KANSAS CITY, MO (August 4, 2025) — Lathrop GPM is pleased to announce the strategic expansion of its legal team with the addition this summer of six new legal professionals, including four attorneys and two paralegals, across multiple practice groups.
This influx of talent, with one paralegal joining in June and the remaining five professionals in July, underscores the firm’s commitment to client service and meeting the evolving needs of clients. These new hires will play a crucial role in strengthening firm service offerings and continuing our tradition of excellence.
“We’re thrilled to welcome these legal professionals to our firm. Their experience significantly deepens our bench strength, and expands our capacity to tackle complex legal challenges,” said Managing Partner Cameron Garrison. “Their addition is a direct reflection of our strategic commitment to expanding our capabilities, ensuring we continue to provide the highest level of service and skill our clients expect and deserve.”
The new legal professionals include:
- Counsel Patricia Lehtinen Silva rejoins the firm’s Litigation & Dispute Resolution practice group in Kansas City, where she focuses her practice on complex investigations and tort, environmental, securities and commercial matters. Prior to rejoining Lathrop GPM, Silva served as investigative counsel at the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Silva earned her J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center, and her B.A. in Political Science, with distinction, from Yale University.
- Beth Knodel, AWI-CH joins the firm as an Associate in the San Jose office, where she focuses her practice on labor and employment matters. Knodel advises companies on a wide range of employment law issues, especially as it relates to HR compliance. Knodel earned her J.D. from the University of San Francisco School of Law, magna cum laude, and her B.A. in American Studies from Cumberland University.
- Natalie Thomas joins the firm’s Litigation & Dispute Resolution practice group as an Associate in the Kansas City office, where she advises clients on litigation matters related to construction and real estate law. Prior to joining Lathrop GPM, Thomas managed general insurance defense litigation matters in the areas of employment law, health law, worker’s compensation, construction litigation, civil liability and medical malpractice. Thomas earned her J.D. from the University of St. Thomas School of Law, and both a B.S. in Biology and a B.A. in Spanish Studies from the University of Minnesota.
- Associate Joshua Yoo joins the firm’s Sacramento office, where he advises clients on legal matters in both trial and appellate courts. Prior to joining the firm, Yoo served as a Deputy District Attorney at the County of Santa Clara Office of the District Attorney. Yoo earned his J.D. from the University of California – Berkeley School of Law, his M.S. in Public Policy from New York University, and his B.S. in Biology, magna cum laude, from Illinois Wesleyan University.
- Paralegal Sara Bell joins the firm’s Intellectual Property practice group in Minneapolis, where she supports clients with their trademark and copyright matters. Bell holds a Paralegal Certificate from North Hennepin Community College and earned her B.B.A. in Management and Marketing from the University of North Dakota.
- Paralegal Kristen Bond join’s the firm’s Litigation & Dispute Resolution practice group in St. Louis, where she provides daily support to firm attorneys on trial preparation. Bond is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s of Law at the University of Arizona.
In addition to these six arrivals, Partner Catherine Goldhaber joined the firm’s Chicago office on July 21, and Alison Auxter, the firm’s new Deputy General Counsel, joined on July 14, bringing the total to eight new legal professionals in June and July.