Professionals

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Total: 75 results

Wale Akinmoladun represents school districts, health and commercial insurance companies, employers, and other businesses and individuals involved in state and federal litigation, and administrative fair hearing appeals. He also works to settle differences by using dispute resolution to anticipate, avoid, and resolve litigation.

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Russell Baker’s practice focuses on tort, construction, and business litigation. He has represented numerous owners, contractors, and subcontractors in construction lawsuits and arbitrations.

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Brian Bear focuses his practice as a litigator and trial attorney on representing both private and public entities in complex litigation, public finance, and intellectual property.  Leaning on years of robust experience, Brian aggressively advocates for his clients to help them achieve their legal and business goals.

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Scott Blakesley is a partner and leader of the firm’s Kansas City estate planning group.

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Daniel Blegen focuses his nationwide litigation practice on assisting clients with their most important legal matters, including breaches of contract, business torts, trade secrets, intellectual property disputes, antitrust, and class actions. He represents businesses of all sizes — from corporations to small companies and individuals — with a track record of success in courts throughout Missouri and across the country.

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With nearly 20 years of experience in representing creditors from coast to coast, Mark Bogdanowicz helps his clients navigate the costs and uncertainty of doing business with companies and individuals faced with financial distress.

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Andrew Brought counsels manufacturers, industrial clients, and businesses with complex environmental (EPA) and workplace safety (OSHA) challenges. A dependable and responsive advocate, he offers pragmatic and business-focused solutions to help his clients achieve their goals.

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Kelly Campbell is a trial lawyer who helps her clients make the best decision to reach their goals. She goes to trial when her clients want to be vindicated in a court of law. She resolves their cases when her clients decide for business reasons that it’s the right decision.

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Andrea Chase represents secured and unsecured creditors and bankruptcy trustees in bankruptcy and non-bankruptcy insolvency proceedings such as receiverships and foreclosure proceedings, out of court workouts and restructurings, and other related insolvency matters.

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Shelli Clarkston provides financial institutions of all sizes with proactive legal counsel on regulatory and compliance matters, allowing them to conduct business and complete transactions with more precision, speed, and cost-efficiency.

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Gardiner Davis has over 35 years of experience representing businesses of all sizes in commercial disputes. He helps businesses enforce their rights against defaulting vendors, buyers, and competitors.

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Katherine Davis provides critical guidance for labor and employment clients so they can productively operate their businesses with minimal employee and compliance issues. This includes advising and structuring effective human resources staff, developing company-wide best practices, mitigating potential challenges and disputes, and preventing serious legal matters.

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Joshua Decker is Of Counsel with the firm and focuses his practice on estate planning, tax planning, and trust and estate administration. He helps families navigate all areas of estate planning with special knowledge in special needs planning and charitable giving.

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Kris Dekker assists banks, financial institutions, and other lenders of varying sizes close their transactions efficiently. He understands that timely execution is critical to a lender’s ability to compete in its marketplace.

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Mike Delaney has represented management in traditional labor relations matters, including collective bargaining negotiations, grievances and arbitrations, and union campaigns and matters before the National Labor Relations Board for more than 39 years.

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Brian Devling represents lenders in the origination and workout of middle-market commercial finance transactions. Applying a resourceful and pragmatic approach to collaborative planning, he constructs strong foundations for consistently risk-averse and cost-efficient outcomes. Brian’s primary focus is representing asset-based lenders in structuring, negotiating, documenting, and maintaining credit facilities.

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Angus Dwyer helps corporate and individual clients resolve legal disputes in the most advantageous manner possible under the circumstances, so they can keep their focus on their business.

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Kyle Elliott helps his clients obtain patent, trademark, and copyright protection for their innovative products and services, so they can secure exclusive rights gaining a competitive advantage. Concentrating on electrical, computer, mechanical and chemical technologies, Kyle has extensive experience working with a broad range of products including aerospace fasteners, oil well drilling bits, transformers, vision systems, encryption software, UAV control systems, advanced polymer coatings, and bio-fuels.

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Kristen Evans advises clients on bankruptcy and other related financial matters, analyzing complex legal issues within an evolving regulatory landscape. Her experience navigating the U.S. Bankruptcy Code and the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure allows her to thoughtfully strategize optimal, cost-effective solutions that comply with all applicable federal and state rules and regulations.

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Zach represents clients in complex corporate reorganizations and distressed asset sales in court-supervised processes and out-of-court restructurings – principally those involving balance sheet, environmental, labor, and mass tort litigation issues throughout a wide variety of industries, including agriculture, alternative investments, construction, energy, health care, hospitality, manufacturing, telecommunications, and transportation.

