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Spencer Fane’s Insights contain a wealth of information on our firm, our attorneys and our recent activities, as well as upcoming events. If you need further information please contact the marketing department.

Latest News

10.20.2017	Andy Lester Interviewed by TV station KFOR in Oklahoma City In a recent story about the death penalty in Oklahoma, television station KFOR in Oklahoma City interviewed Spencer Fane Partner Andy Lester. Andy was co-chair of the Death Penalty Review Commission, a bipartisan group that conducted the first-ever independent, objective, and thorough review of Oklahoma’s entire capital punishment system.
10.19.2017	Shannon Davies and Andy Lester Selected to Oklahoma Super Lawyers List, Courtney Powell Honored as Rising Star Spencer Fane congratulates Shannon Davies and Andy Lester for inclusion in the 2017 Oklahoma Super Lawyers list, and Courtney Powell for inclusion in its Rising Stars list.
10.17.2017	Spencer Fane Welcomes George M. Rowley to Special Districts Group Spencer Fane LLP is pleased to announce the addition of George M. Rowley, who joins the firm as Of Counsel in its special districts practice.
10.16.2017	Spencer Fane Grows Health Care Practice with Addition of 6 Attorneys Spencer Fane is pleased to announce the addition of Partners Brett Bogan, Donn Herring, Andy Ramirez, Julie Roth, and Of Counsel Stacy Harper and Reed Williams to the firm’s Health Care practice effective October 16, 2017.
10.05.2017	Lisa Epps Named Among Best of the Bar by Kansas City Business Journal The Kansas City Business Journal has named Spencer Fane Partner Lisa Epps to its 2017 Best of the Bar, a list of top attorneys in Kansas City.

Latest Publications

10.13.2017	Administration Proposes Delay of Disability Claims and Appeals Procedures By Kenneth A. (Ken) Mason The Department of Labor has proposed a 90-day delay in the applicability of disability claims and appeals regulations that were finalized in the waning days of the Obama Administration. Rather than applying to claims filed on or after January 1, 2018, the regulations would now apply to claims filed on or after April 1, 2018. Moreover, it seems likely that a further delay – or even a complete withdrawal – of the regulations could be in the works.
10.10.2017	Bifurcated Distribution Options Made Easier By Beth Miller Earlier this year, the IRS issued Notice 2017-44. This Notice provides model amendments that plan sponsors may use to amend qualified defined benefit plans to offer a bifurcated distribution option. Because the IRS has terminated its determination letter program (except in limited circumstances), plan sponsors may find the model language helpful as they consider design changes to their defined benefit plans for 2018.
10.04.2017	The Tivol Decision – Must An Employer Challenge The Issuance of an MCHR Right-To-Sue Letter By Filing A Writ of Mandamus? By Brian Peterson The Missouri Supreme Court recently issued an opinion that clarifies when it is appropriate to challenge the issuance of a Missouri Commission on Human Rights (“MCHR”) right-to-sue letter.
09.22.2017	Mistaken Use In Sales Contract Of Spec Sheet For A Different Aircraft Is Held To Void Buyer’s Purchase Obligation By Gardiner B. Davis The importance of selecting the correct specification sheet is driven home in a recent decision of the Federal District Court for the Western District of New York.
09.11.2017	OSHA Issues New Guidance on Process Safety Management By Paul Jacobson, Andrew C. Brought OSHA recently published a guidance document to help petroleum refineries comply with OSHA’s Process Safety Management (PSM) standard, 29 CFR 1910.119, distilling lessons learned by OSHA over the past ten years from the Petroleum Refinery PSM National Emphasis Program (NEP). The OSHA guidance serves as a road map for process safety professionals to understand specific areas that OSHA will focus on during a PSM audit and areas most likely for OSHA to find gaps in PSM programs.

Latest Events

08.30.2017	2017 Employee Benefits Seminar The Spencer Fane Employee Benefits group will host its annual seminar this fall in the Denver and Kansas City areas. The theme this year is: “Benefits 2017: Do You Know What You Need to Know?” The following sessions will be included: Understanding Retirement Plan Fees: It’s a Fiduciary Issue Is Your Health Plan Healthy? The Keys to Retaining Key Employees Each seminar runs from 7:30-11:50 am. Dates and locations are: Tuesday, Sept. 19 – The Inverness Hotel, Englewood, CO Thursday, Sept 28 – Overland Park Convention Center, Overland Park, KS Click here to view the invitation and to register.
07.31.2017	Knock, Knock: Managing Risk in Internal and Government Investigations CLE, August 8 ACC Mid-America Chapter & Spencer Fane LLP jointly present: Knock, Knock: Managing Risk in Internal and Government Investigations Conducted by: Patrick McInerney, Partner and Mark A. Thornhill, Partner
07.31.2017	2017 Special District Association Conference, September 13-15 This year’s Special District Association (SDA) Conference, September 13-15 in Keystone, Colorado will feature two speakers from Spencer Fane.
03.30.2017	COBRA Basics and More – Webinar Laura Fischer, Ken Mason and Julia Vander Weele, partners in the Spencer Fane Employee Benefits group will conduct a webinar providing a refresher on COBRA basics, discuss the future of COBRA (in the event of a potential repeal of the Affordable Care Act), and address several case-law developments.
03.30.2017	Who’s Talking to Your Employees About Retirement? and Why You Should Care. – Seminar Greg Ash, Chair of the Spencer Fane Employee Benefits group, will join Chris Costello of bloom to a conduct a seminar geared toward HR and benefits professionals titled, “Who’s talking to your employees about retirement, and why you should care.” Greg will focus on the topic “The DOL’s fiduciary rule: now what?”