Thompson Hine LLP

Alan is partner in and co-chair of the firm’s Construction practice group and a partner in the firm’s Real Estate practice group. Alan is also on the board and is a member of the firm’s wholly owned subsidiary, Project Management Consultants. Alan is also one of the founding members of the firm’s public-private partnership (P3) practice group. He has served as developer and sponsor counsel on Ohio’s first transportation and infrastructure P3 projects. Alan’s construction practice includes project delivery counseling, the preparation of all “front-end” documents and creating risk management and insurance programs on behalf of owners, developers, architects, engineers, construction managers, contractors and subcontractors, and participation in dispute resolution of claims. As project counsel, he has worked on many community impact projects, including many major league and professional sports facilities, convention centers and mixed-use projects. Alan’s real estate practice includes the representation of public owners, lenders, borrowers, developers and other corporations in connection with public/private development transactions, zoning and project entitlement, public and private finance, wind, solar and other renewable energy transactions, new market and historical tax credit transactions, build-to-suit and sale leaseback transactions, acquisitions and sales, development, leasing and other general corporate real estate matters.

Amy is a managing associate in Thompson Hine’s Construction practice group, focusing on transactional “front end” representation. Her transactional practice includes advising on project delivery methods for both private owners and public entities. Her experience encompasses creating procurement and bidding documents for general contractor, construction manager at-risk and design-build projects. Prior to joining Thompson Hine, Amy was an associate at a law firm headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, where she provided transactional procurement and contract negotiation support to school districts and other public entities. Amy served as a surface warfare officer in the United States Navy. She held several roles, including division officer onboard the USS Pearl Harbor, deploying out of San Diego, California. Amy also served as the ground operations department head and scheduling officer for the Navy’s west coast hovercraft of Assault Craft Unit 5 at Camp Pendleton.

Andrew is a partner in the firm’s Corporate Transactions & Securities and Investment Management practice groups. With more than 15 years of in-house industry experience, most recently as senior vice president and counsel for a global investment management firm, he has a keen understanding and appreciation of issues from the investment manager’s perspective. Andrew has extensive experience in providing ongoing representation of and advice to open-end investment companies, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), interval funds and their independent directors/trustees. His experience also includes advising on the full range of securities and compliance issues related to fund development and structuring, investment management agreements, third-party service agreements, corporate governance, fund mergers and acquisitions involving investment advisers. Having served in the role of privacy officer, he also gained valuable experience with data privacy and information security issues. Andrew is licensed to practice in Ohio and New York.

Bibb is a partner in the Corporate Transactions & Securities practice group. He focuses on exchange-traded funds (ETFs), exchange-traded products (ETPs), closed-end funds, mutual funds and investment advisers. Bibb provides advice on regulatory, compliance, entity formation, auditor independence, corporate governance and other issues related to the operation of the aforementioned businesses. He has experience with unique fund structures and ETF products, smart contacts and other blockchain innovations and start-up ETF firms. Bibb began his career as a staff attorney in the Division of Investment Management of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, where he was principally responsible for granting exemptive orders and responding to no-action and interpretive requests under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and Investment Advisers Act of 1940. He has argued 1940 Act issues in federal and state courts, including the landmark mutual fund independent director case, Yacktman v. Carson, et al, and participated in the development of the Uniform Statutory Trust Entity Act.

Bill is a member of the firm’s Construction practice whose litigation experience includes representing clients at trial and in arbitrations, mediations and appeals involving a wide range of complex multimillion-dollar construction and real estate matters. His practice also has a transactional component, which includes preparing and negotiating construction contracts, design agreements, leases and other contract documents for construction and real estate clients. Bill is a Professional Engineer (licensed in Oregon) and a LEED Accredited Professional in Building Design + Construction. Prior to practicing law, Bill was a project engineer for a global infrastructure and environmental services company where he worked on a variety of public and private commercial and retail developments.

Cassandra Borchers

Cassandra is a partner in the Corporate Transactions & Securities and Investment Management practice groups and Chair of our Blockchain & Cryptocurrencies group. She counsels clients on regulatory and compliance matters including all aspects of federal and state securities law and related issues, such as registration, regulatory reporting, registered fund matters (including mutual funds, interval funds and ETFs), private fund formation or other investment vehicles and compliance (including real estate funds, private equity funds, debt funds, hedge funds and venture capital funds) and cryptocurrency. Cassandra's practice has focused primarily on securities, investment capital, cryptocurrency and blockchain matters, corporate representation and governance matters, and all aspects of counseling mutual funds, ETFs and closed-end interval funds. She has assisted companies in securities offerings, including mutual funds, commodity pools, private equity, fund formation, registration, mergers and reorganizations. She has represented both issuing companies and investors in a variety of transactions, due diligence, digital assets and securities offerings.

