Thompson Hine LLP > Chicago, United States > Firm Profile

Thompson Hine LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings

M&A/corporate and commercial > M&A: middle-market (sub-$500m) Tier 2

Thompson Hine LLP is a midwestern firm whose work is dominated by M&A transactions for small-to-medium sized public companies, start-ups, and investment managers. Team head Frank Chaiken splits his time between Chicago and Cincinnati and assists with a diverse range of corporate transactions, with a notable penchant for advising on foreign direct investment into the US. William Henry is based in Cleveland, where he advises private equity firms and Fortune 1000 companies on mergers and acquisitions as well as on commercial contracts and governance matters. Also in Cleveland is Tony Kuhel, who is noted for his ability to advise major corporate clients such as The Home Depot on corporate takeovers. Emma Off departed the firm in December 2023.

Transport > Rail and road: litigation and regulation Tier 2

Thompson Hine LLP‘s motor carrier practice assists shippers, intermediaries, and carriers with regulatory rule-making proceedings before the US DOT and other federal agencies. It also acts in litigation involving federal preemption matters as well as claims for loss, damage, and delay. The team additionally advises on safety and licensing issues, as well as legislative developments. On the rail transportation side, the firm acts for shippers, electric utilities, and chemical and crude oil companies on regulatory matters, and it also has enviable experience in rail rate cases. Karyn Booth, who is ‘an excellent leader of this group’, represents multinational corporations, trade associations and transportation intermediaries; Sandra L. Brown‘s practice includes regulatory proceedings before the Surface Transportation Board; and Jeff Moreno represents shipper clients and transportation intermediaries. The group also features David Benz, whose workload covers freight railroad regulation; Jason Tutrone, an adviser to motor carriers on regulatory matters; and Columbus-based Dan Ujczo, who assists with both domestic and international matters involving motor carriage. All attorneys listed are in DC unless otherwise mentioned. Former partner Tim Goodman  left the firm in January 2023.

Real estate > Construction (including construction litigation) Tier 3

Thompson Hine LLP’s construction practice houses a ‘deep bench of experienced partners and bright associates’, who advise construction companies and owners on complex projects in the healthcare and sports industries. Led from Cleveland by Alan Ritchie, the team also handles the drafting and negotiation of IPD agreements and construction contracts, risk management, and insurance proceedings. Partners Jeffrey Appelbaum and Daniel Haymond assist on transactional matters and project management of public infrastructure projects. With experience in EPC agreements and claim resolutions, Erin Luke is another key member of the team, alongside Columbus-based Amy Riedel, who negotiates project agreements and assists with closeout issues and administration. Other key contacts in the group include James Frankel and Columbus-based Jack Clark. All team members are based in Cleveland unless stated otherwise.

Transport > Shipping: litigation and regulation Tier 3

Thompson Hine LLP is consistently mandated to represent shippers and intermediaries in policy and rulemaking matters concerning the Shipping Act of 1984 (as amended by the Ocean Shipping Reform Act). The team additionally advises on Federal Maritime Commission regulations, in relation to containerized cargo’s ocean transportation services. The group is also well known for acting for the National Industrial Transportation League, which represents shippers’ interests in freight transportation matters; and the practice regularly applies its regulatory expertise to the drafting and reviewing of international service contracts, charter agreements, ocean bills of lading, and towage contracts. Heading up the department, Karyn Booth is a specialist in multimodal transportation and logistics services; and Jason Tutrone‘s practice covers transportation regulatory compliance and protections for shippers, along with logistics-related litigation. Also key to the practice, Columbus-based Dan Ujczo is an expert in ocean and barge transportation. All attorneys are in Washington DC unless otherwise mentioned.

Government > Government contracts Tier 4

Contractors in the life sciences, telecoms, intelligence, logistics, and manufacturing industries enjoy comprehensive support from Thompson Hine LLP  on regulatory compliance, procurement and termination process, contractual performance, and dispute resolution. Francis Purcell chairs the Washington DC-based practice, leveraging extensive counseling and litigation experience to assist with pre- and post-award disputes, M&A, subcontractor issues, and small business matters. Jessica Haire focuses on contract negotiations, and federal and state claims, as well as bid protests and litigation, while Ryan Spiegel is highly valued for his regulatory compliance guidance, business counseling, and dispute resolution expertise. Counsel Joe Berger is a key contact for bid protests, litigation, investigations, and FCA cases.

Industry focus > Sport Tier 4

Representing major NFL, NBA, and MLS teams in renovation projects and risk management programs, the Thompson Hine LLP practice displays extensive knowledge in both the construction and sporting space. Based out of Cleveland, Alan Ritchie heads the group, frequently advising clients on project finance and development agreements, while Jeffrey Appelbaum acts on behalf of design professionals and construction managers across the US and Canada. Jack Clark consistently assists with structuring and negotiating agreements for construction and financing initiatives from Columbus.

Investment fund formation and management > Mutual/registered/exchange-traded funds Tier 4

Thompson Hine LLP handles the full range of registered funds products, among which are mutual funds, interval funds, business development companies and increasingly exchange traded funds, with their clients ranging from broker-dealers to fund service providers and independent directors and trustees. Clients turn to the investment management team for support in structuring funds as well as on transactional and regulatory mandates. Columbus-based JoAnn Strasser leads the team and is well equipped to handle novel product development in the space, mergers and reorganizations as well as SEC examinations and staying compliant. Other key members of the Investment Management department are ETF expert Bibb Strench in Washington DC and Cassandra Borchers in Cincinnati.

Labor and employment > Employee benefits, executive compensation and retirement plans: design Tier 4

The ‘very capable’ employee benefits and executive compensation team at Thompson Hine LLP advises large corporate clients on compliance, integration, and redesign . Cleveland-based Julia Ann Love heads the practice, with a strong record in helping clients navigate ‘the legislative minefield’ of various healthcare mandates, including the recent SECURE 2.0 Act. Laura Ryan, ‘extremely knowledgeable about US benefits and 401(k) plans’, is a key name, while Kim Wilcoxon and Timothy Brown are well-versed in the benefits plan space. Shane Starkey is adept at advising clients on defined pension plans, defined contribution plans, and health and welfare plans. Washington DC-based Dominic DeMatties focuses on 401(k) plans and ERISA matters.

Real estate Tier 4

Advising clients that include Brookfield Asset management, Huntington Bank, and Raytheon Technologies Corporation, the real estate team over at Thompson Hine LLP represents numerous large developers, financial institutions, and Fortune 500 companies on a range of real estate mandates spanning from affordable housing to retail. Industrials, distribution, manufacturing, and data centers are also core areas of expertise, benefitting from Ohio’s growing tech and chip manufacturing scene. The practice is noted for its expertise in real estate tax finance covering tax credits and government incentive schemes, among other areas. The team is led by experienced real estate lawyer Thomas Coyne in Cleveland, who has taken the lead on a number of large developments including his representation of Bedrock in the $1bn+ Cleveland Riverfront Project, together with his advising of Pratt & Whitney in the development of an engine manufacturing facility in North Carolina, also valued at $1bn. James Aronoff is also active, particularly on structuring partnerships, joint ventures, and LLCs together transactions and financings. Also in Cleveland is Robyn Minter Smyers who covers public-private partnerships and ESG-related initiatives.