Thomas M. Thompson

How Tom Helps Clients

Tom has been recognized for his broad legal expertise as a corporate deal maker, as well as his cool, calm, collected demeanor that eases tensions during even the most complicated deals. He works primarily in (1) corporate mergers and acquisitions (M&A); (2) corporate governance and counseling; and (3) venture capital and private equity financings.

He was one of the key legal advisors to the mayor and the City of Pittsburgh during the negotiations to keep the Pittsburgh Pirates in the city and during the deal to sell and reorganize the bankrupt Pittsburgh Penguins hockey team to National Hockey League superstar Mario Lemieux.

There is always a bit of theater to the deal process. Know your part, play it well and pay close attention to all the actors.

During a professional career of more than 45 years, Tom has worked with foreign and domestic acquisitions, for buyers and sellers and with both publicly and privately held companies. He has played a lead role in hundreds of acquisitions for a very broad range of businesses, including steel/metals manufacturers, radio stations, banks, investment banking and brokerage firms, accounting firms, vision care, health care providers, insurance companies, retailers, software developers, sports teams, restaurant chains, grocery chains, manufacturers and contractors of HVAC equipment and a ski resort.

He has represented transactions of all sizes for venture capital and private equity firms, serial acquirers and buyers and sellers of troubled companies and family business owners.

Tom is called upon regularly to serve as an expert witness during M&A and corporate governance litigation. He is also a published author who has made many presentations and written extensive materials on mergers and acquisitions, letters of intent and opinion letters. 

What Clients Can Expect  

Clients rely on Tom for outstanding depth and breadth of experience. He has been there and done that and done it all again—without forgetting that each deal is unique. Tom works closely with each client to fully understand the business drivers and "the cast of characters."

Tom works with a calm self-assurance and a keen sense of proportion that helps build strong rapport on the deal team and maintain cordial communications among all parties. 

Outside the Office

Tom has been happily married for more than 50 years. He and his wife like to travel with friends and spend as much time as possible with their four children and their families, especially the grandkids.

Both Tom and Judy are avid sports and theater fans, with season tickets to a wide variety of Pittsburgh sport and theater events.

Proof Points

• The Best Lawyers in America® consistently since 2006 under the Corporate Law and Mergers & Acquisitions Law categories and since 2022 in the Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships) category; "Pittsburgh M&A Lawyer of the Year," 2009 and again in 2017. 
• Who's Who Legal, for M&A and Governance, 2016.
• Chambers USA, Guide to America's Leading Business Lawyers, M&A category, since 2006.
• Pennsylvania Super Lawyers® list, Corporate Law and M&A.
• Recipient of a Grove City College Alumni Achievement Award, 2005.
• 2014 recipient, Edward H. Sell Business Lawyer Award from the Pennsylvania Bar Association, for lifetime contributions to Pennsylvania business law.