Cathryn Greenwald

Cathryn is a partner in the Real Estate practice group. She focuses her practice on all aspects of commercial real estate transactions, including construction and permanent financing, development, public-private partnerships, acquisition and sale of real estate, ground, retail, industrial and office leasing, and other general real estate matters.

Corby represents strategic and financial parties in connection with mergers and acquisitions, dispositions, take-private transactions, joint ventures, private equity and venture capital investments, licensing and distribution arrangements, and other strategic transactions. Corby frequently advises on cross-border and international transactions. Corby also has extensive experience advising boards of directors and special committees on corporate governance matters. She regularly provides outsourced general counsel services and advises on general corporate matters, including working on manufacturing, distribution, supply and other commercial agreements. In addition, Corby has represented investors and privately-held companies in early-stage and follow-on investments as well as issuers, underwriters and selling stockholders in connection with securities offerings. Corby has represented clients in connection with transactions involving the technology, pharmaceutical, biotech, life sciences, manufacturing, chemical, healthcare, insurance, communications, professional services and retail sectors.

Dan is a senior counsel in the firm’s International Trade and Transportation practice groups. His practice focuses on providing end-to-end counsel across clients’ Canada-U.S., North American and global supply chains. This trade counsel includes customs classification and compliance, utilization of preferential trade agreements such as the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), tariff mitigation and exclusions, procurement issues such as Buy America/Buy American, and anti-dumping/countervailing duty issues. He also advises clients in the negotiating of transportation agreements, managing trusted trader and related security programs, and addressing issues at ports-of-entry. Dan’s unique Canada-U.S. experience encompasses serving in the governments of Canada and the United States, private practice and academia. He served as an officer in Canada’s foreign ministry where he worked towards improving North America’s borders and ports-of-entry. For nearly a decade, Dan was a visiting professor of law at Case Western Reserve University School of Law and managed a lab that served as a legal adviser to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Coast Guard. His public service also includes having served as a Career Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable Judge Peter C. Economus. In that capacity, Dan participated in federal and civil trial litigation and performed by designation in cases pending before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Dan also assists clients, economic development organizations and governments with cross-border investment and expansion projects. This includes coordinating legal counsel on matters such as corporate structuring, taxation, immigration, incentives, intellectual property, employment among others. Dan serves as external general counsel to a number of cross-border companies.

Dan is a partner in the firm’s Construction practice group who focuses on the litigation of disputes in courts and arbitrations. He has over 25 years of experience representing owners, developers, contractors, architects, engineers, construction managers, construction product manufacturers and other construction professionals. He has acted as first chair trial attorney in jury trials and bench trials in both federal and state court, and first chair attorney in numerous arbitrations. Dan also has significant experience in commercial real estate litigation with particular emphasis on landlord/tenant issues, large commercial foreclosures and court receiverships.

Darrel is a partner in the firm's Real Estate practice group. He has a broad-based transactional real estate practice, with an emphasis in acquisitions, dispositions, development matters, financing transactions and commercial leasing. Darrel represents institutional investors with respect to all types of commercial real estate including office, shopping center, industrial, multi-family and mixed-use properties.

David, a partner in the Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation practice, counsels private and public companies and nonprofit organizations on matters in relation to employee benefits. He has experience advising companies, trustees, fiduciaries and lending institutions on issues related to employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs). David has significant experience in advising sponsors and employers with respect to multiple employer retirement and welfare plan arrangements, including pooled employer plans under the SECURE Act. In addition, he assists in establishing benefits programs for new entities resulting from corporate reorganizations and represents plan sponsors in connection with federal agency audits of benefit plans.

David is a member of the firm's Transportation practice group. He focuses his practice on matters involving freight railroad regulation, contracting and strategy. In particular, he assists clients in understanding their rights under federal law, in reducing their rail transportation shipping costs, and in meeting regulatory requirements of the Surface Transportation Board and other federal agencies.

