(openPR) - New York and Detroit (December 6, 2011) - The global law firm of Thompson & Knight LLP is pleased to announce that Partner Philip J. Kessler has been named Treasurer of the American College of Trial Lawyers (“the College”), widely considered to be the premier professional organization of the most respected courtroom lawyers in the U.S. and Canada.

Mr. Kessler is a distinguished trial lawyer with 38 years of experience and significant law firm leadership expertise. He concentrates his practice on the prosecution and defense of a wide variety of business disputes on behalf of individuals, partnerships, and private and public corporations. He serves as Office Leader of Thompson & Knight’s New York and Detroit offices.

Mr. Kessler has been a Fellow of the College since 1996 and served as a member of the Board of Regents from 2005-2009. He is also a Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers and The International Society of Barristers, Fellow of the American and Michigan State Bar Foundations, Life Member of the U.S. Court of Appeals Sixth Circuit Judicial Conference, and Trustee, Secretary, and Executive Committee Member of the U.S. Supreme Court Historical Society. He is ranked as one of America’s leading business litigators in Chambers USA by Chambers & Partners and has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America® by Woodward/White Inc. since 1987.

Founded in 1950, the College represents all branches of trial practice, enabling the organization to speak with a balanced voice on important issues affecting the legal profession and the administration of justice. Fellowship in the College is limited to the top one percent of the total lawyer population of any state or province. Fellowship status is extended by invitation only, after careful investigation, to those experienced trial lawyers who have mastered the art of advocacy and whose professional careers have been marked by the highest standards of ethical conduct, professionalism, civility, and collegiality. Lawyers must have a minimum of 15 years’ trial experience before they may be considered for Fellowship. For more information, please visit www.actl.com.

About Thompson & Knight

Established in 1887, Thompson & Knight is a full-service firm providing legal solutions to public and private companies, governments, and individuals in all areas, including commercial and tort litigation, intellectual property, finance, banking, creditors rights, securities, mergers and acquisitions, taxation, corporate governance, real estate, labor, environmental, white-collar defense matters, among others. We are particularly recognized for our depth of experience and capabilities on behalf of clients in the energy industry, both domestically and around the world. Thompson & Knight has approximately 350 attorneys with offices in Texas, New York, and Michigan and international offices and associations in the Americas, North Africa, and Europe.

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