Spencer Fane is pleased to announce attorney Ben Shantz as one of Biz 417’s 2026 10 for the Next 10. The publication also featured him on the cover of its July/August 2026 issue, which highlights this year’s distinguished honorees.
This distinction highlights 10 business professionals across southwest Missouri who have established early-career reputations for leadership as well as business and community impact. In his honoree profile – which notes everything from his favorite coffee order to his people-centered approach to work and civic engagement – Ben explains his leadership mindset.
“I think of myself as a servant leader and an experiential leader,” he said, emphasizing collaboration and accessibility. “My door is quite literally and figuratively always open.”
At Spencer Fane, Ben is a trial attorney and counselor who helps his clients by fighting for their interests both in and out of court so they can focus on growing their businesses. He has a reputation for providing practical legal advice that enables clients to make real-time, critical business decisions. Ben uses his experience in the courtroom to help clients prevent litigation in the first place and best position them when disputes do arise by drafting a wide range of contracts to better protect their interests on the front end.
Read Ben’s full Biz 417 honoree profile here.