Dominic DeMatties

Dominic is a partner in the firm’s Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation group. His practice is focused on the design, implementation, and administration of employee benefit arrangements generally, with an emphasis on tax and ERISA rules applicable to tax-qualified and nonqualified deferred compensation arrangements. He has significant practical and policy experience with employee stock ownership and 401(k) plans, multiple employer plans including association and pooled employer plans, multiemployer plans, and defined benefit plans, particularly those that provide for shared risk, such as cash balance plans and variable annuity plans. He also has extensive experience with investigations, audits, and similar inquiries brought by the Department of Labor (EBSA), IRS, and PBGC and the various voluntary correction and outreach programs established by the agencies. Dominic is well versed on benefit plan tax policy, having served as an attorney-advisor in the Office of the Benefits Tax Counsel at the Department of the Treasury in Washington, D.C. In that role, he was actively involved in analyzing stakeholder concerns and developing a wide range of responsive policies and guidance with an emphasis on tax-qualified and nonqualified deferred compensation plans. His work included close collaboration with legal advisors and actuaries from the IRS, PBGC, and EBSA.

Ed focuses on federal contracting, construction law, construction litigation, and small business procurement and litigation. He drafts and negotiates construction contracts, teaming agreements and joint venture agreements for subcontractors, contractors, developers and owners. In addition, he litigates, arbitrates and mediates complex construction and procurement cases in various jurisdictions and forums. Ed also provides guidance on small business procurement. He assists clients in obtaining certification as small and small disadvantaged businesses at the municipal, state and federal levels. He participates in bid protests involving Service-Disabled, Veteran-Owned, HUBZone and 8(a) set-aside contracts and assists with responding to best-value procurements at the state and federal levels. Ed also assists government contractors in international disputes involving the federal government, with experience relating to Department of Defense and Department of State work in Germany, Lithuania, Iraq, Afghanistan, Israel and Somalia. Not admitted to the D.C. Bar; practice supervised by D.C. Bar Members. Admitted in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Erin is a partner in the firm’s Construction practice group. She counsels owners, construction managers, design-builders, architects and engineers on large and complex projects in a broad range of industry sectors, including energy and infrastructure, sports stadia, hospital and medical facilities, event and entertainment facilities, hotel and resort developments, and casino and gaming developments. Her experience includes project delivery and structuring advice, contract negotiating and drafting, insurance and risk management counseling, and operational project management advice.

Francis E. Purcell

Francis E. "Chip" Purcell, Jr. is the leader of the Government Contracts practice group. He focuses his practice on all aspects of government contracts law and litigation. Chip counsels clients on issues involving the formation and performance of government contracts, and represents clients in pre- and post-award disputes involving the government as well as prime contractors and subcontractors. He assists clients in conducting due diligence relative to mergers and acquisitions of government contractors, drafting teaming agreements and subcontracts, addressing organizational conflicts of interest, protecting intellectual property in government contract transactions, addressing small business and other socioeconomic issues and conducting contractor compliance training and internal investigations. Chip represents clients in disputes before federal courts and administrative bodies, including the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals and the Government Accountability Office. He also advises clients on issues involving commercial contracting under government agency programs, including the General Services Administration's Federal Supply Schedule program.

Frank is a partner in the firm and the chair of its Corporate Transactions & Securities practice group. In addition, he serves on the International Practice Committee. Frank focuses his practice on corporate transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, startups, joint ventures and commercial agreements, and has extensive experience with international transactions, in particular foreign direct investments into the United States. He also serves as general outside legal counsel to a wide range of business clients.

Garrett D. Evers

Garrett is a partner in the firm's Corporate Transactions & Securities and Life Sciences practices, and chair of the International Committee. He focuses his practice on mergers and acquisitions; private equity and venture capital transactions; private placements of securities; securities offerings for publicly held companies; corporate organization and governance; state securities laws, and joint ventures and strategic alliances. In his role as chair of the International Committee, Garrett oversees the firm’s international strategy and manages relationships with select law firms and business advisors in key jurisdictions around the world, including Africa, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom, among others.

Jack is a senior managing associate in Thompson Hine’s Construction practice group, focusing on transactional “front end” representation of public-sector owners, private developers, investors, contractors and design professionals. He advises clients on a variety of construction and real estate development matters, including agreements for construction management, design-build, EPC, design services, acquisitions, leasing and public-private partnerships. He also provides contract drafting and negotiation, project-delivery method evaluation, compliance analysis, and insurance and risk management counseling services. Jack has a particular interest in affordable housing and public-private partnership (P3) projects, including counseling clients on the intricacies of state and local law impacting project bidding, award and management and overall deal structure. Jack’s experience includes representing clients from various industries on projects including mixed-use and multifamily residential developments, chemical and industrial plants, distribution warehouses, office buildings and sports stadia. During law school, Jack served as an extern for the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), providing support for federal regulatory initiatives and reviewing project documents for new construction and renovation projects utilizing Federal Housing Administration (FHA)-insured financing, such as affordable housing, senior living centers and health care facilities.

