Delivering the highest quality legal advice and representation since 1959.

Education

• Southwest Missouri State University (B.S., Cum Laude, 1996)
• University of Missouri-Columbia (J.D., 2000)

Bar Admissions

• 2000, Missouri Bar
• 2001, U.S. District Court, Western District of Missouri
• 2003, 8th Circuit Court of Appeals

Biography

• Member, Journal of Dispute Resolution, 1998–2000

Education

• University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law (J.D. 2000)
  • Missouri Law Review, associate member (1998–1999)
  • Charles G. Young Award, Best Work in Professional Responsibility
  • R. David Ray and Jacob Y. Garrett Trial Advocacy Award
• University of Missouri-Columbia (B.S.W., cum laude, 1994)

Bar Admissions

• 2000, Missouri Bar
• 2001, Kansas Bar

Publications

• Co-Author, Chapter 34, “Will Drafting and Execution,” Missouri Practice Methods of Practice Transaction Guide (2002)
• Co-Drafter, Title 21: Missouri Family Trust (2005), Missouri Code of State Regulations
• Co-Author, Chapter 6, “Distribution of Commissioners’ Award,” Missouri Condemnation Practice (Fourth Ed. 2009)

Community Involvement

• Midwest Special Needs Trust, Member, Board of Trustees, 2002–present; President, 2006–2008, 2010–2011, 2019–2020; 2019–2020 Legal Committee; co-drafter, revised enabling statute §§402.199–402.208 RSMo (Cum. Supp. 2011)
• Southern Boone Area YMCA, Advisory Board, Member 2014–present

Education

• University of Missouri-Columbia (B.A., Marketing, Cum Laude, 2000)
  • Member, Phi Delta Theta
• University of Missouri – Columbia (J.D., 2008)

Bar Admissions

• 2008, Missouri Bar
• 2008, United States District Court, W.D., Mo.

Biography

• Capt., U.S. Marine Corps, 2000–2004

Education

• University of Missouri School of Law (J.D., 2010, Order of the Coif)
  • Missouri Law Review: Note & Comment Editor (2009–2010); Symposium Coordinator (2008–2009); Associate Member (2008–2009)
  • Guy A. Thompson Best Student Note
  • Guy A. Thompson Best Production Award
  • Fred L. Hall, Jr. Foundation Estate Planning Award
• Missouri State University (M.B.A., 2007)
• Missouri State University (B.S., summa cum laude, 2006)
• Smith Cotton (Sedalia) High School (2002, Valedictorian)

Bar Admissions

• 2010, Missouri Bar
• 2011, United States District Court, Western District of Missouri
• 2012, United States District Court, Eastern District of Missouri

Publications

• The Eighth Circuit Loosens the Grip of the Bankruptcy Gag Rule but Holds Attorneys to Advertising Disclosure Requirement, Note, 74 Mo. L. Rev. 845 (2009)

Previous Employment

• Judicial Clerk to the Honorable William Ray Price of the Missouri Supreme Court, 2010–2011

Legal Experience

José Caldera is an accomplished civil lawyer with over a decade of experience. He advises businesses and individuals on a variety of complex contractual matters and has litigated cases throughout Missouri, including before the Missouri Supreme Court. José was a former City of Columbia Assistant City Counselor specializing in Land Use and Development law. In that role, he designed the City's regulatory structures for various disruptive technologies, served as the City attorney for both the Board of Adjustment and Planning and Zoning Commission, and advised the City on large-scale development projects.

Before joining the City, José served as Acting Commissioner of Securities and Senior Counsel for the Missouri Secretary of State. José began his career as an Assistant Attorney General, where he litigated business law, probate, bankruptcy, and deceptive trade practices cases. José serves our country as a Captain in the Army National Guard JAG Corp and was selected to CoMo Magazine's 20 under 40. He is also fluent in Spanish.

José provides representation in litigation and transactional matters in business law, land use, planning and real estate law, business development, contracts, construction law, estates and trusts, employment law, open government compliance, and other matters. He has successfully represented clients in federal and state courts. He also represents clients before the City Council, Board of Adjustment and Planning and Zoning Commission.

