Legal Profession Examines Its Civic Commitment

This was a session unlike any other that the twenty fine attorneys had likely ever attended. They were asked to examine the role of the attorney "in the arena" and to assess the risk and rewards of public involvement.

Sponsoring the assembly was the law firm of Shook, Hardy & Bacon, and chairing it was its managing partner, John Murphy. This assembly was part of Ingram's Magazine's ongoing effort to highlight issues and opportunities throughout the leading business sectors of the greater Kansas City metropolitan area. The assembly was held in Shook Hardy & Bacon's beautiful new state-of-of-the-art Crown Center offices with a stunning view of the city skyline to the north, and it proved to be a productive and good-spirited, if sometimes contentious, event.

Although there was candid talk about the challenges this profession faces, participants expressed a good deal of confidence about their firm's and their own roles in the area's civic life. Participants also explored the internal issues facing the profession, including billing and consolidation.

Proud Moments

In the spirit of self-examination, participants were asked to share their proudest moment as an attorney. Contrary to the perception of at least some part of the public, as John Murphy noted, "No one talked about making money."

Participants Include:
(seated, left to right)
Tom Sterchi,
Baker Sterchi Cowden & Rice
Susan McGreevy,
Husch & Eppenberger
Mark Foster,
Stinson Morrison Hecker
Jennifer Bacon,
Shughart Thomson & Kilroy
Michael Hockley,
Spencer Fane Britt & Browne
Herb Kohn,
Bryan Cave
Tom Bradshaw,
Armstrong Teasdale
Mark Bryant,
Polsinelli Shalton Welte Suelthaus
Irv Belzer,
Bryan Cave
(back row, left to right)
John Granda,
Stinson Morrison Hecker
Jerry Riffel,
Lathrop & Gage
Jim Heeter,
Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal
John Murphy,
Shook Hardy & Bacon
Madeleine McDonough,
Shook Hardy & Bacon
Charles Miller,
Lewis Rice & Fingersh
Dave Fenley,
Blackwell Sanders Peper Martin
Dick King,
King Hershey
Russ Welsh,
Polsinelli Shalton Welte Suelthaus
Lynn McCreary,
Bryan Cave
Doug Dalgleish,
Lathrop & Gage
Joel Krieger,
Wallace Saunders Austin Brown & Enoch
John Shaw,
Berkowitz Stanton Brandt Williams & Shaw