The team at Wampler & Passanise Law Office is proud to announce that Joe Passanise has received recognition from the Springfield Business Journal as a “2022 Trusted Adviser.”  

The award, which will be formally presented at the publication’s Trusted Advisers event on September 30, recognizes local professionals in a variety of industries, all of whom have done their part to earn the distinction for both themselves and the organizations they represent.  

Joe joins an accomplished list of 21 other honorees, including leaders in business, banking, wealth management, and commercial realty. He is one of only three attorneys to earn the Trusted Adviser title in 2022, and will be featured in a special issue of the Springfield Business Journal, to be released on September 26.  

Congratulations to the full list of 2022 Trusted Adviser honorees: 

• Legacy Adviser: Ann Marie Baker, executive vice president at UMB Bank 
• Accountants: Katie Aton-Jackson of Smillie & Jackson CPAs LLC, Matt Clark of Abacus CPAs LLC, and Derek Smith of FORVIS LLP 
• Attorneys: Rodney H. Nichols of Spencer Fane LLP, Joseph Passanise of Wampler & Passanise Law Office PC, and Kory D. Stubblefield of Stubblefield Law LLC 
• Bankers: Mandy Anthes of Arvest Bank, Kendal R. Dingus of Central Bank in Springfield, and Tiffany Nichols of State Bank of Southwest Missouri 
• Commercial Realtors: Jeff Childs of SVN/Rankin Co. and Caleb Moreno of Moreno Group Commercial Realty 

• Insurance Professionals: Mindy Pippin of Ollis/Akers/Arney, Brad S. Pistole of Trinity Insurance & Financial Services Inc., and Ken A. Stephens of Employee Benefit Design LLC 
• Technology Professionals: James Gilpin of PCnet LLC and Todd Murren of Bluebird Network LLC 
• Wealth Managers: Matthew J. Fairbairn of Visionary Wealth Advisors LLC and Jeff Lenhart of FORVIS Wealth Advisors 
• Up-and-Comers: Shuhan Gu of Abacus CPAs LLC, Trevor Reger of Clint Harris Insurance Agency Inc., and Lillian Sweeney of Neale & Newman LLP 

Recognizing decades of accomplishments and success 

Since earning his Juris Doctor degree in 1997 from the Washburn University School of Law, Joe Passanise has been making his mark on the legal field, eventually bringing his talents to the forefront as a managing partner at Wampler & Passanise.  

Joe’s past accomplishments include nearly two decades of inclusion in the “Who’s Who in American Law” list, as well as peer recognition as a Best Lawyer in America and recognition as a Top 100 Trial Lawyer by The National Trial Lawyers. He was also awarded the Charles M. Shaw Award for excellence in trial advocacy in 2013, among other major industry accomplishments.  

A law firm is only as reliable as the attorneys and staff members who work on its behalf. Joe is more than just a partner of Wampler & Passanise, Joe is a leader in the office and in the local community. He sets the standard for industry superiority in terms of what clients can expect from their legal advisers. 

The specific areas of practice that Joe specializes in are often some of the toughest. They include drug charges, white collar crimes, DWI defense, sex offenses, and violent crimes. Joe also specializes in expungements and assisting individuals with getting their criminal records sealed so they can pursue gainful employment and other opportunities.  

About the Trusted Adviser award 

The Trusted Adviser award is a prestigious honor given out by the Springfield Business Journal to individuals who have been nominated by their peers for standout performances in their field.  

For nine years and counting, the Springfield Business Journal has used the Trusted Adviser awards as a way to shine a spotlight on legal, business, and financial professionals who have pursued excellence for their clients, their firms, and their communities. Winners are chosen by an independent panel of judges who consider both the peer nominations and the merits of individual nominees when making their selections.  

The honor of this award is further strengthened by the distinction of the Springfield Business Journal itself. Founded in 1980, it holds the designation as the oldest business journal in Missouri, remaining firmly rooted in the principles of journalistic integrity that have been central to the business journal industry from the very beginning. It has received top awards from the Alliance of Area Business Publications and from the Missouri Press Association.  

To be recognized as a Trusted Adviser is to join a select group of qualified local professionals who have demonstrated time and again that they are willing to go above and beyond in service of their profession. It is an honor for both Joe and the Wampler & Passanise Law Firm, and we thank the Springfield Business Journal for selecting Joe as a 2022 recipient.    

Raising the bar in criminal defense 

Part of what has set Joe apart as a criminal defense attorney is his dedication to providing all clients with comprehensive and compassionate legal services. Along the way, he has earned the respect of the public, the profession, and the media, and helped countless defendants through the legal process.  

Individuals looking to work with the area’s best criminal defense attorneys are encouraged to call our office today. We also invite you to browse our blog for expert insight on some of the most important topics in the criminal defense field.  

Thank you again to the Springfield Business Journal for naming Joe Passanise a 2022 Trusted Adviser. Follow along with this year’s event by checking out the late September issue of the journal, where you’ll find additional information on the awards and the honorees.