Thomas J. DeSplinter

Thomas DeSplinter is a partner in the Corporate Practice Group in the firm's Chicago office.

Areas of Practice

Tom's practice focuses on private equity investments, mergers and acquisitions and other general corporate transactions. He has in-depth experience across industries including healthcare/life sciences, food and beverage, energy, manufacturing, construction, aerospace/defense, technology, venture capital, media, entertainment, advertising, consumer services, financial services and retail, where he advises clients on mergers and acquisitions, equity investments, debt financings, corporate spinoffs, restructurings and dispositions of assets. His work includes negotiating and drafting transaction documents and counseling clients with regard to the legal aspects of day-to-day operations, including on general corporate matters.

Before joining Sheppard Mullin, Tom served as the vice president of corporate development for a portfolio company of a multinational private equity fund, where he led deal teams focused on investing in regulated utility and transmission assets. He also worked in the integrated supply and trading unit of a multinational oil and gas company.

Tom currently serves as a Major in the U.S. Army Reserve Judge Advocate General’s Corps, where he advises commanders and soldiers on various areas of military law and was deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He also is a member of the Board of Advisors of Catholic Charities of Chicago, where he serves on the Veterans Support Committee.

Experience

Health Care/Life Sciences/Food and Beverage

• Representation of a private equity company in its platform acquisition of a laboratory and testing company.
• Representation of a private equity company in its exit sale process for a dental platform.
• Representation of a private company in its medspa rollup strategy.
• Representation of a private equity company in its exit sale of a dermatology platform to a strategic buyer.
• Representation of a biotech company in its corporate carveout of its contract manufacturing organization and sale to a Chinese buyer and related CFIUS application.
• Representation of an independent sponsor in its acquisition of a vascular surgery clinic.
• Representation of an independent sponsor in its acquisition of a liquor manufacturing, co-packing and co-manufacturing facility from a cross-border seller.
• Representation of an independent sponsor in its purchase of a single serving beverage company.
• Representation of a large publicly traded cannabinoid company in its purchase of an option in another cannabis company.
• Representation of a startup CBD manufacturer in its equity raise and corporate restructuring.
• Representation of a private equity company in its majority recapitalization of a women’s health platform.
• Representation of a large fertility clinic in its combination with a Silicon Valley backed startup.
• Representation of a large family office in its minority investment in a healthcare clinic.
• Representation of a private equity company in its sale of a dental platform.
• Representation of a large private equity company in its acquisition of an online dental supply business.
• Representation of a pain management clinic in its sale to a large private equity backed sponsor.
• Representation of a private equity backed eye clinic in its purchase of several add-on transactions and corporate governance.
• Representation of a private equity company in its platform acquisition of a large pain management clinic.
• Representation of a medical practice management company in its minority investment in a clinical laboratory.
• Representation of a private equity company in its restructuring and spin off of a large women’s health clinic.
• Representation of a private equity company in its acquisition of a large national oncology practice.
• Representation of a private equity company in its acquisition of a large regional dental practice.
• Representation of a private equity company in various add-on acquisitions related to a dental roll-up strategy.
• Representation of a large private equity company in connection with its investment in a leading provider of healthcare consulting services and enterprise performance management software.
• Representation of a large European multi-national food and health sciences company in connection with its acquisition of a specialist in diagnostics and in-licensed specialty pharmaceuticals for gastroenterology and oncology from a private equity consortium.
• Representation of a major managed care organization in connection with its acquisition of a provider of healthcare services to Medicare and Medicaid patients.