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Elizabeth Fast is a partner at Spencer Fane in the Banking and Financial Services group. For more than 20 years, she has been counseling banks, holding companies and other financial institutions on legal, regulatory, and compliance matters.

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Loren Foy employs a range of professional experience in the legal industry to help executives and HR professionals proactively identify risks and equip clients with tools intentionally designed to prevent employment disputes and avoid legal claims, allowing the focus to remain on running a successful business.

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Scott Goldstein’s practice concentrates in the areas of bankruptcy and reorganization for businesses, representation of secured creditors and creditors’ committees in workouts and bankruptcies, and bond default situations both in federal and state court.

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Leslie Greathouse helps businesses accused of violating laws maneuver the labyrinth of complex litigation by representing them in state and federal courts and in arbitration and mediation proceedings. Whether she is advising clients on risk avoidance, counseling them on an insurance matter, addressing their business needs within current legal and regulatory constructs, or using her skills as a trained mediator, Leslie is at her best when she is helping a client resolve a problem or challenge facing their business.

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Adunni Gueye represents individuals and businesses in complex commercial litigation, ERISA disputes, data privacy matters, 42 USC § 1983 civil rights claims, and media law issues, advancing clients’ interests with insightful strategies designed to achieve optimal outcomes at any stage in the dispute resolution process.

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Pete Hartweger is a partner in the firm’s Business Transactions group. Pete’s emphasis is in mergers and acquisitions, tax, general business, pass-through entities, non-profit and tax-exempt entities, and IRS tax controversies. A large portion of Pete’s practice involves representing small to medium sized closely-held businesses, counseling on contract, employment, tax, licensing, and ownership matters, and the day-to-day issues encountered by these businesses. His clients also include several large organizations, including a few publicly traded companies.

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Joe Hatley is a civil and commercial litigator who helps educational institutions navigate a myriad of federal and state laws so they can meet the increasing demands of lawmakers, parents, and students. In addition to supporting educational institutions, Joe defends employers in disputes with both employees and regulators, while also maintaining an active practice across a variety of business disputes.

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Thomas Hiatt is a trial attorney who helps businesses in all aspects of litigation including consulting pre-lawsuit, conducting and managing e-discovery, engaging in motion practice, and trying cases to verdict. He has experience in construction defect and payment disputes, antitrust litigation, collection work, and financial services litigation involving fraudulent transfer and piercing the corporate veil theories.

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Kersten Holzhueter is a full-service litigator for financial services companies. She defends a wide range of claims asserted against financial institutions, including claims for breach of contract, wrongful foreclosure, invasion of privacy, and interference with business relationships. Her defense work also involves lawsuits, including class actions alleging violations of the Uniform Commercial Code, Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, Fair Credit Reporting Act, Telephone Consumer Protection Act, Truth in Lending Act, Equal Credit Opportunity Act, and state consumer protection statutes.

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Paul guides businesses through their environmental and workplace safety legal challenges involving the EPA, OSHA, state environmental and workplace safety agencies, and private third parties.

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Sim Johal’s practice focuses on addressing the full range of litigation risks that a business might encounter, collaborating with all key stakeholders to quickly resolve matters and in a beneficial manner that aligns with a client’s unique objectives and goals.

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Eric Johnson, a partner at Spencer Fane, is the co-practice group leader for the Banking and Financial Services Group and practice group leader for the Bankruptcy, Restructuring and Creditors’ Rights Group.

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Sarah Kanoy Hobbs practices complex commercial and white-collar criminal litigation. She leverages her federal and state trial-court clerkships, along with her practical approach and analytical skills, to provide solutions for clients throughout all litigation stages.

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Kyle Klucas is a member of the firm’s Litigation and Dispute Resolution group. His practice is focused on conducting and managing discovery, engaging in motion practice, and translating complex legal issues into positive outcomes for clients.

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Kevin Kuhlman utilizes his extensive litigation and dispute resolution experience to represent clients across a wide range of industries in complex and consequential legal matters, efficiently and effectively finding beneficial resolutions that avoid unnecessary costs – monetary and reputational.

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Adam concentrates his practice in the areas of transactional and regulatory banking matters, including mergers and acquisitions, commercial lending, workouts, bankruptcy, and corporate trust.

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Bryant Lamer is a trial attorney for financial services and banking class actions, consumer class actions, business disputes, consumer fraud litigation, consumer fraud receiverships, and government and corporate investigations, including embezzlement and company asset recovery. Bryant also counsels clients regarding local, state, and federal regulatory compliance in a variety of industries including, but not limited to, shipping and logistics, manufacturing, mining, automobile leasing and sales, and cannabis.

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Justin Leck provides counsel on transactional matters to a wide variety of clients, including privately-held companies, municipalities, and non-profits. He focuses his practice on corporate law and real estate, including transfers and leases of real property, mergers and acquisitions, and providing general advice and services to privately held companies.

