Thomas G. Appleman

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

• A Changing Landscape – China Finalizes Interim Measures for the Participation in Social Insurance of Foreigners Employed in China
• Global Automotive Newsletter
• Doing Business in North America (Chinese) (Volume 1 - United States)
• Doing Business in Poland (Chinese)
• Acquiring Businesses in the USA (Chinese)
• Doing Business in North America (Volume 2 - Mexico)
• Doing Business in North America (Volume 1 - United States)

Newsletters

• Hot Points Fall 2011

News

• Detroit Delegation Attends CIAPE in Beijing
• Miller Canfield Opens Office in China