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Austin Fax Named as Managing Member 

Lowther Johnson is proud to announce that Austin Fax has been named as the Managing Member of Lowther Johnson effective January 1, 2024.  Austin will succeed Gregg Groves who resigned the position effective December 31, 2023.  “I have had the opportunity to see Austin’s leadership skills in practice for several years,” Groves, said.” No one is more capable or deserving of leading this firm than Austin.”

Lowther Johnson Attorneys Named as Super Lawyers

Lowther Johnson is proud to announce the selection of Lee Viorel, Gregg Groves, Mat Placzek, and Megan N. Creson to the 2023 Missouri & Kansas #SuperLawyers list!  This is an exclusive list, recognizing no more than five percent of attorneys in the state.  The multi-factor selection process includes independent research, peer nominations and evaluations, as well as professional achievement in legal practice.

McKinley Groves Joins Lowther Johnson as an Associate

McKinley Groves joined Lowther Johnson as an Associate in 2023 after serving as an Investigator during college and clerking with the firm throughout law school. McKinley attended the University of Arkansas School of Law where he graduated cum laude. During law school, McKinley was the Managing Editor of the Journal of Food Law and Policy and authored the article Do States Prefer Alcohol Over Marijuana: A Look at Labeling Regulatory Differences Between the Alcohol and Edibles Industries, for which he won the Arent Fox/Dale Bumpers Excellence in Writing Award. Prior to law school, McKinley attended Missouri State University where he graduated with a degree in economics. As an attorney, McKinley handles a wide range of general practice areas including labor and employment, estate and property, and landlord-tenant. McKinley was born and raised in Springfield, Missouri and is excited to return to the area to practice law. McKinley grew up a fan of the Missouri State men’s basketball team and loves to cheer on the Bears. He also enjoys watching football and spending time with his wife and family.   

Gregg Groves Selected as a Top Managing Partner

Managing Member Gregg Groves has been selected by Missouri Lawyers Media as a 2023 Top Managing Partner. Missouri Lawyers Weekly, the only independent legal brand in the state dedicated to legal coverage, examined some of the  “best-known and hardest working managing partners of law firms in Missouri. These are attorneys who remain in the trenches, maintaining their practices and meeting with clients while keeping an eye on the firm’s bottom line and the day-to-day needs of the office.”

Randy Reichard obtains $5,000,000 verdict

Randy represented the children of a southwest Missouri man who was shot by his wife who claimed it was accidental. Following a trial, Randy’s clients were awarded a judgment of $5,000,000.

Lee Viorel Receives Prestigious Legal Bankruptcy Award

Lee Viorel was recently awarded the 2021 Michael R. Roser Excellence in Bankruptcy Award from the Missouri Bar for his contributions in bankruptcy practice. The Bankruptcy Creditor-Debtor Rights Committee of The Missouri Bar gives the award to a lawyer who manifests the highest standard of excellence in bankruptcy practice, has contributed distinctively to the development and appreciation of bankruptcy law, and has made an outstanding contribution in the field of bankruptcy administration or practice.

Randy Reichard achieves AV Preeminent® Rating

Randy Reichard has achieved the AV Preeminent® Rating from Martindale-Hubbell®. The AV Preeminent® Rating is the highest possible rating for both ethical standards and legal ability.

For more than 130 years, attorneys have relied on the Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent® rating while searching for their own expert attorneys. Now anyone can make use of this trusted rating by looking up an attorney’s rating on Lawyers.com or martindale.com. The Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent® rating is the highest possible rating for an attorney for both ethical standards and legal ability. This rating represents the pinnacle of professional excellence. It is achieved only after an attorney has been reviewed and recommended by their peers – members of the bar and the judiciary.

Aimee Morrison added as New Associate

Lowther Johnson Attorneys at Law, LLC, is pleased to announce that Aimee Morrison has joined the firm as an associate. Aimee is a West Plains, Missouri native, returning to the Southwest Missouri area from Kansas City, Missouri, where she received her legal education and began her legal practice.

Aimee was on the Dean’s list throughout her law school career, obtaining her Juris Doctorate (JD), in 2010, from the University of Missouri – Kansas City School of Law. Aimee was a member of the ABA Negotiation Team, Delta Theta Phi, and co-authored the case note summaries for THE URBAN LAWYER’S Supreme Court Report, 2007-2008.

Prior to joining Lowther Johnson, Aimee was a law clerk to the Honorable Kathleen Forsyth in the Circuit Court of Jackson County, Missouri. Aimee also has experience representing plaintiffs in the areas of medical devices, pharmaceutical and personal injury cases and will initially engage in a general practice with Lowther Johnson.

Lee Viorel recognized for contributions and support of the SMBA

In his final act as 2015 Springfield Metropolitan Bar Association President, Mark McQueary recognized Lee Viorel for his outstanding contributions and support of the SMBA. Lee is a former President of the SMBA and continues to dedicate his time to the SMBA by presenting at continuing legal education programs, serving on the SMBA Foundation, presenting at the Springfield Mini-Law School, and in many other ways.

