Best Lawyers
The Best Lawyers in Springfield MO
The law can be a complicated and stressful topic, so you want the most qualified attorney at your side. With this list of top local lawyers, find the expert who can help you navigate the court system in Springfield and southwest Missouri.
Edited by Megan Dollar
Dec 2020
Photo courtesy Shutterstock
Methodology for Best Lawyers®
This list is excerpted from the 2021 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America©, the pre-eminent referral guide to the legal profession in the United States. Published since 1983, Best Lawyers lists attorneys in 148 specialties, representing all 50 states, who have been chosen through an exhaustive survey in which thousands of the nation’s top lawyers confidentially evaluate their professional peers. The 2021 Edition of Best Lawyers is based on over 13 million evaluations of lawyers by other lawyers.
The method used to compile Best Lawyers remains unchanged since the first edition was compiled almost 40 years ago. Lawyers are chosen for inclusion based solely on the vote of their peers. Listings cannot be bought, and no purchase is required to be included. In this regard, Best Lawyers remains the gold standard of reliability and integrity in lawyer ratings.
The nomination pool for the 2021 Edition consisted of all lawyers whose names appeared in the previous edition of Best Lawyers, lawyers who were nominated since the previous survey, and new nominees solicited from listed attorneys. In general, lawyers were asked to vote only on nominees in their own specialty in their own jurisdiction. Lawyers in closely related specialties were asked to vote across specialties, as were lawyers in smaller jurisdictions. Where specialties are national or international in nature, lawyers were asked to vote nationally as well as locally. Voting lawyers were also given an opportunity to offer more detailed comments on nominees. Each year, half of the voting pool receives fax or email ballots; the other half is polled by phone.
Voting lawyers were provided this general guideline for determining if a nominee should be listed among “the best”: “If you had a close friend or relative who needed a real estate lawyer (for example), and you could not handle the case yourself, to whom would you refer them?” All votes and comments were solicited with a guarantee of confidentiality, a critical factor in the viability and validity of Best Lawyers’ surveys. To ensure the rigor of the selection process, lawyers were urged to use only their highest standards when voting, and to evaluate each nominee based only on his or her individual merits. The additional comments were used to make more accurate comparisons between voting patterns and weight votes accordingly. Best Lawyers uses various methodological tools to identify and correct for anomalies in both the nomination and voting process.
Ultimately, of course, a lawyer’s inclusion is based on the subjective judgments of his or her fellow attorneys. While it is true that the lists may at times disproportionately reward visibility or popularity, the breadth of the survey, the candor of the respondents, and the sophistication of the polling methodology largely correct for any biases.
For all these reasons, Best Lawyers lists continue to represent the most reliable, accurate and useful guide to the best lawyers in the United States available anywhere.
Appellate Practice
James E. Meadows
Kutak Rock LLP
417-755-7320
300 South John Q. Hammons Parkway, Suite 800, Springfield
Richard L. Schnake
Neale & Newman
417-882-9090
2144 East Republic Road, Suite F-302 (Farmers Park), Springfield
Arbitration
John C. Holstein
John C. Holstein
417-894-3953,
850 E. Sterling Ridge Court, Springfield
Michael J. Patton
Turner, Reid, Duncan, Loomer & Patton, P.C.
417-883-2102
1355 E. Bradford Parkway, Suite A, Springfield
Banking and Finance Law
Lee J. Viorel III
Lowther Johnson Attorneys at Law, LLC
417-866-7777
901 E. Saint Louis St., Suite 20, Springfield
Randell D. Wallace
Kutak Rock LLP
417-755-7250
300 S. John Q. Hammons Parkway, Suite 800, Springfield
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
J. Kevin Checkett
Checkett & Pauly, P.C.
