(January 23, 2025) — Lathrop GPM is pleased to announce that four accomplished attorneys have joined or rejoined the firm across multiple offices and practice groups. Elizabeth Hatting and Kiesha Mayes rejoin the firm as counsel, along with attorneys Joseph W. Mark and Michael Gonzales. The expansion comes at the heels of recent growth, with six additional hires having joined the firm in the same number of weeks.

Hatting and Gonzales joined the firm’s Tort, Insurance & Environmental practice group, Mark joined the Litigation & Dispute Resolution practice group and Mayes joined the Labor & Employment practice group.

Hatting was an associate at the firm until 2021 and most recently served as a Assistant U.S. Attorney with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri. She represents clients in litigated and non-litigated business-to-business disputes such as insurance disputes, professional liability matters, regulatory matters, breach of contract matters, business torts and loan enforcement actions.

Mark is a skilled litigator with a proven track record in resolving complex business and real estate disputes. His practice is focused on representing businesses, business owners and investors, developers, landowners, brokers, landlords, property managers and homeowners in general corporate and commercial real estate litigation disputes.

Gonzales is a litigator who focuses his practice on representing corporate policyholders in complex coverage litigation involving a variety of insurance coverage products. He relies on his extensive insurance experience to provide strategic representation both pre-suit and throughout litigation. Prior to joining the firm, Michael worked as a litigation attorney and then corporate counsel for a privately held company and its enterprise affiliates. Michael’s corporate experience, coupled with his extensive litigation experience, enables him to better understand his client’s goals and representation needs.

Mayes was an associate at the firm until 2016 and most recently served as Chief Employment Counsel at Optum (a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group).  She has rejoined the firm’s Labor, Employment and Higher Education group.  Mayes focuses her practice on employment counseling, compliance, investigations, and litigation. With extensive experience in domestic and international employment law, Mayes has a proven track record of success in complex matters and helping businesses strategically navigate an ever-evolving legal landscape.