Cape Girardeau, MO

Spencer E. Farris

Spencer E. Farris is the founding attorney of The S.E. Farris Law Firm, specializing in personal injury cases. He is a Board-Certified Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy, a Missouri-Kansas Super Lawyer since 2005, and has been selected as one of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers in Missouri by The National Trial Lawyers Association and the American Society of Legal Advocates. He is also a graduate of the Gerry Spence Trial Lawyers College and an Adjunct Professor at St. Louis University School of Law. He has over 30 years of experience.

Trae Bertrand

Trae Bertrand has been practicing both civil and criminal law for over 15 years in Missouri and Illinois and has tried multiple cases before juries throughout southeast Missouri. He maintains a general practice with an emphasis in the areas of personal injury litigation, business litigation, criminal defense, estate planning, and family law.

Matthew Richardson

Matthew Richardson is a 1975 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point. After completing 5 years as an officer in the U.S. Army, he graduated from George Washington University Law School in 1983, with honors. Matt began his legal career as a law clerk for U.S. District Judge H. Kenneth Wangelin. He practiced for several years in St. Louis in the area of commercial litigation, before moving his practice to Poplar Bluff in 1989. Matt is a seasoned trial attorney and a graduate of the National Institute for Trial Advocacy, with numerous successful jury and non-jury trials during his 40-year practice. Personal injury litigation, including auto injury, premises liability and medical negligence, is his primary area of concentration. He is a member of the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys and the American Association for Justice, and served as Municipal Judge for Poplar Bluff, Missouri from 1991 through 2002.

J. Michael Ponder’s experience spans a broad spectrum of personal injury and civil litigation. He strives to achieve justice for his clients, handling cases with care and determination in multiple areas of law. J. Michael Ponder’s commitment to serving others extends beyond the courtroom. He has been honored to serve on the Missouri State Board of Education and the University of Missouri Board of Curators, where his contributions benefit countless students, families, and educators.

Jason Hine

Jason Hine graduated from Saint Louis University School of Law in 2014. He spent his time in law school interning at a Prosecutor’s office and then working for a local criminal defense attorney. He also worked for a very well-known personal injury firm during law school. Upon graduating from law school, he opened his own firm with Jimmy Miller. Jason is licensed in both Missouri State and Federal Court. He is known for his trial experience. He has tried multiple cases to verdict in both State and Federal Court. He has achieved favorable verdicts for both criminal defendants and victims of personal injury. As a skilled St. Louis personal injury lawyer and an expert negotiator, Jason has represented clients from the smaller level cases to the more publicized cases. No case is too big nor too small. He treats all of his clients the same way he would treat the case if it was a family member’s case. He is known for his attention to detail, persuasive argument skills, and compassionate approach to the law. Between 2022 through 2024, Jason was recognized for his dedication to justice by earning a peer nomination and independent evaluation to achieve the Rising Star award by Super Lawyers. Jason strongly believes that a successful firm is one that provides personalized legal representation to its clients. It is why he goes to great lengths to get to know his clients better, understand their needs, and get a sense of what they expect out of him. An avid reader, Jason loves to stay updated on the changes in state and federal laws and refreshing his knowledge of the legal system. Jason also loves to spend time outside with his wife and son.

Trae Bertrand has been practicing both civil and criminal law for ten years in Missouri and Illinois, and has tried multiple cases before juries throughout southeast Missouri. He maintains a general practice with emphasis in the areas of personal injury litigation, business litigation, criminal defense, estate planning and family law.

Megan D. Andrews

Megan Holloway Andrews is an experienced lawyer and dedicated advocate for victims of personal injury and their families. She is a 2008 honors graduate of Maryville University (BA in Legal Studies, minor in Business Administration) and a 2011 graduate of Saint Louis University School of Law with a concentration in Civil Litigation Skills. Megan is licensed to practice in Missouri and Illinois as well as the U.S. District Courts, Eastern District of Missouri. She joined Layton & Southard in 2014.