Thompson Hine LLP

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Paul Allaer

Paul is a Belgian native and obtained his law degree at KUL. He subsequently obtained two graduate law degrees in the United States and now has been a longtime U.S. resident. Paul has over 30 years of experience in corporate and M&A matters at Thompson Hine. The bulk of Paul’s practice consists of advising foreign (non-U.S.) corporations expanding into the United States in whatever form (merger, acquisition, joint venture, greenfield investment, start-up, etc.). Within the bucket of advising foreign corporations, Belgian companies comprise by far the largest segment. Paul is working with dozens of Belgian clients active in the United States. While based in Cincinnati, Ohio, Paul works on a national level.

Matthew Alshouse

Matt is a partner in the firm’s Real Estate practice. He advises clients on a broad range of commercial real estate transactions, with a particular focus on representing private equity funds, real estate asset managers, and institutional investors in the United States and internationally. He has significant experience guiding clients through acquisitions, dispositions, joint ventures, and complex financing arrangements, including mortgage and mezzanine loans, fund-level financing, and subscription-based credit facilities. Matt regularly counsels both domestic and foreign investor consortia, developers, lenders, and REITs, and has developed a strong track record assisting Korean asset managers and institutional investors with inbound U.S. real estate investments. His work spans major U.S. markets and asset classes, including office, logistics, and e-commerce facilities, and includes advising on the acquisition, development, and financing of large-scale projects as well as secondary market portfolio transactions. Matt is known for his practical approach to structuring transactions and his ability to navigate the complexities of cross-border investments.

Jeffrey Appelbaum

For 40 years, Jeff has served the construction industry in the varying roles of trial and transactional attorney, project counsel, project management consultant, owner’s representative, mediator and partnering facilitator. Jeff has provided distinguished service to public and private owners, design professionals, construction managers and contractors on important projects throughout the United States and Canada. Jeff has served as project counsel or owner’s representative for more than 100 projects involving billions of dollars of construction, including in excess of 30 major league sports facilities and other community impact projects throughout North America. He has facilitated over 300 complex partnering sessions and conducted more than 500 complex construction mediations. Jeff also formed, and serves as managing director of, Project Management Consultants LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Thompson Hine that provides ancillary construction project support services throughout Ohio and North America.

James Aronoff

Jim is a partner in the Real Estate group, chair of the firm’s Real Estate Capital Markets practice and a 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.

Jurgita Ashley

Jurgita is co-chair of the firm’s Public Companies group and co-chair of the Corporate Sustainability practice. She focuses her practice on capital markets transactions, SEC compliance, and board, sustainability and corporate governance matters. Jurgita advises public companies, ranging from Fortune 100 corporations to emerging and smaller public companies, as well as hedge funds and activist shareholders. She brings considerable SEC, board and governance expertise and has completed numerous securities offerings, with gross proceeds totaling billions of dollars. Jurgita is committed to providing exceptional client service.

Robyn Axberg

Robyn is a partner in the firm’s Corporate Transactions & Securities group, bringing over two decades of experience as a corporate attorney in the Chicago business community. She has led a broad range of commercial transactions, including mergers, asset and equity sales, joint ventures, and restructurings, skillfully structuring, negotiating, and closing complex deals for private companies. Her practice centers on guiding private companies through all legal and business needs, from entity selection and formation to capital and debt raises, governance, succession planning, and ultimately sale or dissolution. Robyn provides strategic, practical advice tailored to the evolving needs of clients across diverse industries. Drawing on her background as a financial analyst for a Fortune 500 company, Robyn combines legal expertise with business insight. She has earned the trust of a loyal mid-market client base who rely on her for a wide spectrum of legal matters.

Ned Babbitt

A partner in the firm’s Business Litigation practice group, Ned has extensive experience representing clients in a broad range of complex commercial litigation, with a particular focus on securities and shareholder litigation, corporate governance matters, and complex contractual disputes. He also has experience litigating trade secret, antitrust, and employment discrimination claims and frequently advises clients on a variety of pre-litigation and general business matters, including best practices and regulatory compliance.

John Bae

John is a partner in the Business Restructuring practice group. He focuses his practice on representing clients in large, complex and litigious bankruptcies, as well as strategic transactions that use the bankruptcy process to achieve business objectives. John has extensive transactional and litigation experience, and has developed particular experience in mass tort-related bankruptcies and out-of-court restructurings, including restructurings related to asbestos liability. John regularly advises and represents companies and boards of directors in insolvency situations, both domestically and internationally. His clients have included debtors, creditors, senior and mezzanine lenders, ad hoc noteholder committees and insurers as well as administrators of foreign insolvent estates. John also serves as a general advisor for both domestic and foreign clients in a multitude of areas including corporate and financing transactions and litigation matters.

Corby Baumann

Corby advises clients in domestic and international mergers and acquisitions, dispositions, take-private transactions, tender offers, joint ventures, private equity and venture capital investments, licensing and distribution arrangements, and other significant corporate transactions. She also represents activist investors and issuers in director nomination campaigns, proxy contests, and hostile takeovers. In addition, Corby has extensive experience advising boards of directors, special committees, investors and financial advisors in corporate transactions, corporate governance, and securities law matters. Corby represents investors and privately held companies in early-stage and follow-on investments as well as issuers, underwriters, and selling stockholders in securities offerings and de-SPAC transactions. She has represented clients in the pharmaceutical, biotech, life sciences, aerospace, manufacturing, chemical, health care, insurance, communications, technology, professional services, and retail industries.

David Benz

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.

Joe Berger

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.

Kip Bollin

Kip is the partner in charge of the Cleveland office and a litigation partner who focuses on the defense of business and product liability claims. His business litigation practice includes the defense of putative class actions, commercial claims, consumer claims, intellectual property claims (litigation counsel, working with patent counsel), and other state and federal causes of action. Kip also serves as a court-appointed special master in federal litigation. In the product liability area, he represents corporations in the defense of putative class actions, personal injury claims, mass torts, toxic torts, consumer claims, and warranty claims. Kip defends manufacturers of heavy industrial and consumer products from wrongful death claims and claims involving serious economic and physical damages. Kip was the national president of the 18,000+ member Federal Bar Association in 2017-2018. Previously, he served on the FBA national board of directors for three years and as a past president and board member of the FBA’s Northern District of Ohio Chapter. Kip is also the chair of the Northern District of Ohio Advisory Group, a court-appointed panel charged with providing information on matters of interest to the court, assisting in the implementation of court-adopted programs, and bringing to the court’s attention matters of interest to the bar and the community. Kip was previously chair of a subcommittee that drafted the court’s rule and forms governing class actions.