417-358-4049
517 S. Main St., Carthage
Dan R. Nelson
Kutak Rock LLP
417-755-7240
300 S. John Q. Hammons Parkway, Suite 800, Springfield
David Schroeder
Law Offices of David Schroeder
417-890-1000
1524 E. Primrose St., Suite A, Springfield
Lee J. Viorel III
Lowther Johnson Attorneys at Law, LLC
417-866-7777
901 E. Saint Louis St., Suite 20, Springfield
Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
Glenn P. Green
Lowther Johnson Attorneys at Law, LLC
417-866-7777
901 East St. Louis Street, Suite 20, Springfield
Commercial Litigation
J. Michael Bridges
Husch Blackwell
417-268-4053
901 E. Saint Louis St., Suite 1800, Springfield
Frank M. Evans III
Baird Lightner Millsap
417-887-0133
1901 S. Ventura Ave., Suite C, Springfield
Dan R. Nelson
Kutak Rock LLP
417-755-7240
300 South John Q. Hammons Parkway, Suite 800, Springfield
Judson B. Poppen
Neale & Newman
417-882-9090
2144 East Republic Road, Suite F-302 (Farmers Park), Springfield
Randy P. Scheer
Sanders Warren Russell & Scheer LLP
417-281-5101
1855 S. Ingram Mill Road, Suite 207, Springfield
Steven E. Ward
McAfee & Taft
417-409-6090
4050 South Fairview Avenue, Springfield
Construction Law
J. Michael Bridges
Husch Blackwell
417-268-4053
901 E. Saint Louis St., Suite 1800, Springfield
Ginger K. Gooch
Husch Blackwell
417-268-4128
901 E. Saint Louis St., Suite 1800, Springfield
Michael D. Textor
Kutak Rock
417-755-7440
300 S. John Q. Hammons Parkway, Suite 800, Springfield
Corporate Governance Law
David C. Agee
Husch Blackwell
417-268-4066
901 E. Saint Louis St., Suite 1800, Springfield
Corporate Law
David C. Agee
Husch Blackwell
417-268-4066
901 E. Saint Louis St., Suite 1800, Springfield
Randell D. Wallace
Kutak Rock LLP
417-755-7250
300 S. John Q. Hammons Parkway, Suite 800, Springfield
Criminal Defense – General Practice
Shane Cantin
Carver, Cantin & Mynarich, LLC
417-831-6363
901 E. Saint Louis St., Suite 1600, Springfield
Thomas D. Carver
Carver, Cantin & Mynarich, LLC
417-831-6363
901 E. Saint Louis St., Suite 1600, Springfield
Erica Mynarich
Carver, Cantin & Mynarich, LLC
417-831-6363
901 E. Saint Louis St., Suite 1600, Springfield
Joseph S. Passanise
The Law Offices of Dee Wampler and Joseph Passanise
417-882-9300
2974 E. Battlefield Road, Springfield
Bert Twibell
Twibell Pierson
417-862-1741
901 E. Saint Louis Street, Suite 1600 (Hammons Tower), Springfield
Dee Wampler
The Law Offices of Dee Wampler and Joseph Passanise
417-882-9300
2974 E. Battlefield Rd., Springfield
Criminal Defense – White-Collar
Shane Cantin
Carver, Cantin & Mynarich, LLC
417-831-6363
901 E. Saint Louis St., Suite 1600, Springfield
Thomas D. Carver
Carver, Cantin & Mynarich, LLC
417-831-6363
901 E. Saint Louis St., Suite 1600, Springfield
Joseph S. Passanise
The Law Offices of Dee Wampler and Joseph Passanise
417-882-9300
2974 E. Battlefield Road, Springfield
Dee Wampler
The Law Offices of Dee Wampler and Joseph Passanise
417-882-9300
2974 E. Battlefield Road, Springfield
DUI/DWI Defense
Shane Cantin
Carver, Cantin & Mynarich, LLC
417-831-6363
901 E. Saint Louis St., Suite 1600, Springfield
Joseph S. Passanise
The Law Offices of Dee Wampler and Joseph Passanise
417-882-9300
2974 E. Battlefield Road, Springfield
Adam Woody
The Law Office of Adam Woody
417-720-4800
2121 S. Eastgate Ave., Springfield
Employment Law – Individuals
Tina G. Fowler
Baird Lightner Millsap
417-887-0133
1901 S. Ventura Ave., Suite C, Springfield
Equipment Finance Law
David C. Agee
Husch Blackwell
417-268-4066
901 E. Saint Louis St., Suite 1800, Springfield
Family Law
C. Ronald Baird
Baird Lightner Millsap
417-887-0133
1901 S. Ventura Ave., Suite C, Springfield
Thomas M. Benson
Lowther Johnson Attorneys at Law, LLC
417-866-7777
901 East St. Louis Street, Suite 20, Springfield
Shane Cantin
Carver, Cantin & Mynarich, LLC
417-831-6363
901 E. Saint Louis St., Suite 1600, Springfield
Editor’s Note: Shane Cantin was voted into Family law, but only takes a few, select family cases. Cantin focuses on criminal litigation.
