Tom is an appellate and trial lawyer with a practice focus on the defense of consumer and policyholder class actions and creditors’ rights litigation.
His experience ranges from arguing in the Supreme Court of the United States to first-chairing jury trials in five states. He served as lead counsel in more than 100 putative class actions. Within the last year, he has argued appeals resulting in approximately $100 million in judgments against firm clients being vacated.
Latest Insights
Latest News
- client newsEversheds Sutherland Attorneys Secure $93 Million Victory for Commonwealth Financial Network
- firm newsThree Eversheds Sutherland Attorneys Named "Lawyer of the Year"; 111 Attorneys Recognized in 2023 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America
- firm newsEight Eversheds Sutherland Attorneys Named "Lawyer of the Year"; 112 Attorneys Recognized in 2022 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America
client news
April 02, 2025
Eversheds Sutherland Attorneys Secure $93 Million Victory for Commonwealth ...
firm news
August 18, 2022
Three Eversheds Sutherland Attorneys Named "Lawyer of the Year"; 111 Attorn...
firm news
August 19, 2021
Eight Eversheds Sutherland Attorneys Named "Lawyer of the Year"; 112 Attorn...
- Argued and won in the US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit SEC v. Commonwealth Equity Services, LLC (2025), establishing that the materiality of errors or omissions in an investment adviser’s disclosure was a jury question and limiting disgorgement awards
- Argued and won Bullock v. BankChampaign, N.A. (2013) in the U.S. Supreme Court, which established the meaning of the "defalcation" exception to a bankruptcy discharge.
- Defended vehicle financiers and lessors in practically every type of litigation brought against them over the last three decades, in 25 states, e.g., Schlenk v. Ford Motor Credit Co., 308 F.3d 619 (6th Cir. 2002) (opposed by Richard Cordray).
- Argued and won in the Georgia Court of Appeals POP 3 Ravinia, LLC v. Embark Holdco Mgt., LLC (2022) concerning "mere continuation" successor liability of asset transferee.
- Argued and won in the US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit Armada (Singapore) PTE Ltd. v. Amcol Int. Corp. (2018) concerning the federal RICO Act’s “domestic injury” requirement.
- Webcast: Supreme Court Review/Preview: High Court Cases the Business Community Should Watch, October 4, 2018
- Webcast: U.S. Supreme Court Review/Preview: High Court Cases Insurers Should Watch, September 24, 2015
- Recognized by The Legal 500 United States in the area of general commercial disputes (2025)
- Named to Best Lawyers in the areas of commercial litigation (2008-2026), litigation – real estate (2012-2026), financial services regulation law (2023-2026) and litigation – banking & finance (2012-2026)
- Recognized as “Lawyer of the Year” by The Best Lawyers in America in the area of financial services regulation law (2024)
- Selected as a Georgia Local Litigation Star by Benchmark Litigation (2015-2021)
- Recognized by the National Law Journal as "Appellate Lawyer of the Week" (2013)
- Chair, Evidence Study Committee - State Bar of Georgia (2008-2011)
- Vice Chair, Evidence Study Committee - State Bar of Georgia (2003-2007)
- Fellow, Lawyers Foundation of Georgia
- Georgia
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
- Honorable Robert A. Ainsworth Jr., U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- Honorable Morey L. Sear, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana
- J.D., magna cum laude, Notre Dame Law School,
Articles Editor, Notre Dame Law Review
- A.B., cum laude, University of Notre Dame