Karyn Booth

Karyn is a partner and leader of the Transportation practice. She represents multinational corporations, trade associations, and transportation intermediaries, such as 3PLs, NVOCCs, freight forwarders and brokers, in domestic and international matters involving multimodal transportation and logistics services. Her practice covers the carriage of goods by rail, motor, vessel and air carriers. Karyn serves as the general counsel to The National Industrial Transportation League, the nation's oldest and largest shipper organization. Karyn's practice includes a full range of services with a focus on regulatory compliance and counseling; proceedings before the Surface Transportation Board (STB), Department of Transportation (DOT), Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Federal Maritime Commission (FMC), Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA); transportation contracting; transportation security; legislation; and litigation/arbitration of transportation-related disputes.

Sandra L. Brown

Sandy is a member of Thompson Hine's Executive Committee and a partner in the firm's Transportation group. She represents bulk commodity shippers and other entities that use transportation services. Her clients include 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 also has past experience representing a Class I Railroad. This unique blend of experience assists Sandy in providing strategic counsel for the transportation of bulk commodities. Sandy counsels on ways to increase competitive leverage including counsel on rail construction options, contract negotiation and drafting, federal preemption, rate challenges, rail service and practices, rail mergers and other regulatory proceedings before the Surface Transportation Board. Sandy also defends shippers in contract and derailment disputes with railroads. Before entering private practice, Sandy worked on Capitol Hill and worked as an attorney with the White House Counsel's office and the Interstate Commerce Commission.

Timothy Brown

Tim is a former member of Thompson Hine's Executive Committee and the former practice group leader of the firm's Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation practice group. He focuses his practice on employee benefits, executive compensation and ERISA, including: Analysis of benefit issues and liabilities in corporate mergers and acquisitions Creation, maintenance and termination of tax-qualified retirement plans and master trusts Development of non-qualified executive compensation arrangements All facets of employee stock ownership plan implementation, financing and operation Welfare plan administration and documentation, including: ACA compliance Flexible benefit plans COBRA Compliance with SEC rules affecting the operation of benefit plans IRS and Department of Labor plan audits ERISA litigation Voluntary corrective actions under regulatory relief programs Early retirement incentive programs Multi-employer plans and withdrawal liability Governmental reporting obligations Compliance with ERISA fiduciary and prohibited transaction rules PBGC reporting controversies Fiduciary reviews compliance, including benefits/investment committee structures and process

Thomas Butchko

Thom is a partner in the Commercial & Public Finance practice group. He represents private and public companies, emerging companies and private equity firms across a wide spectrum of industries, including specialty chemicals, software-as-a-service, nuclear waste management, leasing, media and telecommunication services. Additionally, he provides representation to banks, privately held funds and other financial institutions lending to borrowers in diverse industry sectors. Thom guides clients through financings for acquisitions, capital call bridge financing, equipment purchases, dividend recapitalizations, interim financing, growth capital and working capital needs.

Marla Butler

Marla is a partner in the firm’s Intellectual Property & Technology Litigation practice and a member of the firm’s Executive Committee. She delivers consistent results for a broad range of sophisticated clients, ranging from global technology and life sciences companies to manufacturers, software and communications providers, and other cutting-edge and innovative companies. She has litigated and/or tried trials in state and federal courts nationwide. Well before she enters the courtroom, Marla applies fine-tuned legal judgment and business insight to help clients anticipate and manage commercial risk while optimizing their patent portfolios. She conducts comprehensive early case assessments that clarify risk, forecast outcomes, and define strategic options. She has also represented parties in numerous arbitration proceedings. Marla offers clients a rare trifecta, combining fluency in complex technologies; an ability to lead multidisciplinary teams of lawyers, scientists, and economists; and a gift for translating intricate issues effectively to judges, juries and arbitrators.

Frank Chaiken

Frank is a partner in the firm and leads Thompson Hine’s Corporate Transactions & Securities practice group, which comprises the firm’s practices in the areas of Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Securities, Investment Management and Funds, Venture Capital, Contracting and General Corporate. He focuses his practice on private M&A, on both the buy and sell sides, including transactions for private and private equity-backed companies and their sponsors; cross-border transactions (in-bound and out-bound); and corporate restructurings. Frank provides general counsel and trusted adviser services to clients and their senior management. He is based in Thompson Hine’s Cincinnati office.

Mark Cipolletti

Mark is a partner in the firm's White Collar Defense & Investigations group. He has extensive experience involving complex financial crimes, including securities law violations, market manipulation, and investment fraud, as well as violations of the False Claims Act, public corruption, cross-border crimes, and all types of government enforcement investigations. He has tried over 65 jury trials to verdict and managed a wide variety of financial fraud, regulatory fraud, criminal procurement fraud, bribery, and money laundering.

Jack Clark

Jack is a partner 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.

John Cottingham

John is a partner in the firm's Corporate Transactions & Securities practice group. He focuses his practice on M&A, corporate finance, private equity, sourcing, procurement, supply chain matters and other commercial transactions. John's experience includes advisory roles related to a $35 billion tracking stock recombination, a $1.9 billion acquisition of a software company, a $3.5 billion sale of an existing partnership to a corporation, and multiple and varied fixed income and equity offerings. John also frequently provides training to M&A and sourcing, and supply chain professionals, focusing on best practices, negotiation and legal terms and conditions. Prior to law school, John was a submarine officer in the United States Navy, where he served as a division officer, department head, and as executive officer aboard the U.S.S. Phoenix. Following law school, John worked as an assistant to counsel to the United States Senate Judiciary Committee.

