Tom has always had a passion for adding value to his clients’ businesses. From advising on the practical impact of a decision based on his experience leading the legal function for a NYSE-traded business or using his network to connect clients with resources outside of the law, Tom regularly serves as much more than a lawyer to his clients.
Tom is an experienced corporate and transactional lawyer with the rare background of having practiced at top law firms and leading the legal function at both private and public companies. He works with businesses of all sizes, including those without a lawyer who need an “Outside General Counsel” and legal departments who need additional assistance on special projects and transactional matters.
Tom began his career as a mergers and acquisitions, securities and joint ventures lawyer at Baker Botts L.L.P. Tom then moved to Sidley Austin LLP, where he was able to gain additional experience in representing private equity firms in portfolio company investments and dispositions, including in the consumer products industry. After obtaining this “Big Law” experience, Tom moved to an in-house legal position with a New York Stock Exchange-traded business where senior management and the board of directors selected Tom to lead the legal function. Tom finished his in-house legal career as the general counsel at an early-stage oil and gas company that built greenfield businesses in gas gathering and processing, oil gathering and produced water gathering and disposal.
Prior to practicing law, Mr. Leslie served as an officer in the U.S. Army and attained the rank of Captain. As an Army officer he served a tour in Iraq where he led a reconnaissance platoon and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal.
Tom completed his undergraduate studies at Princeton University and received his law degree from the Louisiana State University Law Center where he was a Member of the Louisiana Law Review. Tom is licensed to practice law in Texas.
