Polsinelli law firm announces leadership move

W. Russell Welsh, chairman and CEO of Polsinelli, said Tuesday that Chase Simmons has been nominated to be vice chairman and chairman-elect of the Kansas City-based law firm.

Simmons now leads the firm’s real estate practice group. His election is expected to be confirmed by the firm’s shareholders June 8.

Welsh said the law firm plans an 18-month transition period before Simmons assumes the chairmanship.

Welsh, who led the firm’s litigation department before becoming chairman in 1998, has led the firm’s growth from 90 attorneys to nearly 800.

The firm now ranks among the 100 largest law firms in the nation and has offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Nashville, New York, Phoenix, San Francisco, St. Louis and Washington, D.C.