Spencer Fane is excited to share, in alignment with last year’s record-breaking class, a group of 24 law students has joined the Spencer Fane summer associate program across 12 national offices and several key practice groups.
The 2026 class of summer associates will deepen their legal foundations and expand skill sets across industries and practice groups while collaborating with senior attorneys on a wide variety of client matters.
This year’s class includes: Sydney Boneno (Dallas), Michelle Bryant (St. Louis), Alex Choi (Denver), Bowen Fuller (Las Vegas), Kenzie Hatman (Springfield), Dayton Hintz (Houston), Lily Johnson (Las Vegas), Alyssa Lowery (Houston), Román U. Martínez (Dallas), Blaine McBroom (Kansas City), Madison Merrill (Salt Lake City), Myra Milam (Kansas City), Evan Patel (Houston), Chandni Patel (Nashville), Emily Poling (Phoenix), Weston Rasmussen (Denver), Diego Silva (Kansas City), Merina Sterling (Salt Lake City), Jamison Straulin (St. Louis), Jake Thompson (Kansas City), Jenna Ulrich (Springfield), Alyssa VanOrnum (Minneapolis), Wiley Waggoner (Santa Fe), and Brecken Wojciechowski (St. Louis).
“We are ecstatic to once again welcome new and returning faces to the Spencer Fane summer associate program, which offers dynamic, real-world learning experiences as well as meaningful social connection and relationship building,” said Spencer Fane Chair Patrick J. Whalen. “This year’s class has the ambition, intellectual curiosity, and humble-yet-proactive attitudes we seek out in our selection process, and we look forward to how their work with our supportive senior attorneys and dedicated mentors will continue to shape their promising trajectories in law.”
The immersive summer associate program began in late May and will conclude in late July. Learn more about each member of the class below.
Sydney Boneno (Dallas)
Sydney Boneno earned her bachelor’s degree summa cum laude from Southern Methodist University, where she is now a rising 3L at the university’s Dedman School of Law. She serves as chair of the SBA Movement Committee and is actively involved in the Civil / Consumer Law Clinic, the Sports and Entertainment Law Association, Women in Law, and the Real Estate Law Association. She has completed multiple internships, including a congressional internship for former Louisiana Congressman Garret Graves, and maintains strong interests in real estate, corporate and business transactions, and health care law.
Michelle Bryant (St. Louis)
Returning to the Spencer Fane summer associate program as a rising 3L at Saint Louis University School of Law, Michelle Bryant is president of the Evening Law Student Association, serves as a faculty research fellow, and is involved in the Faculty Selection Committee and Health Law Association. Michelle obtained her bachelor’s degree from Truman State University and her master’s in public health from Washington University in St. Louis, working various roles in regulatory operations and research for Mercy Health System before pursuing her Juris Doctor. Her diverse background has incited a strong interest in health care law, as well as corporate and business transactions, data privacy and cybersecurity, and litigation and dispute resolution.
Alexandro Choi (Denver)
Alex Choi just completed his first year at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, where he had hands-on roles in the Student Trial Lawyers Association’s 1L Mock Trial Program, the Asian Pacific American Law Student Association, and Denver Law Ascent. He earned his bachelor’s degree in neuroscience from the University of Colorado Boulder and is most excited to gain practical experience in intellectual property, corporate and business transactions, and real estate law.
Bowen Fuller (Las Vegas)
A rising 3L at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas William S. Boyd School of Law, where he is also working on his master’s degree, Bowen Fuller is a member of the Nevada Law Journal and the Sports and Entertainment Law Association. After earning his bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University, he served as a project manager at a political and public affairs consulting firm. Bowen has completed a judicial externship for the Nevada Supreme Court and is most interested in building experience in litigation and dispute resolution, labor and employment, and intellectual property law.
Kenzie Hatman (Springfield)
Kenzie Hatman completed her second year at the University of Arkansas School of Law, where she has actively engaged in trial and advocacy-focused programming, including the William H. Sutton Barrister’s Trial Competition, achieving a place in the Final Sixteen of the SBA Negotiation Competition, and competing in the Illinois National Client Counseling & Advising Competition. She is also a member of the Women’s Law Society and the Business Law Society. Kenzie completed her bachelor’s degree at Williams Baptist University. She returns to the Spencer Fane summer associate program for a second year, building on her interests in corporate and business transactions, real estate, and banking and financial services.
