Tom focuses his practice on complex business litigation, primarily in the area of environmental and toxic tort law. He has successfully defended a wide variety of clients in civil litigation, including Fortune 500 companies, individuals, general contractors, developers, restaurants, distributors and retail stores. He also has handled matters involving product liability, premises liability, unfair competition, breach of contract, public entity defense and construction defects. Tom has successfully obtained relief for his clients through summary judgment, dismissals and defense verdicts at trial.
Before joining Shook, Tom was a senior associate at Wood Smith Henning & Berman LLP.
Representative Matters
Perera v. Moine (California Superior Court, Los Angeles County, August 2021) | Obtained a seven-figure judgment on behalf of the owner of commercial real estate property in Los Angeles. The action was for breach of contract resulting from the defendant/seller’s failure to comply with terms in the purchase sale agreement to remediate pre-existing subsurface contamination at the property. The verdict included recovery of the owner’s attorney fees and costs.
Orange County Water District v. Sabic (California Superior Court, Orange County, April 2021) | As second chair, defended a company in a Hazardous Substance Account Act and OCWD Act lawsuit where the plaintiff alleged client released hazardous substances during the operation of a printed circuit board facility (subsequent phases still ongoing).
Haas v. Beach and Talbert Shops, LLC (California Superior Court, Orange County, 2018) | As lead trial counsel, obtained defense verdict on behalf of commercial property owner in premises liability action where the plaintiff alleged that a walkway on the property was not ADA compliant and caused her to fall.
Presentations
Ethics in Environmental Law, CLE, Association of Corporate Counsel - Southern California, May 11, 2022.
Vaccine Mandates: Can Companies Require Employees to Get the COVID Vaccine?, CLE, Association of Corporate Counsel - Southern California, May 4, 2021 (with Kirk Bacon).
Bias-Mosis: The Permeating Effect of Bias in Technology, CLE, Association of Corporate Counsel - Southern California, Costa Mesa, California, October 3, 2019 (with Kirk Bacon).