Andrew Cox

Andrew is the leader of the Product Liability Litigation practice group. He has defended hundreds of product liability actions in state and federal courts throughout the United States relating to a wide range of consumer and commercial products, and has in-depth experience with commercial food equipment, aviation components, and specialty plastics. Andrew also represents companies as both plaintiffs and defendants in commercial disputes arising from the sale of goods and contracts for product design and manufacturing services, and in contribution and indemnification actions. In addition to representing manufacturers in litigation through trial and appeal, Andrew counsels clients on risk mitigation and avoidance strategies, conducts product liability risk assessments, drafts warnings and product instructions, and advises clients on drafting warranties and commercial terms and conditions.

Thomas Coyne

Tom has served as leader of the firm’s 50-member national Real Estate practice group for almost 25 years and has handled billions in commercial real estate transactions across the U.S. and in many foreign countries. He concentrates his practice on transaction planning, strategy and execution. His principal clients include public and private companies, real estate developers, institutional and fund investors, and family offices and individuals. Representative transactions include acquisitions and sales; development; company headquarters; large-scale mixed-use projects; office, retail and industrial leasing; digital infrastructure; government incentives; complex easement agreements; borrower financing; broker agreements; brownfields redevelopment; resolution of commercial real estate disputes; 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 is a former chair of the Downtown Cleveland Improvement Corporation, the Real Estate Committee of the United States Law Firm Group, Family Transitional Housing, Inc. and Cleveland Neighborhood Progress. He currently serves on the board of EDWINS Leadership and Restaurant Institute.

Robert Curry

Bob is senior counsel in the firm's Real Estate practice group and former partner-in-charge of the Dayton office. He focuses his practice on commercial real estate transactions, office, industrial, shopping center and mixed-use development, public-private partnerships involving real estate, commercial leases, mortgage loan transactions, zoning and land use law, broker/agency law, condominiums and planned unit developments. Bob is a co-author of a leading treatise on Ohio real estate law and the former chair of the Real Property Section of the Ohio State Bar Association.

David D. Watson

David is a partner in the Corporate Transactions & Securities practice group. He focuses his practice on mergers and acquisitions, including distressed M&A transactions; private equity fund matters; business counseling; family business issues and succession planning. David has substantial experience in transactional and general corporate law, including the acquisition and disposition of businesses, both in the ordinary course of events and bankruptcy; the organization, operation and disposition of partnerships, limited liability companies and joint ventures; succession planning and the resolution of private shareholder disputes; and counseling clients across a wide range of industries on a variety of day-to-day business matters.

Andrew Davalla

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.

Darrel Davison

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 construction. Darrel represents institutional investors with respect to all types of commercial real estate including multifamily, industrial, mixed-use, data center, office and retail properties.

Edward DeLisle

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.

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. Dominic is a Fellow of the American College of Employee Benefits Counsel.

Nathan E Holmes

Nathan is an experienced executive compensation lawyer, and a partner in the firm’s Tax and Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation practice groups. Nathan regularly represents public companies, large private companies and nonprofit organizations in executive compensation matters. He works with companies across a range of industries (including manufacturing, technology, media, financial services, retail and utilities) and with respect to a broad variety of compensation arrangements for executives and directors.

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.

Sarah Flannery

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

James Frankel

Jamie is a Partner in the firm's Construction Practice and plays an active role in its wholly owned subsidiary, Project Management Consultants, LLC (PMC). Through this platform, he leverages the integrated skills of project managers, architects, engineers and lawyers to structure contracts and mitigate risks from inception through commissioning and close-out. He delivers creative, efficient and team-oriented solutions for owners, architects, engineering firms and construction companies on projects and transactions across the built environment in the U.S. and abroad. Jamie draws on his multidisciplinary background and problem-solving skills to advise on project structuring, transactional documentation and dispute resolution. Representative projects include the financing, design and construction of the railroad replacement between Ben Gurion Airport and Jerusalem, and the design and construction procurement of the Military Hospital in Istanbul, Turkey. Jamie provides intermediary and business advisory services as part of his architect- and engineer-focused Merger & Acquisitions Program, representing both buyers and sellers in the private equity community. In addition, during the past 35 years, he has facilitated the acquisition and disposition of New York State Grandfathered Engineering and Architectural Firms. As Co-Chair of the firm's Digital Infrastructure Practice, Jamie leads the firm's Data Center Practice, which focuses on site selection, acquisition, design, capital formation, construction and commissioning for hyperscale and co-location facilities throughout the U.S. and internationally.

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.

Jonathon H. Vinocur

Jonathon is partner in charge of the Chicago office, chair of the firm’s New Ventures practice and a partner in the firm's Corporate Transactions & Securities practice group. His practice is focused on representing emerging technology companies, venture capital firms, corporate venture capital investors and angel investors. He advises company-side clients from formation, through funding to exit and has extensive experience in complex, venture-style corporate finance matters.

Daniel Haymond

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.

Richard Helm

Richard is a partner in the firm's Commercial & Public Finance practice group. He has experience with advising both banks and corporate borrowers on secured and unsecured commercial loan transactions, including the negotiation and drafting of loan agreements and related security documents, as well as the authorizing corporate documentation of the borrower. Such matters have included financing arrangements for term and revolving lending. Richard also has experience in the area of public finance, representing issuers, borrowers and credit enhancers in connection with the issuance of tax-exempt bonds and taxable obligations. Richard is also member of the firm's Corporate Transactions & Securities practice group. He focuses his practice on commercial contracts and transactions, mergers and acquisitions, internal corporate restructurings, and governance of nonprofit and for-profit entities.

William Henry

Will 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, 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.

