Lathrop |amp| Gage announces HR subsidiary

Lathrop & Gage LC, a Kansas City-based law firm with seven offices including one in Springfield, has announced the formation of HROI, an ancillary full-service human resources company, wholly owned by the firm.

The company's name stands for Hu-man Resources Return on Investment.

HROI's services include human re-sources counseling to clients on day-to-day operations as well as training, crisis management, audits, compliance re-views, policy development, handbook review, planning and implementing of reductions in force, mediation, alternative dispute resolution along with more traditional employment legal services.

"HROI is good for Lathrop & Gage clients and it is smart strategy for the firm," said Tom Stewart, Lathrop & Gage managing partner. "This company adds value to our exceptional labor and em-ployment practice while opening us up to be more entrepreneurial and competitive in growing our market share."

Shelly Freeman serves as president of HROI. Prior to joining HROI, Freeman was the director of human resources for Payless Cashways Inc., where she directed and supervised a full range of human resources functions.

Earlier, she was a partner in a law firm for 11 years where her practice focused exclusively on employment law and labor relations.

HROI, an ancillary business, defined by Lathrop & Gage in a fact sheet as an independent company with services that complement and/or go beyond traditional legal advice provided by a law firm.

The firm states that developing ancillary businesses is a new trend among law firms: Instead of turning to other service providers, clients gain a one-stop shop of expertise.

With an ancillary business, law firms can offer services that complement the existing practice areas, such as labor and employment.