Thompson Coburn Doubles Down on White Collar/ Litigation Growth With Addition of Thomas Rea, Second Former Federal Prosecutor to Join in 2024

In a move fueling the strategic growth of its national White Collar Defense and Business Litigation practice, Thompson Coburn LLP welcomes former Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri Thomas Rea as a partner in St. Louis. This quickly follows the firm’s Washington, D.C. office addition earlier in January of partner and former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama Kenyen Brown.

“The experience Tommy garnered in almost two decades as an AUSA is invaluable to the Thompson Coburn team as we continue to strategically grow the firm,” Thompson Coburn Chair Roman Wuller said. “His impressive trial experience and deep understanding of civil and criminal codes will add immediate value to our national White Collar Defense and Investigations group and our strong litigation bench.”

During his 17-year tenure as an Assistant U.S. Attorney, Rea first-chaired numerous trials, led investigations and served as the criminal division chief. In that role, he oversaw thousands of cases, including those related to white-collar crime, public corruption, terrorism, organized crime, firearms and narcotics, as well as a number of homicide and cold-case investigations. Rea also spent time in the civil division, handling federal litigation involving employment discrimination, immigration, personal injury and medical malpractice. 

“It is a pleasure to be joining such a well-respected firm as Thompson Coburn,” Rea said. “As I return to private practice, I look forward to collaborating with my colleagues across the country to provide client service of the highest quality.”

In addition to his legal practice, Rea is an adjunct professor at Saint Louis University School of Law and spent the past decade as an instructor at the National Advocacy Center, a training institution operated by the Department of Justice Office of Legal Education.