Labor and employment attorney Laura Reathaford has taken over as partner-in-charge of Lathrop GPM’s Century City office.
Reathaford, who succeeds Nancy Sher Cohen in the role, said she will serve as the office’s “conduit” to firm management and the executive committee. She was formally offered the role in November and officially took the title on Jan. 1.
“I really enjoy practicing and this is such a great platform to practice law that I’ve really just enjoyed my practice for the last three years,” she said. “I can’t say it was something I aspired to, but when they asked me (to be partner-in-charge), I was flattered and proud that I can represent this firm and represent L.A.”
Reathaford joined the former Lathrop Gage firm about four months before it merged with Gray Plant Moody in 2020 to create Lathrop GPM. At that time, the Century City office had been operating for a couple of years, after Cohen had launched it.
Cameron Garrison, based in Kansas City, Missouri, is the managing partner of the overall law firm.
“Choosing Laura as our next Los Angeles partner-in-charge was a natural choice,” Sher Cohen said in a statement. “Laura is an incredible leader and part of the fabric of our culture in the L.A. office. She exemplifies what it means to be a leader at Lathrop GPM and her colleagues and clients alike admire that about her.”
Reathaford said one of her primary tasks will be continued growth of the location.
“I think one of the goals of even opening an L.A. office was to grow it. Nancy has done a great job of that,” she said. “Of course, with Covid, that wasn’t easy. I think she’s hired almost everyone that’s in the office today, so I hope to carry that forward.”
Lathrop’s office here will continue to focus on employment, IP and franchises, as well as insurance recovery and environmental tort. With that in mind, Reathaford said she plans to hire new associates in groups.
“If we can attract groups, it will make it easier to grow. Especially with a lot more remote (work) models, it’s hard for one or two people to integrate, but if we can get three to five people, I think that makes integration easier,” she said.
