Tom has extensive private sector and government experience. Prior to joining Venable, he spent 10 years as a co-chair of the government affairs practice in the Washington, DC office of a global law firm. Following his government service, he served as deputy general counsel and managed the Washington, DC office for Kemper Corporation, a diversified financial services company. He also ran the legislative affairs department of the Investment Company Institute (ICI), the trade association for the mutual fund industry.
Tom held several high-ranking government positions before entering private legal practice. He was nominated by President Reagan to serve as assistant attorney general in charge of the Office of Legislative Affairs in the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and subsequently headed the DOJ's Office of Policy Development under President George H.W. Bush. He was also appointed by the secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to serve a three-year term as a member of the DHS Data Privacy and Integrity Advisory Committee.
Tom has authored more than 50 legal and political commentaries and essays, most of which have appeared in law reviews and national publications. His writings have been featured in the Washington Post, Reader's Digest, the Wall Street Journal, Investor’s Business Daily, the New York Post, and the Boston Globe.