Jamie is a partner in the firm’s Construction practice group. He provides creative, efficient, and team-focused solutions to owners, architects, engineers, construction companies, and joint ventures on projects and transactions related to the built environment throughout the United States and abroad. He utilizes his team-building skills by counseling on project structuring, transactional documentation, and dispute resolution, bringing his multidisciplinary background and creative problem-solving skills to those client matters calling for efficient solutions.

Jim is a partner in the Real Estate group, chair of the firm’s Real Estate Capital Markets practice and the former partner-in-charge of the firm’s Cleveland office. He represents real estate investment trusts (REITs) and real estate equity funds both transactionally and in evaluating internal structures to maximize value. He also focuses on structuring partnerships, joint ventures and LLCs; commercial real estate financing; shopping center development and construction; gaming and casino-related projects; and acquisitions and divestitures of resort and other lodging properties. A frequent lecturer, Jim is a member of the board of governors of Ohio’s Real Property Bar.

Jason D. Tutrone

Jason is a partner in the firm’s Transportation group. He provides advice on regulatory and commercial matters involving air, truck, ocean, and rail transportation, including advice on compliance with transportation safety regulations, waivers of transportation regulations, transportation regulatory reform, regulatory remedies addressing rail competition and service issues, proceedings before the Surface Transportation Board, developing and negotiating logistics contracts, and aircraft acquisitions. Jason also defends clients in enforcement actions before U.S. Department of Transportation agencies. Jason represents clients including chemical companies, fertilizer companies, retailers, manufacturers, and other entities that ship goods; trade associations representing shippers; third-party intermediaries that arrange transportation on behalf of shippers and provide logistics management services; motor carriers; rail-facility operators; manufacturers of tank car components; and aircraft owners.

Jeff is a partner in the firm's Transportation practice group, where he handles both commercial and regulatory transportation issues, with a heavy focus upon transportation by rail and truck. Based upon interviews with clients and peers, Chambers USA has recognized him as one of the top leading lawyers nationwide who represent shippers in rail transportation matters. Jeff represents major utility, petrochemical, mining, agricultural, metals, automotive and other industrial interests. He advises shipper clients and transportation intermediaries on transportation contract matters, service issues, loss and damage claims, hazardous materials liability, rail line purchase and construction, rail abandonments, rail car leases, and a host of related transportation issues. This includes litigation or arbitration, when necessary.

Jeffrey Appelbaum

For 40 years, Jeff has provided distinguished service to public/private owners, design professionals, construction managers and contractors. He served as lead counsel or project management consultant for hundreds of projects involving billions of dollars of construction, including 29 professional sports facilities; facilitated hundreds of partnering sessions; acted as lead trial counsel for multimillion-dollar claims; and mediated 300+ complex construction disputes. He facilitated the governor’s Ohio Construction Reform Panel and participated in creating final legislation that dramatically modified public procurement in Ohio. In 2012, he became the first lawyer inducted into the Cleveland Engineering Society’s Hall of Fame.

Jessica is a partner in the firm’s Government Contracts practice group. She represents clients in all aspects of government contracts and construction projects from negotiation of teaming agreements and subcontracts to claim litigation, negotiations and debarment proceedings. She focuses her practice on handling contract negotiations as well as federal and state claims litigation for changes, differing site conditions, delay damages, time extensions, defective specifications, cumulative impacts, and numerous federal government contracts issues under the Federal Acquisition Regulation and relevant statutes. She regularly represents clients in various courts and boards of contract appeals including the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals (ASBCA), the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals (CBCA), and the Maryland State Board of Contract Appeals (MSBCA). She also handles bid protests, size protests, and various construction transaction and project advice matters. After achieving her degree in civil engineering from George Washington University, Jessica worked as a project engineer, completing storm water and sanitary sewer design, grading plans, erosion and sediment control plans and pavement design. Following law school, she litigated cases across the United States and around the world.

Joan has more than 25 years’ experience handling complex criminal and civil litigation, primarily domestic and international white collar defense for companies involving anti-corruption, financial frauds, government contracting, false claims, securities and commodities violations, and trade compliance matters. She has tried scores of cases at the state and federal levels and handled more than 40 appeals in state and federal appeals courts. Joan also conducts domestic and international internal investigations for corporate clients to determine if legal and regulatory violations were committed and defends companies and individuals in negotiation and litigation with U.S. government agencies.

JoAnn is a partner and vice chair of our Corporate Transactions & Securities practice group and her practice focuses on the representation of registered funds, including ETFs, mutual funds, closed-end funds and interval funds, private funds, and registered investment advisers. She works with a broad spectrum of clients, from large, well established fund complexes to entrepreneurial investment advisers registering unique "first to market" funds. With over 20 years' experience in private practice, she has the depth of experience necessary to identify issues, solve problems, and enable clients to achieve their business objectives.