Education

• University of Missouri School of Law, Columbia, MO (Juris Doctor, Dean's List, 2011)
• University of Missouri, Saint Louis (B.A., Political Science, Honor's List, 2008)

Bar Admissions

• 2016, Missouri Supreme Court
• 2013, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
• 2013, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Missouri
• 2020, U.S. District Court, Western District of Missouri
• 2012, Missouri Court of Appeals – Western District
• 2011, State of Missouri

Biography

• Active Member of the Missouri Bar
• Missouri Bar Board of Governors, ABA House of Delegates Representative, 2018–2021
• Missouri Bar Young Lawyers Section Council, Chair, 2014–2020
• Missouri Bar Committee on Diversity, Member and Chair, 2015–2020
• Missouri Bar Joint Task Force with the Supreme Court on the Future of the Profession, 2015–2016
• Judge Advocate, Army National Guard
• Captain in U.S. Army

Education

• Pepperdine University School of Law (J.D., Cum Laude, 2017)
• University of Missouri-Columbia (B.A., Finance, Cum Laude, 2011)
• U.S. Army JAG Paralegal School (Distinguished Honor Graduate, 2003)

Bar Admissions

• 2017, State of Missouri
• 2017, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Missouri
• 2017, U.S. District Court, Western District of Missouri

Biography

• Sgt., U.S. Army, 2003–2007

Education

• University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri (J.D. 2000)
  • Winner of the Harry P. Thomson, Jr. Mock Trial Competition, 2000
  • David Ray and Jacob Y. Garrett Trial Advocacy Award, 2000
  • Dean's List; Missouri Journal of Dispute Resolution, Member; Missouri Environmental Law & Policy Review; Phi Delta Phi
• Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri (B.A. Biology 1995; B.A. Political Science 1995)

Bar Admissions

• 2000, Missouri · 2001, Arkansas · 2007, Illinois · 2012, Supreme Court of the United States
• 2010, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
• 2003, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri · 2000, U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri
• 2004, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois · 2017, U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois
• 2001, U.S. District Court for the Eastern and Western Districts of Arkansas
• 2008, U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado · 2016, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana

Previous Employment

Fredrick has been litigating cases for over 25 years. He worked for two large law firms between 2000 and 2015, including an Am Law 100 firm. He operated a solo practice from 2015 to 2024 before joining a small firm that primarily handled professional malpractice claims. He joined Smith Lewis LLP in 2026.

Professional Memberships

• Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis: Editor-in-Chief, St. Louis Law Journal, 2025–present; Bench & Bar Committee, 2024, 2025; Chair, Solo and Small Firm Section, 2021
• Member, Supreme Court Disciplinary Committee for Region X (term expires 12/31/2026)
• Missouri Bar Committee on Resolution of Fee Disputes (facilitator, mediator, and arbitrator)
• Missouri Bar Civil Practice and Procedure Committee
• Missouri Bar Complex Litigation Committee
• Missouri Bar Construction Law Committee
• FINRA panel arbitrator

Miscellaneous

• Board Member, Center for Specialized Services, St. Louis, Missouri (March 2022–July 2025)
• Parent Class Representative, Nerinx Hall High School (2024–2025)
• Finance Committee Member, Fox High School Marching Band, Arnold, Missouri (July 2021–May 2023)
• Certificate of Eligibility under the Qualified Lawyers Transfer Scheme to sit for assessments for admission to the Roll of Solicitors of England and Wales, SRA #569834
• Guitar enthusiast

Publications & Presentations

• Full list (PDF)

Education

• University of Missouri School of Law (J.D., 2018)
  • Journal of Dispute Resolution: Associate Managing Editor (2017–2018); Associate Member (2016–2017)
• University of Alabama (B.A., magna cum laude, 2015)
• Rock Bridge High School (2011)

Bar Admissions

• 2018, Missouri Bar

Publications

• State Legislative Update, 2018 J. Disp. Resol. 197 (2018)

