Barnes & Thornburg Bolsters Corporate, Litigation and Employment Practices with Partner Additions Across the Firm

(April 24, 2025) – Building on its 2024 expansion, Barnes & Thornburg has recently welcomed five new partners in three offices across the firm, boosting the Corporate, Litigation, and Labor and Employment Practice Groups as part of its focused growth strategy.

Joining are corporate partners Keith Melman in Los Angeles and Mark Kromkowski in Chicago, securities and regulatory enforcement litigation partner Paul W. Kisslinger in Washington, D.C., and Atlanta-based labor and employment partners Tiffany Downs and Matthew D. Grabell. 

“Our continued expansion is a direct result of our commitment to attracting top-tier talent that enhances our capabilities and strengthens our national platform,” said Andrew J. Detherage, Firm Managing Partner. “This recent growth signals our commitment to aligning with our clients’ needs through sustainable expansion driven by high-value practices, strategic lateral hires and a broader geographic footprint.”

Driving National Reach with Sustained Organic Growth

Hitting a milestone of 800 attorneys across its 23 offices in 2024, the firm added 87 attorneys last year, enriching client services and capabilities across litigation, corporate, real estate, intellectual property, government services and finance, and labor and employment.  In just six years, Barnes & Thornburg has launched nine offices in key U.S. markets, extending its coast-to-coast capabilities and client base to include New York; Boston; Morristown, N.J.; Philadelphia; Nashville, Tennessee; Raleigh, North Carolina; Ann Arbor, Michigan; San Diego; and Salt Lake City.

“With nine new transactional partners in just the last six months, we continue to expand our corporate practice, particularly in areas such as M&A and private funds and asset management,” said Corporate Department Chair Jahan Sharifi.

“We’re excited to welcome Keith and Mark as part of this effort. With their backgrounds guiding organizations through high-value transactions, our clients will greatly benefit from their strategic counsel, innovative thinking, and ability to navigate complex legal and business challenges with clarity and confidence,” he added.

D. Randall Brown, who chairs the firm’s Litigation Department, noted: “Paul is an accomplished securities and regulatory enforcement litigator and exactly the kind of strategic partner our clients need as they face complex legal hurdles—from high-stakes governmental investigations to private actions and corporate investigations. In this period of rapid-fire change out of Washington, we remain committed to ensuring our clients receive best-in-class counsel and representation.”

Labor and Employment Department Chair Kenneth J. Yerkes commented on the continued growth of that market-leading practice, saying, “With labor and employment regulations constantly shifting, employers need clear, strategic guidance to stay ahead. This increasingly is evident with regard to employee benefit and executive compensation issues. Tiffany and Matt bring the experience and foresight our clients need to navigate this evolving landscape and achieve their business goals in the year ahead.”

About the Partners

Keith Melman, who most recently served as associate general counsel for Mars Science & Diagnostics, brings varied and sophisticated transaction experience, including representing clients in public and private debt and equity offerings, mergers, stock and asset acquisitions and dispositions, credit facilities, general corporate and commercial contracts, venture financing, and joint venture agreements. In addition to his transaction work, Melman has significant experience drafting critical agreements, including supply, licensing, and joint venture contracts. He regularly advises clients on securities law, including the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, federal and state securities laws, and other corporate matters.

Mark Kromkowski is a seasoned private funds and asset management attorney specializing in representing investment funds and portfolio companies across a wide range of private equity and corporate M&A transactions. He serves both private and public companies and provides comprehensive counsel to fund managers on all aspects of fund formation, administration, and compliance including Small Business Investment Companies (SBIC Funds) and Rural Business Investment Companies (RBIC Funds). He also advises financial institutions on matters related to private equity subscription lines of credit, along with net asset value and other hybrid credit facilities.

Paul W. Kisslinger joins as co-chair of Barnes & Thornburg’s Financial and Regulatory Litigation Group. Kisslinger brings decades of experience in the public and private sectors, including more than a dozen years of trying complex, high-profile cases for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). He guides clients through high-stakes regulatory enforcement actions, internal and governmental investigations, and securities and corporate governance matters. He also is a seasoned commercial litigator, having served as lead trial counsel in numerous federal and state jury and bench trials, appeals, and administrative hearings. Earlier in his career, he served as Assistant Chief Litigation Counsel for the SEC’s Enforcement Division.

Tiffany Downs advises employers on a wide range of employee benefits and executive compensation matters. Downs counsels clients on the design, implementation, and administration of health and welfare plans, retirement plans, and executive compensation programs. Her practice includes providing fiduciary and HIPAA training, guiding plan sponsors through compliance challenges, and developing strategies to mitigate litigation risk. When disputes arise, she defends clients in a wide range of benefits-related litigation under ERISA, HIPAA, COBRA, and the Mental Health Parity Act. With extensive experience in transactional matters, Downs supports employers through the due diligence process in mergers and acquisitions and helps navigate post-deal integration and compliance. She also advises on privacy compliance under evolving federal and state laws. Prior to private practice, Downs served with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration, bringing valuable regulatory insight to her work.

Matthew D. Grabell counsels employers on a wide range of employment and employee benefits matters, with an emphasis on the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). He has extensive experience defending employers throughout all stages of ERISA-related litigation, including cases involving breach of fiduciary duty, prohibited transactions, wrongful denial of benefits, ESOP litigation, and ERISA §510 claims. In addition to his litigation practice, Grabell regularly advises on compliance matters related to both ERISA and non-ERISA benefit plans. His work covers a broad spectrum of issues, including COBRA compliance, health and welfare plan compliance, retirement and incentive plans, executive compensation, severance plans, and general plan administration and compliance. Grabell also regularly assists employers with issues related to multiemployer benefit funds, including but not limited to contribution disputes, payroll compliance audits, and withdrawal liability.

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 at www.btlaw.com.