Tessa O’Donnell is a trial and appellate lawyer whose complex business litigation practice encompasses the areas of product liability, mass torts, and asbestos defense litigation. Her primary focus is discovery, serving as part of the national discovery team for product liability cases for Ford Motor Company, including complex class actions. Her work includes drafting of discovery responses, discovery-related motions, affidavits, and federal joint discovery plans, as well as conducting interviews and participating in deposition preparation of client-employees and collecting and producing large volumes of documents.
Tessa began her legal career by serving as a clerk for The Honorable S. Margene Burnett of the 16th Judicial Circuit in Jackson, MO, where she gained valuable experience in civil, criminal and domestic litigation. She then transitioned to private practice and worked as an elder law attorney, where her practice was focused on estate planning, asset protection, long-term care issues, probate avoidance, and capacity issues.
In her free time, Tessa enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and cheering on the Kansas City Chiefs.