Weixelman, Williams receive 2023 Purcell Professionalism Award
Named after 1968-69 Missouri Bar President Martin J. Purcell, the Purcell Professionalism Award recognizes Missouri lawyers who have shown a high standard of competency, integrity, and civility in professional and civic activities. Each year, The Missouri Bar Board of Governors and The Missouri Bar Foundation Board of Trustees select one or two deserving recipients. This year, the honor goes to Lisa A. Weixelman and Raymond E. Williams.
The two will be recognized Sept. 13 during The Missouri Bar Foundation & Public Service Awards Luncheon at the Annual Meeting of The Missouri Bar in Kansas City.
Upon graduating from The University of Missouri – Kansas City School of Law in 1982, Weixelman started her career at Jackson & Sherman, where she was immediately absorbed into trial work in civil cases. She joined her current firm, Polsinelli, in 1987 as the 48th lawyer; the firm now has over 1,000 lawyers with offices nationwide. Licensed in Missouri and Kansas, she is admitted to practice before the state and federal courts including the U. S. Supreme Court, where she has tried civil lawsuits and argued before the court of appeals.
Weixelman, who aims to zealously advocate for clients while remaining candid says that compassion is crucial when practicing.
“To be a great counselor and advocate, you must be an expert on the legal issues and the rules of practice,” Weixelman said. “But earning a client’s trust takes more, and that is where a commitment to honesty and compassion really matters. If there is any trait that singles me out, I hope it is my desire to practice law with compassion.”
Raymond E. Williams is a 1992 graduate of the University of Missouri School of Law, where he was a member of the Order of the Coif and the Order of Barristers, as well as editor-in-chief of the Missouri Law Review. He is currently a solo practitioner with offices in West Plains and Eminence, where he works with individuals, businesses, and government entities on a range of legal matters.
Williams served on The Missouri Bar Board of Governors from 2008-2020, including in the role of president of The Missouri Bar from 2018-2019. He is still active with the bar, now as a member of The Missouri Bar Foundation Board of Trustees and chair of the Government Relations Committee. He is also a member of the Solo and Small Firm Practice Committee and serves on boards for several other legal organizations.
“Our profession is more than just the day-to-day practice of law,” Williams said. “It is critical that Missouri lawyers continue to work together to improve the law and the practice of law in our state.”
Weixelman and Williams will join the prestigious list of more than 40 Purcell award recipients since 1995. As part of the award, they will each receive a $500 stipend.
Click here to learn more about awards presented annually by The Missouri Bar, The Missouri Bar Foundation, and other entities. Read about other 2023 award winners here.