KANSAS CITY, Mo. (June 18, 2026) — Lathrop GPM is pleased to announce that Partner Bernie Rhodes has been recognized by Missouri Lawyers Media with a 2026 ICON Award.
ICON Awards are presented to members of the Missouri legal community aged 60 and older who have demonstrated notable, sustained success and strong leadership within and outside the field of law. Rhodes will receive this honor during the ICON Awards luncheon on June 18.
With more than 40 years of experience, Bernie’s trial and appellate practice encompasses First Amendment issues, intellectual property matters and open records laws. His cases range from winning summary judgment for a golfing magazine to defending a Kansas newspaper whose 2023 raid by a local police department drew national attention.
In addition to this honor, Bernie has been selected as one of The Best Lawyers in America® since 2003, was named one of “50 Missourians You Should Know” by Ingram’s, earned a “Legal Champion Award” from Missouri Lawyers Media, both in 2024, and was named a Political Activism/1st Amendment Rights Trailblazer by The National Law Journal in 2020.
For the past nine years, the ICON Awards have annually honored attorneys and judges who have served the Missouri region with distinction. This year’s list of 30 honorees includes circuit court judges, managing partners, firm leaders, and long-serving practitioners at firms of all sizes. Whether active or retired, honorees must hold or have held a senior position with significant decision-making authority for their firm or organization.