Tom Litz

Partner

St. Louis
314 552 6072 314 552 6072 direct

OVERVIEW
EXPERIENCE
INSIGHTS
NEWS & EVENTS
RELATED INFORMATION

INDUSTRIES

PRACTICES

Education
- Georgetown University Law Center,
  
  J.D., cum laude, 1982
  
  Editor, The Tax Lawyer
- Georgetown University,
  
  B.S.B.A., magna cum laude, 1979
Admissions
- Illinois
- Missouri
Affiliations
- The Missouri Bar
- Illinois State Bar Association
- The Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis
Representative Clients
- Alter Trading Corporation
- Eagle Private Capital, LLC
- Edward Jones
- Enterprise Rent-A-Car Company
- Maritz Holdings Inc.
- Missouri State Employees' Retirement System
- Missouri Technology Corporation
- Noble Roman's
- Prolog Ventures, LLC
- Zoltek Companies, Inc.
Recognitions
- Named Lawyer of the Year for Securities Regulation in St. Louis by The Best Lawyers in America (by BL Rankings), 2022
- Listed in The Best Lawyers in America, 2007-2023 (by BL Rankings)
- Named Lawyer of the Year for Securities/Capital Markets in St. Louis by Best Lawyers, 2013, 2021 (by BL Rankings)
- Named Lawyer of the Year for Corporate Governance Law in St. Louis by The Best Lawyers in America, 2016; 2018, 2020 (by BL Rankings)
- Named Lawyer of the Year for Venture Capital Law in St. Louis by The Best Lawyers in America, 2017; 2019 (by BL Rankings)
- Named a Best M&A Provider by St. Louis Small Business Monthly, 2017
- Listed in Chambers USA - Band 1 for Corporate/M&A in St. Louis, 2012-2022 (by Chambers & Partners)
- Listed in Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers, 2005-2021 (by Thomson Reuters)
  
  Top 50 in St. Louis, 2005-2008, 2011-2012
- Named Lawyer of the Year for Corporate Compliance Law in St. Louis by Best Lawyers, 2014 (by BL Rankings)
- Lawdragon "National Finalist" in its Fifth Annual Guide to the Leading Lawyers in America, 2010
Employment
- Thompson Coburn LLP
  
  Partner, 1990-Present,
  
  Associate, 1982-1989
Community
- Missouri Technology Corporation, Counsel, 2009-Present
- Missouri Venture Capital Roundtable
  
  Member, 2000-2004
- Technology Gateway/Capital Formation Sub Committee
  
  Chair, Legislative Working Group, 1998- 2000
- Lucky Lane Early Childhood Association
  
  Board Member, 1992-1994

Tom is a veteran M&A and corporate finance attorney who provides clients with common-sense solutions to address complex transactional issues.

He co-chairs Thompson Coburn's Corporate Department and also serves on the Firm's Management and Executive Committees.

Drawing on his more than 35 years of experience, Tom leads transactions across the country for companies in a wide range of industries and geographies, including acquisitions and divestitures involving strategic parties and private equity sponsors. Tom takes a solution-oriented approach to transactions and marshals the cross-discipline resources of the Firm — including tax, employee benefits, intellectual property and environmental advice — to execute challenging transactions and help clients anticipate and effectively manage risk.

Tom represents clients in a variety of corporate finance transactions, including venture capital and private equity investments and institutional debt and equity financings. He has also counseled clients involved in offensive and defensive shareholder activist efforts.

Tom has extensive experience representing institutional investors such as pension systems and endowments with their exposure to alternative investments, as well as investment managers, venture capital funds, and private equity sponsors. As part of this very active practice, Tom has unique experience advising public employee retirement systems and endowments and counseling them on evolving market trends.

For all corporate clients, Tom provides regulatory advice on the constantly evolving securities laws and rules affecting public and private companies, institutional investors and managers.

Case Studies

Supporting worldwide growth of Enterprise

Representative Matters

Served as counsel to large strategic investor regarding $1.9 billion enterprise value cross-border "going private" transaction and equity rollover (2018-2019)

Served as counsel to a publicly held advanced materials manufacturer regarding its $584 million cross-border strategic acquisition by a publicly held materials manufacturer (2014).

Served as counsel to a diversified marketing and incentives company regarding numerous acquisitions, divestitures and ownership matters (2000-present).

Served as counsel to a privately owned large metals recycler in connection with several strategic and tuck-in acquisitions (2006-present).

Served as counsel to specialty chemical manufacturers and distributors in connection with sales to private equity-sponsored strategic acquirers (2013-2014).

Served as counsel to a large privately owned company in connection with private-for-life medium term note program.

Served as counsel to Missouri Technology Corporation in connection with various equity and debt financings and programs.