Dwayne Fulk wanted to be an astronaut and ended up a lawyer.
His childhood dream of space changed course to a land-based career after he met the late Alice Bartee, a Missouri State University prelaw adviser, who triggered an interest in the profession.
More than two decades later, Fulk is a shareholder and attorney at Polsinelli PC, which he joined in 2012 after a long stretch with Neale & Newman LLP.
“I enjoy helping clients overcome the many challenges they encounter, and for more than 20 years I have provided reliable, proactive and responsive legal and business guidance, advocacy and resolutions to nearly all entity types, sizes and owners and at every stage of development,” Fulk says. “I strive to be a lawyer who thinks like a business person, to treat everyone with honesty, respect and empathy and to avoid the ambiguity that often surrounds legal documents and advice and other negative stereotypes of the profession.”
Fulk graduated from MSU with a major in international affairs and from Duke University with his juris doctor and a master’s degree in international and comparative law. He is a corporate and transactional attorney with experience in mergers and acquisitions, finance and development, franchise and distribution, international transactions, startup ventures and software development and licensing.
Fulk grounds his legal advice in real-world experience to which he adds solid business acumen.
“I hope that I have positively affected my clients’ businesses by providing sound legal counsel and documentation, good business judgment and recommendations and prompt, efficient and valuable legal services,” he says. “My clients have real challenges and opportunities, and I am committed to envisioning and providing to them real answers and solutions.”
Fulk often acts as outside general counsel, and he has represented many family businesses across industries, helping them with succession and transition planning.
“I am fortunate to have developed numerous long-term client relationships and consider many clients good friends and colleagues,” he says.
Crista Hogan, executive director of the 950-member Springfield Metropolitan Bar Association, is generous with her praise of Fulk.
“I have worked with some very talented and impressive people, and Dwayne is one of the most thorough and conscientious people I have ever had the opportunity to work with,” she says, noting the depth of his varied commitments, including his family. “Where most have to let something go or perhaps let a volunteer commitment slide, Dwayne has never let me down. He has perfectly balanced professional excellence with a significant contribution to his community.”
Fulk’s extracurricular involvement is extensive, ranging from the Greater Ozarks International Trade Association and Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce to the Foundation for Springfield Public Schools and Rotaract Club of Springfield.[[In-content Ad]]
