Thompson Coburn Names Six New Partners, Four Counsel for 2024

The new partners represent an array of litigation and corporate practice groups across five offices, including Chicago, Dallas, New York, Southern Illinois and St. Louis, another step in the firm’s continuing nationwide growth.

John Atkins (Dallas) is a commercial litigator who focuses on provider-side health care matters, including all types of insurance coverage, indemnity litigation and counseling. He also has substantial experience in transportation and railroad litigation, eminent domain, and oil and gas litigation. John earned his J.D. from SMU Dedman School of Law and a B.A. from Willamette University. 

Jose Fernandez (New York) is a litigator with extensive experience in financial services, complex commercial, securities, lender liability and insolvency-related matters. He previously served as a law clerk to the Hon. Eileen Bransten in the Commercial Division of New York State Supreme Court, New York County, and to the Hon. Claire C. Cecchi, United States District Judge for the District of New Jersey. He earned his J.D. from Fordham University School of Law and his B.A. from Florida International University. 

Brigitte Rose (New York) is a litigator focused on complex commercial litigation, including breach of contract claims, business torts, fraud, creditor priority disputes, foreclosures and judgment enforcement proceedings. Brigitte also has experience in bankruptcy litigations, having prosecuted fraudulent transfer claims on behalf of trustees and corporations in adversary proceedings. She earned her J.D. from St. John's University School of Law and her B.S.Ed from University of Miami.

Thad Blenke (St. Louis) is an intellectual property attorney who works extensively on patent protection and other IP-related issues for a variety of industries, including aviation components and control, security electronics, rail and automotive transportation, electrical computer hardware design, mechanical kitchen and cookware, sports, and mobile software applications. Thad earned his J.D. from Valparaiso University School of Law and a B.E. from Vanderbilt University.

Erik Lewis (Southern Illinois) is a litigator with a focus on products liability, toxic torts and railroad litigation. He was previously an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Illinois. He earned his J.D. from University of Illinois College of Law and a B.F.A. from New York University.

Matthew Misichko (Chicago) represents public and private companies across the country on a range of corporate matters. His practice includes all aspects of M&A transactions, including cross-departmental due diligence, drafting and negotiating definitive purchase agreements, advising on corporate entity strategy and formation, and commercial contract matters. He earned his J.D. from University of Illinois College of Law and his B.S. from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

In addition, the following St. Louis-based attorneys will be promoted to counsel:

Martha Mendez-Fischer practices exclusively in the areas of immigration and nationality law focusing on employment-based and family-based immigration cases. She earned her LL.M. from University of San Diego School of Law and also attended Universidad Iberoamericana School of Law and Universidad de Baja California School of Law.

Brittney Mollman is a litigator with experience in disputes concerning business torts, intellectual property matters, employment matters and constitutional challenges. She also has experience pursuing and defending requests for emergency injunctive relief. She earned her J.D. from Washington University School of Law and her B.B.A. from Emory University.

Melinda Potmesil is a business immigration attorney who helps clients hire and retain foreign national workers in the United States and transfer employees between international offices. She earned her J.D. from Michigan State University College of Law and her B.S. and B.A. from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.