Thomas brings global experience and out-of-the-box solutions to his work with complex commercial corporate and real estate restructurings, helping distressed, often high-profile companies find new paths forward.
Overview
Clients turn to Tom for his national and international experience helping private and publicly-traded companies in a broad range of industries continue operations as they negotiate restructuring plans. He has advised lenders, distressed companies, committees and asset acquirers in bankruptcies and out-of-court settlements. Tom's experience landed him a spot on Forbes' Top 200 Attorneys In The U.S. in May 2024 and Lawyer of the Year: Bankruptcy and Litigation by Best Lawyers In America for 2009, 2010, 2014 and 2024.
Tom works with a global roster of clients from an array of industries, including transportation, real estate developments (such as master planned communities and development rights), hotels, casino, sports, tech, power generation, agribusiness, construction, health care, manufacturing, airlines and franchising. Many of his cases have an international component. He is an adjunct professor and prolific author and lecturer, writing for both practitioners and corporate executives.
Experience
Tom represented Epicenter Partners in the restructuring of 300 acres of prime developable real estate in the Desert Ridge area, and involving disputes related to the master development rights over 5000 acres of State Trust leased property.
Tom represented the owners of the Phoenix Coyotes, an NHL hockey team, in bankruptcy negotiations that resulted in a historic sale of the team to the NHL, marking the first time the NHL purchased one of its own franchises.
Known for his savvy in large-scale cases, Thomas has served as restructuring counsel for a national drug store chain, a nationwide operator of nursing homes and assisted living facilities, a publicly-traded owner/operator of fire and ambulance services, and Industrias Nucleares do Brasil S/A, the Brazilian nuclear regulatory agency in the bankruptcies of Nuexco Exchange (U.S. and Switzerland).
In addition to serving as an expert witness on U.S. insolvency law in litigation in Germany, Thomas has advised numerous foreign governments on revamping their laws and has taught Comparative International Insolvency at the University of Salzburg.
A frequent writer, lecturer and presenter, Thomas is active in leadership in the American Bankruptcy Institute and is a past chair of the Bankruptcy Section of the State Bar of Arizona.
News & Insights
News
Speaking Engagements
"Four Proposed Legislative Changes to Deal with Third Party Releases in Bankruptcy” American Bankruptcy Institute, August 2023
"Opportunity Amidst Crisis-Buying Distressed Assets, Claims and Securities for Fun & Profit," Restructuring, Insolvency & Troubled Companies 2016 Series
Publications
"Round-Canopy Parachuting Makes Me A Better Lawyer," Law360, September 2024
Collier Guide to Chapter 11 (co-authored “Chapter 11 Cases Involving Professional Sports Franchises”) (Lexis Nexis 2019)
The Executive Guide to Corporate Bankruptcy, Second Edition (Beard Books 2010)
Pre-Bankruptcy Planning for the Commercial Reorganization – A Brief Guide for the CEO, CFO/COO, General Counsel and Tax Advisor, Third Edition (American Bankruptcy Institute 2020)
Acquisitions from Financially Distressed Companies, American Bankruptcy Institute, April 2020
Commercial Bankruptcy Litigation, 2d (co-authored "Chapter 3: Jurisdiction And Venue") (Thompson Reuters 2023)
"In Defense of Third-Party Releases in Chapter 11 Cases: Part I, II and III," American Bankruptcy Institute, 2022
"SBA Consent to PPP Debtor Loan Provisions Under CARES Act II: Just Do It, Already!!!!!," American Bankruptcy Institute, March 2021
Co-author, "This DIP Loan Should Be Brought to You by Someone Who CARES! (or, 'You Can’t Get There from Here'), Part 2.5" American Bankruptcy Institute, June 2020
Co-author, "This DIP Loan Should Be Brought to You by Someone Who CARES! (Or 'You Can't Get There from Here'), A Plea for Rationality: Part 2," American Bankruptcy Institute, April 2020
Co-author, "The Coronavirus and Its Likely Impact on the Bankruptcy World: Eight Predictions from Two Restructuring Professionals," American Bankruptcy Institute, April 2020
Co-author, "This DIP Loan Brought to You by Someone Who CARES! (Or 'I'm From the Government and I'm Here to Help You')," American Bankruptcy Institute, March 2020
Co-author of the two-volume Bankruptcy Litigation and Practice; A Practitioners' Guide, Fifth Edition, Aspen Law Publications, 2021
Bankruptcy Practice”, Aspen Law Publications, 1995
Co-author, "Chapter 11 Cases Involving Sports Franchises," Collier On Bankruptcy, 2011
Recognitions
Recognitions
Selected as one of 200 Top Lawyers in the USs. by Forbes (May 2024)
Selected to the 2010, 2022 and 2023 Lawdragon 500 Leading Bankruptcy and Restructuring Lawyers guide
Selected for inclusion in "Top 100 Lawyers in Arizona" by AZ Business Magazine, 2020, 2022, 2023
Recognized by AZ Business Leaders in the area of Bankruptcy Law
Member of the select group of insolvency professionals listed in the K&A Restructuring Professionals Registry
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® list, 1993-2025, Bankruptcy and Creditor-Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Phoenix
Recognized by Best Lawyers with the "Lawyer of the Year" award in Litigation–Bankruptcy, 2009, 2010, 2014, 2024, 2025
Selected for inclusion in Southwest Super Lawyers®, 2007 - Present
Southwest Super Lawyers' Top 50 Attorneys in Arizona, 2020, 2023
Listed in The International Who's Who of Insolvency & Restructuring Lawyers, 2009
Listed in The International Who's Who of Business Lawyers, 2009 and 2011
Who's Who Legal 100, 2012
Named one of 12 Outstanding Bankruptcy Attorneys in 1998 and 2000 by Turnarounds & Workouts
Rated "AV/Preeminent Attorney" by Martindale-Hubbell®
Professional & Civic Activities
Professional & Civic Activities
American College of Bankruptcy, Fellow (Class of 2001)
American Bankruptcy Institute, past director and Executive Committee
American Bankruptcy Board of Certification, Inc., Past Director
Bankruptcy Section of the State Bar of Arizona, Past Chair
American College of Bankruptcy Fellow
Plan Issues Advisory Subcommittee for the ABI Bankruptcy Review Commission
Practices & Industries
Admissions
- U.S. Supreme Court
- Supreme Court of Arizona
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona
Education
Notre Dame Law School, J.D., cum laude, 1982
- Notre Dame Law Review
Rutgers University, B.A., summa cum laude, 1979
- Phi Beta Kappa
