Biography
Thomas P. Berra, Jr. serves as Practice Group Leader for the Products Liability Defense Litigation practice group. Tom is an experienced litigator who regularly handles complex commercial and employment litigation, real estate disputes, class actions, non-compete and trade secret cases, products/toxic tort cases, and general business disputes. Tom appears before state and federal courts and administrative agencies in Missouri, Illinois, and throughout the United States. He has extensive alternative dispute resolution experience. In addition to dispute resolution, Tom regularly counsels clients concerning day-to-day employment and business issues. Tom is well-versed in the law governing private social / athletic clubs and has advised a number of such non-profit organizations during his career.
As a well-respected attorney at Lewis Rice, Tom is a member of the Firm's Management Committee and serves as the Firm's General Counsel. In that role, Tom advises and protects the firm and its lawyers on professional ethics, risk management, and related professional responsibility matters. He has been selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2013-2025 and has been included in Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers® for 2013-2021.
As a young attorney, Tom served as the prosecuting attorney for the cities of Town & Country and Kirkwood in St. Louis County, where he prosecuted hundreds of criminal and housing cases and tried dozens of cases in the municipal and county courts. Since that time, he has handled numerous state and municipal criminal matters to successful conclusion.
Tom is actively involved in his community and holds various positions with several St. Louis community and nonprofit organizations. He was a member of the Class of 2003-2004 FOCUS St. Louis Leadership Program, which recognizes individuals who attain high levels of leadership in their respective fields and who demonstrate deep commitment to the community. Tom currently serves as a member and Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees of St. Louis University High School, where he also has long served on the Alumni Board. He is a former President of the Board of Governors of both the Racquet Club of St. Louis and Greenbriar Hills Country Club in Kirkwood, Missouri.
Practice Areas
- Commercial Litigation
- Class Action
- Environmental, Chemical & Toxic Tort
- Labor & Employment
- Products Liability
Education
- University of Notre Dame School of Law (J.D., 1992)
- Shaheen Fellow
- Dean’s List
- Tufts University (B.A., magna cum laude, 1989)
- Political Science and History
- Houston Political Science Award; Dean’s list, all semesters
- NCAA Soccer
- Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity
Legal Background
- Prosecuting attorney, City of Kirkwood (1994 - 1996)
- Prosecuting attorney, City of Town & Country (1993 - 1994)
Professional Affiliations
- American Bar Association, Litigation Section
- Committee on Employment and Labor Relations Litigation, American Bar Association
- Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis
- Lawyers Association of St. Louis
- Defense Research Institute
Admissions
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit
- U.S. District Court
- Eastern and Western Districts of Missouri
- Southern, Northern, and Central Districts of Illinois
- District of Kansas
- Southern and Northern Districts of Indiana
- Northern District of Oklahoma
- Northern District of Florida
- Eastern District of Wisconsin
- Missouri Bar
- Illinois Bar
Charitable & Civic Activities
- Board of Trustees, St. Louis University High School (2015-present; Vice Chair 2022-present)
- Alumni Board of Directors, St. Louis University High School (1992-present)
- Member, Old Warson Country Club
- Board of Governors, Racquet Club of St. Louis (member 2017-present; Secretary 2017-2019; Vice President 2020-2021; President 2022-2023)
- Board of Governors, Greenbriar Hills Country Club (member 2003-2007, 2009; President 2007; Club Counsel 2012-2022)
- Former Home Owners Association Trustee and President
Firm Committees
- Member, Management Committee
- General Counsel
Distinctions
- FOCUS St. Louis Leadership Program, Class of 2003-2004