Klein Thomas Lee & Fresard announced today that veteran automotive consumer class action partners Stephen D’Aunoy, Thomas Azar, Scott Morgan, and senior counsel Kathy Wisniewski are departing Thompson Coburn LLP to open KTLF’s new St. Louis office. The group has decades of experience handling automotive consumer class actions, successfully defending automakers in venues throughout the country. Led by partner Stephen D’Aunoy, the ex-Thompson Coburn lawyers will join KTLF’s burgeoning Class Actions and MDL Practice Group. D’Aunoy, who was co-chair of the class action practice group at Thompson Coburn, will assume the same role at KTLF.
KTLF Partner Fred Fresard, who has obtained defense verdicts in three certified class actions in the last 18 months, said the former Thompson Coburn lawyers are a perfect fit for the firm’s rapidly growing class action practice: “In the world of automotive consumer class actions, few lawyers have as much experience as the team moving to KTLF. We have been privileged to work with them defending one of our largest automotive clients, and they are superb class action attorneys. Not only are they great lawyers, but they’re wonderful people who fit perfectly into our supportive and collegial culture.” Fresard added that the firm’s automotive clients are seeing increasing class action filings year over year, and need firms who can handle all aspects of a high stakes class action. “Steve and his team round out our very robust class action trial and appellate practice. They give our clients topnotch resources to successfully oppose class certification and, if necessary, to try the case.”
For decades, D’Aunoy and Wisniewski have devoted their careers almost exclusively to defending consumer class actions, primarily for clients in the automotive industry. During that time, they have developed and implemented successful defense strategies for hundreds of class actions throughout the country. Azar has been working on class actions for nearly twenty years, representing companies in a diverse range of industries. For the past seven years, he has focused almost exclusively on the defense of automotive consumer class actions. Morgan, who has a background in product liability and mass tort litigation, has spent nearly ten years of his career defending automotive consumer class actions.
“We have been fortunate to work with Fred and his team on many class actions,” D’Aunoy said. “KTLF has a great group of client-focused lawyers, and has earned a reputation as one of the most respected litigation firms serving the automotive industry. The people and culture are a great fit for our team. We are looking forward to working with them to continue to provide excellent client service.”
Klein Thomas Lee & Fresard has offices in Phoenix, Los Angeles, Detroit, Richmond and now St. Louis. The firm represents some of the world’s largest corporations in high exposure product liability, class action and MDL litigation in courts throughout the country.