Joe is counsel in the Government Contracts and Construction practice groups. He has extensive experience in the representation of government contractors in bid protests, litigation, investigations, False Claims Act (FCA) cases, and contract, compliance and regulatory matters. Joe’s government contract and litigation experience includes high-profile FCA matters, bid protests in multiple forums, wartime contracting investigations, and litigation over disputes encompassing contract formation and interpretation, proposal and award, subcontracts and teaming, the Federal Acquisition Regulation, the General Services Administration (GSA) Schedule, intellectual property and data rights. Joe has helped contractors reach favorable settlements in FCA matters involving hundreds of millions in alleged damages sought by plaintiffs; deposed and defended witnesses at depositions in FCA contract-related litigation; and won summary judgment and motions to dismiss in FCA, securities, and IP litigation involving government contracts. His FCA and litigation experience includes internal investigations, civil discovery proceedings, settlement negotiations, and government contract-related disputes involving dozens of federal agency procurement actions. Joe’s bid protest experience includes more than 75 protests before the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), the U.S. Court of Federal Claims (CoFC) and executive agencies; winning favorable decisions on behalf of both protesters and awardees; securing corrective action by agencies; and working with agency and Department of Justice (DoJ) attorneys to defend awards. Joe has secured contract awards and restoration to the competitive range in five protests over contracts with billion- or multibillion-dollar ceilings. He has also secured six decisions by GAO sustaining protests, numerous agency corrective actions, and favorable decisions for awardees, incumbents, and intervenors by the CoFC, GAO, and agencies. Joe handled all corporate split issues leading to GAO’s precedent-setting sustained decision in Wyle Laboratories, B-408112.2 (Dec. 27, 2013). Prior to joining Thompson Hine, Joe had more than ten years' experience in the field of government contracts at a Washington, D.C. law firm, and served as a law clerk to the Honorable Susan G. Braden at the U.S. Court of Federal Claims.

John is a litigator. He is a partner in the firm’s Construction practice group. He has presented in the Ohio Supreme Court, the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, 10 of Ohio’s 12 District Courts of Appeal, and before a multitude of trial courts, arbitration panels, and bankruptcy courts. With almost two decades of experience, John has tried cases, defended against and obtained injunctive relief, reversed and defended judgments on appeal, and settled disputes for his clients. He has complex civil, receivership, Multi-District Litigation, mass tort, and class action experience. John is licensed and admitted to practice in all of Ohio’s state courts, the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, and the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio. He has appeared in or worked on matters in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nebraska, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Washington D.C., and West Virginia.

Julia leads the firm’s Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation practice and has almost 30 years’ experience counseling businesses on employee benefits and executive compensation issues, including ERISA compliance, defined benefit and defined contribution retirement plans, health and welfare plans, executive employment agreements and non-qualified deferred compensation arrangements. She has significant experience advising on defined benefit pension plan de-risking transactions, employee benefits issues in mergers and acquisitions, Affordable Care Act compliance, and issues relating to multiple and multiemployer pension and health and welfare plans. Julia was inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Employee Benefits Counsel in 2016.

Karyn is a partner and leader of the Transportation practice. She advises clients on commercial and regulatory transportation matters involving rail, motor, ocean and air carriers. She represents manufacturers; oil and gas, chemical, auto and other industrial companies; retailers; trade associations; and intermediaries before the STB, DOT, FMCSA, FMC and other federal agencies in economic and safety proceedings. She counsels clients on rail competition, rate, construction and other matters, truck safety, international ocean, and hazmat compliance and enforcement. She has extensive experience with transportation and logistics contracts, advises on risk mitigation and transportation policy, and handles commercial transportation disputes.

Kim is a partner in the Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation practice group. She helps employers and service providers understand and apply the complex and ever-changing rules relating to employee benefit plans, with a special focus on health and welfare plans. She assists employers by analyzing various plan designs; closely following legal developments and offering proactive advice on issues such as the Affordable Care Act, surprise billing, transparency requirements, mental health parity compliance, wellness programs, HIPAA, COBRA, consumer-driven health plans, nondiscrimination requirements, and cafeteria plans; drafting and reviewing plan documentation and participant communications; consulting on benefit claims and appeals; and reviewing and negotiating service provider agreements.

