Spencer Fane LLP

Managing Partner: Patrick J. Whalen

Number of partners: 298

Number of lawyers: 613

Number of offices: 30

Firm Overview:

Spencer Fane is a full-service business law firm focused on providing results that move clients and their businesses forward. With direct access to firm leadership and a different approach to client engagement, its attorneys instill confidence and certainty that the clients’ interests are the firm’s priority.

The firm was rated higher than any firm in the nation in U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 Best Places to Work: Law Firms listing, and Law360 has ranked the firm as among the top four nationally for attorney satisfaction. What’s more, as one of the fastest-growing firms in the nation, The American Lawyer shortlisted Spencer Fane as one of eight candidates for Law Firm of the Year in 2023.

Whatever the measure, one thing is certain: we are humbled to know our commitment to culture is catching attention for all the right reasons. At Spencer Fane, our values are our North Star and underly everything we do as a firm.

Spencer Fane Services:

• Banking and Financial Services
• Bankruptcy, Restructuring, and Creditors’ Rights
• Bitcoin, Blockchain, and Digital Assets
• Construction Law
• Corporate and Business Transactions
• Cyber | Data | Artificial Intelligence | Emerging Technology
• Employee Benefits
• Energy Law
• Environmental Law
• Family Law
• Franchising and Distribution
• Governmental Affairs
• Health Care
• Higher Education
• Hospitality
• Insurance Law
• Intellectual Property
• International Law
• K-12 Education Law
• Labor and Employment
• Litigation and Dispute Resolution
• Manufacturing
• Mergers & Acquisitions
• Mining
• Multi-Family Housing
• Nonprofit and Tax-Exempt Organizations
• Oil and Gas
• Private Clubs and Golf Transactions
• Real Estate
• Securities Regulation and Compliance
• Special Districts
• Sports and Entertainment
• Tax, Trusts, & Estates
• Transportation and Logistics
• Utilities
• Water Law
• White Collar Defense and Investigations

Ranked Areas:

Energy: State Regulatory and Litigation (Electricity)

As the energy trade continues to evolve, the laws and regulations that govern energy production and distribution change, commercial markets adjust, and new participants emerge. The Spencer Fane Utilities team addresses legal and business matters affecting key infrastructure and electric, water, and other utility industry services. Our team leverages its experience interfacing with public utility commissions, municipalities, state legislatures, and federal agencies to help clients on regulatory, operational, transactional, and litigation matters.

Contact: Catherine Webking, [email protected]; Cody Faulk, [email protected]

Environment

The Spencer Fane Environmental team has deep experience helping clients not only identify and resolve acute environmental challenges – regulatory enforcement actions and litigation – but also providing guidance that helps reduce near-term and long-term business risks. We also know that legal issues are just one among many important considerations to navigate when dealing with an environmental matter. Keeping a business operating, finding and seizing opportunities for growth, and strategizing for the future, are just as important.

Contact: Andrew Brought, [email protected]; Kari Olson, [email protected]

Insurance

Spencer Fane Insurance trial lawyers have represented insurers and reinsurers in complex coverage evaluations and insurance litigation across the U.S., defending high-exposure extracontractual insurance claims, defeating class certification, developing new legal precedent on appeal, and obtaining defense verdicts for insurers in both state and federal courts. We have defeated bad-faith setup claims, defended rescission of policies based on misrepresentation, vacated corrupt appraisal awards, and recovered for insurers on counterclaims against insureds who breach their own obligations under the policy.

Contact: Linda Knight, [email protected]

Litigation: General Commercial

No matter the stakes, litigation can threaten the future of any individual or organization. When reputation, success, and even survival hang in the balance, our clients need somewhere to turn. Our Litigation and Dispute Resolution team consists of experienced attorneys recognized both locally and nationally in their fields. With litigators licensed throughout the U.S., our team collaborates to advocate for clients across the country before mediators, arbitration panels, judges, and juries.

Contact: Jessica Gale, [email protected]; Frederick Johnson, [email protected]

Litigation: White-Collar Crime and Government Investigations

When clients are faced with an investigation, our attorneys work to resolve issues before formal judicial proceedings when that best aligns with the client’s business interests. If necessary, we bring decades of experience in the courtroom and fierce advocacy to achieve meaningful outcomes. We have a track record of successfully representing companies and individuals at every stage of the investigation and enforcement process in both state and federal courts.

Contact: Patrick McInerney, [email protected]

Natural Resources and Environment

Our lawyers have been involved in many important water law cases throughout the western states, and regularly represent and advise private and public sector clients on a wide variety of water law related matters. Spencer Fane lawyers have in-depth experience in the highly specialized area of interstate water litigation before the U.S. Supreme Court. Our attorneys have continuously represented states in interstate water disputes in the original jurisdiction for over two decades.

Contact: Jeffrey Wechsler, [email protected]