Barnes & Thornburg Welcomes New Attorneys and Legal Professionals

Barnes & Thornburg has added corporate, general counsel, government and public finance, legal operations, intellectual property, litigation, and real estate attorneys and legal professionals to its Columbus, Dallas, Delaware, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, South Bend, and Washington, D.C., offices.

An associate in the Dallas office, Carlos E. Alferez collaborates closely with clients, including REITs, lenders, and investment firms, guiding them through the challenges of real estate endeavors, commercial lending and corporate/business issues. Drawing on his prior experience in real estate and foreclosures, he offers valuable insights and innovative solutions that combine legal acumen with business acuity. Alferez earned his J.D. from Baylor Law School in 2019 and his B.A. from the University of Texas at Arlington in 2013.

As senior manager of unclaimed property in the Delaware office Joseph DiGregorio has experience helping clients with complex issues surrounding unclaimed property, risk assessment, firm audit examinations, and other audit matters. He also has experience leading firm audit engagements and advising management on implementing new processes, policies and system changes. DiGregorio earned his M.S. in accounting in 2013 and his B.A. in accounting in 2012 from the University of Delaware.

Cody Dolan, a paralegal in the Los Angeles office, is well-versed in music rights administration including copyright registrations, music publishing, and managing various forms of music agreements, including master use licenses, synchronization licenses, composer agreements and catalog representation agreements. Dolan earned their M.A. in music industry administration from California State University Northridge in 2021 and their B.A. in criminal justice from San Francisco State University in 2017.

An associate in the Dallas office, Rachel Ellis focuses her practice on product liability, breach of warranty, class action, and complex litigation defense on behalf of various manufacturers and distributors in state and federal court. Ellis earned her J.D. from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles in 2020 and her B.A. in public policy and her B.S.F.A. in economics from Southern Methodist University in 2010.

Dennis M. Fitzpatrick, of counsel in the Washington, D.C., office, is a seasoned litigator and national security lawyer who has tried over 75 federal and state jury trials and conducted hundreds of hearings on complex matters. Over a 20-year government career, Fitzpatrick investigated and prosecuted complex criminal cases including counterterrorism, espionage, Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) matters, export controls and sanctions evasion, racketeering (RICO), money laundering, and many other criminal matters. He earned his J.D. from the University of Maine School of Law in 1999, his M.A. from Catholic University of America in 1994 and his B.A. from George Mason University in 1990.

An associate in the South Bend office, Alexander T. Gordon combines his unique entrepreneurial, sales, and international sourcing experience with his legal knowledge to advise clients on corporate and transactional matters. Gordon earned his J.D. from Loyola University Chicago in 2023 and his B.B.A. in business economics from Grand Valley State University in 2009.

Dan Lewallen, Ph.D., of counsel in the Indianapolis office, prepares and prosecutes patent applications for pharma companies, material science companies, and universities. In doing so, he manages international patent portfolios for early-stage startups to publicly traded companies. Lewallen earned his J.D. from Loyola University Chicago School of Law in 2021, his Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the University of Cincinnati in 2010 and his B.A. in chemistry from DePauw University in 2006.

As managing clerk working with the firm’s Legal Operations team in the Chicago office, Michael G. Nega, Sr. supports attorneys and paralegals to ensure all court filings comply with the applicable jurisdictional rules and procedures. With knowledge of and a high proficiency in various court and research databases, Nega is a key resource for legal support and can provide clients with a wide range of court-related services. He earned his paralegal certificate from Roosevelt University in 1989.

May Padigos, an immigration specialist in the Chicago office, assists the Immigration and Global Mobility team and their clients with visa and other immigration application processes and procedures. She is passionate about helping others and providing a high service standard for companies navigating their immigration-related needs. Padigos earned her B.A. in political science and global studies from the University of Minnesota in 2020.

Bruce H. Ratain, of counsel in the Chicago office, is well-versed in various phases of IP litigation, including pre-suit analysis and strategy, invalidity analysis, fact and expert discovery, claim construction and summary judgment. In both patent and trademark disputes, his experience extends not only to issues of liability but also to damages. Ratain earned his J.D. from Northwestern Pritzker School of Law in 2016 and his B.A. in political science from Tufts University in 2011.

As of counsel in the Atlanta office, Patrick Scruggs advises his clients on the intricacies of the investigation and prosecution process. He has conducted numerous long-term investigations and first-chaired various trials at the federal level. Scruggs, who served as senior litigation counsel for the Department of Justice, is familiar with virtually all aspects of federal criminal practice, from pre-charging and grand jury proceedings to trial and post-trial proceedings. He earned his J.D. from Boston College Law School in 2009 and his B.S. in foreign service from Georgetown University in 2005.

A staff attorney in the Columbus office, David Tynan focuses on virtually all aspects of discovery in the single plaintiff, multiparty, and multidistrict litigation (MDL) contexts, including legal hold implementation, selecting and managing e-discovery service providers, and identifying and forensically collecting custodial and noncustodial data. Tynan earned his J.D. from Tulane University School of Law in 2010 and his B.S. in economics from The Ohio State University in 2005.

Chelsea Vonu, a conflicts attorney in the Salt Lake City office, advises the firm’s attorneys on complex conflict analysis, conflict resolution, and documentation of matter engagement. She also drafts waivers and reviews engagement letters. She earned her J.D. from the University of Colorado School of Law in 2015 and her B.A. from the University of Virginia in 2011.

A business transaction advisor in the Chicago office, Isabelle Vrancken advises on domestic and international corporate and commercial matters. Vrancken represents clients in transactions such as mergers and acquisitions and private equity. She also provides counsel on disputes and litigation matters. She earned her First State Examination in Law from Ludwig Maximilians University Munich and her Second State Examination in Law from the Higher Regional Court of Munich. 

With more than 800 attorneys and other legal professionals, Barnes & Thornburg is one of the largest law firms in the country. The firm serves clients worldwide from offices in Atlanta, Boston, California, Chicago, Delaware, Indiana, Michigan, Minneapolis, Nashville, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Philadelphia, Raleigh, Salt Lake City, South Florida, Texas, and Washington, D.C. For more information, visit us online at www.btlaw.com or on Twitter @BTLawNews.