Spencer Fane LLP is pleased to announce the addition of 13 associates across 10 offices as the firm continues to solidify a path of culture-driven growth and success. The new attorneys will join six practice groups and collaborate with numerous others as their practices evolve and expand.
Each joins Spencer Fane with a unique perspective shaped by diverse legal and educational experiences, distinctive strengths, and an inherent alignment with the firm’s empowering, inclusive, and collaborative culture.
“As we both broaden and deepen our vast industry knowledge, our talented associates provide new points of view in the areas of creativity, adaptability, and contemporary thinking,” said Spencer Fane Chair Patrick J. Whalen. “From both a cultural standpoint and a longstanding commitment to deliver exceptional client service, we look forward to the ways in which they will not only strengthen our practice but also proactively contribute to the principles of accountability, communication, and cumulative value that are key attributes of our firm.”
Spencer Fane attorneys and professional staff look forward to contributing to each associate’s career development through robust mentorship – both formal and informal – and the firm’s recently reimagined internal structure. In conjunction with internal Talent Teams and external Market Teams, new associates have ample opportunities to work with firm leadership to establish and curate professional goals, delve into teams dedicated to niche components of their respective industries, and create a tailored support network across the firm’s 30 national offices.
ABOUT THE ATTORNEYS
Ryan Barber, Corporate and Business Transactions, St. Louis
Ryan’s practice focuses on supporting clients’ businesses at every stage, from formation and organization to governance to sale or merger. His corporate law experience includes drafting formation and transaction documents, performing research to resolve issues with governance, and conducting due diligence during mergers and acquisitions. He obtained his bachelor’s degree summa cum laude from Rockhurst University before earning his Juris Doctor magna cum laude from Saint Louis University School of Law. While in law school, Ryan served as the note and comment editor for the Saint Louis University Law Journal.
Rachel Carr Shreves, Banking and Financial Services, Kansas City
With a strong foundation in commercial law, Rachel supports clients navigating complex financial matters, including receiverships, bankruptcy, regulatory compliance, and commercial lending. After completing her undergraduate studies at Southern New Hampshire University, she earned her Juris Doctor cum laude from the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) School of Law. While in law school, Rachel served as a research editor on the UMKC Law Review Editorial Board and worked as a research assistant for several professors. She also completed one summer as a Spencer Fane summer associate and one summer at a boutique civil litigation firm. Prior to entering private practice, she served as a legal extern to the Honorable Beth Phillips of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri, as well as to the Honorable Cynthia Norton, Honorable Brian Fenimore, and Honorable Dennis Dow (Ret.) of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Missouri.
Savannah Charles, Banking and Financial Services, Plano
Savannah helps clients navigate complex bankruptcy and restructuring matters, drawing on her knowledge of bankruptcy proceedings to provide thoughtful and strategic guidance. Previously, she was a summer associate at Spencer Fane; served as a judicial extern to the Honorable Sage Sigler of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Georgia; and completed a legal externship with the U.S. Trustee Program also within the Northern District of Georgia, where she conducted research on complex bankruptcy issues, drafted legal documents, and supported case management. Savannah graduated summa cum laude with a dual bachelor’s degree from Grambling State University, then obtained her Juris Doctor from Emory University School of Law, where she served as executive clinic editor for the Emory Bankruptcy Developments Journal and competed on the Southern Regional Black Law Students Association Moot Court Team.
Kate Daus, Litigation and Dispute Resolution, St. Louis
Kate concentrates her practice on a diverse range of commercial and general litigation matters, providing thoughtful and effective legal counsel designed to help businesses and individuals navigate complex litigation issues and identify effective and efficient dispute resolution strategies. After graduating with her bachelor’s degree summa cum laude from Southeast Missouri State University, she obtained her Juris Doctor from Washington University in St. Louis School of Law. While in law school, Kate completed a legal externship with Anheuser-Busch InBev in their Global Legal Department and was published in the Washington University Journal of Law and Policy.
Ursula Davy, Labor and Employment, Denver
With a focus on providing full-service legal guidance, Ursula assists clients with a wide range of employment law mattersthrough diligent day-to-day counsel, long-term compliance strategies, and, when necessary, litigation. After receiving her bachelor’s degree from Florida State University, Ursula earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Colorado Law School, where she was an active member of the Barristers’ Council National Mock Trial Team, competing in several mock trial competitions and serving as the external competition chair. She was also a student-attorney in the Civil Practice Clinic where she represented low-income clients in landlord-tenant disputes and wage and hour claims. Beyond private practice, Ursula is an active member of the Colorado, Denver, Sam Cary, and Colorado Hispanic Bar Associations.
Sonny DeFreitas, Litigation and Dispute Resolution, Las Vegas
With an emphasis on clear client communication, Sonny helps individuals and businesses navigate a wide range of commercial litigation matters, identifying specific objectives and forming actionable strategies for proactive negotiation. He earned both his bachelor’s degree and Juris Doctor from the University of Nevada-Las Vegas. While in law school, he completed multiple private and public sector law clerkships, including with Spencer Fane and the Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada, and was active in competitions spanning negotiation, moot court, mock trial, and client counseling. Sonny has diverse experience participating in consumer rights and family law cases as well as personal injury and employee discrimination law. He has also dedicated time as a small claims volunteer within the Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada.
