Springfield law firms announce merger

Two law firms in Springfield announced Dec. 2 they will merge effective Jan. 1. Local law firm Cunningham, Harpool & Cordonnier LLC will join Lathrop & Gage LC's Springfield office to create a 22-attorney office, the largest in Springfield.

The two firms share complementary practice groups including litigation, employment law, health care, environmental law and construction law, partners of the firms said.

Cunningham, Harpool & Cordonnier comprises seven attorneys, including partners Gary Cunningham, Doug Harpool and Mike Cordonnier, three paralegals and three administrative assistants. The merged firm will operate from Lathrop & Gage's 1845 S. National Ave. office, which has 15 attorneys.

Kansas City-based Lathrop & Gage has five offices in Missouri, and one each in Boulder, Colo., and Washington, D.C. The firm has more than 230 attorneys specializing in 25 practice areas.

Frank Evans, managing partner of Lathrop & Gage's Springfield office, said the firm approached Cunningham, Harpool & Cordonnier about six months ago to propose the merger.

"We complement each other very much," said Gary Cunningham, founding partner. "Part of the process is to make sure that culturally, the two firms can fit."

Through negotiating meetings, Cunningham said, his firm found the Lathrop & Gage philosophy, culture and priorities matched its own.

Cunningham, a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, said his firm brings litigation expertise to the table. Fellowship in the college is by invitation only and membership cannot exceed 1 percent of the total lawyer population of any state.

Evans called the incoming attorneys "top flight corporate warriors. That's a skill and talent that's not available just everywhere you look," he said.

Harpool was impressed with the legal talent at Lathrop & Gage and is anxious to have the strength of a national firm behind him.

"We do see our clients needing more and more specialized legal services," Harpool said. "We can provide the trial expertise, but some of those areas of specialization you have to go to a big city to find."

Harpool cited intellectual property, patents and trademarks, and environmental law as examples of specialized services available through Lathrop & Gage.

"We will have in-house expertise otherwise not available to us," Cunningham said.

Lathrop & Gage renovated its facility in September 2002, adding 11 attorney offices. Evans said the $1.3-million, 10,500-square-foot addition accommodates the new employees.

Offices of Cunningham, Harpool & Cordonnier are at 3171 E. Sunshine St. Clients of Cunningham, Harpool and Cordonnier include DaimlerChrysler Motors, Peterbilt Motors Co., Kenworth, Freightliner and Meadowbrook Claims Services. Both firms represent the city of Springfield, southwest Missouri health care providers and businesses such as Intermed Insurance Co., Medical Protective Co., Deere and Company and Paul Mueller Company.

Evans said staff and attorney compensation has been worked out. Lathrop & Gage will increase total staff by 50 percent; Evans would not disclose payroll numbers.

Lathrop & Gage last executed a merger in 2000, when Miller & Sanford PC joined the firm. Cunningham, Harpool & Cordonnier last year broke away from the 53-year-old Springfield firm Daniel Clampett Powell and Cunningham LLC.