Tom is a Florida native with extensive first-chair trial experience across an array of venues and practice areas. His practice spans all areas of civil litigation — he is honored to represent individuals, businesses, local government and law enforcement agencies in trial and appellate courts throughout Florida and in the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. Tom’s breadth of experience allows him to provide incisive but practical pretrial counsel while preparing a thorough vindication of his clients’ claims or defenses at trial or on appeal.

Prior to joining the firm, Tom cut his teeth as a prosecutor in St. Louis, Missouri, a jurisdiction notoriously hostile to law enforcement. There, he tried to jury verdict more than twenty felony cases involving charges ranging from drug and property crimes to violent crimes and sex offenses. He then continued his trial work at a prominent St. Louis firm where he counseled clients in serious criminal and select civil and administrative matters. In private practice, Tom was selected to serve as a lead panel attorney on the Criminal Justice Act (“CJA”) panel in the Eastern District of Missouri, work cases as a Special Public Defender, and represent officers for the St. Louis Police Officer’s Association. He was recognized for three consecutive years as a “Rising Star” in Missouri and Kansas by Super Lawyers Magazine and was invited to lecture to other lawyers on the topic of jury selection.

Tom and his wife, Chelsey, proudly raise their three young children in her hometown of Auburndale, Florida, where Tom coaches youth sports and serves on the city’s Planning Commission.

EDUCATION:

Notre Dame Law School (J.D., 2011)

• Research Assistant to Professor M. Cathleen Kaveny 
• NDLS Student Ambassador 
• Mock Trial Coach at John Adams High School 

University of Florida (B.A., 2008) 

• Florida Academic Scholar 
• Student Government Senator 
• Research Assistant in zoology lab of Dr. David H. Evans 
• President of “Healthy Gators” Student Group
• Phi Delta Theta Fraternity

PROFESSIONAL:

• Florida Bar 
• Missouri Bar
• U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida
• U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri
• U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois 
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit 
• Lakeland Bar Association
• Polk County Trial Lawyers Association
• Florida Association of Police Attorneys

CIVIC:

• City of Auburndale Planning Commissioner
• Auburndale Youth Baseball and Soccer Coach