Dayton Hintz (Houston)
Entering his third year at the University of Houston Law Center, Dayton Hintz is a member of the Houston Journal of International Law, president of the Aggie Bar Association, and a presenter for the UHLC Honor Board. He has a strong interest in litigation and dispute resolution, as well as real estate and energy law. Dayton obtained his bachelor’s degree cum laude from Texas A&M University before joining the U.S. Army Reserve, where he presently serves as an operations officer. He has completed multiple clerkships, including for the 165th Harris County (Texas) Civil Court.
Lily Johnson (Las Vegas)
After earning her bachelor’s degree from Texas Tech University, Lily Johnson completed her first year at the university’s School of Law, where she participated in internal 1L negotiations, mock trial, and moot court competitions, and is an active member of the Board of Barristers. She previously interned in the collections department of a law firm, and has strong interests in litigation and dispute resolution, labor and employment, and health care law.
Alyssa Lowery (Houston)
Alyssa Lowery obtained bachelor’s degrees in biochemistry and psychology from the University of Houston, where she is a rising 3L at the university’s Law Center. She is a member of the UHLC Moot Court Team and a contributor to the Houston Business and Tax Law Journal. Alyssa has completed multiple legal internships, including for the Harris County (Texas) Medical Society, and is currently focused on the intellectual property, health care, and litigation and dispute resolution practice areas.
Román U. Martínez (Dallas)
A returning Spencer Fane summer associate and rising 3L at Baylor Law School, Román Martínez maintains active involvements in Texas Mock Trial, moot court, Baylor Law Review, and the Hispanic American Law Student Association. He has a strong interest in litigation and dispute resolution, as well as labor and employment and health care law, and is developing a broad foundation in these practice areas through his academic and extracurricular experience. Román completed his Bachelor of Business Administration at Texas McCombs School of Business.
Blaine McBroom (Kansas City)
Blaine McBroom earned his bachelor’s degree at the University of Kansas, where he is now a rising 3L at the university’s School of Law. He has strong interests in environmental, energy, and labor and employment law, and is actively involved in the Public Interest Society and the Energy and Environmental Law Society. Blaine has gained practical experience through a judicial internship with the Honorable Toby Crouse of the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas.
Madison Merrill (Salt Lake City)
Madison Merrill’s portfolio of experience includes two years as a Spencer Fane summer associate, an internship for former Utah Senator Mitt Romney, and a stint as an estate planning paralegal. A rising 3L at the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law, she takes an active role in moot court, the Pro Bono Initiative, and the Women’s Law Caucus. Madison obtained her bachelor’s degree from Utah State University.
Myra Milam (Kansas City)
Myra Milam just completed her first year at the University of Missouri–Kansas City School of Law, where she is involved with UMKC Law Review and the ACLU. After obtaining her bachelor’s degree from Truman State University and master’s degree from Teachers College, Columbia University, Myra worked in multiple literacy and language roles. As a law student, she focuses on growing her experience in litigation and dispute resolution, health care, and intellectual property law.
Evan Patel (Houston)
Evan Patel is in his second year at Baylor University School of Law, where he is the senior executive editor of the Baylor Law Review and a member of the Baylor Barrister Society and the Christian Legal Society. He earned his bachelor’s degree in biochemistry magna cum laude from Texas A&M University and briefly worked as a medical scribe. His top practice areas of interest are health care, environmental, and energy law. Evan recently completed a judicial externship for the Honorable Dan MacLemore of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas.
Chandni Patel (Nashville)
Soon to enter her third year at Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law, Chandni Patel is actively involved in the trial team and Women in Law, serves as an academic success advisor, and contributes to the American Journal of Trial Advocacy. She obtained her bachelor’s degree from Northeastern University with concentrations in finance and venture management, gaining experience through an accounting clerkship and two tax services roles prior to law school. Most recently, she completed a legal internship with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Chandni has a strong interest in business transactions, banking and financial services, and labor and employment law.
Emily Poling (Phoenix)
Upon completion of her bachelor’s degree summa cum laude from the University of Arizona, Emily Poling entered the university’s James E. Rogers College of Law, where she is a rising 3L. She remains engaged with the Health Law Society, the Legal Empiricism and Discussion Society, and Pride Law, and serves as a member of the Arizona Law Review. Emily has a strong interest in health care law and has completed a law clerkship at Tucson Medical Center. She is also interested in expanding her experience in corporate and business transactions and real estate law.
