Atty. Michael J. Payne
Michael J. Payne is a partner at Frankel, Rubin, Klein, Payne & Pudlowski, P.C. and focuses his practice on estate planning, fiduciary litigation and civil litigation.
Profile Summary
About Michael J. Payne at a glance
Michael J. Payne is a trusts, business, real estate, estate litigation, and litigation attorney based in Clayton, Missouri, practicing at Frankel, Rubin, Klein, Payne, & Pudlowski PC. Educated at University of Missouri (BS) and University of Missouri (JD). Recognitions include Best Lawyers in America — Commercial Litigation (2026), Best Lawyers in America — Litigation - Real Estate (2026), and Best Lawyers in America — Litigation - Trusts and Estates (2026). Serands clients in Clayton, MO and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About
- Michael J. Payne is a partner at Frankel, Rubin, Klein, Payne & Pudlowski, P.C. and focuses his practice on estate planning, fiduciary litigation and civil litigation
- He counsels individuals, couples, families and small business owners in creating an estate plan that is specifically tailored to their individualized needs
- His passion for estate planning is evident in his approach of collaborating with clients to solve their most important personal, legal and business planning decisions
- Michael has handled cases throughout Missouri, representing individuals, trustees, beneficiaries and personal representatives in estate and trust litigation, including claims of undue influence, lack of capacity, self-dealing and breaches of fiduciary duties
- His years of litigation experience combined with his estate planning practice gives him the ability to not only work with clients to avoid the risks of fiduciary disputes, but how to handle them once they arise
- Michael has a broad civil litigation practice which includes disputes among shareholders, partners and family members in closely-held businesses
- He has many years of experience defending corporations against lawsuits brought under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (“FRCA”), the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (“FDCPA”) and similar consumer protection laws
- Michael has successfully tried numerous FDCPA cases, argued multiple cases before the Appellate Courts in Missouri and has presented seminars on corporate compliance and defending consumer claims
Practice Areas Explained
Michael J. Payne's Areas of Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Michael J. Payne handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.
Michael J. Payne is one of 104,172 trusts attorneys indexed nationally. Browse trusts attorneys in Missouri →
Business attorneys advise founders and growing companies on entity formation, contracts, financing, M&A, and dispute resolution.
Michael J. Payne is one of 501,317 business attorneys indexed nationally. Browse business attorneys in Missouri →
Real estate attorneys handle home purchases, sales, commercial transactions, title disputes, and landlord-tenant matters.
Michael J. Payne is one of 316,149 real estate attorneys indexed nationally. Browse real estate attorneys in Missouri →
Michael J. Payne is one of 20,023 estate litigation attorneys indexed nationally. Browse estate litigation attorneys in Missouri →
Civil litigation attorneys for breach of contract, business disputes, civil rights, and class action lawsuits.
Michael J. Payne is one of 454,532 litigation attorneys indexed nationally. Browse litigation attorneys in Missouri →
Jurisdictional Context
Why local counsel matters in Missouri
Practicing law in Missouri. Legal matters in Missouri are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Clayton are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate Missouri state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in Missouri brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in Missouri courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.
Looking for additional Missouri attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Clayton or all attorneys in Missouri.
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