Thomas S. Vaughn

Senior Counsel


Dykema is deeply saddened by the passing of our esteemed colleague and friend, Tom Vaughn, a long-time member of the firm’s Corporate Finance Practice Group.

Memorial Information and Obituary


When mergers, acquisitions, and corporate transactions pose complex challenges, the middle-market automotive suppliers, technology companies, healthcare providers, and other clients Tom Vaughn represents know he will deliver creative and practical solutions.

A corporate generalist primarily focused on M&A, Tom helps businesses with few or no in-house lawyers address two of their biggest challenges—time and resources. As an outside general counsel, he serves as the face of Dykema, applying his legal skills and fronting a multidisciplinary team of Dykema attorneys from other areas.

Tom exercises keen business judgment and proactively identifies problems and opportunities to help C-suite executives, corporate boards, and management teams make sound operational and strategic decisions. Recognized among top lawyers in Michigan by Chambers USA 2023, clients note Tom is “very knowledgeable about the law, but also the practical side of doing business.”

More than an M&A attorney, Tom is also an M&A scholar and industry observer. Since its launch in 2005, Tom has researched patterns and trends for Dykema’s Annual Mergers & Acquisitions Outlook Survey.

He also chairs the annual M&A Awards Ceremony presented by the Association for Corporate Growth’s Detroit Chapter while also serving on the organization’s board of directors.

Throughout Tom’s career, he has advised small public companies on all aspects of their operations, including raising capital, SEC and stock exchange compliance, board governance, and ultimate sale or merger.

In the finance area, Tom advises clients on matters involving private placements, debt and equity offerings, and commercial loans.

During the pandemic and its aftermath, he initiated and continues to lead Dykema’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan response team to help clients navigate application and forgiveness obstacles.

Complicated problems inspire me to find innovative solutions. As a lawyer and business advisor to my clients, my satisfaction comes from navigating seemingly impenetrable obstacles to help clients achieve their goals.
    • Georgetown University Law Center, J.D., magna cum laude
    • Georgetown University, B.S., magna cum laude
  • Bar Admissions

    • Michigan, 1980
    • Named a Michigan Leading Lawyer for Corporate/M&A by Chambers USA, 2017-2023

    • Named "M&A All Star: Lifetime Achievement Award" by the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) Detroit, 2024 

    • Named as "Lawyer of the Year" in Securities/Capital Markets Law by The Best Lawyers in America® in 2019 and 2021. Copyright 2015 by Woodward/White, Inc., Aiken, SC

    • Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2007-Present for Corporate Law, Mergers & Acquisitions Law, and Securities/Capital Markets Law. Copyright 2015 by Woodward/White, Inc., Aiken, SC

    • Named a Michigan Leading Lawyer in the area of Corporate Finance, Mergers & Acquisitions and Securities & Venture Law by the Leading Lawyers Network, 2014-2017. Law Bulletin Publishing Company
    • Recognized in Michigan Super Lawyers® for Mergers & Acquisitions, Securities & Corporate Finance, Closely Held Business, 2012
    • Named a Top Lawyer by dbusiness Magazine for Corporate Law and Securities/Capital Markets Law, 2010-2011, 2015 and 2017
    • Recipient of Martindale-Hubbell® AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rating
    • Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association
    • American Bar Association
    • Serves on the Grosse Pointe Woods Planning Commission
    • President of the Georgetown University Alumni Association of Michigan

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Dykema Earns 16 Practice Area Rankings and 33 Individual Rankings in Chambers USA 2024

Dykema, a leading national law firm, announced today that it received 33 individual attorney…

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Press Releases3.20.24

ACG Detroit Selects Thomas S. Vaughn for Its M&A All Star Lifetime Achievement Award

Dykema is proud to announce that the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) Detroit will award…

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2023 Mergers and Acquisitions Outlook Survey

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