For more information, contact:
Stephanie Mitchum Murphy, (816) 460-5243, or
Justin LaBarge (816) 235-7724

Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel selects Robert Lesley as member

KANSAS CITY (April 2, 2007) – Robert O. Lesley, a seasoned trial attorney who joined the Intellectual Property, Business Litigation and Tort Litigation practices of Lathrop & Gage L.C. earlier this year, was recently admitted to the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel (FDCC).

The FDCC is a professional association of attorneys who focus primarily upon civil litigation defense for corporations, insurance companies, and associations. Admission to the organization requires a thorough review of an attorney’s qualifications and accomplishments by an independent review committee, followed by an affirmative vote of the federation’s board of directors. Worldwide FDCC membership is slightly more than 1,400, with approximately 1,100 of those members residing in the United States.

Lesley has 23 years of trial practice experience and has tried nearly two dozen cases, including disputes involving copyright, trade secret, trademark, patent infringement, products liability and technology. Recognized as a Missouri/Kansas Super Lawyer, Lesley has litigated cases in nearly every state, representing some of the country’s best-known brands, including Black & Decker, Skillpath Seminars, and Vornado Air Circulation Systems.

“It’s an honor to be selected to join such a highly regarded professional association,” Lesley said. “The attorneys at Lathrop & Gage continually strive to both advance our profession and achieve outstanding results for our clients. The FDCC is an organization that shares this vision.”

About Lathrop & Gage:
A leading Midwest full-service law firm, Lathrop & Gage L.C. has 280 attorneys in 10 offices nationwide – from Denver, Colo. to New York, New York. In 2006, Chambers USA ranked Lathrop & Gage’s corporate, intellectual property, litigation, real estate and labor and employment practices among the best in the Midwest, noting the firm is populated with “excellent legal advisers with a strong commitment to customer service.” For more information, visit www.lathropgage.com or www.beentherewonthat.com.