Bio

Dick Hite is a founding member and senior partner in the law firm of Hite, Fanning & Honeyman, L.L.P. He concentrates his legal practice on:

• Business Litigation
• Commercial Litigation
• Oil And Gas Litigation

Dick also serves as an arbitrator and mediator in business, contract, environmental and professional liability disputes. He is admitted to practice in the U.S. District Court, District of Kansas; Kansas Supreme Court; and Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Dick has been listed in Chambers U.S.A, an independent guide to leading business lawyers. He has received an AV® Peer Review Rating in the legal directory, Martindale-Hubbell®,* and has been listed in the Best Lawyers in America since its first publication in 1988. Dick has been selected for inclusion in Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers®, 2006-2017 Editions, and was on the cover of the 2015 edition.

Dick is a member of the Wichita, Kansas and American Bar associations. He is also a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers (ACTL) and the American Bar Foundation. As an avid supporter of excellence in the profession, Dick has held several leadership roles with these and other legal organizations throughout his career. Among his contributions, he has served as state chairman of the American College of Trial Lawyers, Wichita Bar Association’s Bench and Bar Committee, and the Kansas Bar Association’s Litigation Section and Legislative Committee; Kansas state delegate to the American Bar Association (ABA); president of the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws; and president of the Kansas Association of Defense Counsel. More recently, he was elected by Kansas lawyers and served eight years as chairman of the Kansas Supreme Court Nominating Commission.

He received a B.S. in business from the University of Kansas and a J.D. degree from Washburn University School of Law. He served as a Judge Advocate in the United States Air Force for three years before entering private practice. In 2011, Dick was recognized by his law school alma mater with an honorary Doctor of Law Degree.

Court Admissions

• Kansas Supreme Court
• U.S. District Court, District of Kansas
• U.S. Court of Appeals, 10th Circuit

Honors

• Best Lawyers in America 2014, 2021, Bet-the-Company Litigation "Lawyer of the Year"
• Best Lawyers, 2013, 2021, Wichita Personal Injury Litigation-Defendants "Lawyer of the Year"
• Best Lawyers in America, 2014-2021, Commercial Litigation Law and Personal Injury Litigation - Defense
• Best Lawyers in America, 2021, Mediation
• Best Lawyers in America, 2021, Arbitration
• Ranked by Chambers USA, 2013-2017 as a leading lawyer in the practice area of General Commercial Litigation.
• Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business
• AV® Peer Review Rating, Martindale-Hubbell®*
• Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers, 2006-2017 Editions
• Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers
• Fellow, American Bar Foundation
• Honorary Doctor of Law Degree, Washburn University, 2011
• Distinguished Alumni Award, Washburn University School of Law, 2007
• Lifetime Achievement Award, Wichita Bar Association, 2004
• William Kahrs Lifetime Achievement Award, Kansas Association of Defense Counsel, 2004
• Phil Lewis Medal of Distinction Award, Kansas Bar Association, 1995
• Distinguished Service Award, Washburn University School of Law, 1994
• Howard C. Kline Distinguished Service Award, Wichita Bar Association, 1993
• Outstanding Service Award, Kansas Bar Association, 1973, 1988

Education

• Undergrad: B.S. University of Kansas, 1950
• Law School: Washburn University, 1953
• Year Started Practicing: 1953

Professional Organizations

• Fellow, American Bar Foundation
• Kansas Supreme Court Nominating Commission Chairman, 2001- 2009
• American College of Trial Lawyers State Chairman, 1987-1988; Chairman, Committee on Special Problems in the Administration of Justice, 1995-1998
• Chairman, Award for Courageous Advocacy Committee, 2004-2008
• National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws Executive Committee, 1985-1997; Chairman, Executive Committee, 1991-1993; President, 1993-1995
• American Bar Association (ABA) State Delegate, 1986-1995; Chair, Select Committee of House of Delegates, 1992-1994
• Kansas Bar Association (KBA) Chairman, Litigation Section, 1972- 1973; Chairman, Legislative Committee, 1983-1986; Member, Board of Governors, 1986-1995
• Wichita Bar Association Board of Governors, 1991-1993; Chairman, Bench and Bar Committee, 1981-1984
• Kansas Association of Defense Counsel President, 1983-1984

Community Involvement

• Via Christi Health System Board of Directors, 1995-2009; Chairman, 1999-2002
• Via Christi Regional Medical Center Board of Directors, 1995-2005; Chairman, 1995-1998
• Wichita Symphony Society Board of Directors, 1997-2003
• St. Francis Regional Medical Center Board of Directors, 1982-1995; Chairman, 1994-1995
• United Way of the Plains Board of Directors, 1970-1986; President, 1981
• Washburn Law School Association President, 1990-1992