David A. Fielder
Lowther Johnson Attorneys at Law, LLC
417-866-7777
901 East St. Louis Street, Suite 20, Springfield
Shannon D. Grisham
Pratt Grisham
417-883-8200
3432 S. Culpepper Court, Suite A, Springfield
Mark J. Millsap
Baird Lightner Millsap
417-887-0133
1901 S. Ventura Ave., Suite C, Springfield
John S. Pratt
Pratt Grisham
417-883-8200
3432 S. Culpepper Court, Suite A, Springfield
F. Richard Van Pelt
Van Pelt and Van Pelt
417-886-9080
1524 E. Primrose St., Suite A, Springfield
Roy E. Williams, Jr.
Henry & Williams
417-256-8133
1207 Porter Wagoner Blvd., West Plains
Editor’s Note: Roy E. Williams was voted into the Family Law category. But in fact he has not practiced Family Law in some time and currently practices only Injury Law.
Insurance Law
Jeff Bauer
Strong-Garner-Bauer
417-855-2022
415 E. Chestnut Expressway, Springfield
Steven B. Garner
Strong-Garner-Bauer
417-855-2022
415 E. Chestnut Expressway, Springfield
Brian Malkmus
Malkmus Law Firm
417-447-5000
305 Park Central West, Springfield
Michael J. Patton
Turner, Reid, Duncan, Loomer & Patton, P.C.
417-883-2102
1355 E. Bradford Parkway, Suite A, Springfield
Land Use and Zoning Law
J. Michael Bridges
Husch Blackwell
417-268-4053
901 E. Saint Louis St., Suite 1800, Springfield
Patrick J. Platter
Neale & Newman
417-882-9090
1949 E. Sunshine St., Suite 130, Springfield
Randell D. Wallace
Kutak Rock LLP
417-755-7250
300 S. John Q. Hammons Parkway, Suite 800, Springfield
Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants
Kent O. Hyde
Hyde, Love & Overby
417-831-4046
1121 S. Glenstone Ave., Springfield
Litigation – Banking and Finance
Lee J. Viorel III
Lowther Johnson Attorneys at Law, LLC
417-866-7777
901 E. Saint Louis St., Suite 20, Springfield
Litigation – Bankruptcy
J. Kevin Checkett
Checkett & Pauly, P.C.
417-358-4049
517 S. Main St., Carthage
Dan R. Nelson
Kutak Rock LLP
417-755-7240
300 S. John Q. Hammons Parkway, Suite 800, Springfield
Lee J. Viorel III
Lowther Johnson Attorneys at Law, LLC
417-866-7777
901 E. Saint Louis St., Suite 20, Springfield
Litigation – Construction
Michael D. Textor
Kutak Rock LLP
417-755-7440
300 S. John Q. Hammons Parkway, Suite 800, Springfield
Litigation – Health Care
Joseph Reid
Kutak Rock LLP
417-777-7220
300 S. John Q. Hammons Parkway, Suite 800, Springfield
Litigation – Insurance
Jeff Bauer
Strong-Garner-Bauer
417-855-2022
415 E. Chestnut Expressway, Springfield
Kristie S. Crawford
Brown & James
417-831-1412
300 S. John Q. Hammons Parkway, Suite 603, Springfield
Litigation – Land Use and Zoning
Christopher F. Weiss
Husch Blackwell
417-268-4040
901 St. Louis Street, Suite 1800, Springfield
Litigation – Real Estate
Cory L. Collins
Husch Blackwell
417-268-4040
901 E. Saint Louis St., Suite 1800, Springfield
James E. Meadows
Kutak Rock LLP
417-755-7320
300 S. John Q. Hammons Parkway, Suite 800, Springfield
J. Taylor White
Kutak Rock LLP
417-755-7337
300 S. John Q. Hammons Parkway, Suite 800, Springfield
Litigation – Securities
Joseph Dow Sheppard III
Carnahan, Evans, Cantwell & Brown, P.C.
