Thompson Coburn adds associates across four offices
March 20, 2014
Thompson Coburn is pleased to welcome seven new associates who recently joined the firm. The new hires join the Belleville, Chicago, and St. Louis offices and practice in the firm’s business litigation, land use and zoning and human resources practice groups.
Erik Lewis practices in the firm's railroad and toxic tort litigation practice areas. Erik received a B.F.A. from New York University and his J.D., cum laude, from the University of Illinois College of Law, where he served as articles editor of the University of Illinois Law Review. Prior to joining Thompson Coburn, Erik was an assistant attorney general for the Office of the Illinois Attorney General where he acted as lead counsel in numerous federal, state and administrative cases, including developing and implementing litigation and discovery strategies.
Talar Berberian practices in the firm's land use and zoning practice where she represents clients in zoning matters, regulatory reviews and government entitlements related to the development and use of land. Talar received a B.A. from the University of California, San Diego, and a J.D. and Master of Urban Planning from the University of Michigan.
Patrick Morales-Doyle practices in the firm’s business litigation group. Prior to joining the firm, he worked as an Assistant Appellate Defender at the Office of the State Appellate Defender in Chicago, representing indigent criminal defendants on appeal. Patrick also served as a law clerk to the Hon. R. Guy Cole, Jr., of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, in Columbus, Ohio. Patrick received his B.A., magna cum laude, from the University of Pennsylvania and his J.D. from Harvard Law School.
Melinda Potmesil practices in the area of immigration law. She assists domestic and international corporation clients in all aspects of employment-based immigration and global travel. Melinda also has experience in assisting clients with family-based petitions including procedures for international adoption, refugee rights, and obtaining status for family members and dependent children. Melinda is a member of the American Bar Association and the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis in which she serves as a committee member for Motion for Kids. She received a B.S. and B.A. from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and her J.D. from Michigan State University College of Law.