Tom, a former federal prosecutor, represents individuals and companies in all phases of complex civil, criminal and regulatory matters. He also conducts, and represents individuals in, fact-finding investigations by both private and governmental entities in response to concerns or allegations of misconduct by organizations and their officers and employees. The subjects of Tom’s matters range from finance, tax, securities fraud, manufacturing and healthcare, to claims of sexual abuse, discrimination and unreasonable force. Clients that Tom represents range from individuals, such as corporate officers, investors, doctors, engineers, teachers, attorneys, politicians and factory workers, to large organizations such as financial institutions, manufacturers, wholesalers, physician groups, hospitals, law firms, insurance companies and nonprofit organizations.
In criminal and enforcement matters, Tom represents individuals and organizations in a variety of capacities, as targets of investigations, criminal defendants, grand jury and regulatory witnesses, and business or individual victims of crimes. He also assists clients with statutory or regulatory compliance and negotiations with regulators. He has represented clients in matters involving alleged violations of the False Claims Act, larceny, embezzlement, securities, export law and contractor fraud. Those matters were investigated by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Transportation, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Connecticut State Attorneys and Attorney General’s Office, Department of Public Health, State Police, and other state and federal regulators.Tom’s objective in defending each of these matters is to assess the scope of a client’s exposure as thoroughly and efficiently as possible, through discussions with the investigating authority and discussions and investigations with the client. A strategy is then developed to negotiate with the investigating authority to defer prosecution or negotiate an appropriate action based upon the circumstances of the case. The goal is to avoid charges, but if charges are brought, to defend the client’s position as vigorously as possible.Tom also represents both organizations and individuals in a wide variety of civil litigation, including business disputes, employment matters, shareholder disputes, and insurance coverage. In these civil cases, the objective is to assess exposure as thoroughly as possible, and to develop with the client a reasonable objective, and then a strategy to meet that objective as economically as possible. That assessment will often include consideration of alternative dispute alternatives to court litigation, such as early mediation or arbitration. Tom strives to be responsive, practical and creative in working with clients to meet the desired result. If cases must go to trial, Tom uses his wealth of trail experience to zealously advocate for clients.Prior to joining Reid and Riege, Tom served for 12 years as an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut. As a federal prosecutor, Tom handled the prosecution of a broad spectrum of federal criminal matters, from murder and narcotics matters to complex white collar cases, from the investigative and grand jury stage through trial and appeal. From 2003 to 2007, he was a member of the U.S. Attorney’s Corporate Fraud Task Force, and prosecuted several mail and wire fraud, tax fraud, health care fraud, and defense contractor fraud cases. From 1999 to 2002, Tom was a part of the team that investigated and prosecuted official corruption cases involving the former Connecticut State Treasurer. Tom was also the Project Safe Neighborhoods prosecutor for Hartford, prosecuting gun and violent crime as well as heading the U.S. Attorney’s Office community outreach efforts in combating violent crime in the capital city. He also served from 1998 to 2007 as the U.S. Attorney’s representative in the DOJ Weed & Seed Program in the City of New Britain.From 1995 to 1998, Tom was a Civil Assistant United States Attorney handling all Connecticut-based litigation to which the United States was a party, including employment discrimination claims against federal agencies, medical malpractice cases against the VA and tort claims against other federal agencies, and affirmative civil enforcement actions relating to fraud against the United States.
Prior to joining the United States Attorney's Office, Tom was counsel with the Travelers, litigating complex environmental insurance coverage and extra-contractual damage cases across the United States. Prior to Travelers, he was an associate attorney at another major Connecticut law firm in Hartford.
