Durham Office

Diamond View II, 280 South Mangum Street, Suite 130, Durham, NC 27701

(919) 787-8880 Contact Us

Raleigh Office

3605 Glenwood Avenue, Suite 500, Raleigh, NC 27612

(919) 787-8880 Contact Us

As head of the Firm’s Mergers & Acquisition practice group, Tom assists companies with Mergers and Acquisitions and other strategic Corporate Transactions.  He works with clients to implement their growth and development strategies by structuring, negotiating and closing complex business transactions.

About

With more than 25 years of experience, Tom has extensive experience in helping companies grow through domestic and international mergers and acquisitions, private equity investments and strategic business transactions.  He often serves in the capacity as outside general counsel to his clients; advising boards, executive management, private equity funds, and family offices on a variety of business and legal issues.  He has experience representing clients in a broad range of industries, including the software, cloud computing, e-commerce, business services, manufacturing, and distribution industries.

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Credentials

Education

  • University of Kentucky – J.D. – 1998 – Cum Laude
  • University of North Carolina – B.S. in Business Administration – 1995 – With Distinction – Beta Gamma Sigma

Admitted to Practice

  • North Carolina

Professional Memberships & Activities

  • Association for Corporate Growth – 2007 to Present
    • Member
    • RTP Chapter Judge, 2010, 2011 ACG Investment Banking Cups
  • American Bar Association Business Law Section, Member
  • North Carolina Bar Association Business Law Section, Member
  • Wake County Bar Association Member
  • Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce
    • Leadership Raleigh- 2001 to 2002
  • Recognized in “Legal Elite” and “Young Gun” (Corporate Law), Business North Carolina- 2006, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2022-2024
  • Recognized by North Carolina Super Lawyers (Corporate Law, Mergers & Acquisitions)- 2006-2008, 2019-2024
  • Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America for the practice areas for Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law and Corporate Law (2019-2025)
  • “40 Under 40” award from Triangle Business Journal (2003) for business and community leadership
  • Recent Speaking Engagements
    • Guest on the Trust Company Talks podcast “Navigating the M&A Landscape:  A Conversation with Tom Lyon and Mark Phillips” with Trust Company of the South on May 8, 2024
    • Manning Fulton’s Executive Speaker Series – “M&A From a Buyer’s Perspective:  What Every Seller Should Know. Thinking about selling your business?  Learn what every seller should know from strategic buyers and private equity investors” – September 26, 2023
    • M&A Panel, 2022 Franchise Success Summit, November 16, 2022
    • Manning Fulton’s Executive Speaker Series – “M&A From a Buyer’s Perspective:  What Every Seller Should Know. Thinking about selling your business?  Learn what every seller should know from strategic buyers and private equity investors” – September 29, 2021
    • ‘Flash Briefings’ by Manning Fulton – “M&A in a COVID-19 World – 2020 M&A Trends from a Buyer’s Perspective” – October 28, 2020
    • Manning Fulton’s Executive Speaker Series – “M&A From a Buyer’s Perspective:  What Every Seller Should Know. Thinking about selling your business?  Learn what every seller should know from strategic buyers and private equity investors” – June 13, 2019
    • Manning Fulton’s Executive Speaker Series – “M&A From a Buyer’s Perspective:  What Every Seller Should Know. Thinking about selling your business?  Learn what every seller should know from strategic buyers and private equity investors” – May 24, 2017

Representative Transactions

2023 Transaction Highlights:

  • Private equity fund in multiple buy-side acquisitions and $57,000,000 acquisition financing
  • Triangle-based multi-state construction company in $25,000,000 management buyout
  • Private equity fund in purchase of Durham-based software company
  • Triangle-based services company with international operations in $50,000,000 sale to private equity fund
  • Raleigh-based strategic buyer in $15,000,000 buy-side acquisition in construction business and $17,000,000 acquisition financing
  • Strategic buyer in purchase of Triad-based manufacturing business
  • Raleigh-based manufacturing company in $25,000,000 sale to private equity fund
  • North Carolina-based multistate electronic components company in $50,000,000 sale to private equity fund
  • Triangle-based construction company in $42,000,000 sale to private equity fund

Other Representative Transactions:

  • Lead counsel in typically $300,000,000 – $500,000,000 in M&A transactions per year
  • Raleigh-based managed hosting company in the acquisition of multiple competitors, $140,000,000 sale to private equity fund, and ultimate $310,000,000 sale to publicly traded company
  • Research Triangle Park-based pharmaceutical services company in $56,000,000 sale to private equity fund
  • Raleigh-based distribution company in $110,000,000 sale to strategic purchaser
  • 15 location Raleigh-HQ retail company in $70,000,000 sale to private equity fund
  • Eastern North Carolina-based distribution company in sale to strategic purchaser for approximately $300,000,000
  • RTP-based holding company in the acquisition of a robotics technology company and ultimate sale to a publicly traded Japanese company
  • High-profile consumer products company in $75,000,000 sale to North Carolina private equity company
  • Carrboro-based franchisor with more than $100,000,000 in annual system sales to North Carolina family office
  • High-profile Durham-based consumer products company in $50,000,000 sale to West Coast private equity company
  • Raleigh pharmaceutical services company in $75,000,000 sale to private equity fund
  • European-based conglomerate in the acquisition of manufacturing companies and IP assets in the U.S. and Latin America
  • Raleigh-based telecommunications provider to hospitality industry in $110,000,000 sale to West Coast private equity fund

Community Engagement

Band Together– 2001 to Present

  • Co-Founder
  • Board of Directors- 2001 to 2012
  • Co-Chair – Advisory Board – 2012 to 2017

Camber Foundation/Goodwill Community Foundation – 2005 to Present

  • Board of Directors- 2006 to Present
  • Vice Chairman- 2023 to present
  • Audit Committee Chairman- 2023 to present
  • Secretary- 2006 to 2021

Raleigh Young Life – 2021 to Present

  • Committee Member – 2021 to Present

Previous Community Activities and Leadership Roles

  • Church of the Apostles (Officer, Leadership Council)
  • Goodwill Industries of Eastern North Carolina (Director, Officer)
  • Boys & Girls Club of Wake County (Director)

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