Stinson Leonard Street Completes Merger

(KANSAS CITY, Mo. / MINNEAPOLIS, Minn.) Jan. 2, 2014 – Effective January 1, Stinson Leonard Street LLP officially launched, successfully completing the largest merger announced last year.

On Sept. 23, 2013, Stinson Morrison Hecker and Leonard, Street and Deinard – two of the leading full-service law firms in the Midwest – announced they would combine, aiming to serve Fortune-ranked, midsize public and private, and emerging companies, as well as individuals needing sophisticated legal services. On Jan. 1, exactly 100 days later, the combined firm began business operations with offices in 14 cities and more than 520 attorneys, which puts Stinson Leonard Street among the 75 largest law firms in the U.S.

Leading Stinson Leonard Street's management are Co-Managing Partners Mark Hinderks and Lowell Stortz, along with Deputy Managing Partner Allison Murdock.

Since the announcement, management teams from both firms focused on combining practice groups, selecting practice leaders and taking steps to conclude 2013 on strong notes. Meanwhile, administrative teams from both firms worked to combine infrastructures, develop common policies and integrate business functions, from accounting to training.

"Hundreds of attorneys and staff from both firms worked hard to complete integration projects since our announcement,” said Hinderks, who will be based in the firm's Kansas City office. "As a result, we start the New Year together and unified as one firm."

"We were able to bring everything together quickly because our firms shared similar strategies, management styles and cultures," said Stortz, who will be based in the firm's Minneapolis office. "What we have accomplished also demonstrates how we remain nimble and decisive, even as a larger firm."

Stinson Leonard Street offers regional and national practices in banking and financial services; bankruptcy and creditors' rights; business, commercial and financial services litigation; corporate finance; energy, mining and natural resources; environmental; health care; intellectual property and technology; employment, labor and benefits; private and family owned businesses; real estate; and estate planning, trusts and tax. The firm also features several industry practice areas, including agribusiness, animal health, aviation, construction, education, life sciences, media and advertising, nonprofits, oil and gas, sports and entertainment, transportation and technology. A complete list of the firm's practice and industry areas is online at www.stinsonleonard.com.

In addition to having a new name, the firm created a new logo and brand identity to promote the new firm. The logo consists of the firm's name – Stinson Leonard Street – and a four-color mark that symbolizes energy, momentum and an upward, progressive direction.

"Creating the new logo was an important step toward launching the firm," said Murdock. "We believe it represents the many positive qualities that describe our firm, our clients and our people."

About Stinson Leonard Street

Stinson Leonard Street LLP provides sophisticated transactional and litigation legal services to clients ranging from individuals and privately held enterprises to national and international public companies. As one of the 75 largest firms in the U.S., Stinson Leonard Street has more than 520 attorneys and offices in 14 cities, including Minneapolis, Mankato and St. Cloud, Minn.; Kansas City, St. Louis and Jefferson City, Mo.; Phoenix, Ariz.; Denver, Colo.; Washington, D.C.; Decatur, Ill.; Wichita and Overland Park, Kan.; Omaha, Neb.; and Bismarck, N.D. For more information, visit www.stinsonleonard.com.