Spencer Fane Britt & Browne LLP has joined forces with attorneys in Springfield, Missouri, and Colorado Springs, Colorado, expanding the law firm to those cities and growing the firm throughout its four home states.
“Attorneys joining our firm share our value of helping clients solve, plan and prepare for the future,” said Patrick Whalen, chair and managing partner of Spencer Fane. “We’re excited to expand our ability to serve the needs of all our clients in these cities.”
Spencer Fane has long represented many clients in Springfield and throughout southwest Missouri and now will be able to do so more effectively and efficiently. The Springfield office will focus on real estate, including urban development; construction and housing; financial services; education; and litigation. The office comprises six attorneys, all partners, who were formerly with Husch Blackwell LLP:
Charles B. Cowherd brings deep experience in an array of industries including financial services. His significant accomplishments in commercial transactions, mergers and acquisitions and commercial lending matters will well serve the firm’s clients. His involvement in the community is admirable, including serving as the president of the Springfield Police and Firefighters Pension Board.
Mike Nichols focuses his practice on real estate development and leasing, mergers and acquisitions, general business and commercial financing. His expertise includes real estate development incentives and public-private partnerships. He also represents a range of small businesses and large corporations in all phases of operations including acquisitions, partnership agreements, contract negotiation, financing and business management.
Gary A. Powell brings to the firm more than 30 years of experience in estate planning and tax and business transactions. Powell’s leadership abilities and experience with estate and business succession planning, business formation and acquisitions, and shareholder and buy-sell agreements will bring immediate value to Spencer Fane’s clients.
Jason C. Smith is a trial lawyer who represents clients in a range of industries, including construction, real estate, banking and higher education. He has been a featured speaker on construction and real estate topics throughout Missouri.
Richard E. Walters has a national transaction practice focused on real estate development, finance and construction, including the use of financial incentives, tax credits and private equity for commercial real estate developments and affordable housing. Richard’s practice also includes general business counseling and transactions for local, regional and national clients.
S. Shawn Whitney is lead counsel on many significant urban redevelopment and affordable housing projects. He advises developers, syndicators and investors in the creative application of federal and state low-income and historic tax credits as well as other development incentives on projects throughout the country.
In Colorado Springs, Christopher Melcher has been named of counsel to Spencer Fane and will lead the office, which specializes in real estate development, municipal law and corporate transactions. Melcher previously served as general counsel of The Colorado College and has extensive experience in corporate transactions, mergers and acquisitions, real estate development and land planning, government affairs and municipal law matters.
Combined, the Denver and Colorado Springs offices of Spencer Fane will bring a vast array of legal services to Colorado, including the practice areas of real estate, municipal and environmental law, estate planning and labor and employment.
“For more than 135 years, Spencer Fane has been committed to hiring only the most excellent attorneys,” said Whalen. “Our firm couldn’t be more thrilled with the addition of these high-caliber lawyers.”
The Springfield office has a temporary office at 3259 Ridgeview Street, Springfield, MO 65804. Phone number is (417) 888-1000. The office opens June 16, 2014.
The Colorado Springs office is located at 2 North Cascade Avenue, Suite 1100, Colorado Springs, CO 80903-1630. Phone number is (719) 559-4080. The office opened June 2, 2014.
With the opening of the offices in Springfield and Colorado Springs, Spencer Fane now has eight offices in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Colorado.