Founding Hall, Ansley, Rodgers & Sweeney partner exits law firm

Last edited 2:37 p.m., April 2, 2014

A founding partner of Hall, Ansley, Rodgers & Sweeney PC left the law firm this week to join the Springfield office of a St. Louis-based firm.

Lynn Rodgers, who co-founded the Springfield firm in 1986, served his last day at the company March 31 before moving to a job with Evans & Dixon LLC yesterday.

"It seemed as if it was a good opportunity and benefits both myself and Hall, Ansley in terms of the type of practice that I have," said Rodgers, who now serves as of counsel for Evans & Dixon. "I defend civil cases, mostly through insurance companies. That's almost 100 percent of what I do. I do not represent plaintiffs in personal injury cases, which is a significant action of Hall, Ansley."

Rodgers said Evans & Dixon has a solid reputation providing insurance defense. According to its website, the firm also operates offices in Kansas City and Columbia covering cases in Missouri, Kansas and Illinois. The company also operates a Washington, D.C., office. Locally, the firm nine other attorneys in Springfield.

Rodgers said as an insurance defense attorney, he had worked with and against Evans & Dixon lawyers in court cases, and a mutual respect was formed.

"It's a good firm with a good reputation, and it seemed to be a good fit for me," he said.

Rodgers declined to comment on whether money or stock changed hands upon his exit of Hall, Ansley, Rodgers & Sweeney. He said the company would be free to change its name.

Hall, Ansley, Rodgers & Sweeney's managing partner, Deborah Dodge, said the company is in the process of changing its name to Hall Ansley PC, a name she said its clients know the firm by already. The change awaits Missouri Supreme Court approval, followed by a formal change with the secretary of state, she said. D. Patrick Sweeney remains a full partner, Dodge said, noting the two-word law firm name is a modern concept the company wanted to adapt to.

According to Springfield Business Journal list research, the company employed 10 attorneys and 24 overall as of August 2013.