Year in Review: 9. 13 Husch Blackwell employees jump ship for Spencer Fane

SPRINGFIELD, JUNE 16—It started with six, but by year’s end the tally is up to 13. Opening June 16, six partners from the Springfield law office of Husch Blackwell LLC broke off to start a Springfield office of another Kansas City-based law firm, Spencer Fane Britt & Browne LLP.

The original six – Charles Cowherd, Mike Nichols, Gary Powell, Jason Smith, Richard Walters and Shawn Whitney – set up shop in temporary space at 3259 E. Ridgeview St.

Since that time, the firm has added former Husch employees Paul Satterwhite, associates Elizabeth Wente, Wade Early and Derek Ankrom, along with paralegals Kerry Noe, Cindy Smading and Chelsea Fury. The firm now employs 21.

Walters, who serves as managing partner of Spencer Fane’s Springfield office, said the the group was approached about the opportunity through discussions with former Husch Blackwell co-workers who now work for Spencer Fane.

Following the exit, one of three female managing partners companywide with Husch Blackwell, Virginia Fry, moved into the primary leadership position in Springfield. Prior to June, the firm employed 23 attorneys. The attorney pool now has shrunk to 15.

The original six Spencer Fane partners have over 100 years of combined experience practicing law, spending the majority of their careers with Husch Blackwell. The moves marked Spencer Fane’s efforts to open new offices in Springfield and Colorado Springs, Colo., and grow its foothold in its four operating states: Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska and Colorado.

Spencer Fane, has represented Springfield-area clients such as the city of Branson, Reckitt-Benckiser, The Shoppes at Branson Hills, Leggett & Platt Inc. (NYSE: LEG) and Empire District Electric Co. (NYSE: EDE).