Tom is the former Chair of Thompson Coburn, where for 20 years he led the Firm through a period of growth and nationwide expansion.
He also serves as a legal advisor to some of the St. Louis region’s largest companies and civic and charitable organizations. For more than 40 years, he has helped executives pursue fundamental change for their own organizations and achieve high-level strategic objectives.
Tom takes an executive’s approach to the practice of law. He communicates clearly and simply, distills complex information into actionable items, and negotiates thoughtfully and efficiently to achieve win-win results in high-stakes transactions. He has served as lead outside counsel to Enterprise Holdings as it has become the world’s largest rental car company; to Barry-Wehmiller as it has grown into the largest packaging machinery manufacturer in the Western Hemisphere; and to UniGroup, the parent of United Van Lines and Mayflower, as it has become America’s largest household goods moving business. Tom frequently draws on his own experience as the leader of a $200 million business to counsel executives on a full range of topics, ranging from corporate expansion to shareholder relationships to executive personnel decisions. He also helps them develop their own business networks.
Tom has led major transactions across the country involving business acquisitions and dispositions, joint ventures, shareholder relations and redemptions, private placements, corporate restructurings, commercial financings and asset securitizations. As clients reported to Chambers USA, which has recognized Tom as a top-tier Corporate/M&A attorney, he has a “substantial depth of experience across the spectrum” and does a “great job of marshalling the resources of the Firm to meet our needs.” Chambers named Tom to its “Eminent Practitioner” category in 2019 and 2020.
Tom is also a recognized leader in the St. Louis civic and charitable community and devotes significant time and resources to a wide range of organizations dedicated to education, health care, the arts, youth activities, military veterans and economic development.
experience
Domestic and international financings
- Lead finance counsel for Enterprise Holdings, Inc., during its multi-billion dollar acquisition of National Car Rental and Alamo Rent-A-Car
- Lead international finance counsel for Enterprise Holdings as it expanded its operations into Canada, Great Britain and throughout the European Union
Strategic acquisitions
- Lead mergers and acquisitions counsel for United Van Lines during its acquisition of Mayflower Transit.
- Lead mergers and acquisitions counsel for Barry-Wehmiller Group during its growth into a multi-billion dollar enterprise via over 100 strategic domestic and international acquisitions
General corporate guidance
- Lead outside corporate governance counsel to the board of directors of UniGroup, Inc., the world’s largest household goods moving and storage company
- Regular corporate counsel to numerous mid-sized and smaller privately-held businesses, including Mom365, Inc. (nationwide infant photography business), Patriot Machine Inc. (aircraft parts manufacturer) and Cummings, McGowan and West, Inc. (construction equipment distributor)
- Corporate counsel to a wide variety of leading St. Louis area non-profit agencies, including the Ranken Jordan Pediatric Hospital, the Boy Scouts of Greater St. Louis, the Center of Creative Arts, and the United Way of Greater St. Louis.
- Advisory director to US Bank National Association
- Named Lawyer of the Year for Corporate Law in St. Louis by Best Lawyers®, 2011, 2020, 2024 (by BL Rankings)
- Named Lawyer of the Year for Corporate Compliance Law in St. Louis by Best Lawyers®, 2013, 2015, 2021, 2025 (by BL Rankings)
- Named Lawyer of the Year for Corporate Governance Law in St. Louis by Best Lawyers®, 2019 (by BL Rankings)
- Named Lawyer of the Year for Mergers and Acquisitions Law in St. Louis by Best Lawyers®, 2014 (by BL Rankings)
- Listed in Chambers USA in Corporate/M&A in St. Louis, 2009-2019 (by Chambers & Partners)
- Listed in The Best Lawyers In America®, 2001-2025 (by BL Rankings)
- Corporate Compliance, Corporate Governance, Mergers and Acquisitions, and Corporate Law
- Listed in Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers, 2005-2012 (by Thomson Reuters)
- St. Louis Business Journal
- Legacy Award Recipient in inaugural C-Suite Awards, 2019
- Legal Services of Eastern Missouri
- Robert Walston Chubb Award Recipient, 2020
- Missouri Lawyers Media
- ICON Award Recipient, 2020
- Ranken Jordan Pediatric Hospital
- Service to Children Award Recipient, 2022
- Missouri Hospital Association
- Excellence in Governance Award Recipient, 2010
- Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America, 2008
- American Heart Association
- Arthur Strauss Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient, 2002
- University of Missouri – St. Louis
- Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient, 1997
- Thompson Coburn LLP
- Chairman, 2002-2020; 1995-1997
- Partner, 1985-Present
- Associate, 1979-1984
Community
- American Bar Association
- Fellow, 2020-Present
- American Heart Association
- Chairman of the Board, St. Louis Chapter, 1991-1993
- Director, St. Louis Chapter, 1988-2003
- Director, Missouri Affiliate, 1992-1998
- Bogey Club
- Director, 2015-2021
- Boy Scouts of America
- Director, Executive Committee, St. Louis Council, 2010-2020
- COCA (Center of Creative Arts)
- Director, Executive Committee, 2009-2020
- Greater St. Louis, Inc.
- Chairs’ Council Executive Committee, 2021
- Foundation Director, 2021-Present
- Integration Advisory Team, 2020-2021
- Mercy Health Foundation
- Director, 2018-2024
- Navy League of St. Louis
- Director, 2013-2024
- Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital
- President, 1993-1995
- Executive Committee 1987-Present
- Director, 1984-Present
- St. Louis Regional Chamber & Growth Association
- Chairman, 2018-2020
- Director, Executive Committee, 2011-2020
- St. Louis Regional Economic Development Alliance
- Director, 2019-2020
- United Way of Greater St. Louis
- Director, Executive Committee 1997-2021
- Chairman, Professional Division 1996, 2006, 2008, 2017, 2018
- University of Missouri-St. Louis
- Chairman, Chancellor’s Council 2015-2017
- Member, Chancellor’s Council 1997-2003; 2006-Present
- US Bank Advisory Board
- Director, 2016-2021