2023 Up & Coming Awards: Kelly M Spann, 38

Managing Partner, FortmanSpann Law Firm, Florissant

Practice areas: Franchise and Trademark Law

Law School: Saint Louis University School of Law

Kelly Spann credits her legal career to serendipity and good luck.

She worked at an accounting firm 20 years ago and her now-partner, Jon Fortman had a law office in the same building. His assistant had resigned, and Spann had some extra time, so she pitched in to help him and the rest is history.

“Once I started working with Jon, I fell in love with the profession,” she says.

The advice she shares with young attorneys is to always leave a good impression on others, and to find an area of practice you enjoy.

“Don’t get pigeonholed into an area you don’t love,” she says. “The wonderful thing about law is there are many areas of practice so find one or two you love and be the best you can be.”

What is something that would surprise people about you? 

I graduated from law school later in life with three kids and a full-time job after gaining years of legal experience. I also have two firms: FortmanSpann Law Firm which started in September of 2021 and TM Law & Associates which started in September of 2022.

If you hadn’t become a lawyer, what profession would you have chosen? 

Architect

What is the best career advice you have received?  

I have received lots of good advice over the years, but the best advice probably boils down to this: You can’t do it all and you can’t do it alone.

What is your favorite thing to do away from work?  

My favorite thing to do away from work is spend time with my family and friends.

What is your biggest accomplishment this year?  

Aside from this award, it would be a lot of personal and professional growth.

What has been your favorite moment as an attorney? 

Sharing my law school graduation day with my oldest child who graduated high school on the same day. It was a special day for me. I had graduated high school pregnant with him and to turn around and graduate again with him was really special.