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Amy Lewandowski helps individuals and businesses navigate complex litigation issues and explore dispute resolution tactics to ensure that clients can focus on their business needs.

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Stephanie Lovett-Bowman is a litigator and counselor. She specializes in helping schools and other employers resolve disputes and implement best practices to avoid risk and conflict. Her goal is to help schools maximize their time and resources so they can focus on what they do best, educating students.

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Jeremy Lowe represents clients in high-stakes patent trials and appeals and other complex litigation matters with a focus on pharmaceuticals and medical devices. Boasting more than 24 years of experience as a trial and appellate attorney, he works with both plaintiffs and defendants in state and federal courts to consistently achieve favorable outcomes.

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Dane Martin assists clients ranging from individuals to large companies, serving as trusted counsel to navigate their most important legal matters and provide them with beneficial outcomes that align with business objectives.

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Patrick McAndrews helps small and medium size businesses resolve complex legal disputes quickly and efficiently so that the client can get back to focusing on running a successful business. Whether it’s a contractual dispute with vendor, an issue with a competitor, or a statutory compliance concern, Patrick uses his experience to negotiate advantageous outcomes for his clients.

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Mike McCann has represented several of the region’s largest and most well-regarded companies through business decisions, and mergers and acquisitions that pave the way for their continued growth and success. He was recently recognized for his representation of Boulevard Brewing Company, one of the region’s largest breweries, in its sale to Duvel Moortgat, an independent craft brewer based in Belgium.

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Pat McInerney is a partner in the Spencer Fane White Collar and Government Investigations practice. 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.

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Jessica Merrigan is a partner in the Kansas City and Overland Park offices of Spencer Fane and currently serves as its Co-Chair of the Environment and Energy Practice Group. She counsels clients on environmental matters regarding regulatory requirements and represents them in litigation of environmental claims, including contribution claims under the federal Superfund law.

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Pete Mirakian focuses his practice on corporate governance, securities, mergers and acquisitions, and tax law.

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Heather Morris is a member of the firm’s Banking and Financial Services group. She concentrates her practice in the areas of transactional and regulatory banking matters, including mergers and acquisitions, commercial lending, workouts, bankruptcy, and corporate trust.

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Casey Murray helps employers manage difficult situations with their current and former employees. In this capacity, he defends employers in discrimination, harassment, and retaliation claims, and provides guidance and counsel to clients dealing with challenging employment issues, such as terminations or discipline. Casey also regularly provides guidance for employers on FMLA, ADA, and other leave / accommodation laws.

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Dan Nelson leans on his vast experience in business law, prosecution, and case management to provide clients with creative and efficient counsel focusing on complex, high-stakes litigation matters. Dan helps provide his clients with pathways to successful resolutions through preventive measures and the full spectrum of dispute resolution methods.

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Danny O’Malley is a member of the firm’s Business Transactions practice group. He provides high levels of client service to businesses ranging from small startup entities to large public companies. His practice focuses on a wide variety of transactional matters, including mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, and day-to-day legal advice on all aspects of business operations critical to success.

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Businesses face issues that do not exist within the rigid legal silos present in most law firms. Rather, those issues are almost certain to require a collaborative approach across two or more legal disciplines. But the current law firm model and rate structure restrict and make financially infeasible the ability to deliver that approach effectively to business clients. Recognizing this systemic inefficiency, Nate Orr created a model where he serves as fractional general counsel for his clients, managing their legal matters across all the firm’s practice areas.

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Andrew Ostapko brings clients a solutions-oriented approach to all aspects of mergers and acquisitions, equity capital markets, and joint ventures, assessing risks, rewards, and legal responsibilities critical to efficient and effective transactions that align with overall business objectives.

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Madison Perry is a member of the Spencer Fane Litigation and Dispute Resolution, K-12 Education Law, and Labor and Employment practice groups.

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Brian Peterson helps businesses, both large and small, avoid employment-related lawsuits by drafting and reviewing employee handbooks and policies, and conducting employee training programs.

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Jim Price is a partner with Spencer Fane, where he is co-chair of its Environmental law practice group and was a member of the firm’s Executive Committee from 1997 to 2009. His practice concentrates on environmental regulation and compliance, environmental litigation, toxic torts, and business transactions involving environmental issues. Jim has served as lead counsel for numerous environmental matters, including Superfund proceedings, RCRA corrective action, environmental transactions, and environmental permitting and compliance for solid waste, hazardous waste, water, air, and other matters.

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Emily Reed focuses her practice on helping clients navigate complex commercial litigation, specifically in representing financial institutions, construction companies, and various other businesses small and large. Emily also gained valuable litigation experience while clerking in the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas.