Eric N. Heyer

Eric is a partner in the firm’s Business Litigation practice group and leads the firm’s extensive and multidisciplinary Tobacco Alternatives & Nicotine Products Industry practice. He started with Thompson Hine as a summer associate over 18 years ago and has spent all but two years of his career at the firm. Eric is an accomplished trial and appellate litigator with extensive experience advising clients and litigating disputes related to actions by government agencies under the Administrative Procedure Act and state law equivalents. His litigation experience encompasses a broad range of matters, including constitutional challenges to state legislation and administrative actions, contract disputes, business torts, employment and non-compete matters, qui tam claims, unfair competition, unfair trade practices and consumer protection claims, insurance claims, and trademark, copyright, trade secret, and patent litigation. He has extensive experience trying claims in jury and bench trials in federal and state courts around the country, as well as in private arbitrations, and has briefed and argued appeals before the Second, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Ninth, D.C., and Federal Circuits. Eric has conducted jury trials and arbitrations on fraud claims; breach of contract claims, including those arising out of breaches of noncompetition and confidentiality agreements; veil-piercing claims; claims regarding the fiduciary obligations of current and former employees and agents; warranty claims; and age and race discrimination claims. As the leader of the firm’s Tobacco Alternatives & Nicotine Products practice, Eric advises clients on FDA and state regulatory compliance and enforcement issues, contractual and transactional matters, and intellectual property issues and represents clients with respect to subpoenas and civil investigative demands from state attorneys general or which are the subjects of state or federal investigations. Eric is lead counsel for the respondents in FDA v. Wages & White Lion Investments, LLC, which is currently pending before the Supreme Court of the United States.

Tony J. Hornbach

As a lawyer, Tony focuses on two things — providing the best possible client service and getting clients results. He is a civil litigator who understands that every case is important, regardless of size, and although most cases settle, he has the trial experience and track record to take cases to trial, if necessary. Tony is often entrusted to handle clients’ most important and most complex litigation matters. He provides value to clients by assessing their litigation risks, evaluating their potential claims, managing their disputes prior to litigation, and representing them in lawsuits or arbitrations once they are engaged in litigation. He strives to build long-term relationships with clients and believes that the only way to do that is to be trustworthy, honest, and transparent. He has significant experience representing clients in a wide variety of commercial litigation as well as construction, labor and employment, commercial landlord-tenant, trade secret litigation, and professional malpractice litigation. He has substantial expertise handling shareholder disputes, including those involving small, closely held entities and larger public companies. He has also been successful representing clients in arbitrations across the country.

Anthony J. Rospert

As a partner in the Business Litigation group, Tony helps clients overcome legal obstacles to protect their assets and manage litigation risk in pursuit of their strategic goals. He believes that a big part of his job is assessing risk for his clients to help them make the best possible decisions. Tony also views himself as a legal quarterback for in-house counsel who matches his clients’ needs with Thompson Hine’s resources to ensure success. Tony has a passion for helping his clients succeed by treating them like his best friends by being loyal, well-connected and honest with them about the strengths and weaknesses of their legal positions. As a result, clients rely on him as a “go-to” litigator for their most significant matters. Tony focuses his practice on complex business and corporate litigation involving financial services institutions, private equity firms, real estate development and management companies, commercial and contract disputes, indemnification issues, claims involving representations and warranties insurance (R&W insurance or RWI) and other types of transaction liability insurance, post-closing disputes in mergers and acquisitions, shareholder actions, business transactions, class actions, and directors and officers (D&O) litigation. Litigation can be time-consuming and costly, so for many disputes it may be more effective to seek methods of resolution other than traditional court litigation. Although Tony has an impressive record of courtroom achievements, he seeks to optimize case outcomes while managing the costs, time and stress of a lawsuit by regularly using arbitration, mediation and other forms of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) as pragmatic ways to meet his clients’ needs.

Eduardo Kim

Eduardo is a partner in the firm’s Commercial & Public Finance practice group. He focuses his practice on commercial lending, representing banks and other financial institutions. Eduardo has significant experience with syndicated senior credit facilities, asset-based and structured finance facilities, project and equipment lease financings, acquisition financings, and financing transactions involving multiple foreign jurisdictions. His financing experience spans most industries, including agriculture, consumer, renewable energy, gaming, health care, manufacturing, service, technology, transportation and retail.

Mitchell Kim

Mitchell Kim focuses on complex commercial disputes and strategic counseling. He represents clients in high-stakes matters involving contract claims, corporate ownership and partnership disputes, asset distribution, and securities litigation. His clients span a broad range of industries and include Fortune 500 companies, private enterprises, private investors, and South Korea-based corporations. A seasoned first-chair trial lawyer, Mitchell has tried 17 cases to verdict, including 14 jury trials, and is known for his ability to navigate sophisticated, cross-border litigation. His litigation experience encompasses contract, securities, corporate governance and ownership disputes, partnership matters, asset allocation, and intellectual property claims. He blends courtroom advocacy with practical business strategy to drive favorable outcomes in contested proceedings. Fluent in Korean, Mitchell has developed a significant Korea-focused practice advising domestic and international clients on cross-border disputes and international business matters. In addition to his trial work, he serves as outside general counsel to privately held companies of all sizes, providing tailored legal guidance aligned with each client’s operational needs and growth objectives.

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.

Katie Kohn

Katie is a partner in the firm’s Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation group. She advises clients on all aspects of qualified retirement plan compliance. Katie's practice encompasses a broad range of counseling, from day-to-day compliance issues under ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code, to complex or strategic matters where creativity is necessary. As a former attorney with the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC), she has a unique background concerning single- and multi-employer defined benefit pension plan issues. Katie also represents clients in federal court and arbitration in matters involving single- and multi-employer retirement plans. Katie routinely guides clients through regulatory enforcement processes and investigations by the DOL, IRS, and PBGC. She also counsels clients on corrections under Employee Plans Compliance Resolution System (EPCRS) and the Voluntary Fiduciary Correction Program (VFCP). Katie has extensive experience working with recordkeepers, third-party administrators, and other service providers on large-scale corrections, addressing prohibited transaction issues, and addressing customer and service-level IRS and DOL inquiries. Katie assists clients in finding effective and valuable solutions regarding retirement plan mergers and spinoffs, plan de-risking transactions, plan terminations, plan corrections, and overfunded plans. She has a strong track record advising clients on retirement and benefit plan issues arising in corporate transactions and in- and out-of-court restructuring. Katie has significant experience assisting clients with participation in multi-employer pension plans, including structuring ERISA-compliant asset sales and evaluating or disputing withdrawal liability assessments. Additionally, Katie advises private funds and benefit plan investors on ERISA compliance issues, particularly regarding disclosure, plan investment issues and negotiations.

