Am Law 200 law firms have been on a growth spree this year. But a handful of law firms from the same state have taken expansion to another level, completing multiple mergers, opening offices in new locations and even engineering the largest group lateral move in recent memory.

That level of competitiveness from big firms with Kansas City roots, including Polsinelli, Lathrop GPM, Husch Blackwell and Spencer Fane, shows the great growth race is being staged not only by the largest global firms but by domestic firms throughout the Second 50 and into the Second Hundred. It also highlights the benefit of having Midwest operations to attract client work across the U.S.