was extremely knowledgeable on how to approach the situation. David kept me informed and involved, every step of the way. He took the time to get to know me as a person. And he fought for me. Against all odds, because of David, I was able to regain my freedom and return home to my family . After this, I do not believe there is any case this attorney could not handle. If you are in for the fight of your life, call this man. You will be in good hands.
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Posted by Steven | December 4, 2021
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Dream Team
David is not only a great lawyer, but a great guy. David and his team held my hand through my entire case- from the scary and uncertain beginning to the highly anticipated end. They gladly and capably answered questions, eased tension, and were able to achieve the outcome we had hoped for from day one. I truly believe that David genuinely cares about the outcome for his clients, and he proved that with the respect he showed me and the respect for the interpersonal relationship between the firm and myself. Efficient practice, friendly people, effective communication, and fairly impressive timing. I wouldn’t write this review if I didn’t believe that David and his team not only wanted what was best for me, but they actually followed through with just that. Many thanks to them, and David will always be one of my favorites.
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Posted by anonymous | November 3, 2021
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Look no further for a defense lawyer
I really cant explain the excellent service David provided. You really cant go wrong with him. He does a fantastic job at explaining charges you could be facing and all possible outcomes. Without any hesitation I would definitely hire him again if I ever came across any legal troubles
Posted by anonymous | September 15, 2021
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Best experience I've ever had with an attorney!
David was fantastic! I had recently learned about an old warrant and I was very concerned about the impact this could have on my life and my family. I was referred to David by a friend who is an attorney, who assured me, “David’s the best for the job.” When I contacted David, he was very attentive to the details of my specific case and sympathetic to how I wanted to proceed. Within a few hours, David had called me back, conducted a thorough interview and had very carefully advised me how to proceed, and had even contacted the prosecutor's office regarding my issue. Needless to say, he got a better result than I ever expected, and I was very happy with the outcome!
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Posted by Bryon | August 21, 2021
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Personal and Professional
David went through all the likely scenorio/outcomes of our precicament. The process basically went exactly as he described. There were no surprises. Our situation was resolved and we couldn't be happier.
Posted by anonymous | June 22, 2021
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Expertise and Caring
I didn't even understand the charges, let alone that I needed a criminal defense attorney. I was referred to David Bell by a friend. From the moment that I spoke with Michelle, I knew that I made a smart decision. Michelle was efficient and patient with me; explaining how the law and the law firm worked. She was also empathetic and allayed my fears regarding court appearances. She always answered my call. David Bell took all the time I needed - and it was a lot - to explain the charges and what outcomes may occur. He responded to my calls and emails promptly and was able to tamp down the pesky anxiety that kept coming up. He was an advocate, teacher and, most importantly, an experienced, intelligent lawyer. He listened and followed my stated goals. He reminded me of my goals when I got off track. The result was exactly what I stated that I wanted. Not for nothing; he was so good that the retainer wasn't used up! He is honorable, compassionate and expert.
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Response from David Bell June 23, 2021
Thank you for your kinds words. And yes, we are very fortunate that Michelle joined our team!
Posted by Tony C. | June 16, 2021
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Kids and Social Media
I was extremely surprised at David's immediate response to our issue and how quickly he jumped into action for my son and I. We have all heard stories about kids, social media and all the bad things that come from it but over the last 24hrs I have lived it. Thanks to David's consult and multiple follow ups throughout the day we were able to navigate through a difficult situation. One more thing that really impressed me was that David even offered my son and I the opportunity to stop by his office so he could speak to my son and give him examples of how bad decisions could negatively affect his life in the future. I am forever grateful.
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Posted by Julie Jurgens | June 5, 2021
This review is from a potential client who consulted with this attorney.
| Consulted Attorney
Quick response to question
This man obviously has compassion. We will be looking at him as an option when we go civil on a case of fraudulent forgery of a urine drug test by the district attorney! Our daughter has had her struggles, but to not just alter her drug results, she literally made up a new one and even signed the girl’s name who performed the test, which was negative. She said she would drop a charge if she came back clean. After so many rehabs snd facilities, we finally got the right one and she has been sober for almost a year now. So, to do something like that was very cruel. When confronted, her and my daughters attorney said it was just supposed to be a joke between them. But that wasn’t until they pushed her over the edge and she caught a charge again for aggravated strangulation on me myself or mother and it wasn’t aggravated strangulation for god sake she realized what she did mean it was seconds she came after me after her Attorney had sent a message to her so we are going to want a civil lawyer and he will definitely be the one because not only do these guys take the time their time to answer these questions for people for us people they do it for free and then this man showed her in his answer was so compassionate and I would recommend a man any day of the week and I don’t even know him it’s just it shows a lot about their character when I do things like that! Giving up their time to give their free knowledge for free to people like me and whoever is reading this thank you so much for caring
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Response from David Bell June 5, 2021
Thank you for your kind words.
Posted by Steven | April 28, 2021
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Great Job
I was very pleased with the dismissal, Dave Bell and his team was able to get for my case. They were very ensuring to myself and my family when it came to my case. They handle business professionally. David is also full of outside resources. If I ever found myself in a legal situation David Bell is the go to attorney. Thank you David Bell and associates! I appreciate all your work and effort!
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Cost

