Tom is a Harvard Law School trained mediator and an experienced neutral. He has overseen many complex cases as a court appointed and privately retained mediator. He encourages litigants to think creatively on solutions that are satisfactory to all sides,

In addition he has decades of complex litigation experience. These cases include shareholder disputes, accounting malpractice, employment and product liability cases. The knowledge he gained preparing and trying these types of cases help him understand a wide variety of issues and how costly and time consuming litigation can be for the parties involved.

Understanding litigation can be costly, he works with clients to develop strategies for finding resolutions short of the courtroom. He is experienced in negotiating clients through arbitration proceedings and understands the importance of mediation in resolving disputes. By placing a premium on learning each client’s operations and objectives, he  tailors his approach to fit their needs and help guide them to efficient, cost-effective resolutions. However, when litigation becomes necessary, he draws on his vast experience trying jury cases before state and federal courts to develop and implement a strategy best suited to each client’s needs.

Tom’s knowledge and experience in litigation isn’t limited to the courtroom. For more than 25 years, he taught civil trail practice to law students at the University of Dayton, passing on his wealth of knowledge to help guide the next generation of litigators. He is also a board member of the Dayton Early College Academy, a unique charter school that serves underprivileged children in the Dayton area. Leveraging his experience in the courtroom with the perspectives gained through his outside efforts, Tom brings a skilled approach to providing clients the counsel and insight they need to find resolutions.

Bar Admissions

Ohio

U.S. Supreme Court

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio

Education

• University of Dayton School of Law (J.D., 1977)
  • University of Dayton School of Law Review, editor-in-chief
• Kings College (B.A., 1972)
• Harvard Law School Mediation Training

• Dinsmore Mentor of the Year (2012)
• Best Lawyers^® 
  • "Lawyer of the Year" in Dayton for Litigation - Labor and Employment (2017, 2020)
  • "Lawyer of the Year" in Dayton for Employment Law - Management (2016)
  • "Lawyer of the Year" in Dayton for Labor Law-Management Law (2013)
  • Commercial Litigation, Employment Law - Management, Labor Law - Management, Litigation - Labor and Employment, Litigation - Mergers and Acquisitions (2022, 2024)
• Peer Review Rated AV Preeminent in Martindale-Hubbell
• Ohio Super Lawyers^®
  • For Business Litigation (2021)
• Who's Who in Law by the Dayton Business Journal
• Access to Justice Award: The Lloyd H. O’Hara Community Public Interest Award (2011)
• University of Dayton School of Law Steve Yuhas Alumni Special Service Award (2012)
• Montgomery County General Division's Mediation Service Award (2017)

• Equitas Health, board member (2018-present)
• Dayton Bar Association, president (2009 - 2010)
• Court of Common Pleas
  • Mediator
  • Panel member
• Dayton Ohio Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, treasurer (2014 - 2015)
• Fellow of the Litigation Council of America
• Access to Justice Gala, co-chair  (2015)
• RED Table Design Gala, co-chair (2016)
• University of Dayton School of Law
  • Board of Advisors (1993 - 2014)
    • President (2000 - 2008) 
  • Adjunct professor Civil Trial Practice (1987 - 2014)
• Dayton Bar Association Foundation Board, president (2013 - 2014)
• Montgomery County Public Defender, commissioner (2009 - 2012) 
• Law Leadership Institute, board member (2009 - 2012) 
• Master of the Inn of Court
• Dayton Early College Academy (DECA), past board member
• Montgomery County Legal Aid Society, past board president
• National Conference for Community and Justice, past board member
• Greater Dayton Volunteer Lawyers Project, past board member
• Dayton/Montgomery Historical Society, past board member
• Red Cross,
  • Past board member
  • Personnel Committee, chair
• Children’s Hospital Youth Drug Program, past board member