Areas of Practice:  Bankruptcy,  General Litigation, Medical Malpractice Defense

J. Michael Payne has been a member of the firm since 1980. Mr. Payne maintains a general civil practice. In addition to handling miscellaneous litigation cases, he has extensive experience in bankruptcy matters, and he also maintains a general litigation practice. He is one of three members in the firm also admitted to practice law in the State of Illinois. Mr. Payne is a member of  The Missouri Bar, Illinois State Bar Association, and American Bankruptcy Institute. He received his B.S. in 1972 from Southeast Missouri State University (magna cum laude).

Mr. Payne taught high school mathematics and was a coach before going to law school. He was awarded his J.D. in 1980 from the University of Missouri-Columbia (cum laude, Order of the Coif), where he was Note and Comment Editor of the Missouri Law Review. He attends St. Mary Cathedral Church in Cape Girardeau and is active in both church and school activities.