Tony Kuhel

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

Christopher Larus

Christopher chairs the firm’s IP & Technology Litigation practice and serves as partner in charge of the firm’s Minneapolis office. For more than 25 years, Christopher has helped clients protect their innovation. He tries complex patent, trade secret, copyright, trademark, and licensing cases. He represents both plaintiffs and defendants in courts throughout the country and in both national and international arbitration. Christopher also works with clients to protect and monetize intellectual property assets outside of the disputes context. He has extensive experience planning and implementing licensing campaigns involving a broad range of intellectual property assets and technologies. He works to tailor licensing and enforcement strategies designed to maximize each client’s return on innovation. Christopher is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, one of the premier legal associations in North America. He is also certified as a Civil Trial Law Specialist by the Minnesota State Bar Association. In addition to directly advocating for clients, Christopher has extensive experience as an arbitrator in both national and international arbitration. He serves as an appointed arbitrator in disputes before the American Arbitration Association (AAA), International Centre For Dispute Resolution (ICDR), and World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). Christopher is also a trusted business advisor and serves on advisory boards for several innovative technology-focused companies.

David Lewis

David is a partner in the firm’s Real Estate practice group. He represents financial institutions on real estate financing, securitized lending, secured letters of credit, and complex construction financing involving multiple financing, grant, and equity sources. Dave specializes in tax credit financing, with an expertise in projects supported by Low Income Housing Tax Credits, Historic Tax Credits and New Market Tax Credits. With more than 25 years of experience on such transactions, Dave has represented financial institutions and developers on hundreds of transactions throughout the United States, including matters involving lost development rights, tax increment financing, and USDA Rural Housing funds. He also represents financial institutions as the agent in syndicated loan transactions and provides counsel in real estate loan workouts and restructurings.

Pingshan Li

Ping is a partner in the firm's Corporate Transactions & Securities practice group. He focuses his practice on mergers and acquisitions; cross-border business transactions including international joint ventures; corporate finance; corporate governance and restructuring matters for both private and public companies; public company compliance and reporting; intellectual property matters; international supply chain and maritime law matters; and complex commercial litigation. He also represents Asian companies in direct investment and expansion-related matters in North America, as well as U.S. companies doing business in China. Prior to joining Thompson Hine, Ping was a partner with a regional firm and led that firm’s China practice. Ping previously worked as a claim manager at China Shipowners Mutual Assurance Association in Beijing, where he represented shipowners and P&I clubs in maritime matters in Chinese and U.S. international ports.

Julia Ann Love

Julia leads the firm’s Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation practice and has more than 30 years of experience providing proactive and practical advice to businesses on all aspects of employee benefits and executive compensation, including ERISA compliance, defined benefit and defined contribution retirement plans, health and welfare plans, executive employment agreements and non-qualified deferred compensation arrangements. She advises publicly traded companies, privately held companies and non-profit corporations in the Cleveland, Ohio area and nationwide from a variety of industries including technology, banking, retail, and manufacturing which gives her insight into best practices and emerging trends in various industries. Julia has significant experience with respect to defined benefit pension plan de-risking transactions, including lump sum windows for deferred vested participants, annuity purchases and pension plan terminations having advised on over 20 such transactions. Julia also has significant experience with respect to employee benefits issues in mergers and acquisitions and post-closing integration matters, including unique issues relating to stock and asset acquisitions and merger transactions. Julia also frequently advises clients with respect to unique issues relating to multiple and multiemployer pension and health and welfare plans such as negotiation of participation agreements and withdrawal liability issues.

Erin Luke

Erin is a partner in the firm’s Construction practice group and chair of the Transactional practice. 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, event and entertainment venues, hospital and medical complexes, manufacturing and industrial facilities, and historical and cultural institutions. Her experience includes project delivery and structuring advice, contract negotiating and drafting, insurance and risk management counseling, operational project management advice, and claims resolution.

William Manske

Will is a partner in the firm’s Intellectual Property & Technology Litigation group. Recognized for his “insightful counsel and profound knowledge of the law,” Will focuses on complex litigation, patent, trade secret, copyright, trademark, and licensing cases. His experience spans a wide range of industries, including medical devices, batteries, healthcare, agribusiness, food and beverage, manufacturing, and financial services. He has extensive experience navigating complex intellectual property disputes and has favorably resolved numerous matters through strategic negotiation and trial. Consistently recognized in industry awards, including The Best Lawyers in America©, International Asset Management, and among World Trademark Review’s top trademark professionals, Will is widely respected for his ability to deliver innovative solutions tailored to his clients’ business goals.

Conor McLaughlin

Conor is a partner in the firm’s Product Liability Litigation practice group who represents a broad range of clients, including manufacturers of automobiles, commercial food processing equipment, aircraft components, building products, and other commercial, industrial, and consumer products in product liability, tort, and administrative matters. Conor also defends clients, including natural gas distribution companies, steel companies, manufacturers, and industrial equipment companies against a broad range of general tort claims, premises liability claims, and putative class and mass actions. He handles trials and appeals in state and federal courts throughout the country. Conor is active in several bar organizations, including the Defense Research Institute and the John M. Manos Inn of Court. Before joining Thompson Hine, Conor clerked for the Honorable Alice M. Batchelder of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. He also served as an extern for the Honorable Christopher A. Boyko, United States District Judge, Northern District of Ohio. Conor previously served as an adjunct professor at Case Western Reserve University School of Law, where he coached the Philip C. Jessup international law moot court team and assisted in teaching the international war crimes research lab.

Jeff Moreno

Jeff is senior counsel 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. Jeff has extensive experience in matters before the Surface Transportation Board (STB) and agencies within the Department of Transportation, including the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). He handles all rail regulatory matters within the jurisdiction of the STB. Before the NHTSA, Jeff advises auto equipment manufacturers on various vehicle equipment safety requirements and safety recalls. At the FRA and FMCSA, he advises clients on rail and motor carrier safety requirements, respectively. In addition, Jeff handles hazardous material enforcement and compliance matters before the FRA and PHMSA.

