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 Jo Jolliff
Dec 2022
Photo courtesy Shutterstock
Methodology for Best Lawyers®
The Best Lawyers in America® and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America are 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, 2021, where that information is publicly available. Contact your state bar association for verification and information prior to securing legal services of any attorney. Copyright 2021 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,” “Ones to Watch,” and “Best Lawyers” are registered trademarks of BL Rankings, LLC.
Methodology for The Best Lawyers in America®: This list is excerpted from the 2022 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®, the pre-eminent referral guides 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 2022 edition of Best Lawyers is based on more than 13 million evaluations of lawyers by other lawyers.
The method used to compile Best Lawyers remains unchanged since the first edition was compiled 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 2022 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
Joshua B. Christensen
Kutak Rock
417-720-1410
300 S. John Q. Hammons Parkway, Suite 800
Springfield
James E. Meadows
Kutak Rock
417-720-1410
300 South John Q. Hammons Parkway, Suite 800
Springfield
Richard L. Schnake
Neale & Newman
417-670-2520
2144 E. Republic Road,
Suite F-302
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
417-883-2102
1355 E. Bradford Parkway, Suite A
Springfield
Banking and Finance Law
Dan R. Nelson
Kutak Rock
417-720-1410
300 S. John Q. Hammons Parkway, Suite 800
Springfield
Lee J. Viorel III
Lowther Johnson Attorneys at Law
417-866-7777
901 E. Saint Louis St., Suite 20
Springfield
Randell D. Wallace
Kutak Rock
417-720-1410
300 S. John Q. Hammons Parkway, Suite 800
Springfield
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
J. Kevin Checkett
Checkett Pauly Bay & Morgan
417-358-4049
517 S. Main Street
Carthage
Dan R. Nelson
Kutak Rock
417-720-1410
300 S. John Q. Hammons Parkway, Suite 800
Springfield
David E. Schroeder
David Schroeder Law
Office PC
417-890-1000
1524 E. Primrose St., Suite A
Springfield
Lee J. Viorel III
Lowther Johnson Attorneys at Law
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
417-866-7777
901 E. Saint Louis St., Suite 20
Springfield
John H. Schmidt
Schmidt, Kirby & Sullivan
417-882-2828
2838 S. Ingram Mill Road
Springfield
Commercial Litigation
Derek A. Ankrom
Spencer Fane
417-888-1000
2144 E. Republic Road, Suite B300
Springfield
J. Michael Bridges
Husch Blackwell
417-268-4000
3810 E. Sunshine St., Suite 300
Springfield
Joshua B. Christensen
Kutak Rock
417-720-1410
300 S. John Q. Hammons Parkway, Suite 800
Springfield
Charles B. Cowherd
Spencer Fane
417-888-1000
2144 E. Republic Road, Suite B300
Springfield
Frank M. Evans III
Ellis Ellis Hammons & Johnson
417-866-5091
2808 S. Ingram Mill, Suite A104
Springfield
Ginger K. Gooch
Husch Blackwell
417-268-4000
3810 E. Sunshine St., Ste. 300
Springfield
Dan R. Nelson
Kutak Rock
417-720-1410
300 S. John Q. Hammons Parkway, Suite 800
Springfield
Judson B. Poppen
Neale & Newman
417-670-2520
2144 E. Republic Road, Suite F-302
Springfield
Jason C. Smith
Spencer Fane
417-888-1000
2144 E. Republic Road, Suite B300
Springfield
Construction Law
J. Michael Bridges
Husch Blackwell
