Service Areas
Education
- Wayne State University Law School, J.D.
- Michigan State University, B.S.
Bar Admissions
- Michigan
- Not licensed in China
Thomas G. Appleman is a deputy leader of the Miller Canfield Corporate and Securities Group, leader of the firm's China business team, and a member of its Global Automotive Industry team.
Tom focuses his practice on inbound and outbound foreign direct investment and multi-national cross border mergers, acquisitions and joint venture transactions. He also helps 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 places like Pakistan and Slovakia, and represents foreign businesses in establishing operations and joint ventures in North America.
Working with his equally experienced colleagues, Tom helps clients around the world with their global legal and business needs including planning and coordinating legal diligence reviews, navigating complex legal and regulatory requirements, securing tax and economic development incentives, licensing and protecting patents and other intellectual property, negotiating agreements with customers and vendors, meeting immigration requirements, navigating trade and custom issues, and facilitating dispute resolution.
Experience
As the leader of our Chinese business practice, Tom manages a talented team of 28 professionals representing a cross section of the firm's practice areas and global offices. The team includes Mandarin speaking lawyers, legal consultants, paralegals and a global business developer. From its global offices in North America, Poland and now Shanghai (established in 2008), our China practice team is able to offer our worldwide clients real time, 24/7 coverage.
As part of his international cross-border transactional practice, Tom has assisted clients in acquiring and divesting operations and establishing joint ventures in more than 20 countries. These transactions require 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 involves developing creative but practical solutions to permit coordinated global closings to take place on time.
Professional Activities
- American Bar Association
- State Bar of Michigan since 1981, Business Law Section; International Law Section
- Michigan Business Corporations Act Committee
- Oakland County Bar Association
Honors + Awards
- Best Lawyers in America, Corporate Law and Securities Law 2006-present; Corporate Law, Securities/Capital Markets Law, and Securities Regulation 2012
- Michigan Super Lawyers, Securities & Corporate Finance 2008-present
- Who's Who, Life member of National Registry (published in 2000 edition)
Civic, Cultural + Social Activities
- Detroit Chinese Business Association
- Asian Pacific American Chamber of Commerce
- American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai
- Association for Corporate Growth
- Institute for Continuing Legal Education, Business Advisory Board
Publications
"Buying and Selling a Business in Michigan," 2nd Edition (ICLE 2003) coeditor and author of chapters titled "Drafting Considerations in Asset, Stock and Membership Interest, Purchase Agreements, and Merger Agreements."
Advising Closely Held Businesses in Michigan, coeditor 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)
Seminars + Events
- Win-Win Michigan: Embracing U.S. & Asia Business Growth in 2011
- Navigating Through Cross-Border Business Legal Issues and Pitfalls
- Update on China-U.S. Business Issues
- China 2.0
- Employee Reductions and Plant Closings: Legal Considerations in the United States, Mexico, Canada, China, India and Europe - Grand Rapids
- Employee Reductions and Plant Closings: Legal Considerations in the United States, Mexico, Canada, China, India and Europe - Troy
Articles
- Doing Business in North America (Volume 2 - Mexico)
- Doing Business in North America (Chinese) (Volume 1 - United States)
- Doing Business in North America (Volume 1 - United States)
- Doing Business in Poland (Chinese)
- A Changing Landscape – China Finalizes Interim Measures for the Participation in Social Insurance of Foreigners Employed in China
- Global Automotive Newsletter
- Acquiring Businesses in the USA (Chinese)
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