Thompson Hine LLP has elected seven new partners, effective January 1, 2026. The partners represent a range of practices, including Business Litigation, Construction, Corporate Transactions & Securities, International Trade, Product Liability Litigation, Tax and Transportation, and reflect the firm’s continued focus on high-impact client service across key industries and markets.
“Our new partners, drawn from offices across the country and a broad mix of practices, reflect our focus on national growth and delivering exceptional, business-focused outcomes for clients,” said Managing Partner Tony White. “They are talented lawyers and collaborative leaders who embody our innovative approach to service and will help drive the firm’s momentum in the years ahead. We are proud to welcome these attorneys to our partnership.”
The new partners are:
Kerem Bilge, a member of the International Trade and Transportation practices in Washington, D.C., advises clients on trade remedies and import compliance. He regularly represents U.S. and foreign clients in antidumping and countervailing duty investigations, administrative reviews, and related litigation before U.S. agencies and courts. He advises clients on U.S. import compliance and enforcement risk management, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection audits and investigations, penalty mitigation, and prior disclosures. He also counsels automotive OEMs on compliance with federal and state automotive safety regulations, including Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and TREAD reporting, as well as certification, homologation, importation and enforcement matters before the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. He also assists clients with transportation-related matters, including logistics and supply chain contracts. Bilge earned LL.M. degrees from Georgetown University Law Center (with a certificate in WTO and International Trade Studies) and an LL.B. from Koç University. He is a native Turkish speaker.
William E. Burnett, a member of the Construction practice in Atlanta, advises owners, developers, contractors, subcontractors and suppliers across all stages of industrial, energy, manufacturing, and other commercial projects nationwide. He supports clients with front-end contracting, contract administration, risk management, and claims resolution services. He prepares and negotiates sophisticated agreements including prime contracts, subcontracts, design agreements, EPC agreements, and joint venture agreements. Burnett also represents clients in mediation, arbitration, and litigation involving complex multi-party construction disputes. A former construction accounting professional with nearly a decade of industry experience before becoming an attorney, he earned his J.D. and B.B.A. from Georgia State University. He is recognized in Chambers USA for Construction Law in Georgia (2024–2025) and The Best Lawyers in America 2026 for Construction Law and Litigation – Construction. Burnett also serves as chair of the Atlanta Bar Association Construction Section and is an elected member-at-large of the Atlanta Bar Association board of directors.
Kyle Hutnick, a member of the Business Litigation practice in Cleveland, focuses on complex business disputes and commercial real estate litigation, including matters arising from transformative regional development projects. His practice covers real estate development and management controversies, zoning and land use, disputes involving representations and warranties insurance, financial services disputes, and other commercial and contract issues, with additional experience in appellate practice, IP disputes and civil rights cases. Hutnick earned his J.D. from Cleveland State University College of Law and his B.A. from John Carroll University. He is included in The Best Lawyers in America 2026 for Litigation – Real Estate.
Alexis J. Kim, a member of the Tax practice in Cleveland, advises businesses, nonprofits and individuals on transactional federal income tax matters, Ohio tax controversies, and exempt organization issues. Her work spans corporate and partnership tax, regulated investment company taxation and restructuring, Section 1202 qualified small business stock, New Markets Tax Credits, and renewable energy transactions involving the Section 48 and Section 48E investment tax credits, including the transfer of investment tax credits as authorized by the Inflation Reduction Act. Kim earned her LL.M. from NYU School of Law; her J.D., magna cum laude, from Cleveland State University College of Law; and her B.A., summa cum laude, from Baldwin-Wallace College. She was selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2026 for Tax Law.
Benjamin M. Russell, a member of the Corporate Transactions & Securities practice in New York, concentrates on capital markets and SEC matters, corporate governance, and general corporate and securities counseling. He advises issuers on public and private securities offerings and compliance with the Securities Act of 1933, Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and SEC/FINRA rules, as well as on Nasdaq and NYSE listing matters. Russell has extensive experience representing issuers and underwriters in offerings with aggregate proceeds totaling in the billions. He also assists clients with mergers, acquisitions, and other business combinations. He earned his J.D. from Emory University School of Law and his B.B.A. and B.A. from the University of Oklahoma.
Kim Sim Sandell, a member of the Product Liability Litigation practice in Los Angeles, counsels clients on complex business and commercial matters involving regulatory compliance issues and consumer protection defense. She focuses her practice on advising clients on compliance with state and federal regulations affecting consumer goods and consumer protection laws, including advertising laws, labeling requirements, claims substantiation, and consumer privacy. She has extensive experience in helping clients navigate California’s complex and evolving regulatory landscape, including California Proposition 65 compliance and defense. Sandell defends clients against consumer claims and government enforcement actions, regularly representing them in federal and state courts and before administrative bodies, including the National Advertising Division, California Air Resources Board, and California Department of Public Health. Sandell earned her J.D. from UCLA School of Law and her B.A., with honors, from the University of Southern California.
Michael Steele, a member of the Product Liability Litigation practice in Atlanta, represents clients in matters involving product liability and toxic tort claims as well as commercial disputes in state and federal courts throughout the country. He also counsels clients on risk mitigation issues, including issues relating to product warnings. Steele serves on the Atlanta Bar Association Litigation Section board of directors and was selected to the Super Lawyers Georgia Rising Stars list in 2024 and 2025. He earned his J.D. from Duke University School of Law and his B.S., with distinction, from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.