Business Spotlight: Neale |amp| Newman

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A lot has changed since the law firm of Neale & Newman LLP was founded 100 years ago. One thing hasn't changed, though. The firm is still locally owned, and its attorneys continue to assume leadership roles within the community.|ret||ret||tab|

"We've resisted efforts to merge with firms outside the area," said Paul G. White, managing partner. "I think we offer better service because we are locally owned, and many of our clients feel the same way."|ret||ret||tab|

The firm, which employs a total of 44 people, comprises 11 partners and three associates, with four additional lawyers serving as counsel. According to White, most of the firm's attorneys grew up in the Ozarks, which has helped Neale & Newman maintain its strong community ties.|ret||ret||tab|

"We believe if you're going to be part of the community, you need to serve the community," said White. "I'd estimate 75 percent to 85 percent of the attorneys here do some type of community service work."|ret||ret||tab|

Indeed, many members of the firm have held leadership positions in a wide variety of local organizations, including Springfield Metropolitan Bar Association, Legal Services of Southern Missouri, Cerebral Palsy Center of Southwest Missouri, United Way of the Ozarks, Springfield Cancer Society, Ozarks Counseling Center, Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce and Springfield Public School Board.|ret||ret||tab|

Several of Neale & Newman's attorneys, including Jerry Redfern, Brian Asberry, Richard Schnake, Dwayne Fulk, Daniel Wooten and Christiaan Horton, also have been recognized for their professional achievements and community service. Redfern, for example, received the Missouri Bar's Pro Bono Award and the 2000 Distinguished Attorney Award from Springfield Metropolitan Bar Association. |ret||ret||tab|

However, Neale & Newman primarily is known for offering its clients a full range of legal services.|ret||ret||tab|

These services include general business and corporate law, commercial litigation, business mergers and acquisitions, aviation law, real estate, employment law, franchise, environmental, banking, personal injury, family law, estate planning, probate administration, workers' compensation, copyright and trademark, international law, appeals, products liability and Social Security disability. |ret||ret||tab|

"We perform every type of civil legal services except patents and heavy securities," said White. |ret||ret||tab|

The firm represents a wide variety of clients, ranging from individuals and businesses, to regional and national companies, to nonprofit organizations and charitable foundations. Local clients of note include Baptist Bible College, Empire Bank of Springfield, Morelock-Ross Properties Inc., Loren Cook Company, Springfield's Best Inc. and Springfield Public Schools Foundation.|ret||ret||tab|

"We've handled several high-profile cases and worked with many well-known clients over the years," said Richard Schnake, a partner with the firm. "We believe everyone's case is important, though."|ret||ret||tab|

Although the firm's personal approach hasn't changed since the firm was founded, other things have. When Ben Neale and Charles Newman founded Neale & Newman in 1903, it was located in Greenfield. In the 1920s, however, the firm relocated to Springfield.|ret||ret||tab|

The firm's name also has changed as partners came and left. In 1936, Neale's son, Harry G. Neale, and Flavius Freeman joined the practice, and four years later, the firm's name was changed to Neale, Newman, Neale & Freeman. |ret||ret||tab|

In 1951, Jean Paul Bradshaw joined the practice, and the firm's name was changed to Neale, Newman, Bradshaw, Freeman & Neale. Following the deaths of Ben Neale in 1966 and Newman in 1968, Harry G. Neale left the practice and became the president of Safety Federal Savings and Loan in Springfield. Soon after, the firm's name was changed to Neale, Newman, Bradshaw & Freeman. By 1997, none of the descendants of Neale, Newman, Bradshaw & Freeman were employed by the firm, and the decision was made to shorten the firm's name to Neale & Newman LLP.|ret||ret||tab|

"There was a movement among law firms to adopt shorter names," said White. "Many firms had names that just kept getting longer and longer as more partners were added. We decided to go back to Neale & Newman in tribute to the firm's tradition."|ret||ret||tab|

The firm made another change in 1981 when it moved out of the offices it had occupied in the Woodruff Building for more than 55 years. The practice relocated to its location in One Corporate Centre at 1949 E. Sunshine St.|ret||ret||tab|

White said he believes the firm will continue to maintain a pattern of slow, steady growth in the coming years, despite increased competition from regional law firms and a downturn in the economy. Schnake agreed. |ret||ret||tab|

"I can't remember a time when we ever downsized the firm," said Schnake. "I can even remember a couple of times when we were hiring people when other firms were laying people off because of a downturn in business."|ret||ret||tab|

Neale & Newman is leveraging technology to the fullest in an effort to provide clients with better and more efficient service. |ret||ret||tab|

The firm completely replaced and upgraded all of its hardware and software systems within the last two years, and each attorney has a desktop computer with Internet access. |ret||ret||tab|

Laptop computers allow lawyers to tap into the firm's local area network of computers via the Internet regardless of their location, which might be anywhere from the county courthouse to a client's office in a neighboring state.|ret||ret||tab|

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