Kevin Kercher Joins Thompson Coburn LLP

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

St. Louis, June 15, 2005 - Thompson Coburn LLP is proud to announce that Kevin M. Kercher has joined the firm as a partner in the Intellectual Property and Information Technology Practice Group. Mr. Kercher's practice encompasses all areas of intellectual property law, including patents, trademarks, copyrights, unfair competition, trade secrets and related areas.

Mr. Kercher's technical experience includes preparing and prosecuting a wide range of patent applications, including for complex business processes, computer software and hardware, internet-related applications, and complex electronic, electromechanical, mechanical and chemical arts applications. He has extensive experience in matters before the United States Patent and Trademark Office, including oral arguments on appeal and interviews with patent examiners.

In addition, Mr. Kercher has negotiated and prepared a wide variety of technical documentation and technology licensing agreements and joint development agreements. Through his intellectual property work, he has traveled extensively in the United States and worldwide, including to China, Germany, England, Japan, Scotland, Denmark and Malaysia.

Prior to joining Thompson Coburn, Mr. Kercher was a partner at Blackwell Sanders Peper Martin LLP. He also served as a patent attorney at Husch & Eppenberger, L.L.C., and as intellectual property counsel at Caterpillar, Inc.

Mr. Kercher earned his J.D. from the University of Missouri Columbia a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and a B.S., cum laude with special honors, in Industrial Engineering from the University of Missouri Columbia.

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