Thomas M. Welsh

Tom has significant experience consummating mergers, acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, and divestitures for private equity, public and private company clients. In addition, he provides day-to-day general corporate counseling to his clients and regularly negotiates and drafts all types of commercial contractual arrangements.

In the healthcare industry, Tom advises hospital systems and other healthcare organizations, as well as early stage growth clients in the life sciences industries.

Since 2021, Tom has been recognized for his work in Corporate/M&A by Chambers USA in Band 4 in Ohio: North. 

Clients interviewed by Chambers USA stated, "Tom is always dedicated and committed to his clients and makes them feel like their deal is the most important thing he is working on at any moment. His strengths include critical thinking, understanding the market, attention to detail, and timely communication. Tom is a solid M&A lawyer. He's a very smart guy and is very well regarded."

Tom joined Calfee in 2003 and was elected Partner in 2012. He was elected to the firm's Management Committee in 2020 and elected Managing Partner in 2023.

Honors & Recognitions

• Chambers USA, Corporate/M&A, Band 4, Ohio: North (2021-2024)
• The Best Lawyers in America^®, Corporate Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law (2024-2025)
• Ohio Super Lawyers, Mergers & Acquisitions (2014-2020, 2024)
• Ohio Super Lawyers, Ohio Rising Stars (2013)

Education

J.D., Case Western Reserve University School of Law, Law Review Notes Editor, 2003

B.A., Miami University, 1999

Experience

Tom’s considerable experience includes having represented the following public and privately held companies and private equity firms:

