January 2, 2025 | 3 minute read

KANSAS CITY (Jan. 2, 2025) — Lathrop GPM LLP proudly announces that eleven attorneys have become partners at the firm, effective Jan. 1, 2025.

“We are thrilled to welcome these excellent attorneys into Lathrop GPM’s partnership,” said Cameron Garrison, Managing Partner of Lathrop GPM. “This deep and talented class of new partners, located coast-to-coast in a wide range of practice areas, embodies the geographic breadth and practice depth we offer our clients. Following our combination with Hopkins Carley last year, our team has only become stronger, and our services have expanded across a variety of practice areas.”

Eleven Lathrop GPM attorneys have been elevated to the new role of partner:

Beck is certified as a specialist in estate planning, trust and probate law by the California State Bar Board of Legal Specialization. Her practice focuses on trusts, charitable planning, gift and estate tax planning and post-death administration, including trust administration and probate.

  • Amy Erickson – Litigation & Dispute Resolution (Minneapolis)

Erickson is a civil litigator specializing in probate, trust, guardianship, conservatorship and fiduciary litigation. She is passionate about helping clients resolve disputes concerning the administration of trusts or estates, will and trust contests and guardianship and conservatorship matters. Erickson’s clients include beneficiaries of estates and trusts, individual and professional fiduciaries and other persons interested in estate, trusts, guardianship and conservatorship matters, including hospitals. Erickson also draws on her broad policy, political and campaign experience, advising nonprofit advocacy organizations in connection with political and lobbying activities and compliance with federal and state campaign finance laws and representing voting rights organizations in connection with election-related litigation.

Farley’s practice focuses on family wealth transfers, high-net-worth estate and gift tax planning, counseling Trustees and Executors through complex trust and estate administrations, preparation of estate and gift tax returns, IRS audits of estate and gift tax returns and business succession planning.

Gehlen focuses her practice on employment law and higher education. She advises and litigates on behalf of employers on a wide range of employment matters, including discrimination, non-compete issues, whistleblower and retaliation claims, leave and disability issues and employee-facing policies and procedures. Gehlen also advises and trains colleges and universities on various legal issues, including Title IX, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act, Clery and FERPA.

Manoukian represents employers across all industries in legal matters involving labor and employment law claims, including wage and hour violations, discrimination, retaliation, harassment, wrongful termination, accommodation and leaves of absence and compliance with local, state and federal laws. He also advises and counsels clients in all areas of employment law and represents companies in litigation, arbitration and mediation of cases involving breach of contract, non-compete claims, unfair competition and partnership/shareholder disputes. Manoukian has experience defending employers against class actions and cases brought under the Private Attorneys General Act.

Matthews is an accomplished attorney and trusted business advisor with experience in strategic intellectual property counseling, business transactions and marketing and advertising compliance. She advises clients in various industries, including consumer products, technology, manufacturing, food and beverage, travel, media and entertainment and agribusiness.

Morrison works with clients, individuals and corporate trustees to implement tax-efficient estate plans. Her experience includes drafting trusts, wills, real estate documents and other estate planning tools.

Ortiz is a trial-experienced litigator and counselor representing clients in trade secret, copyright, trademark and patent matters. Clients look to her for assistance with intellectual property issues arising from publishing creative works and developing a wide range of technologies.

Rodriguez brings over 20 years of experience to the firm’s Private Client Services practice group. He focuses on probate litigation, including contested guardianships and conservatorships, fiduciary representation and other will and trust litigation.

Spellberg is a registered patent attorney practicing in the area of biotechnology. His practice includes patent preparation and prosecution, global IP portfolio management, freedom-to-operate analyses, due diligence and opinion work.

Weinberg is an experienced litigator and adviser, having successfully represented clients in the technology, energy, entertainment and hospitality industries. His practice primarily involves patent, trademark, copyright and trade secret litigation.

In 2024, Hopkins Carley joined Lathrop GPM to solidify the firm’s presence in Northern California while simultaneously expanding the firm’s capabilities across multiple service areas, particularly Private Client Services, Real Estate, Construction Litigation and Employment & Labor. Lathrop GPM’s nearly 360 attorneys and other legal professionals practice in 13 offices nationwide, located from coast to coast. The firm is focused on helping businesses, organizations, and individuals grow and succeed, utilizing the legal insights of attorneys with deep industry experience in health care and life sciences, franchise and distribution, agribusiness, manufacturing, and higher education.

About Lathrop GPM LLP

Lathrop GPM is a full-service, Am Law 200 law firm with more than 360 attorneys and other legal professionals in 13 offices. Meeting the legal needs of businesses, organizations and high-net worth individuals, our attorneys provide a full spectrum of corporate legal services: corporate, tax and business transactions, labor, employment and franchise law, litigation, intellectual property, private client services, real estate, and trusts and estates. We help clients grow and succeed, anticipate trends, plan for challenges and bring their visions to life. Clients recognize Lathrop GPM for our commitment to client service, legal project management and innovative pricing capabilities. The firm is nationally recognized for our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, with a Mansfield Rule 5.0 Certification Plus status and Top Performer and Compass Award Winner recognitions by the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity. A Multilaw and Employment Law Alliance affiliate, we have the resources of more than 90 independent law firms in 100 countries worldwide. For more information, visit www.lathropgpm.com.