Tom is a trial lawyer who joins SSL after over 9 years as a member of the Litigation Department and Government Enforcement and Defense of Investigations Practice Group at Foley and Lardner LLP. Tom represents corporations and individuals in parallel criminal matters and enforcement proceedings in state and federal courts. His practice also focuses on complex commercial litigation, including real estate disputes, health care fraud, financial services fraud, and consumer law and finance. Prior to entering private practice, Tom served as a deputy district attorney in the Marin County District Attorney’s Office for 15 years where he prosecuted over 60 jury trials to verdict and prepared in excess of 200 cases for trial.
Education:
- University of San Francisco, School of Law (JD, 1995)
- University of California, Berkeley (BA English, 1990)
PRACTICE AREAS:
Litigation
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES:
Marin County Bar Association (President 2018); Bar Association of San Francisco; Association of Business Trial Lawyers; Marin County Alternate Defenders Incorporated.
PRO BONO WORK:
Tom currently represents a group of fifteen incarcerated persons at San Quentin State Prison in a consolidated writ proceeding in Marin County Superior Court concerning San Quentin’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS:
- Civil Litigation
- Obtained defense verdict in court trial in Los Angeles County Superior Court for breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, misappropriation of funds and related torts in dispute among former founders and shareholders of ATM business.
- Negotiated settlement of commercial leasing dispute between real estate investment and development firm and tenant concerning seismic retrofit project to retail and mixed-use property located in San Mateo County.
- Represented financial investment advisor in securities fraud litigation matter in San Francisco Superior Court.
- Negotiated settlement of federal False Claims Act matter in Arizona against physician group for conducting overlapping or concurrent surgeries.
- Represented medical group in interference with prospective economic advantage and unfair business practices.
- Negotiated Deferred Prosecution Agreement and settlement of False Claims Act investigation on behalf of ambulance company for alleged improper contractual swapping arrangements.
- Criminal Matters
- Obtained mistrial in highly publicized homicide trial in San Diego County Superior Court.
- Negotiated successful return of funds seized by Drug Enforcement Agency in federal asset forfeiture proceedings.
- Successfully negotiated probation sentence on behalf of client charged with six felony “strike” offenses, including assault with firearm charges.
- Obtained misdemeanor disposition with no jail time for client charged with felony residential burglary and elder abuse offenses.