Thomas J. DeSplinter Partner

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Tom is an accomplished dealmaker and partner in the firm’s M&A and Corporate Transactions Department.

His practice focuses on private equity investments, mergers and acquisitions and other general corporate transactions. Tom has in-depth experience in the energy, manufacturing, healthcare, retail and technology industries where he advises clients on mergers and acquisitions, equity investments, debt financings, corporate spinoffs and dispositions of assets. His work includes negotiating and drafting transaction documents and counseling clients with regard to the legal aspects of day-to-day operations, including on general corporate matters.

Before joining McGuireWoods, Tom served as the vice president of corporate development for a portfolio company of a multinational private equity fund, where he led deal teams focused on investing in regulated utility and transmission assets. He also worked in the integrated supply and trading unit of a multinational oil and gas company.

Tom is currently a Major in the U.S. Army Reserve Judge Advocate General’s Corps, where he advises commanders and soldiers on various areas of military law and was deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.  He also is a member of the Board of Advisors of Catholic Charities of Chicago, where he serves on the Veterans Support Committee.

Experience

Tom’s private equity and independent sponsor experience includes representing Madison Dearborn Partners, Thoma Bravo, Summit Partners, Bain Capital, Norwest Equity Partners, Sandton Capital Partners, Diversis Capital, Madison Capital Funding, Wynnchurch Capital, The Jordan Company, PPC Partners and their portfolio companies.

His corporate and securities work includes representing Caterpillar, True Value Company, Underwriters Laboratories, Whirlpool, Nestle Health Sciences, Fresenius Kabi, Dow AgroSciences, Envestnet, Mattel, KAR Auction Services, Caesars Entertainment, Centene Corporation and CIBC.

Private Equity and Independent Sponsor Experience

  • Representation of a private equity company and its portfolio companies in connection with the acquisition of several software and technology companies.
  • Representation of a private equity company in its acquisition of an oil and gas company.
  • Representation of a private equity company in connection with the sale of its investment in a technology company.
  • Representation of a large private equity company in connection with its investment in a leading provider of healthcare consulting services and enterprise performance management software.
  • Representation of a large private equity company in connection with its acquisition of a premier global provider of professional web hosting and managed cloud service.
  • Representation of a large private equity company in connection with the restructuring of its investment in a leading developer and marketer of enterprise content management software.
  • Representation of a large private equity company in connection with its investment in a premier manufacturer of small unmanned aerial systems and mission control software.
  • Representation of a large private equity company and its portfolio company in connection with the sale of its broadcast tower assets.
  • Representation of a private investment company in the sale of its interest in a staffing company to a publicly traded company.
  • Representation of a private investment company in connection with its acquisition of a machinery manufacturing company.
  • Representation of a venture capital firm in a Series B investment in a software-as-a-service company.

Corporate and Securities Experience

  • Representation of a global independent safety science company in its acquisition of a leading provider of regulatory compliance resources and support for medical device and manufacturers.
  • Representation of a large U.S. multi-national retail hardware cooperative in the sale of a controlling stake to a private equity buyer.
  • Representation of a major U.S. multi-national consumer product company in several cross-border joint ventures.
  • Representation of a large U.S. multi-national automotive company in its acquisition of several companies.
  • Representation of a large U.S. multi-national company in the spinoff of its parts supply business.
  • Representation of a large U.S. multi-national company in connection with its cross-border sales of certain portions of its mining equipment sales, service and support businesses in Africa, Asia, Australia, and South America.
  • Representation of a large U.S. multi-national manufacturing company in connection with its purchase of a regional manufacturing company.
  • Representation of a large U.S. multi-national appliances manufacturing company in connection with its joint venture with a major U.S. consumer goods company to develop a new product.
  • Representation of a large U.S. multi-national agricultural company in connection with its purchase of stock in a seed technology company.
  • Representation of a large European multi-national food and health sciences company in connection with its acquisition of a specialist in diagnostics and in-licensed specialty pharmaceuticals for gastroenterology and oncology from a private equity consortium.
  • Representation of a large European multi-national advertising company in connection with its joint venture with a company in Puerto Rico.
  • Representation of a major European multi-national manufacturing company in connection with its acquisition of a distributor in North America.
  • Representation of a bank in connection with its minority investment of $1 billion in a U.S. asset manager
  • Representation of a manufacturing company in connection with its acquisition of the assets of a heat-treating company.
  • Representation of a financial software company in connection with its acquisition of several portfolio management software companies.
  • Representation of a private construction supply company in connection with its sale to a private equity investor.
  • Representation of a gaming company in connection with its joint venture to develop a casino.
  • Representation of a major managed care organization in connection with its acquisition of a provider of healthcare services to Medicare and Medicaid patients.
  • Representation of a large creditor and certain of its subsidiaries in connection with the City of Detroit’s Chapter 9 case, the largest-ever municipal bankruptcy filing, in which a substantial amount of the City of Detroit’s municipal finance debt obligations were settled as part of an innovative settlement that resolved all outstanding issues between the parties, delivered substantial value to creditors, and created the foundation for a long-term partnership for real-estate development and other investment in Detroit.
  • Representation of a major U.S. bank in connection with the financing of the bank’s commodity trading team’s purchase of a cargo of ethanol.
  • Representation of a defense contractor in connection with the drafting of its purchase order terms and conditions.
  • Representation of a bank in connection with its shelf offering of common stock.
  • Representation of a large toy manufacturer in connection with its public issuance of debt securities.
  • Representation of a waste disposal company in connection with its issuance of public debt.

Pro Bono Experience

  • Pro Bono representation of a not-for-profit healthcare software corporation dedicated to providing open source software for MRI machines to help accelerate innovation, in connection with its formation and successful application for 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status.
  • Pro Bono representation of the not-for-profit museum in the formation of an investment vehicle to fund the Saturday Night Live Exhibit.
  • Pro Bono representation of several not-for-profit companies in connection formation, application for 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status and corporate governance related matters.