Rajin Olson

Rajin is a partner in the firm’s Intellectual Property & Technology Litigation group. He focuses his practice on intellectual property litigation, including patent, trade secret, copyright, and licensing disputes. He is dedicated to securing practical, business-driven solutions for clients, whether through strategic negotiation, litigation or trial advocacy. He has represented both plaintiffs and defendants in high-stakes technology disputes involving some of the world’s largest companies. His experience spans a broad spectrum of technologies, including mobile communications, semiconductors, IT network management, video streaming, speech coding, and software. As a registered patent attorney, he also handles inter partes review proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. With a multicultural background and a passion for continuous learning, Rajin brings fresh perspectives and innovative problem-solving to his practice. His diverse academic foundation—combining civil engineering, Spanish, and international studies—equips him with both technical insight and a global mindset when addressing complex legal challenges. Rajin is committed to pro bono advocacy, particularly in immigration and transgender rights. He collaborates with the Binger Center for New Americans at the University of Minnesota Law School, assisting immigrants seeking relief in court. Additionally, he serves on the board of Agate Housing and Services, a Minneapolis nonprofit dedicated to preventing and addressing homelessness.

Ash D. Patel

Ash is the leader of the firm’s Intellectual Property Prosecution, Transactions & Portfolio Management practice group. He focuses his practice on patent and trademark litigation, domestic and foreign patent and trademark prosecution, and the negotiation and preparation of intellectual property agreements, including licensing and strategic alliance agreements.

Francis E. Purcell

Francis E. "Chip" Purcell, Jr. is the partner in charge of the Washington, D.C. office and 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.

Kevin R. Tabor

Kevin serves as chair of the firm’s Tax group. He devotes a significant portion of his practice to renewable energy tax credits such as the Section 48 Energy Investment Tax Credit (ITC), Section 45 Production Tax Credit (PTC), Section 45X Advanced Manufacturing Production Credit and Section 45U Zero-emission Nuclear Power Production Credit (including the transfer of such credits as authorized by the Inflation Reduction Act). Kevin also frequently advises clients on all aspects of corporate and partnership taxation and often represents clients before the IRS and the Ohio Department of Taxation in audits, administrative appeals, litigation and criminal tax investigations. He is also a certified public accountant in Ohio.

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.

Alan Ritchie

Alan is the chair and practice group leader of the firm’s Construction practice group. In addition to being a partner in the firm’s Construction and Real Estate practice groups, Alan is a director and board member of the firm’s wholly owned subsidiary, Project Management Consultants, which provides owner’s representative and structured finance services for projects throughout the U.S. Alan is also one of the founding members of the firm’s Site Selection and Public-Private Partnership (P3) practice areas. Alan’s real estate practice includes the representation of developers, professional sports teams, public owners, lenders, borrowers and other corporations in connection with public/private development transactions, mixed-use developments, zoning and project entitlement, public and private finance, build-to-suit and sale leaseback transactions, acquisitions and sales, development, leasing and other general corporate real estate matters. 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.

Jennifer Roach

Jen has over 20 years of experience helping clients resolve complex product distribution and supply chain problems. Her experience includes drafting, negotiating and litigating contractual arrangements among manufacturers, suppliers, distributors and dealers. She works with clients to formulate distribution strategies and draft agreements to meet their needs in the United States and internationally. Jen also advises clients and provides training on antitrust issues relating to product distribution, including product pricing programs, communications with competitors and customers, and vertical restraints. Jen has trial experience in both federal and state courts in matters relating to product distribution, antitrust, dealer termination and supply chain issues as well as cases involving unfair competition, false advertising and trade secret claims.

Laura Ryan

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.

Todd Schild

Todd is a partner in Thompson Hine’s Corporate Transactions & Securities/M&A practice group and a member of the firm’s Executive Committee. He takes a commercial and practical approach to advising clients in connection with 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, commercial agreements, entity organization and governance, and everyday business counseling.

Brittain Shaw

Brittain is a partner and chair of the firm's White Collar Defense & Investigations group. Her practice focuses on representing clients in all types of government enforcement investigations, including matters involving complex financial fraud, securities fraud, market manipulation, public corruption and cross-border crimes. With extensive experience as a prosecutor at the United States Department of Justice's Fraud Section, Brittain has led numerous high-profile investigations into various sophisticated fraud schemes. Her work encompasses matters involving accounting fraud, insider trading, commodities fraud, investment fraud, healthcare fraud, mail and wire fraud, tax fraud and money laundering, among others. Brittain has managed all aspects of large-scale criminal investigations, often in parallel with civil investigations by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission or the Treasury Department. Her deep experience includes working closely with agents and officials from multiple U.S. law enforcement agencies and conducting cross-border investigations requiring frequent contacts with foreign criminal and civil regulators such as the United Kingdom's Serious Fraud Office and Financial Conduct Authority, the Netherlands Public Prosecution Service, the Ontario Securities Commission and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.

Arik Sherk

Arik is a partner in the Commercial & Public Finance practice group of Thompson Hine LLP. Arik focuses his practice on public finance in a variety of capacities, including bond counsel, underwriter's counsel, borrower's counsel and credit enhancer's counsel in connection with the issuance of tax-exempt bonds and taxable obligations. His practice includes the financing of facilities for nonprofit and private users, including housing, health care, cultural and manufacturing facilities, which often involve the use of complex derivative products. He also represents real estate developers, municipalities and underwriters in various other forms of public financing transactions, including tax increment and pilot financings. Arik's practice also includes representing the borrowers, who are the equity recipients, and other parties to New Markets Tax Credit transactions and other forms of tax credits. Arik also focuses on corporate finance and banking, including the representation of lenders and borrowers in connection with the financing of capital projects and working capital loans, and the restructuring and workout of non-performing loans.

Robyn Minter Smyers

Robyn is a partner in Thompson Hine’s Real Estate practice group, as well as a co-chair of the firm’s Site Selection practice. She also is a member of Thompson Hine's Executive Committee. Robyn focuses her practice on helping companies find and develop new plants, headquarters and facilities. She also has significant experience with 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, ground-up developments and sale-leaseback deals. To all her engagements, Robyn brings a commitment to efficiency and predictability through value-based pricing and legal project management.

