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Thompson Hine LLP, a full-service business law firm with approximately 400 lawyers in 11 offices, was ranked number 1 in the category “Most innovative North American law firms: New working models” by The Financial Times and was 1 of 7 firms shortlisted for The American Lawyer’s inaugural Legal Services Innovation Award. The firm has been recognized by the National Law Journal as a Legal Technology Trailblazer and featured by Bloomberg for its innovative service delivery models, which drive accuracy and predictability. The firm’s commitment to innovation is embodied in Thompson Hine SmartPaTHTM – a smarter way to work – predictable, efficient and aligned with client goals. For more information, please visit ThompsonHine.com and ThompsonHine.com/SmartPaTH.

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Thompson Hine announced today that three partners have been selected for the <a href="https://www.lawdragon.com/guides/2025-05-23-the-inaugural-lawdragon-500-leading-global-ip-lawyers">inaugural edition of Lawdragon’s 500 Leading Global IP Lawyers</a>, which highlights top attorneys across the U.S. for excellence in patent, trademark, trade secrets, and IP litigation work.

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<a href="https://www.thompsonhine.com/professionals/marla-r-butler/">Marla R. Butler</a>, a partner in the Atlanta office, represents clients in the medical, semiconductor, power, networking, and other high-tech industries in high-stakes commercial litigations, arbitrations, and trials. She helps clients proactively take on commercial threats, monetize their patent assets and/or defend against lawsuits that threaten their businesses. She conducts critical early case evaluations to help clients quickly assess risk, which helps them predict important outcomes and see a fuller range of strategic options.

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<a href="https://www.thompsonhine.com/professionals/christopher-k-larus/">Christopher K. Larus</a>, chair of the firm’s intellectual property &amp; technology litigation practice and leader of the firm’s Minneapolis office, tries complex patent, trade secret, copyright, trademark, and licensing cases. He represents both plaintiffs and defendants in courts throughout the country, and in both national and international arbitration. Larus also works with clients to protect and monetize intellectual property assets outside of the disputes context. He has extensive experience planning and implementing licensing campaigns involving a broad range of intellectual property assets and technologies.

<a href="https://www.thompsonhine.com/professionals/ash-d-patel/">Ash D. Patel</a>, a partner in the Atlanta office and leader of the firm’s Intellectual Property practice group focuses his practice on patent and trademark litigation, domestic and foreign patent and trademark prosecution, and the negotiation and preparation of intellectual property agreements, including licensing and strategic alliance agreements.

The Lawdragon selection process has been refined over 30 years of researching and reporting on the legal profession and creating guides of the most effective lawyers and legal professionals. Lawdragon’s editorial team selects honorees through submissions, journalistic research of the lawyers behind the biggest cases, and editorial vetting from a board of leading litigators.

Partner

Marla R. Butler

Christopher K. Larus

Ash D. Patel

Intellectual Property (IP) Prosecution, Transactions & Portfolio Management

Intellectual Property (IP) & Technology Litigation

Thompson Hine Partners Marla Butler, Christopher Larus and Ash Patel Named to Lawdragon’s Inaugural Global IP Lawyers List