Energy/Manufacturing/Construction/Aerospace/Defense

• Representation of a private equity company in its bid to buy generation assets in a 363 bankruptcy sale.
• Representation of an independent sponsor in its purchase of a corporate carveout in the energy manufacturing and services sector.
• Representation of a private equity company in its acquisition of an oil and gas company.
• Representation of a large asset manager in its co-investment in a private equity sponsored acquisition of a manufacturing company in the automotive sector.
• Representation of a large family office in its co-investment in a private sponsor-backed industrial services company.
• Representation of an independent sponsor in its purchase of a construction company.
• Representation of a private equity portfolio company in its purchase and corporate carveout of a large brand name paint manufacturing brand.
• Representation of an independent sponsor in the acquisition of a defense contractor.
• Representation of a private equity portfolio company in its purchase and corporate carveout of an industrial manufacturing division of a larger company.
• Representation of a manufacturing company in its sale to a private equity backed sponsor.
• Representation of a large private equity company in connection with its investment in a premier manufacturer of small unmanned aerial systems and mission control software.
• Representation of a private investment company in connection with its acquisition of a machinery manufacturing company.
• Representation of a global independent safety science company in its acquisition of a leading provider of regulatory compliance resources and support for medical device and manufacturers.
• Representation of a major U.S. multi-national consumer product company in several cross-border joint ventures.
• Representation of a large U.S. multi-national automotive company in its acquisition of several companies.
• Representation of a large U.S. multi-national company in the spinoff of its parts supply business.
• Representation of a large U.S. multi-national company in connection with its cross-border sales of certain portions of its mining equipment sales, service and support businesses in Africa, Asia, Australia, and South America.
• Representation of a large U.S. multi-national manufacturing company in connection with its purchase of a regional manufacturing company.
• Representation of a large U.S. multi-national appliances manufacturing company in connection with its joint venture with a major U.S. consumer goods company to develop a new product.
• Representation of a large U.S. multi-national agricultural company in connection with its purchase of stock in a seed technology company.
• Representation of a major European multi-national manufacturing company in connection with its acquisition of a distributor in North America.
• Representation of a manufacturing company in connection with its acquisition of the assets of a heat-treating company.
• Representation of a defense contractor in connection with the drafting of its purchase order terms and conditions.
• Representation of a private construction supply company in connection with its sale to a private equity investor.
• Representation of a waste disposal company in connection with its issuance of public debt.

Technology/Venture Capital

• Representation of a family office in its acquisition of an electrical component manufacturing and distribution company.
• Representation of a family office in its anchor series seed investment in a startup battery technology company.
• Representation of a publicly traded technology company in its acquisition of a competitor in the same technology space from a private equity seller.
• Representation of a private equity company and its portfolio companies in connection with the acquisition of several software and technology companies.
• Representation of a venture capital firm in a Series B investment in a software-as-a-service company.
• Representation of a private equity company in connection with the sale of its investment in a technology company.
• Representation of a large private equity company in connection with its acquisition of a premier global provider of professional web hosting and managed cloud service.
• Representation of a large private equity company in connection with the restructuring of its investment in a leading developer and marketer of enterprise content management software.
• Representation of a privately owned technology enabled manufacturing company in its sale to a private equity buyer.
• Representation of a financial software company in connection with its acquisition of several portfolio management software companies.

Media/Entertainment/Advertising

• Representation of a large asset manager in its co-investment in a large private equity sponsored acquisition of a brand name entertainment and amusement park company.
• Representation of a independent sponsor in its investment in an bowling alley.
• Representation of a large private equity company and its portfolio company in connection with the sale of its radio station broadcast tower assets.
• Representation of a large European multi-national advertising company in connection with its joint venture with a company in Puerto Rico.
• Representation of a large family office in its co-investment in a private equity sponsored media and entertainment company including a movie studio, publication and awards show.
• Representation of a gaming company in connection with its joint venture to develop a casino.
• Representation of a large toy brand in connection with its public issuance of debt securities.

