Overview
Tom specializes in securities and corporate transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, public offerings, and private placements. General corporate counseling — including representation of special committees of directors, corporate governance issues, and SEC reporting and disclosure matters — is an important part of his practice. Tom was the Chair of Tonkon Torp’s Corporate Finance & Transactions Practice Group from 1994 through 2018.
Featured Representative Matters
NORPAC Foods, Inc.
Key Technology, Inc.
Enel Green Power North America, Inc.
Vestas-American Wind Technology, Inc.
Nike, Inc.
Nike, Inc.
CytoDyn Inc.
Methes Energies International, Ltd.
TASER International, Inc.
Featured Work
Tonkon Torp Pilots Smooth Landing in Columbia Helicopters Sale
Tonkon Torp led one of Oregon's most notable M&A deals of 2019 for its client, Columbia Helicopters. Founded in 1957, Columbia Helicopters, Inc. (CHI) is one of Oregon's most recognizable brands.
Tonkon Torp Leads Moda Health Through Corporate Restructure and $155 Million Sale
Tonkon Torp led client Moda Health through its high-profile corporate restructure and $155 million stock sale to Delta Dental of California.
Tonkon Torp Leads Sale of Pendleton Whisky Brands for Hood River Distillers
In early 2018, Tonkon Torp concluded the $205 million sale of the Pendleton Whisky brands by its client Hood River Distillers, Inc. (HRD) to Proximo Spirits, whose international portfolio of spirits includes Jose Cuervo tequila. HRD was Oregon’s first distillery, and one of Tonkon's original clients.
Tonkon Torp Brings Attorney Power to Renewable Energy Transaction
Tonkon Torp client Enel Green Power North America (EGPNA) is the North American subsidiary of one of the largest corporations in the world, the Italian electricity company Enel S.p.A. Here's how we helped EGPNA in a renewable energy acquisition.
Tonkon Torp Represents Vestas in Acquisition of UpWind Solutions
Tonkon Torp represented its client Vestas, the world's largest manufacturer of wind turbines, in the acquisition of UpWind Solutions, Inc., an independent service provider for wind power plants in nine US states. The $60 million acquisition furthers Vestas's strategic objectives for its North America service business.
Diverse Team Aids Greenbrier in Joint Venture
Tonkon Torp acted as Oregon corporate counsel for its long-term client The Greenbrier Companies, Inc. in finalizing a 50/50 joint venture with Watco Companies, L.L.C. The venture combines the two companies’ railcar repair, refurbishment and maintenance businesses into a new organization, GBW Railcar Services, LLC.
Tonkon Torp and Law Firm Alliance Partner Facilitate Key Technology Merger
Tonkon Torp represented Key Technology in its acquisition of Belgium-based Visys N.V. The deal, valued at approximately $21 million, created a single source of high-performance sorting technologies for food processing and other industrial markets. Find details and more featured cases here.
Community Involvement & Activities
National Association of Corporate Directors
Board of Directors
Member
The Society of Corporate Secretaries & Governance Professionals
Member
Technology Association of Oregon
Member
Association for Corporate Growth – Portland
Board of Directors, Past Member
Business for Culture & the Arts
Board of Directors, Past Member
Governance Committee, Past Chair
National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Oregon Chapter
Board of Directors, Past Member
Professional Memberships
New York City Bar Association
Multnomah Bar Association
Awards & Recognition
The Best Lawyers in America
2008-2021, Corporate Law
2008-2021, Mergers & Acquisitions Law
2008-2021, Securities/Capital Markets Law
2012-2021, Securities Regulation
2015, 2017, 2019, 2021 Lawyer of the Year – Corporate Governance Law, Portland
2020, Lawyer of the Year – Mergers & Acquisitions Law, Portland
2013, 2018, Lawyer of the Year – Securities Regulation, Portland
2016, Lawyer of the Year – Securities/Capital Markets Law, Portland
Recent News
Four Tonkon Torp Attorneys Earn Portland Lawyer of the Year Honor
Best Lawyers in America® Includes 49 Tonkon Torp Attorneys on 2021 List
Tonkon Torp Attorney Tom Palmer Elected to NACD Board of Directors
26 Tonkon Torp Attorneys Honored on 2020 Super Lawyers Lists
Chambers USA Names 20 Tonkon Torp Attorneys in 2020 Ranking
Four Tonkon Torp Attorneys Earn Portland Lawyer of the Year Honor
2020 List for Best Lawyers in America® Includes 48 Tonkon Torp Attorneys
31 Tonkon Torp Attorneys Honored on 2019 Super Lawyers Lists
Tom Palmer and Sherrill Corbett Talk M&A for ACC Meeting
Chambers USA Names 23 Tonkon Torp Attorneys in 2019 Ranking
Recent Alerts
SEC Proposes Limited Expansion of Accredited Investor Definition
SEC Adopts Disclosure Modernization Amendments
Proposed Regulation Crowdfunding: Who Wants to Be a Crowdfunding Platform? Part II
Proposed Regulation Crowdfunding: Few Surprises and Possibly a Step Forward - Part I
SEC Proposes CEO Pay Ratio Disclosure Rules
Private Offerings: SEC Proposes Amendments to Form D
Private Offerings: SEC Imposes "Bad Actor" Limitations on Certain Private Placements
Private Offerings SEC Lifts Ban on General Solicitation and Proposes New Requirements
JOBS Act Amends Exchange Act Registration Thresholds (Part 3 of 3)
IPO Streamlining and Reduced Reporting Requirements for Emerging Growth Companies, and Regulation A+ Offerings (Part 2 of 3)
Publications & Presentations
"SEC Proposes Limited Expansion of 'Accredited Investor' Definition, Tonkon Torp Legal Alert, February 2020
Moderator, "The Role of In-House Counsel in M&A Transactions," Oregon Association of Corporate Counsel, May 2019
"SEC Adopts Disclosure Modernization Amendments," Tonkon Torp Legal Alert, April 2019
Moderator, “Expect the Unexpected – How to Communicate Uncertainty While Maintaining Credibility,” Oregon Association of Corporate Counsel, May 2018
Roundtable Chair, "Governance Priorities for Small-Cap Public Company Directors," National Association of Corporate Directors, Northwest Chapter, Nov. 2015
Moderator, "Brand Protection in the Transactional Context," Association of Corporate Counsel, Oregon Chapter, Sept. 2015
"2013 Reforms Regarding Private Offerings," Moss Adams LLP, Nov. 2014
"To Be or Not to Be an Equity Crowdfunding Portal?" Mar. 2016
"Entrepreneurs Forge Ahead with ‘Crowdfunding’ Alternatives," Daily Journal of Commerce, August 2013