2021 Trusted Advisers Attorney: Andrew Peebles

Crista Hogan knows a lot of lawyers. Andrew Peebles stands out to her.

“I have known Andrew since he entered the practice of law, and I have been consistently impressed with his work and with his professionalism,” says Hogan, executive director of the Springfield Metropolitan Bar Association.

“In my role … I know more than 1,000 attorneys. People frequently ask me for personal referrals, and Andrew is someone that I can recommend without reservation, knowing that he will do a great job for his clients.”

Peebles is an associate attorney at Carnahan, Evans, Cantwell & Brown PC and a member of the firm’s estate planning practice group. He earned his Juris Doctor at the University of Missouri, where he served as the Missouri Law Review’s note and comments editor.

Peebles says his primary role as an estate planning attorney is to provide peace of mind to clients that families will be provided for and hard-earned assets managed and distributed according to plan.

“I see my role as removing the burdens of those who are facing uncertainty, confusion or the loss of a loved one and assuring them that they have a trusted partner with which to walk through the sometimes complicated legal issues before them,” Peebles says. “I seek to simplify the legal processes involved with estate planning and probate or trust administration, allowing my clients to breathe easier knowing that I am representing their interests efficiently and skillfully.”

Technical proficiency and real-time knowledge of constant changes in law are important, but Peebles says it is equally critical to possess the soft skills of compassion and empathy to help clients as they navigate difficult life events and decisions.

“Having the ability to listen and comfort clients in addition to expertly handling their legal needs is really what sets great attorneys apart from the good attorneys,” he says.

It’s not unusual for Peebles’ clients to need his immediate help.

“The multiple visits I have made to hospitals and nursing homes have been some of the most taxing on an emotional level but also the most rewarding as I watch the relief wash over the faces of my clients and their family members, confident that they will be taken care of and that their wishes will be honored,” he says.

Peebles is a member of several committees for the Springfield Metropolitan Bar Association, and he serves on the boards of the bar foundation and the Greene County Estate Planning Council.

He is also a member of the Community Foundation of the Ozarks’ Professional Advisors Council and The Network young professionals group through the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce.

Outside of professional commitments, Peebles works with at-risk children. He has spent five years with Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Ozarks and was recognized as Big Brother of the Year in 2020. He is on the nonprofit’s board and chairs its program and recruitment committee. Additionally, Peebles serves on the planned giving committee for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Springfield.