Thompson Coburn Explained

Thompson Coburn LLP is a U.S. law firm with offices in Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, New York, Southern Illinois, St. Louis, Birmingham, Ala., and Washington, D.C.^{[3] [4]} The firm has been especially active in the field of product liability.^[5]

History

The firm was founded in 1929 and became known as Thompson Coburn in 1996 through the merger of two St. Louis firms, Thompson & Mitchell and Coburn & Croft. In July 2007 Thompson Coburn merged with Fagel Haber of Chicago.^[6] In 2013, the firm merged with Los Angeles-based Freedman Weisz LLP and opened an office in Los Angeles.^[7]

In July 2020, Roman Wuller succeeded Tom Minogue as chairman.^[8] In July 2021, Thompson Coburn combined with Hahn & Hessen and opened a new office in New York.^[9] The Hahn & Hessen addition expanded the firm's capabilities in representing financial institutions and other financial market participants in commercial finance, bankruptcy, workouts, and complex litigation.

As of 2024 Thompson Coburn had about 400 employees.^[10] In November the firm was sued in a class action for its role in a data breach with its client Presbyterian Healthcare Services.^[11]

Community involvement

• Thompson Coburn was the first major law firm in Missouri to support a bill extending basic workplace protections to members of the LGBT community.^{[12] [13]}
• Thompson Coburn represented the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis pro bono in a $30 million EPA settlement to clean up 10-acre Superfund site in St. Louis.^{[14] [15]}
• Thompson Coburn is a sponsor of Street law, a pipeline program with the Association of Corporate Counsel that introduces high school students to possible careers in the law.^[16]

Notable lawyers

• Kit Bond, former Missouri governor and U.S. Senator (joined immediately after leaving the Senate in 2010)^[17]
• Robin Carnahan, Secretary of State of Missouri, worked for predecessor firm Thompson & Mitchell prior to her political career.
• John Cullerton, member and President of the Illinois Senate (D-6th dist.) is a partner in the firm.^[18]
• Thomas Eagleton, former U.S. Senator for Missouri and one-time vice-presidential candidate, became a partner in the firm after the end of his Senate career.
• Thomas Schlafly, partner, is also co-founder of the St. Louis Brewery.
• Louis B. Susman, United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom, was a partner at the firm.

Notable cases

Some of the firm's notable cases include, but aren't limited to:

• Northwest, Inc. v. Ginsberg, No. 12-462 (Counsel of Record for Amicus International Air Transport Association) (preemption of state law and regulation under Airline Deregulation Act) (decided Apr. 2, 2014, 572 U.S. 273)

• Bowman v. Monsanto Company, et al., No. 11-796 (Co-counsel for Respondent and Counsel below) (enforceability of patent rights after sale) (decided May 13, 2013, 569 U.S. 278)

• Norfolk Southern Ry. Co. v. Sorrell, No. 05–746 (Co-counsel for Petitioner and Counsel below) (standards of causation and negligence under the Federal Employers’ Liability Act) (decided Jan. 10, 2007, 549 U.S. 158)

• Federal Maritime Commission v. South Carolina State Ports Authority, No. 01-46 (Counsel of Record for Respondent and Counsel below) (Federal regulatory proceedings and State sovereign immunity) (decided May 28, 2002, 535 U.S. 743)

Notes and References

1. Web site: Thompson Coburn's incoming and outgoing chairmen discuss expansion, Covid-19 and transitions . 7 September 2020.
2. Web site: Thompson Coburn LLP . 2023-01-23 . The American Lawyer . en.
3. Web site: New York Firm and Thompson Coburn to Merge, Eyeing Benefits of Scale . New York Law Journal.
4. Web site: Thompson Coburn Acquires Hahn & Hessen, Enters N.Y. Legal Market . Bloomberg.
5. Web site: Thompson Coburn LLP - Law Firm Thompson Coburn LLP Overview . Martindale.com.
6. News: Adler . Neil . May 4, 2007 . Law firm Thompson Coburn to merge with FagelHaber . November 18, 2024 . Washington Business Journal.
7. Web site: Thompson Coburn adding L.A. office. Lee Enterprises. stltoday.com.
8. Web site: Thompson Coburn taps Roman Wuller as next chairman . stltoday.com . 7 September 2020.
9. News: Thomas . David . Thompson Coburn makes New York debut with midsize merger . 30 May 2022 . Reuters . June 23, 2021.
10. Web site: Spigolon . Thomas . April 15, 2024 . On the Move: Thompson Coburn Enters Southeast With Birmingham Office Launch . 2024-11-18 . Law.com . en.
11. News: Merken . Sara . November 12, 2024 . Law firm Thompson Coburn and healthcare client hit with data breach lawsuit . November 18, 2024 . Reuters.
12. Web site: Thompson Coburn LLP Joins A Growing Coalition of Businesses That Support Workplace Protections. moworkplaceequality.com.
13. Web site: Michael Sam announcement could provide boost to Missouri Non-Discrimination Act. 10 February 2014. PoliticMo.
14. Web site: Cleaning the Carter Carburetor site to transform a neighborhood. 5 August 2014. St. Louis Business Journal.
15. Web site: EPA Deals Enable $30M Urban St. Louis Cleanup Project. law360.com.
16. Web site: ACC-St. Louis and Thompson Coburn launch new Street Law Program... - www.streetlaw.org. streetlaw.org.
17. Web site: Bond joins St. Louis-based law firm Thompson Coburn . Stltoday.com . 2011-01-04 . 2011-08-08.
18. Web site: Cullerton's attorney resume . Thompsoncoburn.com . 2011-08-08.