Fast-Growing Spencer Fane to Merge With 40-Lawyer Nashville Firm

Spencer Fane is continuing a growth spurt by combining with 40-lawyer Bone McAllester Norton, a Nashville-based firm founded 20 years ago.

The combination will bring Kansas City, Mo.-based Spencer Fane into 20 cities. Revenue at the firm last year rose nearly 17% to nearly $153 million, according to AmLaw data. The firm’s revenue in the past two years has grown more than 35%, AmLaw data show, far outpacing the average for the group of firms that rank from Nos. 101-200 by revenue.

Spencer Fane has recently represented Nebraska-based meat producer JBS USA Food Co., as well as Hiscox Insurance, Cigna Health, and Rocket Mortgage LLC, according to a Bloomberg Law review of federal court dockets.

Bone McAllester Norton was founded by Charles Bone, Sam McAllester, and Mike Norton and today operates in major practice areas including litigation, banking and commercial lending, corporate and securities transactions, mergers and acquisitions, intellectual property, entertainment and environmental matters.

The firm’s recent clients include American Express Co., Citizens National Bank, and United Home Mortgage Corp.

The combination will drive value to clients and the firms shared mutual values, Spencer Fane Chair Patrick Whalen said in a statement.

“Spencer Fane is also excited to join Bone McAllester given its exceptional reputation in the rapidly growing Nashville market, as well as its leadership and success building a law firm comprised of a team of incredibly talented and diverse attorneys with unique perspectives and experience,” Whalen said in a statement.

The firms stressed Bone McAllester Norton’s commitment to pro bono work and diversity, calling it “one of the region’s most diverse” law firms.

“Ultimately, being a part of [Spencer Fane’s] platform will enable us to expand and continue to attract first-rate attorneys, better serve current and future clients, and strengthen our commitment to the Nashville community,” CEO Bone said in a statement.

The combination is expected to close Oct. 1.