When Heather Humphrey was interviewing for associate positions at law firms in the mid-1990s, she was drawn to Shughart, Thomson & Kilroy’s focus on litigation. But little did Humphrey know that her time at the firm would be shaped more by harmonious dealings than by discord. She met her future husband, Jim, at the Kansas City, Missouri, firm (now known as Polsinelli Shughart). Humphrey also began a long-term relationship with regional utility Kansas City Power & Light Company.
Through the end of 2006, Humphrey handled tort cases for KCP&L as an outside counsel. When the opportunity came along to manage litigation from the inside, the Washington University Law School graduate couldn’t pass it up. Humphrey joined KCP&L in 2007 and quickly rose to the head of the law department. She is general counsel and vice president of human resources for the utility, which serves 800,000 customers across Kansas and Missouri. As GC, Humphrey runs a team of eight attorneys.
