Spencer Fane LLP is pleased to announce the partnership unanimously voted to re-elect Patrick J. Whalen to his third four-year term as Chair of the growing firm.
Under Whalen’s guidance, Spencer Fane continues to set the pace in terms of growth and differentiation in the legal community while overcoming disruptive forces in the industry through an innovative and continually evolving business strategy. The firm thrives on empowering its leaders to work directly with the clients’ business leaders; maintaining low overhead and operational expenses; keeping a debt-free position pre-pandemic that was designed to intentionally allow the firm to remain nimble and agile; recruiting increasingly diverse talent in coordination with client needs; and providing legal services specifically in the markets where they do business.
“I’m thankful for the faith the partners have placed in me,” Whalen said. “Spencer Fane is built on a foundation of outstanding attorneys who have embraced a shared vision centered around humility —constantly focusing on our clients’ priorities. Our commitment to principles that bind us and the resilient culture our attorneys have sustained allowed the firm to maintain a position of strength at the onset of the pandemic and in the months since.”
Spencer Fane recorded double-digit percentage growth in revenue six of the past seven years, and in 2019, a 17.1% revenue increase made the firm one of the fastest growing AmLaw 200 firms in the country.
Continuing to pursue measured growth, Spencer Fane has created a sizable but sustainable footprint while aligning staffing and services with the needs of clients in the markets where they do business. The firm’s approach to growth prioritizes value by making collaboration across offices central to its approach to serving clients. Core to the culture of our firm, our attorneys can be seen collaborating throughout the firm’s footprint which allows clients to capture the experience our attorneys offer regardless of geography or jurisdiction. This business model demonstrates innovation and the ability to quickly and effectively adapt as the industry evolves.
During Whalen’s tenure as Chair, Spencer Fane significantly expanded its presence in Denver and has opened new offices in the following cities:
- Austin, Texas
- Cape Girardeau, Missouri
- Colorado Springs, Colorado
- Dakota Dunes, South Dakota
- Dallas, Texas
- Houston, Texas
- Las Vegas, Nevada
- Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- Phoenix, Arizona
- Plano, Texas
- Springfield, Missouri
- Tampa, Florida
Under Whalen’s guidance, Spencer Fane continues to identify attorneys with a keen business sense and backgrounds in a traditional business setting to serve as leaders. This empowers talented attorneys to focus on high-level client work in priority practice areas, rather than divide their time by taking on leadership roles.
Spencer Fane currently reports more than 300 attorneys firmwide — up 21% since the end of 2018 after opening offices in Houston (already up to 26 attorneys), Minneapolis and Tampa, Florida in 2019. The continued growth has been part of Whalen’s strategic focus on expanding into markets where clients have expanding need for legal counsel.
