Biography
Thomas R. Schmuhl focuses his practice on international law, financial restructuring, and corporate finance. He is former chair of Multilaw, a worldwide association of law firms in more than 75 countries comprising more than 7,500 lawyers. He is also the co-chair of the firm’s International Practice Group. Mr. Schmuhl has handled legal matters involving more than 80 countries.
He is a 1971 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Law School and holds both undergraduate and graduate degrees from The Johns Hopkins University. of the University of Pennsylvania Law School and holds both undergraduate and graduate degrees from The Johns Hopkins University.
Representative Matters
A variety of special, confidential matters including the rendering of advice to the governments of foreign nations.
Mr. Schmuhl represents corporate and governmental clients in complex commercial and financial transactions on local, national and international levels. He has handled matters for clients involving more than 80 countries throughout the world. A number of corporations from other countries rely on him as their principal lawyer and coordinator of legal affairs in the United States. Matters he has handled include public and private corporate financings; corporate counseling; mergers and acquisitions; Eurobond issues; international joint ventures; international arbitrations; public investment; bond issues; and investment company and mutual fund matters.
Specific matters in which he has been involved include:
– Multi-billion dollar international workout and restructuring of an Irish-based aircraft leasing group
– Conrail’s divestiture of its passenger service assets to transit agencies throughout the northeastern United States
– Service as counsel to the independent trustees of investment companies
– Default crisis of the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency
– Litigation against the Government of Iran before the International Claims Tribunal at the Hague
– Organization and international capital financing of a financial services company, including broker-dealer and investment advisory operations, with more than $12 billion under management
– Conceiving the Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority and developing its format and foundations, which resolved the potential bankruptcy of the City of Philadelphia
– Acquisitions of numerous companies in U.S. and foreign markets
– Pennsylvania Rapid Bridge Replacement Public-Private Partnership
Resume
Admissions
– Pennsylvania
– U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
– Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
– Supreme Court of the United States
Education
– University of Pennsylvania Law School, J.D., 1971
– Editor, University of Pennsylvania Law Review)
– The Johns Hopkins University, A.B. and M.A. (honors), 1968
Experience
Duane Morris LLP
– Partner, 1997-present
Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
– Chairman, International Practice Group, 1990-1997
– Chairman, Business Department, 1984-1990
– Partner, 1979-1997
– Associate, 1971-1978
Military Service:
– Army Officer (Captain, TC) in various reserve components, 1968-1975
– Commanding Officer, 1070th Transportation Company, 1973-1975
Professional Activities
Multilaw
– Chairman, 2000-2003
– Mr. Schmuhl was the first American to serve as chairman of Multilaw and he became the second recipient of the organization’s Hawley Award in 2003
– Executive Council Member, 1990-2011
– Management Committee Member, 1994-2012
– Chairman, Business Transactions Group, 2009-present
– Chairman, Finance Committee, 2012-2014
– Member, Finance Committee, 2014-present
Honors and Awards
– Listed in Pennsylvania Super Lawyers, 2013
– AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
Civic and Charitable Activities
– Counsel, International Center for Women in the Arts (UNESCO)
– Counsel, U.S. Committee for the Preservation of Ancient Tyre in Lebanon
– Board of Trustees, Beaver College, 1991-1999
– Committee of Seventy, 1976-2007
Publications
– Co-author, “Tech Start-Ups’ Welcome to Philadelphia,” Doing Business with Israel Legal and Business Guide, 2016
– Co-author, “Why Philadelphia is Perfect for Israeli Companies Looking to Enter the U.S. Market ,” Philadelphia Business Journal, May 12, 2016
– Co-author, “IRS Proposes New U.S. Tax Reporting by Foreign-Owned U.S. Limited Liability Companies,” Duane Morris Alert, May 18, 2016
– Author, “Another Private Equity Filing Deadline Approaches: Do You Know Where Your BE-10s Are?” Duane Morris Alert, May 20, 2015
– Author, “Why Ireland is a Good First Step for Doing Business in Europe,” Philadelphia Business Journal, April 8, 2014
– “The Commercial Laws of the United States,” Digest of Commercial Laws of the World, Oceana Publications, 1999
– “Punitive Damages in the United States,” International Legal Practitioner, December 1997
– Co-author, “International Sales Contracts Under the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods,” Pennsylvania Bar Institute, 1991
– Co-Author, “Recent Developments in Director’s Liability and Indemnification in Pennsylvania and Delaware,” Winchell Press, 1987
Speaking Engagements
– “Opinion Preparation,” The Insurance Society of Pennsylvania, March 2016
– “Changes in Pennsylvania Corporate Law,” The Insurance Society of Pennsylvania, June 2015
– “Opinions,” The Insurance Society of Pennsylvania, February 2014
– “Working with Foreign Counsel,” Pennsylvania Bar Institute, March 2013
– “Drafting Agreements in English,” Horsens, Denmark, 2010
– “The Art of Doing a Deal,” Quebec, Canada, and Dublin, Ireland, August 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005
– “New US Regulation of International Hedge Funds,” New York, American Conference Institute, January 2005
– “Letters of Intent,” Philadelphia, Atlas Seminars, June 2005
– “Recent Developments in Money Laundering Controls,” Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, January, 2002
– “Corporate Defense and Risk Management,” Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, January, 2001
– “Extra-territorial Application of United States Money Laundering Laws,” 1998 International Fraud and Money Laundering Conference, London, England, December, 1998
– “The United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods: An Overview for Attorneys Representing U.S. Clients,” CLE program sponsored by the American Corporate Counsel Association, August, 1997
– Pennsylvania Bar Institute (Numerous Topics)
– Dickinson School of Law CLE Program
– “Doing Business in the United States,” City University of London, England, 1987