Kimberly E. Ramundo

Kim is a partner in the firm's Construction, Product Liability Litigation and Business Litigation practice groups. With respect to construction, Kim has handled claims on behalf of owners, developers, contractors, architects, engineers, construction managers and other construction professionals in lawsuits, mediations and arbitrations arising out of both public and private construction projects. She has experience in a broad range of construction matters, including cases involving heavy and highway, wastewater treatment, bridges, structural steel, building envelopes, soils and foundations, and other design and construction defects. Kim also has experience in prosecuting and defending complex construction claims involving delay, inefficiency, changes, defective work and the design professional standard of care. In her product liability practice, Kim defends manufacturers of industrial and consumer products against wrongful death and personal injury claims. Kim's commercial litigation practice involves a variety of sophisticated commercial disputes.

Laura is a partner in firm’s Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation practice group. She focuses her practice on the design, maintenance and termination of tax-qualified retirement plans and trusts; analysis of employee benefit issues in the context of corporate mergers and acquisitions; welfare plan and flexible benefit plan administration and documentation; various aspects of executive compensation including establishment and maintenance of non-qualified deferred compensation plans; IRS and Department of Labor plan audits; governmental reporting obligations; compliance with ERISA fiduciary and prohibited transaction rules; and corrective actions under regulatory relief programs.

Mike is the partner in charge of our Columbus office and a partner in our Corporate Transactions & Securities practice group. His practice includes counseling investment companies, investment advisers and broker-dealers on issues related to the creation and offering of investment products and services. Mike concentrates on regulatory matters, including the organization, registration and operation of investment companies and investment advisers. He has experience in the development of new products and services, the development and implementation of compliance programs, the organization of domestic and offshore investment vehicles, the operation of municipal fund securities, and the merger and acquisition of investment companies and investment advisers. Prior to joining Thompson Hine, Mike served as counsel for Bank One Corporation where he was responsible for advising the bank's asset management line of business. Before Bank One, Mike served as special counsel in the Office of Insurance Products, Division of Investment Management at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, focusing on variable annuity and variable life insurance products.

Nicholas DiMichael

Nick is senior counsel in the Transportation practice group. Nick focuses on assisting shippers in developing arrangements to satisfy their domestic and international transportation needs and in complex transportation-related litigation. He served as the general counsel to The National Industrial Transportation League, the nation's oldest and largest shipper organization from 1988 to 2009.

Norman A. Bloch

Norman is a partner in the Government Enforcement, Internal Investigations & White Collar Defense practice group. He focuses his practice primarily on white collar criminal matters. He represents companies and individuals in FCPA, antitrust export controls, fraud (including mortgage fraud, health care fraud, customs fraud, insider trading and securities fraud, government contract fraud, student loan fraud and bank fraud), LIBOR, FIRREA, public corruption, environmental, labor racketeering, perjury, and RICO investigations and prosecutions conducted by federal, state and foreign authorities. Norman has represented FCPA and other clients in Australia, China, India, Hong Kong and Europe, including France. Norman also conducts internal investigations on behalf of public and private companies, and represents parties in internal investigations and in proceedings initiated by various federal and state enforcement agencies, including the SEC, the CFTC and the New York State Attorney General's Office. In civil cases, he represents parties and defendants in civil RICO, false claims and forfeiture proceedings.

Patrick J. Sweeney

Pat is a partner in the firm’s Construction and Real Estate practice groups. His transactional construction practice includes the negotiation and preparation of construction and design professional agreements along with counseling clients on project management and risk control on a variety of large projects, such as regional shopping malls, industrial projects, offices, hotels, convention centers and major sports venues such as MLB parks, NFL stadia, NBA arenas and NHL arenas. He has represented owners, contractors, architects and engineers. A significant portion of his practice also involves commercial real estate development, including acquisitions, dispositions, financing and leasing.

Bob is a partner in the firm’s Real Estate group. He represents a diverse group of clients, from developers and investors to private companies and governmental agencies. His primary focus is on shopping center, office, industrial, residential and mixed-use developments; commercial leases; acquisitions and sales; and broker/agency law. His experience includes complex urban redevelopment projects, multi-tiered ownership structures, condominiums, master associations and governmental incentives. Bob is co-author of the treatise Ohio Real Property Law and Practice, a former chair of the Real Property Council of the Ohio State Bar Association and a member of ACREL.

Robyn Minter Smyers

Robyn is a partner in Thompson Hine’s Real Estate practice group, as well as a member of the firm’s Executive Committee. Robyn’s practice focuses on commercial real estate transactions, particularly shopping center, urban redevelopment, multifamily housing, distribution center, hospitality and public-private-partnership (P3) deals. Her forte is coordinating complex transactions, particularly multi-site, multi-state acquisitions and divestitures and ground-up developments. Her practice also focuses on counseling corporations on environmental, social and governance (ESG) initiatives, real estate strategies and dispositions of environmentally contaminated assets. Robyn brings a commitment to efficiency and predictability to her representation of leading public and private companies through value-based pricing and legal project management.

