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MANUFACTURING

The manufacturing sector has long been the engine of America’s economy. Today, efficient processes, technological advances and true cooperation among industry participants are business imperatives as companies strive to remain competitive on a global playing field. In the face of a challenge, be it economic or environmental, or when an opportunity calls for swift response, Thompson Coburn provides an integrated approach designed to meet manufacturers’ unique business needs.

We work with our manufacturing clients to provide solutions to help them be more efficient and more competitive. We work with public and privately held companies to identify appropriate acquisition opportunities and to strategically assess potential divestiture of non-core operations.

Our attorneys advise clients on competition issues and help them implement antitrust compliance programs. In addition, we assist clients with distribution issues and advise them with respect to advertising marketing and the use of sweepstakes and contest. We can devise appropriate tax strategies designed to minimize a company’s overall tax rate. We also help clients negotiate Customs and Border Protection and U.S. State Department regulations to facilitate efficient supply-chain and distribution channels.

Recognizing that proprietary processes and products are the core of every manufacturing business, we help companies protect their intellectual property. We also work to support our manufacturing clients' efforts to build efficiencies through the acquisition and deployment of technology, and we assist with procurement of all other goods and services. In addition, we work with our clients to maximize their investment in their employees, including developing competitive benefit plans, implementing comprehensive immigration strategies for the employment of key international personnel, and working with management on labor relations.

Case Studies

Securing global trademark protections for PowerBar

Silencing product liability claims against a siren manufacturer

Our client Yamaha Motors was involved in a significant products liability suit with nearly $400 million at stake. The suit stemmed from the death of a man while using Yamaha personal watercraft on the Colorado River. Because the man owned an annuities brokerage firm, nearly 20 expert witnesses were called to try to calculate his future earnings. The first trial resulted in a hung jury.  

Thompson Coburn represented Kawasaki Heavy industries and its subsidiaries in major patent litigation against a Bombardier Recreational Products. Bombardier first filed suit against our client in the Middle District of Florida on several patents and demanded a substantial royalty payment. We successfully petitioned the USPTO to re-examine all of the patents in suit from the Florida litigation, resulting in a Court Order staying that litigation. Simultaneously, Kawasaki filed suit against Bombardier in the Eastern District of Texas on several Kawasaki patents, thus shifting the advantage to Kawasaki. The parties settled on terms favorable to our Kawasaki. This was a complex case, with four lawsuits filed in four jurisdictions.

Our client Kawasaki Motors Corp., USA was involved in a class action lawsuit filed in Johnson County, Texas, a nationally known class action venue. The presiding judge in the case had ruled on nearly every class action filed in that venue in the preceding 10 years and had certified every single one. Discovery was very broad and lasted for almost two years. During a two-week certification hearing, both sides presented expert testimony, including legal experts, economists and engineers. Our work during the certification was so compelling that the plaintiff’s counsel withdrew the action before the closing arguments in the hearing.

Our attorneys served as counsel to Zoltek Companies, Inc. in connection with $150 million secondary offering of common stock through underwriters led by Merrill Lynch & Co.

The firm served as counsel to the owners of Northstar Battery LLC in connection with sale of Northstar Battery to Altor.

TCLE

OSHA: Increased Penalties, Increased Enforcement, Areas of Emphasis

Layoffs: Union, Plant Closing and Discrimination Considerations

Better Together? Competition, Price Gouging and Other Antitrust Issues Raised by the COVID-19 Pandemic

Overtime Law 2016 – Expanded New Rule: What It Means for You

Government Contracts Update – Stay Informed

Publications

Maine’s PFAS product reporting deadline is quickly approaching: Are you ready?

Three red flags for sellers in M&A transactions

EEOC issues new guidance on COVID-19 vaccinations in the workplace

Missouri legislature passes new protections for businesses from COVID-19 suits

New administration, new priorities: Preparing for the Biden-Harris Administration’s key environmental focus areas

EPA Final Rule may keep projects at existing major sources from triggering stringent pre-construction permitting requirements

OSHA issues new guidance on face coverings in light of COVID-19

From emergency medical products to chicken nuggets: What manufacturers and distributors need to know during COVID-19

Federal agencies announce expedited antitrust procedures for COVID-19 public health efforts

‘Dark Air': Why industries should prepare for regulation of PFAS air emissions

The sky’s the limit as the EPA releases a flurry of 2019 air permitting guidance and proposals

What the President’s executive order means for transactions involving the Government of Venezuela

EPA formalizes approach to avoid federal and state duplication of inspections and enforcement

Out with the old, in with the NAPSC: FTC announces changes to HSR Revenue Reporting

What U.S. businesses need to know about new restrictions on Huawei and the ICT supply chain

Could your company’s freebie for furloughed workers be an ethics problem for them?