• Represented Edgewater Capital Partners in the acquisition of (1) Naprotek, an electronic manufacturing services company and leading provider of quick-turn printed circuit board assembly services for high-reliability applications in the defense, space, medical, semiconductor, and specialty industrial markets; (2) Iten Defense, a leading provider of advanced composites and armor solutions used in personal protective equipment, fixed and rotary-wing aircraft, tactical vehicles, and maritime vessels; and (3) GL Chemtec, a North American Specialty CDMO providing advanced chemistry services to the pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device sectors.
• Represented Watervale Equity Partners in the acquisition of (1) EMX Industries, a leading manufacturer of sensors and controls for the access control industry and process automation applications for industrial markets; (2) Duke Manufacturing, a leading manufacturer of precision-machined components and assemblies used predominately by the aerospace and defense sector; and (3) High Speed Gear, a manufacturer of tactical gear for military, law enforcement and consumer enthusiasts.
• Represented an asset management and collateral recovery company in its acquisition by the portfolio company of a Midwestern private equity firm.
• Served as legal counsel to a Western European steel products manufacturer with respect to the sale of a joint venture U.S. company to a subsidiary of a Southeast European company. This 2023 transaction was valued at $100+ million.
• Led a 2023 transaction for an Ohio manufacturer and distributor whose parent company is a publicly traded Asia-based company in its disposition of the equity of a subsidiary to a strategic buyer.
• Served as lead and sole legal counsel to a manufacturing portfolio company of a private equity firm in its 2023 acquisition of a woman-owned, California-based manufacturing business.
• Serving as exclusive counsel to a publicly traded multi-billion-dollar multinational holding company in its 2023 acquisition of all intellectual property of a Southwestern U.S.-based manufacturer.
• Serving as exclusive counsel to a publicly traded multi-billion-dollar multinational holding company in its 2023 sale of all of the equity interests of a provider of extended warranty programs and services. This sale allowed the client company to realize value from the divestiture of a non-core asset of its business.
• Represented The J.M. Smucker Company (NYSE: SJM) in numerous acquisitions, including its acquisition of Ainsworth Pet Nutrition Parent, LLC, maker of Rachel Ray Nutrish brand of pet food for $1.9 billion, the acquisition of the Folgers coffee business from Procter & Gamble through a Reverse Morris Trust transaction valued at more than $3 billion, the acquisition of Rowland Coffee Roasters, and the acquisition of a majority of the North American foodservice coffee and hot beverage business of Sara Lee Corporation.
• Represented RPM International (NYSE: RPM) and its affiliates in numerous acquisitions and divestitures worldwide, including its acquisition of the foam division of Clayton Corporation, best known for its consumer polyurethane foam brand Touch ‘N Foam; its acquisition of Karcher North America Company’s Prochem business, a manufacturer of professional equipment and chemicals for cleaning and restoring carpet, upholstery and hard floor surfaces; its acquisition of Kirker Enterprises, a leading manufacturer of nail care enamels, coatings components and related products for the personal care industry; its acquisition of Synta, a producer and marketer of innovative exterior wood deck and concrete restoration systems; and its acquisition of Krud Kutter, a producer of cleaners and removers for residential, commercial and industrial environments.
• Represented Linsalata Capital Partners and its portfolio companies in numerous transactions, including its acquisition of Spartan Foods of America, a leading manufacturer and distributor of shelf-stable pizza crusts, frozen pancakes, frozen pizzas, and related products; its acquisition of Manhattan Beachwear, a leading supplier of women’s swimwear and beachwear; its acquisition and divestiture of Augusta Sportswear, a leading provider of athletic-oriented apparel, team uniforms, sportswear and other accessories; its acquisition and divestiture of Transtar, a distributor of remanufactured automotive aftermarket products; its acquisition and divestiture of Stanton Carpet, a manufacturer of decorative, high-quality branded carpet and rugs.
• Represented Evolution Capital Partners and its portfolio companies in several acquisitions and divestitures, including the acquisition of Turf Ventures, an Illinois-based distributor of fertilizers, fungicides, and other chemicals to the professional turf industry; the divestiture of Innerpac, a leading manufacturer and distributor of specialty and die-cut partitions and layer pads; and the divestiture of Accurate Group Holdings LLC, a technology-enabled outsourced provider of real estate transaction services to mortgage lending and loan servicing clients.
• Represented Park-Ohio Holdings Corp. (Nasdaq: PKOH) in its acquisition of Autoform Tool & Manufacturing Inc., a leading supplier of direct injection fuel rails, high-pressure inlet and crossover pipes, low-pressure inlet pipes, and conventional low-pressure multi-port injection fuel rails utilized by automotive and truck manufacturers; and its acquisition of the molding division of Wisconsin-based Trostel Ltd., a leading manufacturer of rubber-molded products utilizing a variety of elastomer materials and manufacturing technologies.
• Represented Americhem Group, a global provider of color and additive and engineered compound solutions for the polymer industry, in its acquisition of Vi-Chem Corporation, a supplier of specialty engineered compounds used in injection molding, extrusion, and blow molding applications; its acquisition of Infinity Compounding, a producer of filled and reinforced engineering resin compounds; and its acquisition of LTL Color, a premier compounder of custom color engineered thermoplastics.
• Represented Fairmount Santrol Inc. in its sale of a 51% interest to American Securities and a $775 million credit facility in connection therewith.
• Represented Akron General Health System in its initial affiliation with and subsequent full member substitution by The Cleveland Clinic Foundation.
• Represented Tarkett SA in its acquisition of Dalton, Georgia-based Lexmark Carpet Mills, a well-recognized brand among leading hospitality chains and in residential markets; and its acquisition of the Tandus Group, a leading designer, manufacturer, and seller of carpet flooring products and accessories.
• Represented Chart Industries, Inc. (Nasdaq: GTLS) and its affiliates in numerous acquisitions, including its biomedical segment’s acquisition of Covidien Group S.A.R.L.’s (NYSE: COV) and its affiliates’ oxygen therapy business, including the manufacturing, sales, and service functions from over 30 countries; its biomedical segment’s acquisition of SeQual Technologies, Inc., a leader in portable oxygen concentrators; and its distribution and storage segment’s acquisition of Cryotech International, Inc.’s cryogenic injector business.
• Represented CW Industrial Partners LLC (formerly CapitalWorks, LLC) in several acquisitions and investments, including its preferred investment in Advanced Hydro Solutions, a developer of hydro-electric projects; the acquisition of Gallo Displays, a marketing and communications company that provides design, engineering, production, and service; and the acquisition of Bluffton Motor Works, a manufacturer of custom fractional horsepower motors.
• Represented Lexi-Comp, Inc., a developer of clinical information solutions, in its sale to Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.

Professional & Community

• Association for Corporate Growth’s Cleveland Chapter, Board of Directors, past president, and former chair of its annual Deal Maker Awards event
• Greater Cleveland Partnership, Board of Directors
• Cleveland Baseball Federation, Board of Directors, member and former president
• Greater Cleveland Sports Commission, Associate Board, past member

Representative Clients

A representative list of clients with which Tom works is:

• Edgewater Capital Partners
• The J.M. Smucker Company (NYSE: SJM)
• RPM International (NYSE: RPM)
• Linsalata Capital Partners
• Watervale Equity Partners
• Park-Ohio Holdings Corp. (Nasdaq: PKOH)
• Americhem Group
• Covia Holdings Corp. (NYSE: CVIA)
• Hunter Valley Company
• The MetroHealth System
• Akron General Health System
• Tarkett Enterprises Inc. 
• Chart Industries, Inc. (Nasdaq: GTLS)
• CCW Industrial Partners LLC (formerly CapitalWorks, LLC)
• Evolution Capital Partners