MoveMakers and NewsMakers for Aug. 25, 2026

Springfield | National

Springfield

Spencer Fane LLP is pleased to welcome Tina Fowler to the firm’s Springfield, Missouri, office as a partner in the Labor and Employment Practice Group.

Fowler helps employers navigate workplace challenges and manage employment-related risk, providing proactive representation in employment disputes and robust defense in discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, and other workplace claims before the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and state and federal courts, including appellate courts.

A diligent counselor, Fowler advises on labor law compliance, discipline and discharge procedures, pay practices, affirmative action, hiring practices, employee termination, and matters related to Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Fair Labor Standards, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the National Labor Relations Act, and other federal and state laws relating to employment. She also regularly constructs employment contracts and restrictive covenant agreements.

“Tina is a partner who brings exceptional, targeted legal skills and strong cultural alignment,” said Jason C. Smith, office managing partner for Spencer Fane in Springfield. “Her commitment to both the legal profession and the Springfield business community will serve our clients well for years to come. We are thrilled to have Tina join us.”

With intuitive legal acumen supported by nearly three decades of experience, Fowler has been elected to multiple leadership roles within prominent legal associations. She is a member of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri’s Federal Practice Committee, where she advises on local rules and procedures in an effort to improve how federal practice and litigation are handled in the district; and was elected a chairperson within the Court’s Merit Selection Panel, where she helped confirm the reappointment of the Honorable Federal Magistrate Judge David Rush. She is also a member of the Missouri Bar’s Missouri Task Force Committee, among other notable involvements.

Fowler completed both her bachelor’s degree cum laude and her Master of Business Administration from Drury University before earning her Juris Doctor with distinction from the University of Oklahoma.

National

O’Flaherty Law is proud to announce that Partner Dashawn R. Cason has been elected Secretary of the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division (ABA YLD), a national leadership position that reflects his continued commitment to the legal profession, professional development, and service.

The ABA Young Lawyers Division officially lists Cason among its 2026–2027 officers alongside Chair Lauren Barnes Williams and Chair-Elect Nancy Maurice. The election took place during the ABA’s 2026 Annual Meeting, with YLD elections scheduled for July 31 through August 1.

The ABA Young Lawyers Division provides opportunities for newer attorneys across the country to become involved in professional development, public service, policy, and leadership within the legal profession. The Division has more than 200 leadership positions and encourages young attorneys to use those opportunities to advance national initiatives and causes.

As Secretary, Cason joins the YLD's senior officer leadership. The ABA identifies the Secretary position as part of the Division's "Chair-line," making the election an important step in YLD leadership.

For Cason, the position is also the latest chapter in years of involvement with the ABA and its Young Lawyers Division. His previous ABA leadership has included serving as Legal Pathway & Law Student Outreach Director, while ABA leadership records have also identified him as a member of the ABA Board of Elections.

In his candidate statement, Cason outlined a vision focused on strengthening leadership transitions within the Young Lawyers Division and helping attorneys make better use of the opportunities available through the organization.

One of his priorities is improving the transfer of institutional knowledge between incoming and outgoing YLD leaders. He explained that stronger transition processes can allow new leaders to spend less time learning the mechanics of their positions and more time carrying out the work of the Division.

Cason also emphasized creating stronger pathways into, through, and beyond the Young Lawyers Division. His vision includes helping law students better understand the value of the YLD as they enter the profession while expanding engagement with attorneys from different backgrounds and practice settings, including rural attorneys and lawyers who entered law as a second career.

That emphasis on opportunity is particularly meaningful given Cason's own background. He is an Illinois native and a first-generation college and law school graduate. At O'Flaherty Law, he is a Partner serving Central Illinois and handles litigation and transactional matters involving governmental and corporate clients.

His practice includes civil litigation as well as counsel to governmental and business leaders on matters including tax and labor and employment issues.

Cason's election is an accomplishment not only for him personally, but also a reflection of the role Central Illinois attorneys can play in shaping the legal profession nationally.

The ABA Young Lawyers Division describes its Assembly as its principal policy-making body and offers young lawyers opportunities to help shape the profession through leadership, advocacy, professional development, and public service. Cason's progression through the organization demonstrates a long-term commitment to that work.

His candidate statement made clear that service remains central to his approach to leadership. Rather than viewing the position simply as a professional title, Cason described his candidacy as an opportunity to serve the Division and help create systems that will benefit the attorneys who come after him.