A top hat plan checklist for employers

NAFTA, tariffs and trade wars: Are you ready to do battle in Missouri?

EPA announces ‘adjacent’ under Clean Air Act now limited to physical proximity

Participate in standard-setting bodies? The enforceability of your patents could be affected

Seven steps to avoid the new waves of Chinese tariffs on industrial goods

In California, when is a ‘worker’ considered an ‘employee’?

IFR for steel and aluminum exclusions

PTAB offers clarification on inter partes review and state sovereign immunity

3 compliance obligations you may not know you have

5 points to remember before relying on the EPA’s new NSR guidance on projected future emissions

The hidden exposure of tenant estoppels and SNDAs

What to do when the government comes calling: A checklist for handling facility inspections

USPTO launches new proof of use audit program

Environmental deregulation under President Trump: Business as usual?

The shifting standard for IPR estoppel: Where are we now?

5 tips for environmental due diligence in business transactions

Missouri to join Right to Work ranks: Is the fight over or just warming up?

New circuit split raises questions about ‘permit shield’ defense in Clean Water Act cases

D.C. appellate court strikes another nail in the coffin for the Frye test

EPA reveals first 10 chemicals to be reviewed under a more robust toxic substances act

In new litigation, Amazon takes a stronger stance on counterfeit products

Industry custom evidence held admissible in CA product liability case based on defective design

California expands pay equity, limits pay stub requirements

Nevada case a reminder to foreign entities: Protect your due process rights when served

What U.S. companies need to know about their IP rights post-Brexit

U.K. now requires supply chain transparency on human trafficking risks

Key considerations for representation and warranty insurance

Doing business in California or the UK? You may be required to be a watchdog for human trafficking

Technology companies: Are your employment policies due for a reboot?

Fashion industry awash in copyright lawsuits: What you can do

U.S. Department of Labor issues final rule updating overtime regulations

New OSHA reporting and anti-retaliation rules

Micro UAS Committee charts bold new course for FAA treatment of smaller unmanned aircraft

Shippers, are you ready for SOLAS’ verified container weight mandate?

Preemption prevails in watercraft case under Federal Boat Safety Act

Missouri municipal entities must follow statutorily-required steps before executing settlement agreements

Government contractors must address domestic trafficking

Illinois appellate court strengthens sole proximate cause defense in asbestos cases

USPTO publishes new (and largely improved) guidance for subject matter eligibility

Supreme Court overturns EPA’s 'Tailoring Rule,' upholds GHG BACT for 'anyway' sources

Sale/leaseback transactions moving full steam ahead

Acceptable specimens are key to strong trademark protection

International trade compliance: 6 basic products questions a company should answer

Blog Posts

Yet another Target settlement highlights data breach costs

Did U.S. executive order signal trouble for EU citizen privacy rights?

Cybersecurity liability: Delaware has good news for directors

New Prop 65 warning rules impose additional burdens on California businesses

The serious security vulnerabilities of mobile devices

Don’t doubt the data breach: Massive Yahoo hack reminds us it’s not if, but when

NIST and FAIR develop tool to merge cybersecurity risk standards

Can 3D printing technology be stolen by sound recorders?

What you need to know about the new EU-U.S. data transfer pact

Is San Francisco’s sugar-sweetened beverage rule watering down First Amendment rights?

News

Carl Pesce on Participation Rates in 3M Settlements

World Trademark Review names Tom Polcyn to WTR 1000 list

Jennifer Post talks to Business Insider about startup considerations before going public

Corporate and securities partner Susan Fisher joins Thompson Coburn in Dallas

St. Louis Boys & Girls Club announces plans for youth golf facility at former Superfund site

Gain Executive Insights on trade developments with Thompson Coburn, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Barry Klinckhardt, Susan Myers among 2018 Corporate Counsel Award winners

New Jersey jury awards $11 million to Thompson Coburn client in pet invention dispute

Stitching together opportunities for refugees in the U.S.