Ryan is a partner in the firm’s Government Contracts practice group. His practice focuses on regulatory compliance guidance, business counseling, and dispute resolution for clients operating in the complex realm of government procurement. He also handles commercial and civil litigation matters and serves a wide range of industries. Leveraging his extensive knowledge of government contracts litigation, Ryan provides counsel on bid protests, trade secrets, the False Claims Act, and various contract disputes in addition to business torts. He often advises contractors on negotiating agreements, responding to government investigations, organizing their corporate structure, and obtaining set-aside statuses for small and disadvantaged businesses. Ryan’s deep experience with contract law, government procurement, trademark law, and corporate law affords him the keen insight to address potential issues of concern and propose creative approaches to advancing his clients’ interests.

Sandra L. Brown

Sandy is a partner in the firm’s Transportation group and a member of the firm’s Executive Committee. She represents bulk commodity shippers and other entities using transportation services, including Fortune 500 companies, electric utilities, government entities and ports that buy, sell or move coal, aggregates, chemicals, crude oil and other hazardous materials by rail. Sandy provides strategic planning counsel for the transportation of bulk commodities aimed at increasing competitive leverage for the shipper, including counsel on rail construction options, contract negotiation and drafting, federal preemption, rate challenges and other regulatory proceedings before the Surface Transportation Board. Sandy also defends shippers in contract and derailment disputes with railroads.

Sarah leads our Immigration group that advises employers across the globe, including a number of Fortune 500 companies, on global talent management and cross-border employment issues. The immigration practice has three primary focuses: developing strategic immigration policies for employers consistent with their global talent acquisition and retention goals; supporting our clients immigration sponsorship for their employees; and advising our clients on compliance with immigration-based regulations. Sarah's experience includes: Counseling employers on strategies for sponsoring employees for both immigrant and non-immigrant visas Representing employers before the various agencies of the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Labor Advising companies through audits to determine compliance with DOL and USCIS laws governing employment of global talent Guiding athletes, artists and musicians through immigration process for temporary visas and permanent residency Developing I-9 policies and providing I-9 training Performing I-9 audits Counseling employers on use of E-Verify Developing immigration related policies, such as how sponsorship decisions will be made Conducting due diligence to determine immigration issues within corporate transactions

Sarah Sparer is a senior managing associate in the firm’s Construction practice group. Sarah has extensive experience representing a wide array of construction industry clients, including design professionals, real estate developers, property owners, commercial lessees, design builders and contractors in transactional, corporate governance, risk management and litigation matters. Her experience includes front-end advising on the selection of appropriate project delivery methods, drafting and negotiating design and construction agreements, risk management and insurance advising, and managing and litigating complex construction claims.

Clients enjoy working with Shane on executive compensation matters because he is responsive, efficient and practical. Shane represents more than 20 public companies, with market caps between $30 million and $60 billion. He addresses complex compensation issues across various industries and identifies best practices as they evolve. As a result, he is well-positioned to provide a concise legal analysis, along with alternative and creative approaches, for emerging issues. Shane leverages this experience to drive cost-effective solutions for his clients in a predictable and transparent manner. Shane handles a large spectrum of executive compensation matters, including equity- and cash-based incentive plans; director compensation programs; employment and change-in-control agreements; SEC disclosures (including proxy statements, Forms 8-K and Forms 4); compensation policies (including stock ownership, anti-hedging, clawbacks, risk assessments, etc.); deferred compensation plans; and tax planning (including the golden parachute rules). He also helps private companies navigate the compensation “tune-up” phase of the IPO process, manages compensation programs for portfolio companies owned by private equity firms, and represents management teams in private equity buyouts. A recognized leader, Shane served as partner-in-charge of Thompson Hine’s Cincinnati office for 10 years and in top board positions for various nonprofits in the region.

Stephen M. King

Steve is a partner in the firm's Real Estate, Commercial and Public Finance, and Corporate Transactions & Securities practice groups. His commercial real estate practice focuses on the acquisition, development (mixed use, office and retail), finance and sales of commercial land; commercial leasing; sale/leaseback transactions; zoning and land use planning; and construction contracts. Steve is co-chair of the Development Team of the Real Estate practice group. Steve represents developers, owners, users and operators of office buildings, multi-family projects, shopping centers, industrial and manufacturing facilities, and other mixed use projects on a local, regional and national basis. He represents clients in sophisticated, multi-faceted loan workouts and restructurings. Steve has a wide range of experience with joint ventures and syndications, including involvement with developers, investors and contractors, with an extensive variety of structures. He has been involved with the real estate aspects of, and loan documentation for, New Markets Tax Credit transactions.