Louis Solimine

Louis is a partner in the firm’s Business Restructuring practice group and has extensive experience in significant Chapter 11 reorganizations, commercial workouts, foreclosure cases, receiverships and assignments for the benefit of creditors. He has represented debtors, creditors’ committees, secured lenders, equipment lessors, landlords and tenants, trade creditors, health insurers, bio-pharma companies, prospective acquirers, preference defendants and other interested parties in numerous major Chapter 11 cases throughout the United States. Louis also focuses his practice on related matters arising under the UCC, including sales, personal property leases, letters of credit, security agreements and secured party sales.

Sarah Sparer

Sarah Sparer is a partner in the firm’s Construction practice group. She 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.

Ryan Spiegel

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.

Shane Starkey

Clients value Shane for his responsive, efficient, and practical approach to executive compensation. He represents more than 20 public companies with market caps from $30 million to $60 billion, addressing complex compensation issues across industries and tracking best practices as they evolve. This breadth positions him to deliver concise legal analysis and creative alternatives on emerging issues, driving cost-effective solutions in a predictable, transparent manner. Shane handles the full range of executive compensation matters, including equity- and cash-based incentive plans; director compensation; employment and change-in-control agreements; SEC disclosures (proxy statements, Forms 8-K, and Forms 4); compensation policies (stock ownership, anti-hedging, clawbacks, and risk assessments); deferred compensation plans; and tax planning, including the golden parachute rules. He also guides private companies through the compensation “tune-up” phase of the IPO process, manages programs for private equity portfolio companies, 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 has held top board positions with regional nonprofits.

Steven G. Stransky

Steve is a trusted attorney, leader, and adviser on cybersecurity, data privacy, and national security issues, and he has deep experience providing legal advice and counsel to private-sector executives as well as White House and other senior government officials. In particular, Steve helps clients develop and implement data governance frameworks and internal policies and procedures to address evolving data privacy and digital marketing laws. Steve is also a Data Breach Coach and frequently assists clients in responding to ransomware attacks, business email compromises, and other cybersecurity incidents. He has firsthand experience responding to multimillion-dollar ransomware demands, retaining independent digital forensic and incident response firms, negotiating ransom pricing with threat actors, coordinating incident reporting with law enforcement and regulatory authorities, and facilitating data breach notification letters and communications. In addition, Steve assists defense contractors and other private-sector businesses in satisfying cybersecurity standards issued by the federal government and in developing and maintaining insider threat programs. Steve has obtained multiple credentials from the International Association of Privacy Professionals related to government and private sector data protection laws, statutes, regulations, and industry standards. Also an adjunct law professor, Steve teaches courses on topics related to foreign affairs, intelligence activities, and national security law at the Frederick K. Cox International Law Center at Case Western Reserve University School of Law.

JoAnn Strasser

JoAnn is a partner and chair of the firm’s Investment Management group. 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 25 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. JoAnn brings a unique perspective to the representation of series trusts and has developed risk mitigation strategies to address the governance challenges of these structures.

Bibb Strench

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.

Patrick J. Sweeney

Pat is Senior Counsel 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. Pat has lectured extensively on construction contracting issues with a variety of trade groups, the American Arbitration Association, the American Bar Association, the Ohio State Bar Association and the Cleveland Bar Association. Pat assisted in the facilitation of the Ohio construction reform panel and has assisted in drafting the new legislation for the Ohio Construction Reform Law.

David Thomas

Dave is the leader of the firm's Commercial & Public Finance practice group. He focuses his practice on commercial financing transactions involving banks and other financial institutions, as well as public and private companies, in connection with secured and unsecured credit facilities. Dave has significant experience in representing clients in syndicated and bilateral credit facilities, project financing transactions, acquisition financing transactions and equipment financings. In addition, Dave is a member of the firm’s Energy group, where he represents financial institutions and developers in connection with renewable energy financing, with an emphasis on solar and investment tax credit-driven financing.

William Ticknor

Bill Ticknor concentrates his practice on complex commercial real estate transactions across the investment lifecycle, including acquisitions, dispositions, and debt and equity finance. He serves as trusted counsel to real estate funds, developers, high-net-worth individuals, and both institutional and non-institutional investors. With more than two decades of experience, Bill structures and negotiates single-asset and multi-asset portfolio deals and leads a full spectrum of financing transactions, including traditional acquisition and construction loans, refinancings, loan assumptions, defeasances, workouts, and syndicated, participating and securitized loan facilities. He also advises on mezzanine financings and preferred equity investments, aligning capital stacks to meet clients’ risk, return and timing objectives. Bill’s matters span marquee single-asset “trophy” transactions as well as multi-asset and whole-company deals involving diverse property types, such as industrial facilities, luxury hotels and resorts, office towers, shopping centers, parking structures, self-storage, student housing, and multifamily communities. He has guided the acquisition and financing of large-scale industrial portfolios, creative office and retail developments, multifamily projects exceeding billions of dollars of transactions, and high-profile assets throughout California and across the United States.

Curtis Tuggle

Curtis is a partner in the firm’s Business Restructuring practice. He focuses his practice on corporate financings, commercial and creditors’ rights, domestic and cross-border insolvency proceedings (primarily Chapter 11 reorganizations and Chapter 15 proceedings), workouts, preference and fraudulent transfer litigation, Uniform Commercial Code controversies and other commercial law cases. He has significant experience representing lenders, private investment firms and indenture trustees in workouts, loan restructurings and major reorganization and liquidation proceedings throughout North America. He also has considerable experience representing creditors’ committees and debtors in Chapter 11 cases and directors and officers in fiduciary duty litigation.

Jason D. Tutrone

Jason is a partner in the firm’s Transportation group. He helps businesses develop and maintain safe, competitive, and efficient transportation capabilities by providing guidance on freight-transportation and aircraft transactions, compliance with transportation regulations, regulatory solutions to transportation challenges, and resolution of transportation-related disputes. Jason’s practice is multimodal, involving air, ocean, rail, and truck transportation, and covers domestic (U.S.) and international transportation. His clients are shippers, including chemical manufacturers, fertilizer manufacturers, retailers, automotive manufacturers, and food producers; trade associations representing shippers; transportation intermediaries; aircraft owners and purchasers; and businesses that use or are affected by unmanned aircraft systems (UAS).