Aaron Klusmeyer added as a Member

Lowther Johnson Attorneys at Law, LLC is proud to announce that Aaron Klusmeyer has been added as a Member of the firm. Klusmeyer joined the firm in 2010 after clerking with the firm throughout law school. Aaron handles a wide variety of civil matters, including business litigation, employment disputes, and real estate transactions and litigation. Aaron attended the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law, where he graduated as the number one ranked student in the Class of 2010.

Lee Viorel, Michael Miller, and Mathew Placzek recognized by Super Lawyers Magazine

Lowther Johnson’s Lee Viorel has been recognized as Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers for 2015, and Michael Miller and Mathew Placzek were named a “Rising Star,” Super Lawyers magazine recently announced.

Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters organization, performs the annual polling, research and selection in a process designed to identify lawyers who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Only 5 percent of the lawyers in a given state or region are named Super Lawyers; 2.5 percent qualify as Rising Stars.

Super Lawyers are nominated by their peers, active lawyers in the state or region who have practiced for five years or longer. These nominations are supported by interviews, independent research, data verification and good-standing review. More information is available at www.superlawyers.com.

Reichard selected for Top 100 Trial Lawyers

Randy Reichard, a member of the firm, has been selected as a Top 100 Trial Lawyers in the National Trial Lawyers for three consecutive years beginning in 2014. The National Trial Lawyers: Top 100 an invitation-only organization composed of the premier trial lawyers from each state in the nation who meet stringent qualifications as civil plaintiff and/or criminal defense trial lawyers. Selection is based on a thorough multi-phase process which includes peer nominations combined with third-party research. Membership is extended solely to the select few of the most qualified attorneys from each state who demonstrate superior qualifications of leadership, reputation, influence, stature and public profile.

Viorel selected for Best Lawyers of America 2015

Lee Viorel, a member at Lowther Johnson Attorneys At Law, LLC, has recently been selected by his peers for inclusion in the Best Lawyers of America 2015 in the practice area of Litigation – Bankruptcy. Best Lawyers is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey. Over 52,000 leading attorneys cast more than 5.5 million votes on the legal abilities of other lawyers in their practice areas. Corporate Counsel magazine has called Best Lawyers “the most respected referral list of attorneys in practice.” Inclusion in the Best Lawyers is considered a singular honor.

Lee Viorel recognized by Super Lawyers Magazine

Lowther Johnson’s Lee Viorel has been recognized as Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers for 2014, and Michael Miller was named a “Rising Star,” Super Lawyers magazine recently announced.

Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters organization, performs the annual polling, research and selection in a process designed to identify lawyers who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Only 5 percent of the lawyers in a given state or region are named Super Lawyers; 2.5 percent qualify as Rising Stars.

Super Lawyers are nominated by their peers, active lawyers in the state or region who have practiced for five years or longer. These nominations are supported by interviews, independent research, data verification and good-standing review. More information is available at www.superlawyers.com.

Michael Miller Recognized as a “Law Firm Leader” as part of the Up & Coming Awards from Missouri Lawyers Weekly

Lowther Johnson’s Michael Miller was included in the 2014 list of Missouri Lawyers Weekly Up & Coming Lawyers as a Law Firm Leader. The Law Firm Leader category recognizes early-career professionals who hold important leadership positions at their firms.

According to Missouri Lawyers Weekly, a total of 54 Missouri attorneys will be honored among the 2014 class for Missouri Lawyers Weekly’s annual Up & Coming event. Editors selected the winners based on their demonstration of excellence and their potential to make a difference in the legal profession and their communities. The Up & Coming awards recognize lawyers who are 40 or younger, or within the first 10 years of practice.

Michael Miller named a Trusted Adviser by The Springfield Business Journal

The Springfield Business Journal launched its first annual Trusted Adviser Award. Lowther Johnson’s Michael Miller was selected as an honoree and was honored at a luncheon in September.

Honoring 16 individuals in three categories – Trusted Adviser, Up-and-Comer and Legacy Adviser – The Springfield Business Journal launched the event in 2014 to highlight four advisory industries during a Sept. 19 luncheon at Highland Springs Country Club. Chosen by an independent panel of judges and honoring bankers, insurance agents, lawyers and wealth managers, Michael was one of three attorneys named to the elite group of professionals who have been selected as a Trusted Adviser.

“We recognized in our other awards events, it was people such as the CPAs, bankers and attorneys who are the best nominators of others because they work so closely with their clients,” said SBJ Publisher Jennifer Jackson. “We see this event as an opportunity to turn the tables a bit and shine the light on the good things they are doing in their business.”

Craig Lowther awarded national Trial Attorneys award

In June 2015, Craig Lowther was awarded the TAA WAA Trial Attorneys of America Workers Achievement Award. This prestigious award, given to one member of the Trial Attorneys of America per year, honored Craig’s contribution of work to the organization and lifetime of success in the legal profession.