TOM THESING is the managing partner of Sidley’s office in London, head of the London Corporate group and a member of Sidley's Management and Executive Committees. His principal areas of practice are cross-border M&A, corporate finance and strategic counseling/corporate governance. Tom represents both buyers and sellers of public and private corporations and advises boards of directors on acquisitions, corporate and financial restructuring and corporate governance-related matters. He also has experience with private equity/venture capital investments and joint ventures. Tom has significant experience in transactions in regulated industries, such as financial and payment services, healthcare and life sciences, as well as technology and internet-related businesses. Recognized most for his cross-border experience, virtually all of the transactions Tom leads include parties and businesses in multiple jurisdictions and most frequently across continents, whether North or South America, Europe, Asia or Africa.
Tom’s recent transactions include advising:
- Argo Blockchain, a global leader in cryptocurrency mining, on its Nasdaq IPO.
- Medline Industries, Inc. in its acquisition of a significant portion of Teleflex Incorporated’s respiratory business for US$286 million.
- Arvelle Therapeutics, a Swiss-based biopharmaceutical company, on its sale to Angelini Pharma for a total cash consideration of up to US$960 million.
- F. Hoffmann-La Roche on its acquisition of Inflazome, a biotech company leading the development of orally available, small molecule NLRP3 inhibitors to address clinical unmet needs in inflammatory diseases by targeting inflammasomes.
- Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) on the acquisition, with GIC, of Blackstone’s 36% shareholding in Rothesay Life, the largest specialist annuity provider in the UK. Under the terms of the transaction, MassMutual and GIC each became equal 49% shareholders and the transaction valued the group at £5.75 billion.
Tom has been recognized for Corporate/M&A work in a number of leading legal publications, including IFLR 1000, The Legal 500 UK, Chambers Global and Chambers UK. Most recently, Tom was recognized in Chambers UK 2023, with sources commenting "Thomas is extremely helpful on strategic as well as purely legal matters. Sophisticated and worldly, and provided excellent support." In the 2021 edition, clients commented “his subject matter expertise and holistic understanding of transactions is fantastic.” In the 2018 edition of Chambers UK, clients describe Tom as being a “very technical and practical partner,” and client comments in The Legal 500 UK 2017 note that he is a “‘very tough negotiator.’” Tom has also been recognized as a “Life Science Star” for finance and transactional matters in the LMG Life Sciences Europe guide. In addition, the London Private Equity practice was honored as “Private Equity Team of the Year” in the 2021 Legal Business Awards.
*Only admitted to practice in Illinois. Not admitted to practice in England and Wales.