De Smet High School names Nick Lamb to its Hall of Fame

Another win for Federal Signal as federal judge orders plaintiffs’ counsel to pay $127K in sanctions

Thompson Coburn congratulates Bob Chapman of Barry-Wehmiller on best CEO honor

Ryan Russell Kemper named to St. Louis Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 list

A stitch in time: Thompson Coburn secures trademark protection for iconic Cherry Dress

Two Thompson Coburn attorneys tapped for St. Louis Magazine’s 2016 ‘Power List’

Congratulations to our 2017 ‘Lawyers of the Year’

Sean McGowan, Tyler Black publish series on drone technology for global security publication

Updated trade compliance materials now available

Tim Sullivan, Jayna Rust to lead ‘Lunch and Learn’ for federal contractors at Eastern Foundry

Thompson Coburn earns corporate counsel recommendations five years running in national report

Los Angeles litigator, business advisor Rich Reinis joins Thompson Coburn

Jury throws out hearing loss claims against Federal Signal in Philadelphia

Thompson Coburn earns eight national top-tier rankings in U.S. News ‘Best Law Firms’ survey

Chemical Safety Board investigator shares insights from two high-profile environmental incidents

27 Thompson Coburn attorneys recognized in 2014 Chambers USA

UMSL Research & Innovation Week to feature Tom Schlafly presentation

Steve Ritchey publishes article on patent basics for American Ceramic Society

St. Louis CLE will explore intellectual property enforcement in China

Two partners named ‘2014 BTI Client Service All-Stars’

Ryan Kemper, Thompson Coburn environmental practice featured in St. Louis Lawyer

Cliff Godiner, Hope Abramov to dissect a modern labor dispute at SHRM annual conference

Thompson Coburn wins union election, decertifies longtime union facility

Eric E. Boyd joins Thompson Coburn's Environmental Group

Thompson Coburn secures latest defense win for Federal Signal in product liability trial over sirens

Chicago judge tosses nationwide class action against Kawasaki

Thompson Coburn leads Federal Signal’s $110 million sale of FSTech to 3M

David Coffman joins Thompson Coburn as a partner

Steve Garlock quoted in front-page Wall Street Journal story on FURminator’s patent successes

Partner
St. Louis

A partner in the Labor and Employment practice area, Hope's extensive labor and employment practice is bolstered by her experiences as an in-house attorney for more than ...

A partner in the Labor and Employment practice area, Hope's extensive labor...

Hope Abramov
Partner
New York

John draws on his more than 30 years of litigation experience to represent a wide variety of clients in federal and state trial and appellate courts.

John draws on his more than 30 years of litigation experience to represent ...

John Amato
Senior Counsel
St. Louis

Gordon is a highly experienced trial attorney who has achieved significant courtroom wins for clients in cases involving commercial disputes, white collar criminal defens...

Gordon is a highly experienced trial attorney who has achieved significant ...

Gordon Ankney
Partner
Chicago

Christina Berish is a deeply valued resource to clients as they interpret and enforce agreements.

Christina Berish is a deeply valued resource to clients as they interpret a...

Christina Berish
Partner
St. Louis

Matt is vice chair of the Intellectual Property Practice Group.

Matt is vice chair of the Intellectual Property Practice Group.

Matt Braunel
Senior Counsel
St. Louis

Ed serves as a key tax advisor to companies embarking on any type of corporate restructuring, from acquisitions and dispositions to spinoffs and management changes.

Ed serves as a key tax advisor to companies embarking on any type of corpor...

Ed Buchholz
Partner
St. Louis |
Chicago

Ed has substantial experience in a wide range of complex lawsuits, most of which involve multi-party environmental litigation.

Ed has substantial experience in a wide range of complex lawsuits, most of ...

Ed Cohen
Partner
St. Louis

Cathy focuses her practice on employee benefits, taxation and closely-held businesses.

Cathy focuses her practice on employee benefits, taxation and closely-held ...

Cathy Conrad
Partner
St. Louis

Dan Cox is a litigator handling sophisticated business, tort, product liability, intellectual property, and class action defense cases.

Dan Cox is a litigator handling sophisticated business, tort, product liabi...

Dan Cox
Partner
Chicago

With over 30 years of experience, Walter serves a diverse group of clients in the acquisition, development and sale of commercial, industrial and residential properties f...

With over 30 years of experience, Walter serves a diverse group of clients ...

Walter Cupkovic
Partner
St. Louis

Matt serves as co-chair of our insurance practice group, guiding policyholders, insurers and insurance professionals on everything from policy placement through the litig...

Matt serves as co-chair of our insurance practice group, guiding policyhold...

Matt Darrough
Partner
St. Louis

Jim is an experienced real estate strategist and negotiator who counsels companies on a broad range of real estate matters, including acquisitions, dispositions, develo...