417-268-4000
3810 E. Sunshine St., Suite 300
Springfield
Ginger K. Gooch
Husch Blackwell
417-268-4000
3810 E. Sunshine St., Suite 300
Springfield
Michael D. Textor
Kutak Rock
417-720-1410
300 S. John Q. Hammons Parkway, Suite 800
Springfield
Copyright Law
Richard L. Schnake
Neale & Newman
417-670-2520
2144 E. Republic Road, Suite F-302
Springfield
Corporate Governance Law
David C. Agee
Husch Blackwell
417-268-4000
3810 E. Sunshine St., Suite 300
Springfield
Corporate Law
David C. Agee
Husch Blackwell
417-268-4000
3810 E. Sunshine St., Suite 300
Springfield
Randell D. Wallace
Kutak Rock
417-720-1410
300 S. John Q. Hammons Pkwy., Suite 800
Springfield
Criminal Defense: General Practice
Shane Cantin
Cantin Mynarich LLC
417-831-6363
2560 S. Glenstone Ave., Ste. C
Springfield
Thomas D. Carver
Carver Associates
417-350-1172
901 E. Saint Louis St., Suite 1600
Springfield
Erica Mynarich
Cantin Mynarich LLC
417-831-6363
2560 S. Glenstone Ave., Ste. C
Springfield
Joseph S. Passanise
Wampler and Passanise Law Office
417-427-6800
2974 E. Battlefield Road
Springfield
Bert Twibell
Twibell Pierson
417-862-1741
901 E. Saint Louis St., Suite 1600
Springfield
Branden Scott Twibell
Twibell Pierson
417-862-1741
901 E. Saint Louis St., Suite 1600
Springfield
Criminal Defense: White-Collar
Shane Cantin
Cantin Mynarich LLC
417-831-6363
2560 S. Glenstone Ave., Ste. C
Springfield
Thomas D. Carver
Carver Associates
417-350-1172
901 E. Saint Louis St., Suite 1600
Springfield
Joseph S. Passanise
Wampler and Passanise Law Office
417-427-6800
2974 E. Battlefield Road
Springfield
Branden Scott Twibell
Twibell Pierson
417-862-1741
901 E. Saint Louis St., Suite 1600
Springfield
DUI / DWI Defense
Shane Cantin
Cantin Mynarich LLC
417-831-6363
2560 S. Glenstone Ave., Ste. C
Springfield
Joseph S. Passanise
Wampler and Passanise Law Office
417-427-6800
2974 E. Battlefield Road
Springfield
Adam Woody
The Law Office of Adam Woody
417-720-4800
2121 S. Eastgate Ave.
Springfield
Elder Law
John H. Schmidt
Schmidt, Kirby & Sullivan
417-882-2828
2838 S. Ingram Mill Road
Springfield
Employment Law —Individuals
Tina G. Fowler
Ellis Ellis Hammons & Johnson
417-866-5091
2808 S. Ingram Mill, Suite A104
Springfield
Equipment Finance Law
David C. Agee
Husch Blackwell
417-268-4000
3810 E. Sunshine St., Ste. 300
Springfield
Family Law
C. Ronald Baird
Baird Lightner Millsap
417-887-0133
1901 S. Ventura Ave., Suite C
Springfield
Editor’s Note: C. Ronald Baird was voted into the Family Law category but has since retired.
Thomas M. Benson
Lowther Johnson Attorneys at Law
417-866-7777
901 E. Saint Louis St., Suite 20
Springfield
Shane Cantin
Cantin Mynarich LLC
417-831-6363
2560 S. Glenstone Ave., Suite C
Springfield
David A. Fielder
Lowther Johnson Attorneys at Law
417-866–7777
901 E. Saint Louis St., 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
Editor’s Note: Mark J. Millsap was voted into the Family Law category but is now Family Court Commissioner for Greene County Circuit Court and is no longer practicing law.
John S. Pratt
Pratt & Grisham
417-883-8200
3432 S. Culpepper Court, Suite A
Springfield
F. Richard Van Pelt
Van Pelt & Van Pelt
417-886-9080
1524 E. Primrose Street, Suite A
Springfield
Roy E. Williams, Jr.
Henry & Williams
800-526-1949
1207 Porter Wagoner Blvd.
West Plains
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 W.
