For 50 years, Wampler & Passanise has provided clients with the highest quality legal representation. Managing Partner Joseph S. Passanise and Associate Attorney Taylon Sumners-Schwarz lead the firm’s investigators, researchers and paralegals, creating defense strategies for clients often facing the most challenging point in their lives.
“Understanding the law and being a strong litigator isn’t enough,” says Passanise. “We must establish credibility and trust with clients to create a positive impact. We listen without judgment and educate them on the process they are facing and what we need to accomplish for success.”
Creating positive outcomes often requires addressing clients’ underlying problems, like addiction and mental health issues. “They need someone to believe in them,” Sumners-Schwartz says. “We treat our clients as human beings and explain that we will be the strongest advocates possible. We’re not afraid to have the difficult conversations to achieve positive change.”
“We have been blessed to work with mentors, such as the late Dee Wampler, who established the firm with his father in 1973,” Passanise says. “He taught me many things about being a strong advocate and the importance of being a leader in the community.” Passanise joined the firm as an associate attorney 25 years ago. “I was fortunate to learn a law firm’s legal and operations side from my friend and mentor.” Wampler passed in 2021.
Dedication to helping individuals find positive life outcomes has been the firm’s north star since its inception and remains a driving force to its continued momentum. That means establishing credibility and trust up front, according to Passanise. “We must constantly learn and stay on top of the latest developments in legal representation, case management and technologies that improve workflow.”
The firm follows a team approach to managing cases, a foundational principle from the beginning. The client is at the center of this team, and they benefit from understanding the depth of resources that the firm applies to resolving its cases.
Every firm needs established policies and protocols that outline expectations from all parties for successful representation.
“We are bound to keep our clients informed about their case status, promptly comply with reasonable requests for information and be clear about relevant limitations when clients expect assistance not permitted by the Rules of Professional Conduct or other laws,” Passanise explains. “The more clients and their support systems understand how you work, the more active they can be in the case.”
Longtime area residents, both Passanise and Sumners-Schwartz. work to better the community. They speak at local churches, colleges and professional organizations, discussing social justice and safe practices. The firm sponsors Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Ozarks. Passanise is actively involved in coaching soccer and was appointed by Missouri Governor Mike Parson to the Missouri Tourism Commission and the Missouri Senate Redistricting Commission. Sumners-Schwartz serves on the board of the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women and sits on the Greene County Historic Sites Commission.
Surrounding clients with a team of professionals who believe in them empowers clients to make necessary changes in their lives.
