Thompson Coburn LLP Announces Three New Partners

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For media inquiries please call Marc Witengier 314.552.6564

St. Louis, December 30, 2005 - Thompson Coburn is proud to announce that Matthew S. Darrough, David B. Jinkins and Susan L. Werstak have been selected to become partners in the firm, effective January 1, 2006.

Matthew is a member of the firm’s Business Litigation and Appellate practices. He handles significant business litigation at all levels of the state and federal courts. Matthew has litigated cases involving complex insurance coverage issues, contract disputes, business torts, lender liability claims, and creditors’ rights. He is a former clerk to the Honorable Clifford H. Ahrens of the Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District. Matthew earned his J.D. from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law, where he also earned a B.A. in Economics and a B.A. in Political Science.

David is a member of the firm’s Intellectual Property practice. David’s practice includes representing clients in a variety of intellectual property disputes, including patent, trademark, trade dress, trade secret and copyright infringement actions in Federal trial and appellate courts and the United States Patent and Trademark Office; non-infringement and freedom to operate opinions; and patent prosecution. David earned his J.D. from Washington University in St. Louis. He also holds a M.S. in Molecular Cellular & Development Biology from the University of South Carolina and a B.S. in Biology from Presbyterian College.

Susan, who practices in the firm’s Tobacco Litigation practice, has represented most of the major cigarette manufacturers. She has represented tobacco companies in individual personal injury actions as well as complex mass tort actions including, small and large consolidated personal injury actions, a medical monitoring class action, and third party payor actions. She has been involved in all phases of litigation from pre-trial pleadings, discovery and motions practice, through trial, post-trial briefing and appellate review. Susan earned her J.D., magna cum laude, from Villanova University School of Law and her B.A., magna cum laude, from Stonehill College.

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