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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

07.24.2017	Mary Bacon Named Volunteer of the Month The Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada (LACSN) recently recognized Spencer Fane attorney Mary Bacon as its Volunteer of the Month. At the Civil Judges meeting on July 19, District Court Chief Judge Betsy Gonzalez presented Mary with a certificate honoring her pro bono service in the local community. Mary was recognized for her pro bono work that includes trial preparation for those who can’t afford it, and her Landlord/Tenant Ask-A-Lawyer sessions. LACSN helps provide legal services for over 100,000 people in Las Vegas who are often forgotten and cannot obtain help in any other way. Its Pro Bono Project coordinates private attorneys who generously volunteer to provide free legal assistance to individuals who cannot afford an attorney. Mary Bacon focuses her legal practice on commercial and construction litigation in addition to civil litigation. She works with business owners to prevent litigation, and to successfully litigate issues when needed.
07.21.2017	Pat McInerney Interviewed about Violent Crime in Kansas City Spencer Fane Partner Pat McInerney, a former president of the Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners, was recently interviewed on KCUR radio’s Up To Date show about the problem of violent crime in Kansas City. In the interview, which included Jeff Simon, also a former president of the Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners, Pat discussed the critical need for any solution to involve community engagement and trust within the community. Both McInerney and Simon agreed that violent crime is much more than just a police problem, and needs a comprehensive approach. The interview was also featured in the Kansas City Star’s Sunday editorial, titled “Here’s how you can help tackle Kansas City’s violent crime problem.” You can listen to the interview here, and read the Star’s editorial here. Pat is a partner in the Spencer Fane White Collar and Government Investigations practice group. He brings over two decades of experience as a trial lawyer, having first-chaired many high profile and complex cases in federal and state courts. As a former state and federal prosecutor, last with the Organized Crime Strike Force Unit of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri, Pat’s background prosecuting organized crime and public corruption give him a unique understanding of investigative and prosecution priorities, and allow him to counsel individuals and companies facing federal criminal or civil investigation.
07.20.2017	What property owners need to know about new registration requirements Missouri Governor Greitens recently signed into law, RSMO §347.048, a new registration requirement affecting limited liability companies (LLCs) that own and either rent or lease real property, or own vacant real property, located in Kansas City, Missouri or Independence, Missouri.
07.20.2017	Josh Dickinson Discusses Ethics Issues that Impact Debt Collection Attorneys On Monday, July 17, Spencer Fane partner Josh Dickinson joined a panel discussion at this year’s ACA convention (Association of Credit and Collection Professionals), updating debt collection attorneys on ethics issues.
07.19.2017	Through Leadership Las Vegas, Mary Bacon Makes a Difference for Schoolchildren As an active member of Leadership Las Vegas, Spencer Fane attorney Mary Bacon is helping make a difference in lives of local schoolchildren. Mary’s Leadership Las Vegas class is placing Buddy Benches at 10 schools in the Clark County School District to help reduce bullying and integrate students.

Latest Publications

07.14.2017	Major Changes to Missouri Human Rights Act Signed Into Law by Governor Greitens By Nikki Hutson On Friday, June 30, 2017, Missouri Governor Eric Greitens signed Senate Bill 43 into law. The Bill implements significant changes to the Missouri Human Rights Act (“MHRA”) and will likely have a significant impact on the litigation of MHRA claims. When he signed the legislation, Governor Greitens touted Senate Bill 43 for bringing Missouri law in closer alignment with the standards under federal law and 38 other states’ laws.
07.11.2017	CERCLA Due Diligence Requirements Revised to Reflect Updated Phase I Standard for Forested and Rural Land By Paul Jacobson Purchasers of rural and forested land need to be aware of a recent change in EPA’s environmental due diligence rules. On June 20, 2017, EPA published a Direct Final Rule in the Federal Register, amending the All Appropriate Inquiries (AAI) Rule, 40 CFR Part 312, to reflect 2016 updates to ASTM E2247, a standard for Phase I investigations on rural and forested land.
06.30.2017	Sale of New Aircraft With Used Engine Supports Claim of Fraud By Gardiner B. Davis The Texas Court of Appeals in Dallas ruled this week that a buyer purchasing a new aircraft from the manufacturer made a submissible case of fraud against the seller when it introduced evidence that one of the aircraft engines had previously been used on another aircraft, and that this fact had not been fully disclosed to the buyer.
06.30.2017	7th Circuit Holds That Title VII’s Prohibition on Sex Discrimination Includes A Prohibition on Sexual Orientation Discrimination By Brian Peterson On April 4, 2017, the en banc Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals overruled its own precedent and became the first Circuit to hold that discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation can constitute unlawful sex discrimination under Title VII.
06.27.2017	Requirements for Arizona employers to stay in compliance with new paid sick leave law By Helen Holden In November, 2016, voters in the State of Arizona adopted Proposition 206, known as The Fair Wages and Healthy Families Initiative. As of July 1, 2017, all employers in Arizona must provide employees with paid sick leave.

Latest Events

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?”
02.28.2017	25th Annual Midwest Section Air and Waste Management Association Paul Jacobson will present “EPA’s Hazardous Waste Generator Improvements Rule.” Click here to learn more about the conference.
01.28.2017	Lyric Opera of Kansas City to perform Elvis Costello’s The Juliet Letters this weekend Spencer Fane is proud to be an underwriter of the Lyric Opera of Kansas City’s Exploration Series, featuring in its next performance, Elvis Costello’s The Juliet Letters.
09.30.2016	Advanced HOA Issues – Triple Crown, Developer Trifecta & Changes on the Horizon Lisa Mayers will present “Advanced HOA Issues – Triple Crown, Developer Trifecta & Changes on the Horizon Stalled Development: Development Rights—Foreclosed, Expired, Ongoing; Unfinished Projects; Unannexed and Unannexable” to attorneys and developers sponsored by the Colorado Bar Association.