Service Areas
Education
- Wayne State University Law School, J.D.
- Michigan State University, B.S.
Bar Admissions
- Michigan
Thomas G. Appleman brings an international flair to his role as the lead attorney for Miller Canfield’s China business team and head of the firm’s Shanghai office. For nearly three decades, Tom has helped U.S. clients take their products and services into the global marketplace by expanding their operations into Europe, China, India, Mexico, Brazil, South Korea and even such locales as Pakistan and Slovakia. He also represents foreign businesses in establishing operations and joint ventures in the United States.
Working with his equally experienced colleagues, Tom helps clients around the world with such matters as securing tax and economic development, protecting patents and other intellectual property, negotiating agreements with customers and vendors, meeting immigration requirements, and navigating North American trade and customs issues.
Experience
In 2007, Tom assisted clients in acquiring and divesting operations in more than 20 countries. These transactions required managing local counsel in each jurisdiction and navigating the numerous and sometimes conflicting corporate, tax, foreign investment, licensing, environmental, employment and employee benefits, intellectual property and other legal and regulatory hurdles. It also involved developing creative but practical solutions to permit the global closings to take place on time despite unexpected delays in some jurisdictions.
Professional Activities
- American Bar Association
- State Bar of Michigan since 1981, Business Law Section; Michigan Business Corporations Act Committee
- Oakland County Bar Association
- Who's Who, Life member of National Registry (published in 2000 edition)
Honors + Awards
- Best Lawyers in America, Corporate Law 2006-2009; Securities Law 2009
- Michigan Super Lawyers, Securities & Corporate Finance 2008
Civic, Cultural + Social Activities
- Detroit Chinese Business Association
- Asian Pacific American Chamber of Commerce
- Association for Corporate Growth
- Institute for Continuing Legal Education, Business Advisory Board
Publications
Coeditor, "Buying and Selling a Business in Michigan," 2nd Edition (ICLE 2003) and of chapters titled "Drafting Considerations in Asset, Stock and Membership Interest, Purchase Agreements, and Merger Agreements."
Coeditor, Advising Closely Held Businesses in Michigan, and author of chapter titled "Forming a Corporation." (ICLE, 2000)
"Business Associations, 1993 Annual Survey of Michigan Law," 39 Wayne Law Review, 317. (1993)
"Two Heads are Better Than One--Joint Ventures Provide Financial Advantage without the Costs of a Merger," 1 Michigan Law 20. (July 1989)
"Statutory Record Retention Requirements," 249 Laches 8. (1986)
"Business Associations, 1983 Annual Survey of Michigan Law," 30 Wayne Law Review 245. (1983)