Education

• University of Missouri School of Law (J.D., 2022, Order of Barristers)
  • Missouri Law Review: Note and Comment Editor (2021–22); Associate Member (2020–21)
  • Student Bar Association, Secretary (2021–22)
  • Board of Advocates: Competitive Trial Team (2019–2022): Texas Young Lawyer's Association Regional Competition Winner (2022); American Association for Justice Regional Competition Winner (2021)
  • Interschool Competition Director (2021–2022)
  • Mediation Competition Champion (2020)
  • Elwood L. Thomas Inn of Court, Pupil (2021–22)
• Boise State University, Boise, ID (B.S. Criminal Justice, Communication 2018)
  • Pi Kappa Delta – Boise State Talkin' Broncos, Speech Captain (2017–2018)
  • Boise State Prison Debate Initiative, Facilitator (2017–2019)

Bar Admissions

• 2022, Missouri Bar

Education

• Truman State University
  • B.S., Business Management, summa cum laude, 2019
  • B.S., Health Sciences, summa cum laude, 2019
• University of Missouri – Columbia (J.D., 2024)

Bar Admissions

• 2024, Missouri Bar
• 2024, U.S. District Court, Western District of Missouri
• 2024, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Missouri

Biography

• Board of Advocates – University of Missouri School of Law (Member 2022–23, Exec. Board Member 2023–24)

Education

• University of Missouri-Columbia J.D., cum laude, 1981 (Order of the Coif)
• Missouri Law Review member and editorial board
• University of Missouri-Columbia A.B., 1972 (Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi)
• Cabool (Missouri) High School 1968 (Salutatorian)

Bar Admissions

• 1981, Missouri Bar
• 1981, U.S. District Court, Western District of Missouri
• 1987, 8th Circuit Court of Appeals
• 1989, U.S. Supreme Court

Publications

• Legal Handbook for Freelancers (Outdoor Writers Association of America, 2009)
• Justiciability and Foreign Affairs: The Treaty Termination Power, 46 Missouri Law Review 164 (1981)
• The Right to Treatment: A Fabled Right Receives Judicial Recognition in Missouri (Eckerhart v. Hensley), 45 Missouri Law Review 357 (1980)
• Assorted articles and materials on estate planning topics, available to clients upon request (for example, Estate Planning for Missouri Residents, updated June 2026)
• Contributed 100+ articles to various non-legal publications, mostly about outdoor and travel adventures, also history, education, and legal issues
• Currently serves on editorial review board for The Missouri Bar Journal

Legal Experience

During employment since 1981 at Smith Lewis, LLP, William has handled various kinds of litigation and trials, including personal injury (plaintiffs and defense), medical malpractice (defense only), trust and estate litigation (plaintiffs and defense and as an expert witness), and business and real estate disputes. He has recently become involved in public utility law matters, and has considerable experience with alternative dispute resolution such as mediation. Litigation is a smaller part of his current practice, as he has concentrated more on estate planning, trust and estate administration, and rendering advice to nonprofit organizations, including various journalists' and writers' organizations and entities that serve the disabled and the arts.

Speaker

To professional and civic groups, mostly about various estate planning matters, but sometimes about his various hobbies.

Other Interests

International travel (35+ countries) and international law; backpacking and mountaineering (U.S., Andes, Alps, Caucasus, Himalaya, including climbs of the highest mountains in South America, Europe, and Africa); growing grapes and making wine; eclectic reading; school board (12 years) and other local government service on boards and commissions; service on non-profit boards. Born in Cabool, Missouri, in 1949; married, with two sons.

Education

• Northwest Missouri State University (B.S.Ed., cum laude, 1974)
• University of Iowa (M.A., 1978)
• University of Missouri at Columbia (J.D., 1986)

Bar Admissions

• 1986, Missouri Bar
• 1986, U.S. District Court, Western District of Missouri
• 2006, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Missouri
• 1999, 8th Circuit Court of Appeals
• 2000, U.S. Supreme Court

Biography

• Member, Missouri Law Review, 1984–1986
• Juvenile Justice Advisory Board
• Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee Mediator
• Elwood Thomas Inns of Court