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2025 KC Legal Leaders

Staff Report//August 18, 2025//

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2025 KC Legal Leaders

Staff Report//August 18, 2025//

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The Kansas City Legal Leaders awards honor the innovations of firms in the Kansas City area that are working on precedent-setting, game-changing practices and initiatives.

These firms spearheaded a transformative initiative that significantly improved operational efficiency, client service, or legal outcomes — setting a new benchmark for excellence within the legal industry. Or they implemented or developed innovative technology solutions — such as AI-powered tools, data privacy platforms, or advanced e-discovery systems — that have meaningfully advanced capabilities across practice areas or departments. We also honor firms which have led impactful cultural or structural changes, such as launching a successful hybrid work model, overhauling legal operations, or prioritizing DEI initiatives — resulting in measurable gains in productivity, employee engagement, or organizational innovation.

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Stinson

While Stinson has embraced innovation as part of its practice management strategies, the firm’s services are still largely driven by what clients are asking for, says Brendan S. McInerney, director of strategy and innovation.

Robb & Robb

Gary C. Robb and Anita Porte Robb, founding partners of Robb & Robb, have built an unsurpassed record in aviation law since establishing the firm in 1984.

Lewis Rice

Lewis Rice has provided sophisticated legal counsel to local, regional and national businesses since its founding in 1909 in downtown St. Louis by Joseph Lewis and Charles Rice.

Fisher Law

Fisher Law operates as a boutique family law firm serving the Kansas City metropolitan area under the leadership of owner and founding partner Nicole Fisher.

Bartimus Frickleton Robertson Rader

Founded more than forty years ago and headquartered in the greater Kansas City area, Bartimus Frickleton Robertson Rader has established a nationwide footprint as a leader in many types of high stakes cases, including personal injury, medical malpractice, class action, products liability, insurance and appellate litigation.

Bounds Law

Bounds Law is a boutique business and intellectual property law firm based in Kansas City.

Polsinelli

Polsinelli is an Am Law 100 firm with more than 1,200 attorneys in over 25 offices nationwide, focusing on health care, real estate, finance, technology, private equity and life sciences.

Spencer Fane

Spencer Fane, led by firm chair and managing partner Patrick J. Whalen, has achieved AmLaw 200 status through a decade of steady and intentional growth.

Husch Blackwell

Husch Blackwell’s culture is rooted in innovation. From hiring its first two data scientists in 2020 to exploring efficiencies with artificial intelligence, the firm continues to innovate and automate to streamline delivery of client services, says Blake Rooney, chief information officer.

Baty Otto Scheer

Baty Otto Scheer is a litigation-focused law firm representing clients across the country in corporate, employment, transportation, construction, retail, professional services, governmental liability, products liability, insurance coverage and real estate matters.

Baker Sterchi Cowden & Rice

Baker Sterchi Cowden & Rice, founded in 1982, operates as a civil defense litigation and trial law firm with offices in Missouri, Kansas, Illinois, Washington and Oregon.

Shook, Hardy & Bacon

Shook, Hardy & Bacon’s Discovery Strategies practice, co-chaired by Jennifer Stevenson and Patrick Oot, leverages more than 30 years of experience serving clients in the health, science and technology sectors.

BCLP

At BCLP, innovation is at the heart of client services.

Sandberg Phoenix

Anastassia Dambrouskaya, shareholder at Sandberg Phoenix, leads the Kansas City office’s dental industry practice alongside partner Ben Haltenhof.

Seigfreid Bingham

Seigfreid Bingham is a full-service law firm serving privately held companies based in Kansas City and throughout the Midwest.

McDowell, Rice, Smith & Buchanan

McDowell, Rice, Smith & Buchanan, founded in 1947, is a full-service law firm recognized for its expertise in litigation, banking and financial services, bankruptcy, construction law, corporate transactions, family law, real estate, tax law, estate planning and intellectual property.

Cannezzaro Marvel

Cannezzaro Marvel is a boutique trial and litigation law firm founded on August 1, 2022, and dedicated to representing clients in personal injury and wrongful death cases.

Kennyhertz Perry

Kennyhertz Perry distinguishes itself through a modern, adaptive approach to legal practice management that prioritizes client value, efficiency, and responsiveness.

Dentons

Dentons operates as the world’s largest law firm, with more than 8,000 people across 160 locations in 80 countries, advising many of the world’s 200 largest companies on complex legal matters.

Ketchmark & McCreight

Michael Ketchmark, president of Ketchmark & McCreight, founded the Kansas City-based firm in 1995 with a mission to represent regular people against massive corporations and giant law firms in personal injury and complex business litigation cases.

Scott C. Gyllenborg

Scott C. Gyllenborg, partner at Gyllenborg & Brown, has built a distinguished career in criminal defense law spanning more than two decades.

John Schultz

Franke Schultz & Mullen stands as a prominent civil defense litigation firm founded in 1992 under the leadership of President John Schultz.

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