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Spencer Fane LLP, headquartered in Missouri, announced Monday that it has completed its second merger in as many months, adding a team of patent and trademark attorneys and agents from Washington, D.C.-based Global IP Counselors LLP.

The move brings roughly a dozen intellectual property professionals into the fold, further accelerating the firm’s strategic growth and widening its footprint in one of the most competitive legal markets.

IP Practice Swells Past 60 Professionals

With the latest additions, Spencer Fane’s intellectual property group now exceeds 60 attorneys, agents and engineers, the firm said. The expansion follows closely on the heels of its New York merger last month with Gloenbock Eiseman Assor Bell & Peskoe LLP, signaling a fast-paced evolution rather than a slow march.

The firm described the D.C. deal as a continuation of its 2024 organizational redesign, which leadership previously characterized as a shift toward a more “bottom-up” structure, breaking from the rigid hierarchies typical of large law firms.

Deep Expertise, Not Growth for Growth’s Sake

Spencer Fane said the intellectual property professionals joining from Global IP Counselors fit squarely within its strategy of building highly experienced, specialized teams rather than expanding for scale alone.

A firm spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday.

Patrick J. Whalen, Spencer Fane’s chair, emphasized that philosophy in a statement, saying the firm’s strategy “is not about chasing growth.”

“Our expansion is simply an outcome of clients and talent opting for our unique values and value proposition,” Whalen said. He added that Global IP Counselors’ team strengthens the culture that has long anchored the firm’s success.

A High-Volume, Internationally Connected Team

Global IP Counselors brings with it a patent and trademark prosecution team known for filing more than 1,000 patent applications annually in the United States and abroad, according to Spencer Fane.

The D.C. firm’s website lists a dozen attorneys, including nine partners. Among them are Kenji Kimura and Yuka Kimura, both identified as Japanese patent attorneys. Spencer Fane highlighted that several incoming team members are fluent in Japanese and maintain strong relationships with international clients, adding a global dimension to the firm’s IP capabilities.

A Shared Vision for Clients and Culture

Michael Murphy, managing partner of Global IP Counselors, said the combination allows the firm to broaden what it offers without losing its identity.

The merger, he said, enables the team “to offer our clients expanded resources and capabilities while maintaining the personalized approach that has defined our success.”

Murphy added that joining Spencer Fane places Global IP Counselors on a platform that values innovation, collaboration and creative problem-solving—an alignment that, like a well-matched patent portfolio, promises strength through integration.