Springfield
Michael J. Patton
Turner, Reid, Duncan, Loomer & Patton
417-883-2102
1355 E. Bradford Parkway, Suite A
Springfield
International Mergers and Acquisitions
Michael A. Cosby
Husch Blackwell
417-268-4000
3810 E. Sunshine St., Suite 300
Springfield
Land Use and Zoning Law
J. Michael Bridges
Husch Blackwell
417-268-4000
3810 E. Sunshine St., Suite 300
Springfield
Patrick J. Platter
Neale & Newman
417-670-2520
2144 E. Republic Road, Suite F-302
Springfield
Randell D. Wallace
Kutak Rock
417-720-1410
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
Dan R. Nelson
Kutak Rock
417-720-1410
300 S. John Q. Hammons Parkway, Suite 800
Springfield
Lee J. Viorel III
Lowther Johnson Attorneys at Law
417-866-7777
901 E. Saint Louis St., Suite 20
Springfield
J. Taylor White
Kutak Rock
417-720-1410
300 S. John Q. Hammons Parkway, Suite 800
Springfield
Litigation—Bankruptcy
J. Kevin Checkett
Checkett Pauly Bay & Morgan
417-358-4049
517 S. Main St.
Carthage
Dan R. Nelson
Kutak Rock
417-720-1410
300 S. John Q. Hammons Parkway, Suite 800
Springfield
Lee J. Viorel III
Lowther Johnson Attorneys at Law
417-866-7777
901 E. Saint Louis St., Suite 20
Springfield
Litigation—Construction
Michael D. Textor
Kutak Rock
417-720-1410
300 S. John Q. Hammons Parkway, Suite 800
Springfield
Litigation—Health Care
Joseph Reid
Kutak Rock
417-720-1410
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 John Q. Hammons Parkway, Suite 603
Springfield
Joshua Mareschal
McAnany, Van Cleave & Phillips
417-865-0007
1546 E. Bradford Parkway, Suite 100
Springfield
Litigation—Real Estate
Cory L. Collins
Husch Blackwell
417-268-4000
3810 E. Sunshine St., Suite 300
Springfield
James E. Meadows
Kutak Rock
417-720-1410
300 S. John Q. Hammons Parkway, Suite 800
Springfield
J. Taylor White
Kutak Rock
417-720-1410
300 S. John Q. Hammons Parkway, Suite 800
Springfield
Litigation—Securities
Joseph Dow Sheppard III
Carnahan Evans PC
417-447-4400
2805 S. Ingram Mill Road
Springfield
Litigation—Trusts and Estates
Glenn P. Green
Lowther Johnson Attorneys at Law
417-866-7777
901 E. Saint Louis Street, Suite 20
Springfield
Emily J. Kembell
Kirkland Woods & Martinsen
417-893-5288
3250 E. Sunshine St., Suite 310
Springfield
Media Law
Bryan O. Wade
Husch Blackwell
417-268-4000
3810 E. Sunshine St., Suite 300
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
417-883-2102
1355 E. Bradford Parkway, Suite A
Springfield
Medical Malpractice Law —Defendants
Joshua B. Christensen
Kutak Rock
417-720-1410
300 S. John Q. Hammons Parkway, Suite 800
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 W.
Springfield
Joseph Reid
Kutak Rock
417-720-1410
300 S. John Q. Hammons Parkway, Suite 800
Springfield
Medical Malpractice Law —Plaintiffs
Neil Chanter
Strong-Garner-Bauer
417-855-2022
415 E. Chestnut Expressway
Springfield
Shelly Dreyer
Sticklen & Dreyer
417-626-9880
1515 E. 32nd St., Suite 1
Joplin
Steven B. Garner
Strong-Garner-Bauer
417-855-2022
415 E. Chestnut Expressway
Springfield
H. Lynn Henry
Henry & Williams
800-526-1949
1207 Porter Wagoner Blvd.
West Plains
Roger Alan Johnson
Johnson, Vorhees & Martucci
417-206-0100
510 W. Sixth St.
Joplin
Craig R. Oliver
The Law Offices of PalmerOliver
417-865-3234
431 S. Jefferson Ave., Suite 120
Springfield
Editor’s Note: Craig R. Oliver was voted into the Medical Malpractice category but has since retired.
