CONTACTTom is a trial lawyer who brings substantial litigation experience to resolve complicated legal issues in a practical and efficient method for clients. His practice focuses on commercial litigation, business and contract disputes, real estate litigation, including lease enforcement and landlord-tenant disputes, and trade secrets litigation. Tom also has an active criminal defense practice where he represents individuals in criminal and enforcement proceedings in state and federal court. Prior to joining SSL, Tom was a member of the Litigation Department and Government Enforcement and Defense of Investigations Practice Group at Foley and Lardner LLP. 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 more than 200 cases for trial.
EDUCATION:
- University of San Francisco, School of Law (JD, 1995)
- University of California, Berkeley (BA English, 1990)
PRACTICE AREAS:
- Litigation
- Real Estate
- Criminal Defense
- Government and Investigation Defense
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.
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES:
- Marin County Bar Association (President 2018); Bar Association of San Francisco; Association of Business Trial Lawyers; Marin County Alternate Defenders Incorporated.
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.
- 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.
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