Henry Hong, Litigation and Dispute Resolution, Kansas City
Shaped by five years as a Hospital Corpsman within the U.S. Navy, where he was distinguished for his exceptional service on multiple occasions, Henry brings a mission-focused mindset to his work helping clients navigate complex litigation matters. His overall approach focuses on understanding each client’s unique objectives and delivering practical, results-based counsel through clear communication and disciplined advocacy. After graduating from the University of Maryland Global Campus summa cum laude, Henry obtained his Juris Doctor cum laude from Georgetown University Law Center, where he served as an executive editor of the Georgetown Journal of Law & Public Policy, completed two summers as a Spencer Fane summer associate, interned with both the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the U.S. District Court for the District of D.C., and represented clients as a student attorney with the Georgetown Law Civil Justice Clinic.
Ryan Larson, Corporate and Business Transactions, Phoenix
Ryan helps companies navigate mergers and acquisitions, raise capital through equity and debt financing, and manage corporate formation and governance matters so they can grow strategically, operate efficiently, and achieve profitable long-term business goals. Already, his diverse client experience spans representing a technology startup in seed funding to advising an established aerospace company in a multimillion-dollar transaction. After obtaining his bachelor’s degree cum laude from the University of Utah, he earned his Juris Doctor summa cum laude from Arizona State University’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. Ryan has been distinguished with the Carey and Armstrong Prize for Achievement in Public Service and notably achieved a top score on the Arizona Bar Exam.
Mary Mason, Employee Benefits, Overland Park
Mary counsels business leaders and management personnel on the full range of employee benefits solutions, crafting tailored plans that adhere to specific business needs, mitigate risk and personal liability, and abide by all federal compliance and regulatory obligations. Her unique background includes serving as a law clerk focused on litigation and transactional matters; as an intern with a private consulting firm in which she worked directly with the Kansas Legislature; and as a judicial extern for the Honorable Judge Daniel D. Crabtree in the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas. She has also dedicated time as a volunteer within the Voluntary Income Tax Assistance program. After receiving her bachelor’s degree summa cum laude from Ave Maria University, Mary earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Kansas School of Law, graduating as a member of the Order of the Coif.
Kaleb Rasmussen, Health Care, St. Louis
Serving both health care and employee benefits clients, Kaleb advises on complex state and federal laws governing transactions, compliance, and reimbursement. Drawing from diverse prior experience for a third-party employee benefits administrator and internships for a state legislator, a large health system, and a consulting firm, he applies integrated, data-driven legal solutions so organizations can make confident decisions amid risk. After completing his undergraduate studies at the University of Utah, Kaleb earned both his Juris Doctor and Master of Healthcare Administration from Saint Louis University. He has already begun curating a strong reputation within national and regional health law sections and recently authored an article for a national legal publication.
Ethan Sotak, Litigation and Dispute Resolution, Omaha
A full-service litigation attorney, Ethan focuses on all aspects of dispute resolution within several sectors, including banking and financial services, commercial law, real estate, and bankruptcy. He represents a variety of clients, including state and nationally chartered banks, non-bank lenders, loan servicers, and real estate developers, working to understand his client’s motivations and challenges by preparing strategies and using tools tailored to a wide range of cases. Ethan obtained both his bachelor’s degree magna cum laude and his Juris Doctor from Creighton University. Beyond his practice, he maintains memberships in the Nebraska State and Omaha Bar Associations.
Marissa Valdez, Litigation and Dispute Resolution, Houston
Marissa helps clients in complex commercial litigation matters by focusing on development and implementation of strategic dispute resolution approaches that align with their business objectives and promote efficient, favorable outcomes. She received her bachelor’s degree from Texas State University and her Juris Doctor cum laude from the University of Houston Law Center, where she was an active member of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Competition Team. She previously interned with Harris County Probate Court No. 3, where she gained valuable insight into the judicial process and the intricacies of fiduciary and probate litigation, strengthening her ability to manage legal matters involving sensitive relationships and heightened emotional dynamics.
Hailey Winn, Litigation and Dispute Resolution, Salt Lake City
Whether through litigation or alternative dispute resolution, Hailey helps clients formulate strategies which minimize risk and maximize value while aligning with their specific needs and objectives. She also works closely with the Corporate and Business Transactions and White Collar Defense and Investigations practice groups, helping craft agile, risk-averse solutions to complex business challenges and high-stakes disputes. Hailey completed her bachelor’s degree summa cum laude at Utah State University before earning her Juris Doctor at the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law. While in law school, she completed multiple legal clerkships and was a Quinney Fellow and Assistantship recipient, LexisNexis Ambassador, vice president of Disability Law Club, vice president and co-founder of Yoga for Stressed Out Law Students, and research assistant and dedicated member of the Women’s Law Caucus and Business Law Society.