Jim is an experienced real estate strategist and negotiator who counsels ...

Jim Dillon
Partner
Dallas

Susan is a versatile corporate attorney who represents public and private companies, portfolio companies, private equity funds, and individual and institutional investors...

Susan is a versatile corporate attorney who represents public and private c...

Susan Fisher
Senior Counsel
St. Louis

Dean has extensive first chair trial experience, limiting his practice to intellectual property and commercial litigation.

Dean has extensive first chair trial experience, limiting his practice to i...

Dean Franklin
Partner
St. Louis

John represents domestic and international clients in complex litigation and multi-district litigation in some of the most challenging state and federal venues in the cou...

John represents domestic and international clients in complex litigation an...

John Galvin
Partner
St. Louis

Clients turn to Suzanne Galvin for results in complex high-profile litigation, particularly in the areas of pharmaceutical, medical device, and environmental exposure cla...

Clients turn to Suzanne Galvin for results in complex high-profile litigati...

Suzanne Galvin
Partner
Chicago

Matt draws on his wide-ranging corporate law background to guide entrepreneurs toward growth and success at each stage of their business.

Matt draws on his wide-ranging corporate law background to guide entreprene...

Matt Hafter
Partner
St. Louis

Ron Haglof's practice with the firm includes substantial experience in privately negotiated acquisitions and dispositions of businesses, including transactions requiring ...

Ron Haglof's practice with the firm includes substantial experience in priv...

Ron Haglof
Partner
St. Louis

Ed is a veteran litigator and head of the Firm's Antitrust Practice Group.

Ed is a veteran litigator and head of the Firm's Antitrust Practice Group.

Ed Harvey
Partner
St. Louis

Matt’s practice is focused on the preparation and prosecution of patent applications in a variety of mechanical and electrical arts.

Matt’s practice is focused on the preparation and prosecution of patent app...

Matt Himich
Senior Counsel
Washington, D.C.

Benjamin is a corporate advisor and business strategist for a wide variety of privately-held businesses, manufacturers, financial institutions, and nonprofits.

Benjamin is a corporate advisor and business strategist for a wide variety ...

Benjamin Hulsey
Partner
St. Louis

David strategically advises clients in a variety of intellectual property disputes including patent prosecution, IP litigation, brand protection, counterfeiting, Post-Gra...

David strategically advises clients in a variety of intellectual property d...

David Jinkins
Senior Counsel
St. Louis

For more than 30 years, Lori has been helping clients solve some of the most challenging employee benefit problems.

For more than 30 years, Lori has been helping clients solve some of the mos...

Lori Jones
Partner
Chicago

David is Co-Chair of the Firm's national Corporate and Securities Practice Group.

David is Co-Chair of the Firm's national Corporate and Securities Practice ...

David Kaufman
Partner
St. Louis

Ryan has a broad and diverse practice serving clients navigating sophisticated matters related to air, water, land, energy, agriculture, emergency response and climate is...

Ryan has a broad and diverse practice serving clients navigating sophistica...

Ryan Russell Kemper
Partner
St. Louis

Michele is Co-Chair of the Firm's Corporate and Securities Practice Group and serves on the Firm's Management Committee.

Michele is Co-Chair of the Firm's Corporate and Securities Practice Group a...

Michele Kloeppel
Partner
St. Louis

Nick is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers.

Nick is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers.

Nick Lamb
Partner
Chicago

Litigation can be a chess match or a street fight: Rob is comfortable with either approach.

Litigation can be a chess match or a street fight: Rob is comfortable with ...

Rob Lang
Partner
St. Louis

Tom is Co-Chair of Thompson Coburn LLP's Corporate Department.

Tom is Co-Chair of Thompson Coburn LLP's Corporate Department.

Tom Litz
Partner
St. Louis

Janette has over 30 years of experience practicing in all areas of state and local taxation, including representing clients before state and local taxing authorities in c...

Janette has over 30 years of experience practicing in all areas of state an...

Janette Lohman
Partner
St. Louis

Greg represents clients in mergers and acquisitions and sophisticated securities offerings, and offers advice on the wide range of regulatory and compliance issues affect...

Greg represents clients in mergers and acquisitions and sophisticated secur...

Greg Mennerick
Senior Counsel
St. Louis

Tom is the former Chair of Thompson Coburn, where for 20 years he led the Firm through a period of growth and nationwide expansion.

Tom is the former Chair of Thompson Coburn, where for 20 years he led the F...

