Thomas E. Szykowny

Tom is a partner in the Vorys Columbus office and a member of the corporate group.  He concentrates on insurance regulatory and transactional matters as well as general business and corporate transactional matters.  He also represents several Ohio trade associations.  Tom has had experience in advising whether activities of several clients required their licensure as managing general agents in various states.  He has also reviewed managing general agent contracts with insurance carriers. 

Representative transactions include:

• Representing Plaskolite, LLC, an Ohio-based family owned acrylics manufacturing company, with operations throughout the United States and Internationally, for over 25 years in numerous transactions, including:
• An acquisition of Rotuba Extruders, Inc.’s profile lighting business
• A $22.4 million facility expansion project
• A $24 million acquisition of an extruded acrylic sheet business
• A $4.8 million acquisition of a thermoplastic sheet business
• Establishing a joint venture to construct a manufacturing plant in Turkey
• A $17.25 million acquisition of an extruded acrylic sheet business
• Sale of control to a private equity firm following an auction in which family owners and management team retained an interest utilizing buyer-side representation and warranty insurance to facilitate customary indemnification arrangements including an escrow, a basket and cap
• Representing a super regional insurance company in the cross-purchase of shares of an affiliate, recapitalization of a subsidiary, redemption of surplus notes, termination of captive insurance company and revising reinsurance arrangements
• Providing counsel to a national customer service center provider regarding applicable requirements for insurance adjusters, insurance agents and providers, customer service representatives, third party administrators and insurance appraisers
• Representing one of the largest health care insurance companies in the United States in connection with its Form A filing and approval at the Ohio Department of Insurance
• Representing insurance brokers and others in a market conduct transaction before the Ohio Department of Insurance
• Serving as outside general counsel for one of the largest fraternal insurance associations in the United States
• Representing a super regional mutual insurance company in the sale of its life insurance company.

Tom is a member of the Ohio State Bar Association and the Columbus Bar Association.

Tom received his J.D. from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law where he was the recipient of the William Oxley Thompson Alumni Award and was a member and the editor of the Ohio State Law Journal.  He received his B.A. summa cum laude from Denison University where he was Phi Beta Kappa.

Honors & Recognitions

Columbus CEO, Best Lawyers, Corporate, 2022

The Best Lawyers in America, Columbus Insurance Law Lawyer of the Year, 2012

The Best Lawyers in America, Insurance Law, 2012-2023

Columbus CEO, Top Lawyers in Columbus, 2010-2014, 2017-2021

Martindale-Hubbell AV Peer Review Rated

Columbus Jaycees Distinguished Service Award, 1989

Columbus Bar Association Service Award, 1992

Fellow of the Columbus Bar Foundation since 1994

Ohio State Bar Association Community Service Award, 1995

Fellow of the Ohio State Bar Foundation since 1995

Professional & Community Activities

Moritz College of Law National Council, Member

Denison University Board of Trustees, 1979-1981; 2013 – Current Trustee

Federation of Regulatory Counsel, Member

CBS Agency, Inc., Board of Directors, Current Member

Greater Columbus Arts Council, Former Trustee, Past Chair, and Former Member of Executive Committee

I Know I Can, Former Trustee and Past President

The Griffith Insurance Education Foundation, Former Trustee

The Columbus Academy, Former Trustee; past Board President; past President of Parents’ Association

Denison University Research Foundation, 1992-1999

Buckeye Ranch, President, 1991-1992