Mortgage Banking Foreclosure Law
Lee J. Viorel III
Lowther Johnson Attorneys at Law
417-866-7777
901 E. Saint Louis Street, Suite 20
Springfield
Personal Injury Litigation —Defendants
Joshua B. Christensen
Kutak Rock
417-720-1410
300 S. John Q. Hammons Parkway, Suite 800
Springfield
Rodney E. Loomer
Turner, Reid, Duncan, Loomer & Patton
417-883-2102
1355 E. Bradford Parkway, Suite A
Springfield
Cara R. Rose
Franke Schultz & Mullen
417-863-0040
1919 E. Battlefield, Suite B
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
Shelly Dreyer
Sticklen & Dreyer
417-626-9880
1515 E. 32nd St., Suite 1
Joplin
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
800-526-1949
1207 Porter Wagoner Blvd.
West Plains
Edward J. Hershewe
The Hershewe Law Firm
417-782-3790
431 S. Virginia Ave.
Joplin
Roger Alan Johnson
Johnson, Vorhees & Martucci
417-206-0100
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
Editor’s Note: John R. Lightner was voted into the Personal Injury Litigation category but has since retired.
Brad Miller
Larson & Miller
417-890-6677
3331 E. Ridgeview St.
Springfield
Craig R. Oliver
The Law Offices of PalmerOliver
417-865-3234
431 S. Jefferson Ave., Suite 120
Springfield
Editor’s Note: Craig R. Oliver was voted into the Personal Injury Litigation category but has since retired.
Robert M. N. Palmer
Potts Law Firm
417-238-0889
431 S. Jefferson Ave., Suite 120
Springfield
Product Liability Litigation—Defendants
Joshua B. Christensen
Kutak Rock
417-720-1410
300 S. John Q. Hammons Parkway, Suite 800
Springfield
Kent O. Hyde
Hyde, Love & Overby
417-831-4046
1121 S. Glenstone Ave.
Springfield
Rodney E. Loomer
Turner, Reid, Duncan, Loomer & Patton
417-883-2102
1355 E. Bradford Parkway, Suite A
Springfield
Brian Malkmus
Malkmus Law Firm
417-447-5000
305 Park Central W.
Springfield
Michael J. Patton
Turner, Reid, Duncan, Loomer & Patton
417-883-2102
1355 E. Bradford Parkway, Suite A
Springfield
Joseph Reid
Kutak Rock
417-720-1410
300 S. John Q. Hammons Parkway, Suite 800
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 PC
417-887-2740
2838 S. Ingram Mill Road
Springfield
Roger Alan Johnson
Johnson, Vorhees & Martucci
417-206-0100
510 W. Sixth St.
Joplin
Potts Law Firm
417-238-0889
431 S. Jefferson Ave.,
Suite 120
Springfield
Professional Malpractice Law —Plaintiffs
Chandler Gregg
Strong-Garner-Bauer
417-855-2022
415 E. Chestnut Expressway
Springfield
Real Estate Law
J. Michael Bridges
Husch Blackwell
417-268-4000
3810 E. Sunshine St., Suite 300
Springfield
Ginger K. Gooch
Husch Blackwell
417-268-4000
3810 E. Sunshine St., Suite 300
Springfield
Mike Nichols
Spencer Fane
417-888-1000
2144 E. Republic Road, Suite B300
Springfield
Michael D. Textor
Kutak Rock
417-720-1410
300 S. John Q. Hammons Parkway, Suite 800
Springfield
Randell D. Wallace
Kutak Rock
417-720-1410
300 S. John Q. Hammons Parkway, Suite 800
Springfield
Richard E. Walters
Spencer Fane
417-888-1000
2144 E. Republic Road, Suite B300
Springfield
Trusts and Estates
Michael J. DeArmon
Neale & Newman
417-670-2520
2144 E. Republic Road, Suite F-302
Springfield
Emily J. Kembell
Kirkland Woods & Martinsen
417-893-5288
3250 E. Sunshine St., Suite 310
Springfield
Douglas R. Nickell
Carnahan Evans PC
417-447-4400
2805 S. Ingram Mill Road
Springfield
Thomas D. Peebles, Jr.
Carnahan Evans PC
417-447-4400
2805 S. Ingram Mill Road
Springfield
Gary A. Powell
Spencer Fane
417-888-1000
2144 E. Republic Road, Suite B300
Springfield
John H. Schmidt
Schmidt, Kirby & Sullivan
417-882-2828
2838 S. Ingram Mill Road
Springfield
