Five Attorneys Promoted to Partnership
(January 10, 2022) – Lathrop GPM is proud to announce that five of its attorneys have become partners at the firm, effective Jan. 1, 2022. The newly elected partners are Angela Grant, Emily Mawer, Elizabeth Duff Mendoza, Cynthia Teel and Justin Whitney.
Angela Grant, Ph.D. (Intellectual Property – Boston, Mass.): Dr. Grant has a Ph.D. in immunology and microbiology and focuses her practice on patent law in the biotechnology and life sciences space. Her practice includes global patent portfolio development and management, IP due diligence, and invalidity and non-infringement analyses. Grant's experience also includes district court litigation and post-grant proceedings before the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, including inter partes review. Grant joined the firm in 2020 and earned her J.D. from Suffolk University Law School, cum laude, in 2016.
Emily Mawer (Labor, Employment & Higher Education – Minneapolis, Minn.): Mawer focuses her practice on higher education, child safety and employment law. She advises colleges and universities on a variety of legal issues including Title IX, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act, Clery, FERPA, the Fair Housing Act, minors on campus and the ADA. Mawer also conducts sexual misconduct, harassment, and discrimination investigations. Through trainED, she regularly provides training and conducts compliance reviews and audits for companies and higher education institutions. Mawer joined the firm in 2017 and earned her J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School, magna cum laude, in 2014.
Elizabeth Duff Mendoza (Labor, Employment & Higher Education – Kansas City, Mo.): Mendoza advises employers regarding compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws throughout the country. She represents employers in administrative agency proceedings and in state and federal courts with respect to claims arising under non-discrimination laws, wage and hour laws, protected leave laws, and whistleblower protection laws. She also conducts workplace investigations and drafts and litigates employment-related contracts. Mendoza joined the firm and earned her J.D. from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law, cum laude, in 2014.
Cynthia Teel (Environmental & Tort – Denver, Colo.): Teel advises clients on environmental issues that arise in the litigation, transactional, and regulatory contexts. She has extensive knowledge of state and federal requirements, particularly as they relate to landfills/solid waste, hazardous substances, agriculture, and oil & gas. Teel joined the firm in 2011 and earned her J.D. from Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, cum laude, in 2010
Justin Whitney (Trusts, Estates & Legacy Planning – Overland Park, Kans.): Whitney focuses his practice on estate planning, probate and trust administration, trust and estate litigation, tax planning, and drafting of trusts, wills and corporate documents. He also assists high net worth individuals and closely held businesses with business succession planning and tax planning. Whitney joined the firm in 2016 and earned his J.D. from Washburn University School of Law, cum laude, in 2007.