Tom Hughes
Tom focuses his practice on sophisticated U.S. and international M&A transactions, representing corporate clients, private equity sponsors, and their portfolio companies in contested and negotiated acquisitions, divestitures, buyouts, and strategic joint ventures. Drawing on prior experience in major financial centers, he delivers pragmatic solutions for transactions involving a wide range of structures, industries, and jurisdictions.
He has led legal teams on hundreds of deals ranging in size from under $1 million to $160 billion. While his work spans many industries including manufacturing, real estate, and technology sectors, clients also turn to him for advice on corporate governance, securities law, and regulatory compliance matters.
Before practicing law, Tom worked as an industrial engineer, developing enterprise systems and contributing to strategic consulting projects across the aerospace and automotive industries.
Related Practices
Experience
Representative Matters
- Advised a multinational food and beverage company on the pending sale of multiple gum brands to a leading global confectionery manufacturer
- Represented the buyer in the acquisition of a UK-based high-protein bar producer and a California-based refrigerated nutrition bar company
- Represented a private equity firm in the acquisition of a pet treat manufacturer, including equity rollover structuring
- Advised a multinational healthcare company in a joint venture with a European generics manufacturer and a business line sale in Argentina
- Counseled a luxury goods conglomerate in its $3.2 billion acquisition of a hospitality and leisure company managing more than 45 global properties
- Advised a high-tech acquirer in the purchase of a sealing components supplier from a leading medical device manufacturer
- Represented a middle-market private equity firm in the acquisition of an automotive sensor provider
- Advised a real estate investment firm in REIT self-administration and the sale of U.S. wealth and asset management units
- Advised a pharmaceutical company in its $1.95 billion acquisition of a migraine treatment developer and a strategic biotech divestiture
- Counseled a global credit information company in the sale of its lending solutions division
- Represented a Germany-based manufacturer in a proxy contest and $7 billion acquisition of a U.S.-based building materials company
- Advised on the $2.4 billion acquisition of a rare disease-focused biotech company by a French multinational pharma company
- Represented a Japanese publishing company in the sale of a language education business, creating a major global player
Representative Clients
- Multinational consumer goods corporations
- Global pharmaceutical and biotech companies
- Private equity firms and their portfolio companies
- Real estate investment management companies
- High-tech and manufacturing industry leaders
Insights
Credentials
Education
- J.D. cum laude University of Michigan Law School 2004
- Contributing editor, Michigan Law Review
- Clarence Darrow Scholar
- M.S.E. Industrial & Operations Engineering magna cum laude University of Michigan 1999
- B.S.E. Industrial & Operations Engineering magna cum laude University of Michigan 1998
- Member of inaugural class of Engineering Global Leadership (EGL) honors program
- Member, Tau Beta Pi, the national engineering honors society
Bar Admissions
- Illinois
- New York