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Jeff Masson

Jeff Masson

Partner

St. Louis
314 552 6429 314 552 6429 direct
314 552 7429 fax


  • OVERVIEW
  • EXPERIENCE
  • INSIGHTS
  • NEWS & EVENTS

INDUSTRIES

PRACTICES

  • Education

    • Southern University,

      J.D., 2003

    • Louisiana State University,

      M.S., Plant Pathology and Crop Physiology, 2000

      B.S., Plant and Soil Systems, 1998

  • Admissions

    • Illinois

    • Louisiana

    • Missouri

    • Louisiana USDC, Eastern District

    • Louisiana USDC, Middle District

    • Louisiana USDC, Western District

    • Missouri USDC, Eastern District

    • Missouri USDC, Western District

    • US Ct Appeals, 5th Circuit (Covers LA, MS, TX)

    • US Ct Appeals, Federal Circuit

    • US Supreme Ct

  • Affiliations

    • Louisiana Agricultural Consultants Association (LACA)

      Affiliate Member

    • Louisiana State Bar Association

    • American Agricultural Law Association

    • Certified Agricultural Consultant

  • Recognitions

    • Named an “Influential Appellate Advocate” by Missouri Lawyers Weekly for his key role in the U.S. Supreme Court case Bowman v. Monsanto, 2014

    • Named an "Up & Coming Lawyer" by Missouri Lawyers Weekly, 2013

  • Employment

    • Thompson Coburn LLP

      Partner, 2011-Present

      Associate, 2007-2010

    • Frilot Partridge LC

      Associate, 2003-2007

    • Self-employed Crop Consultant

      2001-2003

Jeff is a litigator, former crop consultant, and agronomic crop specialist. Jeff advises the country's largest agribusinesses to develop effective litigation strategies on a national and global scale. Jeff is a member of the Firm's Management Committee.

Drawing on his in-the-field experience as a former crop consultant and plant specialist, Jeff provides practical, straightforward advice to clients in the agriculture and biotechnology industries. His rare blend of legal and agricultural experience allows him to quickly assess litigation threats, work directly with growers, crop advisors, and product manufacturers and distributers, and converse seamlessly with expert witnesses.

Jeff frequently leads on-the-ground investigations concerning alleged crop damage, yield reduction, and also into the proper channeling of agricultural commodities. Tapping his unique ability to connect and converse with a diverse set of individuals, Jeff settles hundreds of patent infringement, breach of contract, and product liability claims in-person and at very minimal cost to the client. He also uses his ag marketing knowledge to investigate marketing misconduct by authorized vendors of agriculture or food products.

A native of Louisiana, Jeff has authored several academic articles in the subject area of weed science, and frequently speaks on ag law trends at the request of national crop consultant companies, agronomy societies and plant protection boards.

Bowman v. Monsanto (U.S. Supreme Court)

Jeff played an instrumental role in an influential saved seed case that in 2013 resulted in a unanimous ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court for Monsanto. Jeff helped develop the core legal strategy for the case and led the company through six years of appeals. The decision had far-reaching effects for other companies that produce self-replicating technologies such as vaccines and cell lines.

Publications

"Is ‘Expert’ Status Always Advantageous?";
Ag Professional, August 2006

"Acetolactate Synthase-Inhibiting Herbicides on Imidazolinone-Tolerant Rice";
Weed Science, Vol. 49, No. 5, pp. 652-657,

"Use of Imazethapyr in Water-Seeded Imidazolinone-Tolerant Rice (Oryza sativa)";
Weed Technology, Vol. 15, No. 1, pp. 103-106

"Flood Depth, Application Timing, and Imazethapyr Activity in Imidazolinone-Tolerant Rice (Oryza sativa)";
Weed Technology, Vol. 15, No. 2, pp. 315-319

"Experimental Herbicides for Weed Control in Rice";
Southern Weed Science Society Proceedings, Vol. 52, pp. 16-17,