Scott S. Bethune is a founding member of the law firm Davis, Bethune & Jones, LLC. Scott concentrates his trial practice in the areas of complex litigation, personal injury/wrongful death cases, product liability, and mass torts.

Scott is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, a Fellow in the International Society of Barristers, and has been inducted as a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates, serving as President of the Western MO/Eastern KS Chapter in 2012. Scott is also a Fellow in the Litigation Counsel of America and member of the Trial Law and Diversity Law Institutes.

Scott served as a Commissioner and Secretary of Missouri’s Appellate Judicial Nominating Commission from 2016-2021 and was a member of the 16th Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission from 2010-2015.

Scott is listed in The Best Lawyers of America ® and named Lawyer of the Year for Mass Torts Litigation in Kansas City for 2017 and 2021, Lawyer of the Year for Personal Injury for 2018, Lawyer of the Year for Product Liability Litigation for 2020 and 2023, and Lawyer of the Year for Medical Negligence for 2022. Missouri Lawyers Weekly lists Scott as one of the POWER 30 attorneys for Personal Injury Law and Top 100 Attorneys in Missouri and Kansas.

Scott currently serves on The Missouri Bar Board of Governors, representing District 12. Scott was President of Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association in 2015, is on the Board of Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Foundation and served as President of the Board of Trustees for the University of Missouri-Kansas City Law Foundation from 2018-2023. In 2015, Scott was presented with the Pat Kelly Service Award from the UMKC Law Foundation and Law Alumni Association.

Scott was the recipient of the President’s Award for outstanding contribution and dedication to the KCMBA 2023 and to the KCMBF in 2017, 2022, and 2023. Scott was honored in 2021 by the Missouri Bar Foundation with the Purcell Professionalism Award for the consistent demonstration of competency, integrity, and civility in professional and civic activities.

American College of Trial Lawyers – Fellow 

International Society of Barristers – Fellow

American Board of Trial Advocates – Member

President, Western Missouri/Eastern Kansas Chapter 2012

Litigation Counsel of America – Fellow

Trial Law Institute – Member 

Missouri Board of Governors - Member

Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association – Past President 2105

Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Foundation – Board Member

University of Missouri-Kansas City Law Foundation Board of Trustees President 2018-2023 

Missouri Bar Foundation Purcell Professionalism Award Recipients 2021

MO Lawyers Weekly Power List – 2020-2024 

Best Lawyers in America 

Personal Injury Litigation 

Product Liability Litigation 

Mass Tort/Class Action Actions 

Medical Malpractice Law 

Best Lawyers in America

2023 Product Liability Litigation Kansas City, MO

2022 Medical Malpractice Law Kansas City, MO

2021 Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions Kansas City, MO 

2020 Plaintiffs Lawyer of the Year – Product Liability Litigation Kansas City 

2018 Plaintiffs Lawyer of the Year – Personal Injury Litigation Kansas City 

2017 Plaintiffs Lawyer of the Year – Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions Kansas City, MO 

Kansas City Business Journal – Best of the Bar 

Thomson Reuters – Missouri and Kansas “Super Lawyer” Recognition 

2018 Cornerstone Award Recipient – Stetson Law – In recognition of an unwavering commitment to protecting the right to trial by jury, training generations of trial lawyers, and supporting the profession in both word and deed.