Tom Minogue
Partner
St. Louis

Manoo serves as a strategist for high-stakes litigation, tapping his well-honed research and writing skills to craft motions and briefs that help clients navigate thorny ...

Manoo serves as a strategist for high-stakes litigation, tapping his well-h...

Manoo Mofidi
Partner
New York

Shoko helps companies protect their valuable brands in markets around the world through strategic trademark counseling and enforcement.

Shoko helps companies protect their valuable brands in markets around the w...

Shoko Naruo
Partner
St. Louis

Mike focuses his practice on intellectual property litigation, including patent, media, advertising, copyright, trade secret, privacy and data breach actions.

Mike focuses his practice on intellectual property litigation, including pa...

Mike Nepple
Partner
New York

Consistently recognized for his dynamic, passionate, and resolute approach, Zachary delivers practical, tactical, and experienced advice to a diverse clientele that inclu...

Consistently recognized for his dynamic, passionate, and resolute approach,...

Zachary Newman
Partner
St. Louis

Alan represents clients in all aspects of intellectual property litigation, with a strong emphasis on patent litigation at both the trial and appellate court levels, and ...

Alan represents clients in all aspects of intellectual property litigation,...

Alan Norman
Partner
St. Louis

Carl has represented corporations in high-stakes litigation on a regional and national basis for more than 30 years.

Carl has represented corporations in high-stakes litigation on a regional a...

Carl Pesce
Partner
St. Louis

Tom provides strategic intellectual property counseling to some of the world's largest consumer products companies and service providers, with a focus on IP portfolio man...

Tom provides strategic intellectual property counseling to some of the worl...

Tom Polcyn
Partner
Southern Illinois

Kurt is experienced in the defense of personal injury and property damage litigation including FELA, trucking, product liability, class action and mass tort litigation.

Kurt is experienced in the defense of personal injury and property damage l...

Kurt Reitz
Partner
St. Louis

Steve advises clients on domestic and international patent applications and provides comprehensive counsel on licensing and technology transfer.

Steve advises clients on domestic and international patent applications and...

Steve Ritchey
Partner
St. Louis

Carl is a trial lawyer who defends complex, high-profile cases.

Carl is a trial lawyer who defends complex, high-profile cases.

Carl Rowley
Partner
Washington, D.C.

Robert counsels clients in all aspects of international transactions with a focus on the trade and shipment of goods.

Robert counsels clients in all aspects of international transactions with a...

Robert Shapiro
Partner
St. Louis

Paul is a highly effective litigator and regulatory compliance attorney who has resolved environmental and real estate/construction disputes in state and federal courts a...

Paul is a highly effective litigator and regulatory compliance attorney who...

Paul Sonderegger
Partner
St. Louis

Peter is an environmental attorney who helps companies respond to major environmental incidents, navigate regulatory actions and successfully resolve civil and criminal l...

Peter is an environmental attorney who helps companies respond to major env...

Peter Stark Strassner
Senior Counsel
St. Louis

Dave represents railroads and major manufacturers in environmental and occupational exposure litigation throughout the Midwest and across the country.

Dave represents railroads and major manufacturers in environmental and occu...

Dave Stratmann
Partner
Southern Illinois

Erick is a litigation partner in the Firm's Southern Illinois office.

Erick is a litigation partner in the Firm's Southern Illinois office.

Erick VanDorn
Partner
Los Angeles |
New York

John serves as a one-stop resource for employment counseling and litigation for companies in California and across the country.

John serves as a one-stop resource for employment counseling and litigation...

John Viola
Partner
St. Louis

Jennifer is a partner in the Firm's Intellectual Property and Media Law practice groups.

Jennifer is a partner in the Firm's Intellectual Property and Media Law pra...

Jennifer Visintine
Partner
St. Louis

Dudley is an Assistant General Counsel for the firm.

Dudley is an Assistant General Counsel for the firm.

Dudley Von Holt
Partner
Dallas

Nicole is a highly experienced trial lawyer representing clients in matters involving antitrust, advertising, business divorces and disputes, fraud investigations and lit...

Nicole is a highly experienced trial lawyer representing clients in matters...

Nicole Williams
Partner
Dallas

Dawn defends major product manufacturers and chemical distributors in products liability and mass tort litigation.

Dawn defends major product manufacturers and chemical distributors in produ...

Dawn Wright
Partner
St. Louis

Roman is the former chair of Thompson Coburn.

Roman is the former chair of Thompson Coburn.

Roman Wuller