Weston Rasmussen (Denver)
Weston Rasmussen will enter his third year at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, where he is actively engaged in the Advanced Criminal Defense Clinic, serves as a teaching assistant for the first-year legal writing course, and is a staff editor for the Denver Water Law Review. He is also involved in the Student Trial Lawyers Association, coaches first-year mock trial teams, and contributes as a peer mentor and board member of the Jewish Law Students Association. Weston earned his bachelor’s degree cum laude from Colorado Mesa University. He has a strong interest in litigation and dispute resolution, labor and employment, and environmental law.
Diego Silva (Kansas City)
A rising 3L at the University of Missouri–Kansas City School of Law, Diego Silva is continuing to build experience in his practice areas of interest: intellectual property, business transactions, and health care law. He is a UMKC Law Review staff member and participates in the Hispanic Bar Association. He previously served as a judicial intern for the Honorable Stephen R. Bough of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri. Diego earned his bachelor’s degree in biology from UMKC’s Honors College.
Merina Sterling (Salt Lake City)
Merina Sterling completed her second year at Notre Dame Law School, where she is a staff editor for Notre Dame Law Review and a member of the Federalist Society and the Women’s Legal Forum. Following her undergraduate studies at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, she worked as a paralegal for almost seven years before entering law school. She has also completed multiple legal internships, including as a legislative aide to former Hawaii State Senator Kaiali’i Kahele. Merina plans to expand her experience in corporate and business transactions, energy, and real estate law.
Jamison Straulin (St. Louis)
After earning his bachelor’s degree magna cum laude from the University of Missouri–St. Louis, Jamison Straulin spent a year gaining hands-on experience as a paralegal before pursuing his Juris Doctor at the Washington University in St. Louis School of Law, where he is a rising 3L. He is involved in the Student Bar Association and is the chief symposium editor of the Washington University Law Review. Jamison returns to the Spencer Fane summer associate program for a second year, where he is continuing to build skills in litigation and dispute resolution; tax, trusts, and estates; and data privacy and cybersecurity law.
Jake Thompson (Kansas City)
Jake Thompson, who returns to the Spencer Fane summer associate program for his second year, is a rising 3L at the University of Missouri–Kansas City School of Law, where he serves as treasurer of the Christian Legal Society and maintains close involvement with the Sports and Entertainment Society and the Business Law Society. His current practice areas of interest include corporate and business transactions, litigation and dispute resolution, and banking and financial services. Jake earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Benedictine College. In addition to his internships with Spencer Fane, he has completed a judicial internship within the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri.
Jenna Ulrich (Springfield)
During her first year at Washington University in St. Louis School of Law, Jenna Ulrich provided integral contributions to the Women’s Law Caucus, the Public Service Advisory Board, and the Wiley Rutledge Moot Court Student Board. Now, a rising 2L, her focus areas of interest include litigation and dispute resolution, corporate and business transactions, and banking and financial services. Jenna completed her bachelor’s degree at the University of Missouri–Columbia.
Alyssa VanOrnum (Minneapolis)
Alyssa VanOrnum is entering her third year at the University of St. Thomas School of Law, where she is actively involved in the negotiations team, St. Thomas Journal of Law and Public Policy, and the writing fellow program. She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Minnesota before working as a court monitor for The Advocates for Human Rights. Alyssa has also completed a judicial externship for the Honorable Judge Angela Willms in the Hennepin County (Minnesota) Juvenile Court as well as a private practice clerkship. Her practice areas of interest include labor and employment, real estate, and corporate and business transactions.
Wiley Waggoner (Santa Fe)
After earning his bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Los Angeles, Wiley Waggoner pursued his Juris Doctor from the University of New Mexico School of Law, where he is a rising 3L and involved in the Historical Law Society, the Association for Public Interest Law, and the Natural Resources Journal. Wiley previously served as a summer associate within the New Mexico State Ethics Commission and maintains strong interests in environmental, energy, and real estate law, and the intersections therein.
Brecken Wojciechowski (St. Louis)
Brecken Wojciechowski is rising 3L at Saint Louis University School of Law, where he serves as treasurer of the Real Estate Law Organization. He returns to the Spencer Fane summer associate program for a second year, also recently completing a legal externship for a manufacturing company. During and following his undergraduate studies – where he concentrated on real estate and legal ethics – he completed multiple real estate internships and programs. In addition to real estate law, Brecken is interested in growing his skill set in corporate and business transactions and tax, trusts, and estates.