Thomas C. Washbush

Tom Washbush is a trusted advisor to company C-suite members on the integration of legal and business issues.  His practice focuses on transformational events, such as acquiring and selling debt, equity financing, and other growth-oriented vehicles and undertakings for emerging technology companies to well-established corporations. He also has substantial experience in capital market financing, lender representation, and public financing, including bond transactions and economic development incentives.

Tom has significant experience representing and working with more than 40 venture capital and private equity firms, where he has handled transactions valued at more than $7 billion. Additionally, he has represented and continues to represent public pension funds, serving as lead investment counsel and providing advice on all investment and fiduciary duties. Much of his advice has been related to limited partnership investments in private equity and the sale of limited partnerships in the secondary market.

Tom has represented acquirers and sellers of privately held and publicly held companies in corporate transactions totaling more than $35 billion. He is a former partner in charge and member of the executive committee of a regional law firm and Chief of Staff and General Counsel of the Ohio Department of Development.

As a C-suite advisor, Tom spends time with CEOs, presidents, key operating individuals, and increasingly, board members - advising them on a variety of issues and concerns.

Tom also advises company leaders on the appropriate measures to put in place to mitigate cyber-attacks and be best positioned to respond to breaches. Cybersecurity puts an entire enterprise at risk, and Tom approaches the subject in a holistic manner, as it affects the overall health of the client.

Professional & Community Activities

Member, the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP)
Member, InfraGard, a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) program of cybersecurity
Board member, former president, and the founding member, Association for Corporate Growth’s Columbus Chapter
Former chair, State of Ohio Industrial Technology Enterprise Council
Mentor, Technology Entrepreneurship and Commercialization Academy, Fisher Business School, The Ohio State University
Former member, Ohio Technology Tax Credit Committee
Former member, Development Finance Advisory Council
Volunteer, Catholic Social Services
Volunteer, Dublin Miracle Playground

Presentations & Published Works

Moderator, Cybersecurity, Managing the Emerging Risk, Association for Corporate Growth, Columbus, September 2019
Presenter, Cybersecurity Regulatory Update, Ohio Auto Dealers’ Association August 2017
Presenter, “Privacy and Cybersecurity: Best Practices, Potential Claims to Avoid,” Midwest Financial Services Regulatory and Compliance Conference, August 2015
Author, "Lessons From The Field: Leading Corporate Lawyers Share Case Studies & Best Practices," Vol. 2, ExecSense, March 2013 Author, "Raising VC: What Every Business Owner Needs to Know," An ExecSense eBook, January 2013
Speaker, "Planning to Sell Your Business?" Ohio State Bar Association, Winter, 2013
Speaker, "Financing Your Business," Ohio State Bar Association, Winter 2013
Speaker, "Professionalism in Transactional Practice: Ethics, Professionalism and Substance Abuse Education," December 2011
Speaker, "Funding and Financing Options for Small and Emerging Businesses,"Columbus Chamber of Commerce, November 2011
Author, "Knowing the Numbers," Columbus CEO Magazine, November 2011
Speaker, "Being Awesome: How All-Star Lawyers Got Where They Are," Columbus Bar Association, October 2011
Speaker, "Trends in Credit Market and Long Term Earn-Outs," Middle Market Business Transactions Webinar, Smith Barney, 2010

Bar Admissions & Activities

Member, Ohio State Bar Association (Corporate Counsel Section Council); Columbus Bar Association (Bar Services Board); American Bar Association
Former Examiner, Ohio Supreme Court Bar
Admitted, State of Ohio; U.S. Supreme Court; U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio and Southern District of Ohio; District of Columbia Court of Appeals, Washington DC

Awards & Recognition

Listed, Best Lawyers in America (Banking and Finance Law; Corporate Law; Mergers and Acquisitions Law), 2011-2019
Listed, Ohio Super Lawyers, 2012-2019
Listed, Best Law Firms in Banking and Finance Law, Corporate Law, and Mergers and Acquisition Law by U.S. News, 2018
Ranked, BV Distinguished, Martindale-Hubbell™
Recipient, Association for Corporate Growth’s Service Partner Award, 2011
Honored, Business First "Forty Under 40"
Recipient, Bowling Green State University’s Distinguished Service Award
Recipient, Bowling Green State University’s Board of Trustees’ Commendation
Recipient, Columbus Jaycee’s Outstanding Young Citizen Award, 1986

Education

Capital University Law School (J.D., 1990); semester abroad at University of Cambridge, Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, England; Notes Editor, Capital University Law Review
Capital University (B.A., 1986)