Spencer Fane was the subject of a feature article in the Kansas City Business Journal (KCBJ) following the firm’s 2025 Champions of Business recognition. The article lauded Spencer Fane for the impact it is having not only in Kansas City but also across the legal industry.
“Spencer Fane is redefining what it means to be a law firm in the 21st century,” the KCBJ wrote. “With a commitment to high trust, low bureaucracy, and a decentralized model of leadership, the firm has made a strategic bet that culture, not hierarchy, is the key to sustained excellence.”
In addition to selecting Spencer Fane as the only law firm recognized in the 2025 class of Champions of Business, the KCBJ has reported on the firm being the fastest-growing AmLaw 200 law firm in the nation over the last five-year period, noting that growth has continued “significantly in the past year, with a 20% increase in revenue in 2024 and 13% profit growth.”
In his interview with the publication, Chair Patrick J. Whalen discussed how the Spencer Fane methodology has not only benefited professionals and firm results but also unlocked new value for clients.
“As businesses scale, the textbooks say you have to bring in more command and control, more structure, more middle management, but our strategy breaks away from that traditional structure,” Pat said. “We believe execution occurs at the point between the professional and the client, and so the more we decentralize, the more we distribute decision-making to the point of contact, the better service clients will receive.”
Noting the firm’s shift away from the traditional law firm model, KCBJ reiterated the firm’s focus on autonomy, collaboration, trust, and professional empowerment which have also contributed to Spencer Fane being recognized as the only law firm in the nation to earn a perfect score on the 2025 U.S. News & World Report Best Companies to Work For listing.
Read the firm’s full 2025 Champions of Business profile here. Please note, a subscription may be required.