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"Tom McKee stands out in the market for his experience in advising top-level corporate and private equity clients on capital market and M&A matters. He is described as a dean of the transactional practice."
Chambers USA
Overview
In addition to his management responsibilities, Tom also maintains an active practice of counseling private and public corporations in general corporate and securities matters. He focuses on capital-raising activities, including public offerings and private placements, as well as mergers and acquisitions, primarily for public companies.
In connection with capital raising and investment activities, he represents both regional and national investment banking firms on activities related to corporate finance, compliance and private equity matters.
Tom also represents a number of leading private equity firms focused on the middle market and serves on the Board of a number of their portfolio companies.
Tom’s 30+ years of counseling in the securities and financial industries is a key component of the firm’s White-Collar Defense and Investigations practice – enhancing the team’s ability to protect corporations, financial institutions and their individual directors when involved in regulatory investigations.
Tom is actively engaged in community activities and currently serves as a Trustee of Case Western Reserve University (Executive Committee) and the Musical Arts Association (Cleveland Orchestra). He was a long-standing Trustee of the Achievement Centers for Children and was named Trustee Emeritus upon completion of his service as a Trustee.
Tom has served as corporate secretary and counsel to the board of directors for various publicly-traded companies, including the following:
- RPM International (NYSE)
- McDonald & Company Investments, Inc. (NYSE)
- Chart Industries, Inc. (NYSE)
- Signature Brands USA, Inc. (Nasdaq)
- NCS Healthcare Inc. (Nasdaq)
- DataTrak International, Inc. (Nasdaq)
- Camelot Music Holdings, Inc. (OTC)
He has also served as a director of Mr. Coffee, Inc. (Nasdaq) and Chart Industries, Inc. (NYSE), and he is currently a member of the board of directors of several privately-held companies and portfolio companies of private equity firms as well as an advisory director of several private equity funds.
Tom is routinely recognized for his work in Corporate/M&A by Chambers USA. Most recently, Chambers USA 2020 noted that Tom "is considered a trusted adviser to corporate clients on transactional and governance-related issues, most notably on capital markets work."
In 2019, Chambers USA researchers reported that Tom stands out in the market for his experience in advising top-level corporate and private equity clients on capital market and M&A matters. He is described by one source as "a dean of the transactional practice."
For almost 25 years he has been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© (1995-2020) in the areas of Corporate Law and Securities/Capital Markets Law. He previously received the distinction of Best Lawyers’ “Lawyer of the Year” in Cleveland in the area of Securities/Capital Markets Law.
Tom was previously named a Client Service All-Star (2016, 2008) in the Securities and Capital Markets area by The BTI Consulting Group, Inc, a national strategic market research firm. The lawyers were selected by corporate counsel at a range of companies with revenues greater than $1 billion for consistently demonstrating a superior focus on their company’s needs, innovative solutions to their company’s problems, an unmatched understanding of their company’s business, and unparalleled legal skills.
Tom has an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell.
In 2015, Tom was named one of the top 100 “Most Connected” Business Leaders in Northeast Ohio by Crain’s Cleveland Business. (Based on a third-party study commissioned by Crain’s).
Joining Calfee in 1975, Tom was elected partner in 1982. He was elected to the firm’s Executive Committee in 1992 and became Vice Chairman in 1999. Tom also has served on the firm’s Management Committee since its formation in 1999. He was elected Co-chairman of Calfee in 2005, Chairman in 2008, and Senior Chairman in 2019.
Honors & Recognitions
Chambers USA, Corporate/M&A, Senior Statesperson, 2006-2020
The Best Lawyers in America©, Corporate Law and Securities/Capital Markets, 1995-2020
The Best Lawyers in America© “Lawyer of the Year,” Securities and Capital Markets
Client Service All-Star, Securities and Capital Markets, BTI Consulting Group, Inc, 2008 and 2016
AV Preeminent rating, Martindale-Hubbell.
Top 100 “Most Connected” Business Leaders in Northeast Ohio, Crain’s Cleveland Business, 2015
Education
J.D., high honors, Case Western Reserve University School of Law, Order of the Coif, 1975
B.A., high distinction, University of Michigan, 1970
Professional & Community
Professional & Community
Legal and Business
American Bar Association’s Federal Regulation of Securities Committee and the Business Law Committee on Venture Capital and Private Equity Section, Member
U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Corporate Leadership Advisory Council, Member
Ohio State Bar Association, Securities Law Section, Member
Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, Securities Law Section, Member
American Bar Foundation, Fellow
Society of Benchers, Member
Non-Profit Involvement
Case Western Reserve University, Executive Committee member, Chairman of the Compensation Committee and Trustee
Achievement Centers for Children, Trustee
The Musical Arts Association (Cleveland Orchestra and Blossom Music Festival), Trustee
Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital National Leadership Council (University Hospital Health System), Trustee
Case Western Reserve University School of Law, Visiting Committee, Member
News & Events
News
