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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 and was 1 of 7 firms shortlisted for The American Lawyer’s inaugural Legal Services Innovation Award. The firm has been recognized by the National Law Journal as a Legal Technology Trailblazer and featured by Bloomberg for its innovative service delivery models, which drive accuracy and predictability. The firm’s commitment to innovation is embodied in Thompson Hine SmartPaTHTM – a smarter way to work – predictable, efficient and aligned with client goals. For more information, please visit ThompsonHine.com and ThompsonHine.com/SmartPaTH.

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Thompson Hine LLP is pleased to announce that&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thompsonhine.com/professionals/butler-marla" target="_self" rel="noopener">Marla Butler</a> has joined the firm’s Atlanta office as a partner in its <a href="https://www.thompsonhine.com/services/business-litigation" target="_self" rel="noopener">Business Litigation practice group</a>. Butler moves to Thompson Hine from Robins Kaplan LLP.

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“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.”

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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).

Renowned Trial Partner Marla Butler Joins Thompson Hine’s Atlanta Office

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