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Spencer Fane is pleased to announce that Blane Markley, Dick Mersman, and Sue Willman have been elected to the Firm’s partnership, effective January 1, 2015.

Blane Markley joined Spencer Fane as an Of Counsel in 2012 as a member of its Health Care team. Blane’s practice focuses on assisting hospitals, mental health facilities, physician practices, physicians and other of health care providers with a broad range of issues affecting the health care industry including health care reform, regulatory compliance, corporate governance, hospital-physician relationships, contracts, medical staff, licensure, and accreditation. He has negotiated numerous complex transactions with an overlay of health care regulatory requirements. Blane has extensive experience in representing health care providers in commercial litigation and alternative dispute resolution. Blane has been selected for inclusion in Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers as a Rising Star, 2012-2014.

Richard (Dick) Mersman joined Spencer Fane as an Of Counsel in 2013 and is a member of the firm’s Project Solutions and Real Estate Development group. Dick’s real estate practice includes the acquisition, disposition, leasing, financing, construction, and management of commercial, retail, residential, industrial, and hotel developments, as well as the organization of the ownership entities for such developments, land use law, public subsidies, public/private partnerships (P3’s), and other real estate development and financing matters.

Sue Willman joined Spencer Fane as an Of Counsel in 1997 and is a member of the firm’s Labor and Employment practice group. She has more than 35 years of combined experience as an employment lawyer and as a human resources professional. Sue represents management exclusively on workplace legal issues. Her practice is focused on assisting employers in preventing employment claims and in developing strategies for a sound defense position should a claim be filed. Sue is considered a leading national expert on the FMLA and ADA and has testified before Congress and the Department of Labor several times. She is also a certified SPHR and holds the distinction of being named one of the “Best Lawyers,” “SuperLawyers,” “Leading Lawyers, and “Preeminent Women Lawyers” in the practice of employment law. Sue is also a frequent presenter at national, regional and local SHRM and other HR conferences.