417-447-4400
2805 S. Ingram Mill Road, Springfield
Litigation – Trusts and Estates
Emily J. Kembell
Kirkland Woods & Martinsen
417-893-5288
3230 East Ridgeview Street, Springfield
Media Law
Bryan O. Wade
Husch Blackwell
417-268-4040
901 E. Saint Louis St., Suite 1800, Springfield
Mediation
John C. Holstein
John C. Holstein
417-894-3953
850 E. Sterling Ridge Court, Springfield
Michael J. Patton
Turner, Reid, Duncan, Loomer & Patton, P.C.
417-883-2102
1355 E. Bradford Parkway, Suite A, Springfield
Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants
Joshua B. Christensen
Kutak Rock LLP
417-755-7221
300 South John Q. Hammons Parkway, Suite 800, Springfield
Monte P. Clithero
Taylor, Stafford, Clithero & Harris
417-812-6786
3315 E. Ridgeview St., Suite 1000, Springfield
Kent O. Hyde
Hyde, Love & Overby
417-831-4046
1121 S. Glenstone Ave., Springfield
Brian Malkmus
Malkmus Law Firm
417-447-5000
305 Park Central West, Springfield
Joseph Reid
Kutak Rock LLP
417-777-7220
300 S. John Q. Hammons Parkway, Suite 800, Springfield
Randy P. Scheer
Sanders Warren Russell & Scheer LLP
417-281-5101
1855 S. Ingram Mill Road, Suite 207, Springfield
Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs
Neil Chanter
Strong-Garner-Bauer
417-855-2022
415 E. Chestnut Expressway, Springfield
Steven B. Garner
Strong-Garner-Bauer
417-887-4300
415 E. Chestnut Expressway, Springfield
H. Lynn Henry
Henry & Williams
417-256-8133
1207 Porter Wagoner Blvd., West Plains
Roger Alan Johnson
Johnson, Vorhees & Martucci
417-313-1130
510 W. Sixth St., Joplin
Craig R Oliver
The Law Offices of PalmerOliver
417-865-3234
431 S. Jefferson Ave., Suite 120, Springfield
Mortgage Banking Foreclosure Law
Lee J. Viorel III
Lowther Johnson Attorneys at Law, LLC
417-866-7777
901 E. Saint Louis St., Suite 20, Springfield
Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
Monte P. Clithero
Taylor, Stafford, Clithero & Harris
417-812-6786
3315 E. Ridgeview St., Suite 1000, Springfield
Rodney E. Loomer
Turner, Reid, Duncan, Loomer & Patton, P.C.
417-883-2102
1355 E. Bradford Parkway, Suite A, Springfield
Cara R. Rose
Franke Schultz & Mullen
417-863-0040
1919 E. Battlefield Road, Suite B, Springfield
Randy P. Scheer
Sanders Warren Russell & Scheer LLP
417-281-5101
1855 S. Ingram Mill Road, Suite 207, Springfield
Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs
Jeff Bauer
Strong-Garner-Bauer
417-855-2022
415 E. Chestnut Expressway, Springfield
Neil Chanter
Strong-Garner-Bauer
417-855-2022
415 E. Chestnut Expressway, Springfield
Steven B. Garner
Strong-Garner-Bauer
417-855-2022
415 E. Chestnut Expressway, Springfield
Chandler Gregg
Strong-Garner-Bauer
417-855-2022
415 E. Chestnut Expressway, Springfield
Steven D. Harrell
Harrell Law Firm
417-887-2740
2838 S. Ingram Mill Road, Springfield
H. Lynn Henry
Henry & Williams
417-256-8133
1207 Porter Wagoner Blvd., West Plains
Edward J. Hershewe
The Hershewe Law Firm, P.C.
417-782-3790
431 S. Virginia Ave., Joplin
Eric Jensen
The Potts Law Firm
417-238-0889
3432 S. Culpepper Court, Suite A, Springfield
Roger Alan Johnson
Johnson, Vorhees & Martucci
417-313-1130
510 W. Sixth St., Joplin
Kurt Larson
Larson & Miller
417-890-6677
3331 E. Ridgeview St., Springfield
John R. Lightner
Baird Lightner Millsap
417-887-0133
1901 S. Ventura Ave., Suite C, Springfield
Craig R. Oliver
The Law Offices of PalmerOliver
417-865-3234
431 S. Jefferson Ave., Suite 120, Springfield
Robert M. N. Palmer
The Law Offices of PalmerOliver
417-865-3234
431 S. Jefferson Ave., Suite 120, Springfield
Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
Kent O. Hyde
Hyde, Love & Overby
417-831-4046
1121 S. Glenstone Ave., Springfield
Rodney E. Loomer
Turner, Reid, Duncan, Loomer & Patton, P.C.