Rates
  • Free Consultation 30 minutes
  • Hourly Rates $ 325-350 per hour
Payment methods
Cash, Check, Credit Card

Resume

AVVO RATING 10.0 (Superb)

Work Experience

  • Shareholder
  • Wyrsch Hobbs & Mirakian P.C.
  • 2007 - Present
  • Judge
  • City of Mission, Kansas
  • 2010 - 2019
  • Trial Attorney
  • Missouri State Public Defender's Office
  • 2001 - 2007
  • Attorney
  • Morrison & Hecker
  • 1997 - 2001
View all work experience

Education

  • New York University
  • LL.M
  • 1997
  • New York University
  • JD
  • 1997
  • Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
  • BA - Bachelor of Arts
  • 1994

Legal Cases

  • In the Interest of [Redacted]
  • Family Court case dismissed and Children's Division Decision Overturned.

Associations

  • Missouri Bar
  • Member
  • 1997 - Present

Languages Spoken

  • English

Honors and Awards

  • Top Attorney
  • Avvo
  • 2020
  • Clients Choice Award
  • Avvo
  • 2020
  • Super Lawyer
  • Super Lawyers
  • 2019
  • Rising Star
  • Super Lawyers
  • 2012
  • Rising Star
  • Super Lawyers
  • 2011
  • Charles M. Shaw Trial Award
  • Missouri Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
  • 2007
  • 16 Up and Coming Lawyers
  • Missouri Lawyers Weekly
  • 2006
View all awards

Speaking Engagements

  • CLE By the Hour
  • Criminal Law Update
  • 2016
  • Continuing Legal Education
  • Criminal Law Update
  • 2015
  • American Justice
  • Criminal Justice System
  • 2015
View all speaking engagements

Attorney endorsements

Received (6)
Given (1)
Endorse David
White collar crime Attorney | Dec 07
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"Dave has a well deserved reputation among the Criminal Defense Lawyers in Kansas City as a well prepared and excellent trial attorney. He has been practicing for over 20 years and has the requisite experience to handle any situation. I would hire him to represent my son"
Criminal defense Attorney | Jul 18
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"David is a knowledgable attorney with unmatched experience in his field. Would highly recommend."
Criminal defense Attorney | Dec 13
Relationship: Worked together on matter
"I consider David not only a great attorney, but also a mentor and friend. He is always available to help other attorneys in the community. He fights for his clients no matter the circumstances. I highly recommend David."
Criminal defense Attorney | Jul 23
Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter
"I endorse this lawyer One tough opponent."
Criminal defense Attorney | Jul 12
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse David Bell! You got a criminal problem- David is the man. David fights for his clients with excellent results."
Criminal defense Attorney | Feb 22
Relationship: Worked together on matter
"Over the years, both as an appellate attorney for the Missouri State Public Defender and in my current practice, I have read transcripts of many of David's trials. David is a tough, focused, thorough, and absolutely tireless advocate at trial. I have also talked to David about many of his cases, and have observed firsthand his professionalism and dedication to his clients. David's reputation as an excellent attorney is well earned."
View more endorsements
Criminal defense
Kansas City Criminal defense Lawyer David Bell
David Bell
Criminal defense Attorney
Kansas City, MO
Licensed for 25 years
Free Consultation
Virtual consultation available