(front row, left to right)
Jonathan Margolies, McDowell, Rice, Smith & Buchanan (sponsor)
John Granda, Stinson Morrison Hecker

Pete Smith, McDowell, Rice, Smith & Buchana (sponsor and co-chair)
Larry Frazen, Bryan Cave

Bob Fisher, Dentons (sponsor and host)
Tom Stahl, Lathrop & Gage

John Snyder, Dentons (sponsor, co-chair and host)

(back row, left to right)

Mark Hinderks, Stinson Morrison Hecker

George Halper, McAnany Van Cleave & Phillips

Bob Keim, Kutak Rock

Larry Tucker, Armstrong Teasdale

Scott Long, Armstrong Teasdale

Joseph Hemberger, McAnany Van Cleave & Phillips

Roger Warren, Sanders Warren & Russell

Jay Selanders, Kutak Rock

Patrick Whalen, Spencer Fane Britt & Browne

Joe Hiersteiner, Seigfreid Bingham, PC

Trip Frizell, Polsinelli PC

Scott Kreamer, Baker Sterchi Cowden & Rice

Steven Carman, Husch Blackwell

After a Time of Unexpected Bounty, Unprecedented Change

For some of the area’s largest and most respected law firms, the downturn that has hamstrung the U.S. economy for years produced something quite unexpected: Some of their best years ever. That was one surprising revelation as a score of the chairs from business and corporate law departments and managing partners from several area law firms gathered May 7 at the offices of Dentons for Ingram’s 2013 Legal Industry Outlook.

Serving as chairs and co-sponsors were John Snyder of host Dentons and Pete Smith of McDowell, Rice, Smith & Buchanan. The two firms nicely bookend the range of choices available for corporate clients in Kansas City. Part of the unexpected success since 2008 can be traced to strategic decisions made as law firms redrew their service lines, anticipating the consequences of foreclosures, failed development projects and business closures. Another part is that the firms began to think and act more like businesses than like some lofty enterprises operating above the rules of cash-flow management and cost containment. Now, with signs of economic revival emerging across the country, these and most law firms have emerged leaner and better-positioned to address new development and business creation.