417-883-2102
1355 E. Bradford Parkway, Suite A, Springfield
Brian Malkmus
Malkmus Law Firm
417-447-5000
305 Park Central West, Springfield
Michael J. Patton
Turner, Reid, Duncan, Loomer & Patton, P.C.
417-883-2102
1355 E. Bradford Parkway, Suite A, Springfield
Joseph Reid
Kutak Rock LLP
417-777-7220
300 S. John Q. Hammons Parkway, Suite 800, Springfield
Randy P. Scheer
Sanders Warren Russell & Scheer LLP
417-281-5101
1855 S. Ingram Mill Road, Suite 207, Springfield
Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs
Jeff Bauer
Strong-Garner-Bauer
417-855-2022
415 E. Chestnut Expressway, Springfield
Neil Chanter
Strong-Garner-Bauer
417-855-2022
415 E. Chestnut Expressway, Springfield
Steven B. Garner
Strong-Garner-Bauer
417-855-2022
415 E. Chestnut Expressway, Springfield
Chandler Gregg
Strong-Garner-Bauer
417-855-2022
415 E. Chestnut Expressway, Springfield
Steven D. Harrell
Harrell Law Firm
417-887-2740
2838 S. Ingram Mill Road, Springfield
Roger Alan Johnson
Johnson, Vorhees & Martucci
417-313-1130
510 W. Sixth St., Joplin
Robert M. N. Palmer
The Law Offices of PalmerOliver
417-865-3234
431 South Jefferson Avenue, Suite 120, Springfield
Professional Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs
Chandler Gregg
Strong-Garner-Bauer
417-855-2022
415 East Chestnut Expressway, Springfield
Real Estate Law
J. Michael Bridges
Husch Blackwell
417-268-4053
901 E. Saint Louis St., Suite 1800, Springfield
Ginger K. Gooch
Husch Blackwell
417-268-4128
901 E. Saint Louis St., Suite 1800, Springfield
Michael D. Textor
Kutak Rock LLP
417-755-7440
300 S. John Q. Hammons Parkway, Suite 800, Springfield
Randell D. Wallace
Kutak Rock LLP
417-720-1410
300 S. John Q. Hammons Parkway, Suite 800, Springfield
Trusts and Estates
Emily J. Kembell
Kirkland Woods & Martinsen
417-893-5288
3230 East Ridgeview Street, Springfield
Douglas R. Nickell
Carnahan, Evans, Cantwell & Brown, P.C.
417-447-4400
2805 S. Ingram Mill Road, Springfield
Thomas D. Peebles, Jr.
Carnahan, Evans, Cantwell & Brown, P.C.
417-447-4400
2805 S. Ingram Mill Road, Springfield
Gary A. Powell
Spencer Fane
417-888-1012
2144 E. Republic Road, Suite B300, Springfield
Credit
The Best Lawyers in America© is published by BL Rankings, LLC, Augusta, GA, and can be ordered directly from the publisher. For information call 803-648-0300; write 801 Broad Street Suite 950, Augusta GA 30901; email info@bestlawyers.com; or visit bestlawyers.com.
An online subscription to Best Lawyers® is available at bestlawyers.com.
Disclaimer and Copyright
BL Rankings, LLC has used its best efforts in assembling material for this list but does not warrant that the information contained herein is complete or accurate, and does not assume, and hereby disclaims, any liability to any person for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions herein whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause. All listed attorneys have been verified as being members in good standing with their respective state bar associations as of July 1, 2020, where that information is publicly available. Consumers should contact their state bar association for verification and additional information prior to securing legal services of any attorney.
Copyright 2020 by BL Rankings, LLC, Augusta, GA. All rights reserved. This list, or parts thereof, must not be reproduced in any form without permission. No commercial use of this list may be made without permission of BL Rankings, LLC. No fees may be charged, directly or indirectly, for the use of this list without permission.
“The Best Lawyers in America” and “Best Lawyers” are registered trademarks of BL Rankings, LLC.