Andrés Vera

Andrés, a senior managing associate in the firm’s Government Contracts practice, focuses on federal contracting, small business procurement, and general corporate law impacting government contractors. He has extensive experience advising startups and small businesses on entering and competing in the federal procurement industry. He represents federal contractors and subcontractors in contract litigation including bid protests, contract disputes, claims, and similar proceedings before the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, Government Accountability Office, Civilian Board of Contract Appeals, and other forums. Prior to joining Thompson Hine, Andrés had nearly five years’ experience in government contracts law at a Washington, D.C. area law firm and served as a law clerk at the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), U.S. Civilian Board of Contract Appeals, and U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. Leveraging his experience and contacts from the SBA, Andrés provides informed counsel on compliance and eligibility for the U.S. Small Business Administration’s government contracting programs including the 8(a), HUBZone, Woman-Owned (WOSB), and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned (SDVOSB) small business programs as well as similar state and local certification programs for small and disadvantaged businesses. He represents clients in connection with size protests, eligibility determinations, and appeals involving these programs and contracts set aside for participants in them.

Robert Ware

Rob helps clients anticipate and resolve critical supply chain and distribution problems. He frequently litigates business disputes and negotiates contractual arrangements among manufacturers, suppliers, distributors and customers. He also advises clients regarding avoidance of risk and legal compliance regarding their supply and distribution networks. Rob has 30 years of experience litigating and arbitrating contract, trade secret, unfair competition, copyright infringement, civil antitrust, false advertising and other complex business cases throughout the United States. While much of his litigation experience involves supply chain and distribution issues, he also has represented financial institutions, construction companies, nonprofits and design professionals, among other clients, in a variety of competition-related matters. Apart from litigation, Rob has assisted manufacturers and other clients regarding domestic and international product distribution and logistics arrangements, competitive issues arising from joint ventures and other collaborations, and licensing and transfers of intellectual property.

David Watson

David is a partner in the Corporate Transactions & Securities practice group. He focuses his practice on mergers and acquisitions, including distressed M&A transactions; private equity fund matters; business counseling; family business issues and succession planning. David has substantial experience in transactional and general corporate law, including the acquisition and disposition of businesses, both in the ordinary course of events and bankruptcy; the organization, operation and disposition of partnerships, limited liability companies and joint ventures; succession planning and the resolution of private shareholder disputes; and counseling clients across a wide range of industries on a variety of day-to-day business matters.

Stuart Welburn

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. Stuart joined Thompson Hine in 1996 and became a partner in 2001. Prior to joining the firm, he was a corporate finance solicitor in England. Stuart has particular expertise in the following areas: Buy-side and sell-side representation of clients in auction situations involving public and private company targets (or their assets), with consideration ranging from the tens of millions to multiple billions of dollars. Representation of public companies, boards of directors and special committees of independent directors in connection with mergers and acquisitions, capital markets transactions, securities filings, takeover defenses, activist and passive investor engagement, director and senior management transition situations, and compliance and corporate governance matters. Representation of public and large private companies that have a Chapter 11 bankruptcy in their past, with complex balance sheets and disparate shareholder bases composed of former lenders, hedge funds, and institutional investors. Stuart helps these clients, their boards of directors and standing and special committees, to navigate the many business and legal challenges they face in the years that follow their emergence from bankruptcy. Representation of overseas public companies, particularly those headquartered in the United Kingdom and Ireland, in connection with acquisitions of businesses in the United States and other countries. Representation of investment funds in connection with the acquisition, holding, disposition, and voting of registered and unregistered securities. Stuart represents clients in a number of industries, including specialty chemicals, energy, transportation, telecommunications, automotive, manufacturing, health care and retail.

David Whaley

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.

Tony White

Tony is Thompson Hine’s firmwide managing partner. In this capacity, he serves as the firm’s chief executive officer. He is also the chair of the Executive Committee, the principal governing body responsible for the firm’s strategic direction, financial affairs, and oversight of its nine offices. With a unique national litigation and labor and employment practice, Tony represents significant clients in their most complex cases wherever they arise. His broad geographic experience includes serving as lead counsel in litigations in 39 states. From complex class action lawsuits and national FLSA collective action claims to simultaneous multidistrict trade secret and non-compete litigation, Tony has vast experience with the most difficult cases.

Michael Wible

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.

Kim Wilcoxon

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 fiduciary compliance, service provider transparency, the Affordable Care Act, the No Surprises Act, 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.

Deborah Z. Read

Deborah is a partner in the firm’s Tax practice and focuses on the tax exempt, nonprofit corporate, and health care areas. From May 2012 to May 2024, she served as managing partner and chair of the firm's Executive Committee, the principal governing body responsible for its strategic direction, financial affairs, and the oversight of its eight offices. Prior to that she served as a regular member of the firm’s Executive Committee for 12 years. Earlier, she served in various management roles at the firm, including hiring partner, chair of the 65-lawyer Tax, Benefits and Planning Department, and chair of the Lawyer Personnel Committee. Deborah functions as outside general counsel to two large exempt organizations. She focuses her tax exempt practice on tax and corporate planning for nonprofit organizations and foundations and health care organizations. Deborah assists clients in the formation of nonprofit entities; qualification of nonprofit entities for tax exempt status; conversions to and from exempt status; corporate reorganizations and liquidations, including reorganizations of exempt organizations, hospitals, and other health care providers; arrangements between for-profit and tax exempt entities; Internal Revenue Service Ruling requests; attorney general inquiries and filings; unrelated business income, lobbying, and political contribution tax compliance; structuring of for-profit corporate sponsorship arrangements; tax reviews; and tax controversy work, including Internal Revenue Service audits, appeals, and tax litigation. Deborah spends a considerable portion of her practice advising organizations on governance and nonprofit corporate law issues, including counseling nonprofit boards on fiduciary duty issues and best practices for corporate governance. She counsels nonprofit corporations on restructuring their governing bodies to achieve better governance frameworks. She advises private corporate foundations about permissible charitable programs they may operate to advance charitable objectives for the employees of their corporate sponsors, including programs involving international workforces