Lathrop & Gage Opens Chicago Office, Plans ‘Aggressive Recruiting’

Lathrop & Gage has hired two lawyers formerly with Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal to staff a new office in Chicago, the firm’s second new office this year.

Lathrop is not limiting the Chicago office to two lawyers, however. “Additional aggressive recruiting plans are under way,” according to a press release announcing the new office. The firm also plans to move some lawyers to Chicago from its headquarters in Kansas City.

Former Sonnenschein partner Blaine Kimrey will lead the Chicago office. He is joined by former Sonnenschein associate Bryan Clark.

Kimrey, who started his career at Lathrop in Kansas City, will join the firm’s intellectual property practice. He has litigation experience in the areas of intellectual property, media, entertainment, insurance, banking, civil rights, telecommunications, internal investigations, and mass catastrophes and torts.

The Chicago office is the 11th location for Lathrop & Gage. It opened a California office in January by merging with a Los Angeles trial and intellectual property boutique.

Lathrop CEO Joel Voran said the Chicago office has been part of the firm’s strategic planning for some time. “Our vision is to expand into the nation's key business centers," he said in the press release.