Spencer Fane is excited to announce Evan Bolton (Kansas City), James Jaworski (St. Louis), and Phoebe Schneider (Denver) have joined the firm as associates across three of its 30 national offices.
Evan and Phoebe join the Litigation and Dispute Resolution practice group while James joins the Intellectual Property practice group.
The three attorneys demonstrate strong cultural alignment with Spencer Fane core values, particularly with humble advocacy, an appetite for collaboration, and a fierce resolve to win. Their early-career dedication to exceptional client service that yields favorable outcomes in and out of the courtroom will support the firm’s longstanding commitments as each grows their practice in a highly supportive and collegial environment which champions individual talents.
“We always look forward to the energized exchange of fresh ideas and established practices as new associates join our firm,” said Spencer Fane Chair Patrick J. Whalen. “Evan, James, and Phoebe each exhibit traits that will help strengthen their individual practices and broader teams through innovation, intention, and a commitment to success.”
Learn more about each of the new associates below.
Evan Bolton (Kansas City)
After completing two years as a summer associate at Spencer Fane, Evan returns to the firm to help clients navigate a wide range of litigation matters, providing proactive, thoughtful counsel to clarify key objectives and achieve favorable outcomes – whether at trial or through alternative dispute resolution. Prior to joining private practice, he served as a judicial law clerk within the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri, gaining experience in legal research, drafting court orders, and assisting in the courtroom. Handling both civil and criminal cases, he developed insight into judicial decision-making that informs his work for clients today.
Evan completed his bachelor’s degree summa cum laude at Rockhurst University before earning his Juris Doctor at the University of Kansas School of Law, where he served as editor-in-chief of the Kansas Law Review.
James Jaworski (St. Louis)
James helps clients navigate a wide variety of intellectual property matters, diligently positioning creative property within relevant regulatory frameworks to bring protected, high-performing products and business offerings to market. His focus areas include protection and enforcement of copyright and trademarks, including clearance, prosecution, litigation analyses, and TTAB actions; due diligence; IP portfolio management; and advising on business strategy, including LLC formation. He also navigates complex, high-stakes matters in rapidly evolving sectors, including artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency.
In addition to his legal practice, James has already begun carving a reputation as a thought leader and community advocate, authoring pieces for the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association and Urban Land Institute. He obtained both his bachelor’s degree and Juris Doctor at Case Western Reserve University. While earning his Juris Doctor, James served as a federal judicial extern for the Honorable Benita Pearson in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.
Phoebe Schneider (Denver)
Phoebe provides strategic counsel on a wide variety of commercial litigation matters, advancing clients’ interests through detail-oriented advocacy at all stages of the litigation process. She focuses a large part of her practice on torts, navigating complex and often contentious disputes with heightened diligence and sensitivity as she works to preserve reputations and finances. She previously served as a judicial extern for the Honorable Elizabeth Brodsky in the Boulder County Court and as a judicial intern for the Honorable Michael Berger in the Colorado Court of Appeals, where she gained comprehensive experience conducting legal research, drafting orders and memos, and gaining critical trial process insight for both civil and criminal disputes.
After completing two bachelor’s degrees summa cum laude at the University of North Carolina Asheville, Phoebe earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Colorado Law School, where she served as the Colorado Law Mock Trial president and competed nationally on Colorado Law’s American Association of Justice mock trial team.