Our Attorneys

The practice of law carries a dual responsibility. As the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct note, a lawyer is “a representative of clients, an officer of the legal system, and a public citizen having special responsibility for the quality of justice.” That means advocating fearlessly and diligently for each client, while honoring the ethical rules that safeguard the integrity of the law as a profession. At Beal & Whitener we strive to represent each client in the best tradition of the legal profession. 

James E. Beal

Probate, Estate & Civil Litigation

Since 2006, James Beal has represented individuals, families, and fiduciaries in probate administration and contested probate litigation, guardianship and conservatorship, estate planning, and personal injury and civil disputes. He has tried cases to judges and juries, argued before the Missouri Court of Appeals, and serves as a qualified Missouri civil and family mediator. He is licensed in both Missouri and Illinois.

Joseph G. Whitener

State & Federal Criminal Defense

A former Assistant Public Defender, Joseph Whitener has handled thousands of criminal cases and tried more than two dozen to a jury, earning not-guilty verdicts in cases involving murder, rape, assault, armed criminal action, robbery, and DWI. He is one of only a few attorneys in Missouri to win a Sexually Violent Predator civil-commitment trial before a jury, and is admitted to practice in Missouri state courts and multiple federal courts.

To read more about James and Joe, click on their respective bio page below.