ATLANTA–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Thompson
Hine LLP is pleased to announce that Marla
Butler has joined the firm’s Atlanta office as a partner in its Business
Litigation practice group. Butler moves to Thompson Hine from Robins
Kaplan LLP.
“Marla is an ideal match for Thompson Hine on several levels. She
focuses on predictability and efficiency in delivering legal services,
which aligns perfectly with our core principles and values,” said Tim
McDonald, partner-in-charge of the firm’s Atlanta office. “Her
considerable depth of experience in technology and IP will be of
tremendous benefit to our clients. Additionally, we share several of the
same clients and relationships, so there is great synergy with her
practice and the firm.”
For more than 20 years, Butler has litigated and led high-stakes
commercial litigations, arbitrations and trials. She conducts critical
early case evaluations and assessments to help clients in the
technology, medical, semiconductor, power, networking and other high
tech industries proactively take on commercial threats, monetize their
patent assets and defend against lawsuits that threaten their
businesses. Butler is recognized for building and leading diverse teams
of lawyers, scientists and economists to develop and implement
successful litigation and trial strategies. She draws upon her
understanding of complex technology concepts to help simplify them for
judges and juries. She is a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America,
an invitation-only trial lawyer honorary society composed of less than
0.5% of American lawyers. Fellows are selected based on effectiveness
and accomplishment in litigation, both at the trial and appellate
levels, and superior ethical reputation.
“Thompson Hine’s significant investment in innovation and its dedication
to providing clients with superior value, predictability and efficiency
convinced me that this is the right place for me,” said Butler of her
move to the firm. “I am a strong proponent of the importance of
budgeting, and it is rare to find a law firm that has truly embraced
this concept the way Thompson Hine has – not just budgeting for the sake
of budgeting, but doing it thoughtfully to add value for the client. I
also appreciate that the firm truly embraces diversity, which is evident
in its leadership ranks.”
Butler has been recognized by IAM 1000: The World’s Leading Patent
Practitioners as a “Recommended Individual for Litigation and
Licensing” in Minnesota and New York; named one of the “Top 250 Women in
IP” by Managing Intellectual Property; recognized by Law360 as a
“Minority Powerbroker”; and selected to the Minnesota Super Lawyers®
list (2018), the New York Super Lawyers list (2013–2017) and the New
York Super Lawyers list of “Top Women Attorneys in New York Metro”
(2015–2017).
Butler also frequently provides pro bono representation. In one of her
most significant recent matters, she worked with Lambda Legal to
represent an incarcerated transgender woman who was denied medically
necessary treatment for gender dysphoria, obtaining a ruling believed to
be the first to find that freeze-frame policies (blanket bans on
providing hormone treatment to transgender individuals who were not
receiving such treatment prior to incarceration) are unconstitutional.
Active in the community, Butler was a member of the Lambda Legal board
of directors from 2009 until 2017. She currently serves on the board of
Leadership Institute for Women of Color Attorneys and on Books for
Africa’s advisory board.
During her tenure at her prior firm, Butler helped build the firm’s New
York office and was active in a variety of leadership roles. She served
as Assistant Managing Partner of the New York office (2012–2015), a
member of the firm’s Strategic Planning Committee (2014–2017) and its
Executive Board (2009–2012), and she was chair of the Technology
Industry group (2014–2017) and the Diversity Committee (2008–2014).
About Thompson Hine LLP. Thompson Hine LLP, a full-service
business law firm with approximately 400 lawyers in 8 offices, was
ranked number 1 in the category “Most innovative North American law
firms: New working models” by The Financial Times. For 6 straight
years, Thompson Hine has distinguished itself in all areas of Service
Delivery Innovation in the BTI Brand Elite, where it has been
recognized as one of the top 4 firms for “Value for the Dollar” and
“Commitment to Help” and among the top 5 firms “making changes to
improve the client experience.” The firm’s commitment to innovation is
embodied in Thompson Hine SmartPaTH® – a smarter way to work
– predictable, efficient and aligned with client goals. For more
information, please visit ThompsonHine.com
and ThompsonHine.com/SmartPaTH.
Contacts
Sheila Turner
[email protected]
202.263.4132
