Dean Franklin Elected President of MODL

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information, contact Jessica Welck Thompson Coburn LLP (314) 552-6271 jwelck@thompsoncoburn.com

St. Louis, June 17, 2005 - Dean Franklin, a partner in Thompson Coburn's Intellectual Property and Information Technology Practice Group, was recently elected president of the Missouri Organization of Defense Lawyers (MODL).

Franklin has served on the board of directors of MODL since 1998, and is a periodic member of the faculty for the annual MODL trial academy for practicing trial lawyers.

Franklin is vice-chair of the firm's Intellectual Property and Information Technology Group. He also practices in the firm's litigation area. He has extensive first chair trial experience.

MODL was established to help defense attorneys provide the highest quality representation for clients throughout the state. Since its inception in 1984, the organization has supported the state's defense lawyers with continuing legal education programs, amicus curiae briefs and a wide variety of information assistance programs.

Thompson Coburn has approximately 300 attorneys nationwide and has offices in St. Louis, Missouri; Washington, D.C.; and Belleville, Illinois.