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Peter Riggs is an experienced litigator and regulatory attorney that advises clients across the financial services industry in litigation, government and internal investigations, and bankruptcy and creditors’ rights matters.

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Dick Scarritt practices with the firm’s real estate, business and finance, and environmental groups, and previously served as chair of the firm’s real estate law group.

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David Schatz leads the firm’s Construction group and assists contractors, owners, and design professionals with all phases of the construction process. David drafts and negotiates contracts, advises clients on day-to-day business ventures, tries lawsuits, and is involved in arbitrations.

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Baerbel Schiller, a partner in the Kansas City and St. Louis offices, practices with the firm’s environmental group. Before joining Spencer Fane, Baerbel worked for the Environmental Protection Agency for 15 years in various management positions. At the EPA, Baerbel negotiated and litigated environmental cases arising under Superfund and RCRA and developed national EPA policies on regulating compliance, hazardous waste cleanups, Superfund and RCRA enforcement, and the reuse of contaminated sites.

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Tyler Scott helps insurance providers evaluate novel and complex insurance coverage claims and develop risk-averse strategies to resolve issues and negotiate disputes to avoid costly litigation. When litigation becomes necessary, he employs years of experience and strong legal acumen to defend clients against breach of policy and bad faith claims and to pursue subrogation and contribution on behalf of clients in state and federal courts across the country.

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Dave Seitter simplifies complex business issues critical to his clients’ transactions and responds rapidly to provide legal counseling to dynamic business situations.

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Mike Seitz is an experienced trial lawyer who helps clients navigate complex civil litigation and appellate matters throughout the country. He has handled cases with claims exceeding several billion dollars in potential liability and has experience in many areas affecting business clients, including ownership disputes, copyright and trade secret litigation, professional malpractice, fraud and unfair competition, racketeering, the False Claims Act, real estate disputes, and employment litigation.

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Blake is a trial lawyer who helps clients through what is often the worst times of their lives: a lawsuit that might result in bankruptcy if the client loses. As an attorney experienced in bet-the-company litigation, Blake approaches these difficult situations with a fierce resolve to win for his clients. He recognizes the high-stress nature of these matters and partners closely with each client to help them avoid civil damages so they can stay in operation.

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Eric Steinle is a partner on the firm’s Corporate and Business Transactions team. His practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions, equity and debt financing, securities offerings, and corporate governance.

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Allison Tanner assists clients in connection with acquiring, selling or merging businesses or assets, as well as financial and real estate transactions. She strategizes with clients to organize and coordinate all the details involved in large corporate or real estate transactions, and assists clients in developing solutions to their transactional issues. She advises business owners and assists them through consultation, education, and interaction on all matters related to growing, selling, and buying businesses.

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Kevin Tuttle is an intellectual property attorney counseling and assisting clients in the development, acquisition, enforcement, and defense of intellectual property rights so they can increase the value of their companies, and grow and protect their market position. Kevin is regularly involved in domestic and international transaction and litigation matters pertaining to patents, trademarks, and copyrights.

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Julia Vander Weele is an employee benefits attorney who also serves as Office Managing Partner of the Spencer Fane Kansas City office.

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Doug Weems has been involved in a wide variety of business litigation matters. Doug has represented a national health insurance company in a wide variety of employee benefits, contract, antitrust, and general litigation. Doug also has extensive experience in intellectual property litigation, especially covenants not-to-compete and trade secrets litigation. He has been involved in over thirty preliminary injunction hearings.

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Pat serves as Chair and Managing Partner of Spencer Fane.

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Sue Willman is an employment attorney who represents management exclusively on workplace legal issues. She is primarily a preventative employment attorney whose primary focus is to help employers prevent employment-related claims from arising by adopting legally sound, effective, and innovative HR policies, practices, and programs; and make lawful, strategic and practical HR decisions on employee-specific matters that will result in a sound defense position should a claim be asserted.

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A Fellow with the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers, Dave Wing solves difficult employment problems for employers in the areas of traditional labor, human resource counseling and training, and employment litigation.

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Focusing on juvenile and family law matters, Sandy Wirtel helps clients in Jackson County Family Court, so that they can receive sound advice from legal counsel experienced in child abuse and neglect and juvenile delinquency cases.

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As a member of both the Environmental and Energy Law and the Real Estate groups at Spencer Fane, Shelby assists clients seeking to buy, sell, manage, finance, and redevelop environmentally impaired properties. Shelby regularly helps clients manage, investigate, and remediate CERCLA (Superfund) sites and contaminated properties in state run voluntary cleanup programs. He has also negotiated environmental use controls, restrictive covenants, and other agreements associated with managing long-term environmental liability at contaminated sites.

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