In a recent interview with Missouri Lawyers Media, Thompson Coburn Chair Chris Hohn outlined the firm’s strategic partner growth in key practice areas and discussed how emerging AI tools may influence future hiring.
Chris said the firm added new partners strategically to grow its expanding practice areas. Specifically, the firm added three lateral hires from Epstein Becker Green in its LA office to add to the labor and employment and wage and hour class action litigation practice. This is especially important in the southern California marketplace and to the LA office where Thompson Coburn hopes to expand its footprint.
Thompson Coburn made several additions to its St. Louis office within the corporate securities and business litigation practices, including both promotions and a new hire.
In Missouri, the firm added four new partners, contributing to a total of 22 partner additions nationwide.
“We continue to look for strategic adds in Missouri but also acknowledge that it’s more challenging for us to grow in Missouri just because of the market presence that we have. It’s a little more challenging to grow due to conflicts,” he said. “So, we don’t see the same growth in our Missouri market as we do in some of our other markets, but we are continuing to focus on adding to core areas in St. Louis and in Southern Illinois as well, as we try and continue to build strength on strength.”
Chris noted that the firm has recently expanded its associate counsel ranks by 15 percent. However, the uncertain impact of AI on the industry could prompt the firm to slow its growth in this area moving forward.
“AI’s already having an impact; it will continue to have an impact, and that may mean that our associate classes are a little bit smaller in future years,” said Chris. “So, that’s a really challenging thing to try and put our finger on the pulse of, just because I don’t think anyone can predict exactly how it will impact hiring, other than to say, I think it will impact hiring.”
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