There's been a steady revival of business-related practices and more deal activity and a little bit more lending in the past year or so, said Mark Hinderks, a Kansas City lawyer who serves as co-managing partner of Stinson Leonard Street.

The firm's roughly three-dozen public-company clients in the area have sent more corporate finance, securities and mergers and acquisitions work to the firm during that time, Hinderks said.

“We're not talking about a giant boom but it's steady in an upward direction. It's very encouraging,” Hinderks said.