Stuart is a partner in, and vice chair of, our Corporate Transactions & Securities practice group. He focuses his practice on international and domestic mergers and acquisitions, securities laws and compliance, and corporate governance matters. Stuart represents public and private companies, boards of directors, board committees, investors, and financial advisors in a range of corporate transactions and governance matters.

Tom has served as practice group leader of the firm’s 50-member national Real Estate practice group for over 20 years and has handled billions in commercial real estate transactions across the U.S. He concentrates his practice on transaction planning, strategy and execution. Principal clients include public and private companies, real estate developers, individual and family interests, and institutional and fund investors. Representative transactions include acquisitions and sales; build-to-suit development; headquarters and large-scale mixed-use development; office, retail and industrial leasing; government incentives; complex easement agreements; borrower financing; broker agreements; brownfields redevelopment; and real estate tax challenges. Tom has spoken and published widely on commercial real estate topics. He is a member of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers. He currently serves as chair of the Real Estate Committee of the United States Law Firm Group and vice chair of the Downtown Cleveland Improvement Corporation. He serves on the board of EDWINS Leadership and Restaurant Institute and is former chair of Family Transitional Housing, Inc. and Cleveland Neighborhood Progress.

Tom is a partner in and former leader of the Government Contracts practice group. He focuses his practice on all aspects of government contracts law and litigation, including dealing with grants and co-operative agreements, the management of major government systems and programs, and the resolution of related claims and disputes. Tom has extensive trial and appellate litigation experience with a broad background in commercial and government contracts litigation, including civil false claims, accounting and intellectual property issues, and bid protests. Tom also represents domestic and foreign companies that conduct business with the federal and state governments and advises on issues related to GSA Schedule Contracts, teaming and subcontract agreements, mergers and acquisitions, government contract financing, contract interpretation, procurement integrity, regulatory compliance and training, protection of intellectual property, organizational conflicts of interest, contract performance, security clearances, dispute avoidance and resolution, FOIA and FAPIS issues. He has led many internal investigations teams focusing on government contract compliance issues and represented clients before agency suspension and debarment officials. As a licensed mediator, Tom has been engaged to help litigating parties resolve their dispute.

Tim is a partner in the Employee Benefits practice group and a member of the firm’s Executive Committee. As former chair, Tim led the Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation practice for 12 years. His niche is counseling companies on fiduciary compliance and benefit and executive compensation compliance matters. He has broad-based experience in virtually every aspect of employee benefits and executive compensation, including transactions, retirement programs, compensation arrangements, ERISA litigation, fiduciary compliance/counseling, IRS/DOL audits, welfare plans, pension termination/de-risking strategies and trust/service agreements.

Todd is a member of Thompson Hine's Executive Committee, the partner in charge of the Cincinnati office and a member of the firm's Corporate Transactions & Securities practice group. Todd's practice focuses on middle-market mergers and acquisitions in the U.S. and around the world. He also advises clients in connection with a wide range of other transactional and business matters, including joint ventures, capital raising activities, commercial agreements, entity organization and governance, and everyday business counseling.

Tony is a partner in the Corporate Transactions & Securities practice group and currently serves as chair of the firm's Mergers & Acquisitions practice. He focuses his practice in the following areas: mergers and acquisitions private equity and venture capital transactions joint ventures and other strategic transactions manufacturing, distribution, supply and other commercial agreements corporate governance and general corporate matters

Will is a partner in the Corporate Transactions & Securities practice group. He focuses his practice in the following areas: Mergers and acquisitions, principally in the middle-market space; Private equity, including add-on acquisitions and exits; Commercial contract drafting and associated counseling; and Corporate organization and general governance matters. Will has extensive experience in middle-market M&A transactions, having negotiated and closed transactions ranging in value from less than $1 million to over $500 million, with an aggregate value exceeding $3 billion over his career. His clients include private equity firms as well as privately-held and publicly-held Fortune 1000 companies. With regard to corporate drafting and counseling, in addition to working on transactions, Will has assisted clients in the drafting and negotiation of complex commercial agreements, ranging from purchase and supply agreements to complex long-term partnership and joint venture agreements. He also advises on day-to-day corporate governance matters, including employment agreements, consulting agreements and separation agreements. Recently, he completed a secondment at a division of a Fortune 10 company.