Consumer Services/Financial Services/Retail

• Representation of an independent sponsor in its equity raise for a platform holding company focused on a retail rollup strategy.
• Representation of a large U.S. multi-national retail hardware cooperative in the sale of a controlling stake to a private equity buyer.
• Representation of a private Trustee in the corporate organization of a joint venture investment vehicle to allow several trusts to invest in private equity deals.
• Representation of an independent sponsor in its acquisition of a logistics services company.
• Representation of an independent sponsor in its corporate formation and fund raising to support its investment in several franchise locations.
• Representation of an independent sponsor in its purchase of a vegetable distribution company.
• Representation of a private equity portfolio company in its purchase of a retail store from one of its store owners.
• Representation of a private equity company in its investment and corporate formation of an independent sponsor backed transaction in the pet boarding sector.
• Representation of a large private credit lender in its senior debt facility and corresponding acquisition of warrants in a large health supplement company.
• Representation of a large private credit lender in its acquisition of warrants as part of a loan to a research and development startup company.
• Representation of an independent sponsor in its acquisition of a commercial flooring business.
• Representation of a private investment company in the sale of its interest in a staffing company to a publicly traded company.
• Representation of a bank in connection with its minority investment of $1 billion in a U.S. asset manager and financial services company.
• Representation of a major U.S. bank in connection with the financing of the bank’s commodity trading team’s purchase of a cargo of ethanol.
• Representation of a bank in connection with its shelf offering of common stock.
• Representation of a large creditor and certain of its subsidiaries in connection with the City of Detroit’s Chapter 9 case, the largest-ever municipal bankruptcy filing, in which a substantial amount of the City of Detroit’s municipal finance debt obligations were settled as part of an innovative settlement that resolved all outstanding issues between the parties, delivered substantial value to creditors, and created the foundation for a long-term partnership for real-estate development and other investment in Detroit.

Pro Bono Experience

• Pro Bono representation of several Army veterans in their appeals to the Army Discharge Review Board.
• Pro Bono representation of a not-for-profit healthcare software corporation dedicated to providing open source software for MRI machines to help accelerate innovation, in connection with its formation and successful application for 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status.
• Pro Bono representation of the not-for-profit museum in the formation of an investment vehicle to fund the Saturday Night Live Exhibit.
• Pro Bono representation of several not-for-profit companies in connection formation, application for 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status and corporate governance related matters.

Honors

Deal Team Leader, Healthcare/Life Sciences Deal of the Year, The M&A Advisor, 2022

Media Mentions

Speaking Engagements

• Speaker, "Independent Sponsors of Chicago Networking Lunch," June 26, 2024
• Speaker, "Independent Sponsors of Florida Roundtable and Reception," May 16, 2024
• Speaker, "Independent Sponsors of Chicago Networking Lunch," February 14, 2024
• Speaker, "Independent Sponsors of Florida Roundtable and Reception," September 14, 2023
• Speaker, "Independent Sponsors of Florida Roundtable and Reception," May 4, 2023
• Speaker, "Independent Sponsors of Chicago Networking Lunch," March 22, 2023
• Moderator, "State of the Ophthalmology and Optometry Industries," 19th Annual Healthcare Private Equity and Finance Conference, March 1, 2023
• Speaker, "Independent Sponsors of Florida Networking Lunch," February 7, 2023
• Moderator, "Energy Gathering," 2022 Independent Sponsor Conference, October 26, 2022
• Speaker, "Independent Sponsors of Florida Roundtable and Reception," July 21, 2022
• Speaker, "Energy Private Equity and Independent Sponsors Virtual Roundtable," March 29, 2022
• Speaker, "Independent Sponsors of Florida Networking Lunch," March 22, 2022
• Panelist, "Networking Break: Energy," 2021 Independent Sponsor Conference, October 20, 2021
• Panelist, Energy Private Equity and Independent Sponsors Virtual Roundtable, October 6, 2021
• Guest, "Deals Outlook with McGuireWoods and Healthcare Insights from Independent Sponsors DuneGlass" Deal-by-Deal: An Independent Sponsor Podcast, September 15, 2021
• Speaker, Energy Independent Sponsors Virtual Roundtable, June 24, 2021

Memberships

Member, Board of Advisors of Catholic Charities of Chicago