Thomas R. Schmuhl

Partner

  • Thomas R. Schmuhl
  • Phone: +1 215 979 1272

    Thomas R. Schmuhl - LinkedIn Import to Address Book

  • Duane Morris LLP
    30 South 17th Street
    Philadelphia, PA 19103-4196
    USA

Thomas R. Schmuhl focuses his practice on international law, financial restructuring, and corporate finance. He is former chair of Multilaw, the preeminent global legal network of independent law firms with over 10,000 lawyers in more than 150 commercial centers around the world. He is also the co-chair of the firm's International Practice Group. Mr. Schmuhl has handled legal matters involving more than 90 countries.

He is a 1971 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Law School and holds both undergraduate and graduate degrees from The Johns Hopkins University.

Representative Matters

  • A variety of special, confidential matters including the rendering of advice to the governments of foreign nations.

  • Mr. Schmuhl represents corporate and governmental clients in complex commercial and financial transactions on local, national and international levels. He has handled matters for clients involving more than 80 countries throughout the world. A number of corporations from other countries rely on him as their principal lawyer and coordinator of legal affairs in the United States. Matters he has handled include public and private corporate financings; corporate counseling; mergers and acquisitions; Eurobond issues; international joint ventures; international arbitrations; public investment; bond issues; and investment company and mutual fund matters.

  • Specific matters in which he has been involved include:
    - Multi-billion dollar international workout and restructuring of an Irish-based aircraft leasing group
    - Conrail's divestiture of all of its passenger service assets to transit agencies throughout the northeastern United States
    - Service as counsel to the independent trustees of investment companies
    - Default crisis of the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency
    - Litigation against the Government of Iran before the International Claims Tribunal at the Hague
    - Organization and international capital financing of a financial services company, including broker-dealer and investment advisory operations, with more than $12 billion under management
    - Conceiving the Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority and developing its format and foundations, which resolved the potential bankruptcy of the City of Philadelphia
    - Financing of $160 million United Parcel Service cargo terminal and facilities at Louisville International Airport
    - Financing of $100 million United Parcel Service cargo terminal and facilities at Philadelphia International Airport
    - Acquisitions of numerous companies in U.S. and foreign markets
    - Pennsylvania Rapid Bridge Replacement Public-Private Partnership

Admissions

  • Pennsylvania
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
  • Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
  • Supreme Court of the United States

Education

  • University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, J.D., 1971
    Editor, University of Pennsylvania Law Review
  • The Johns Hopkins University, A.B. and M.A. (honors), 1968

Experience

  • Duane Morris LLP
    - Partner, 1997-present
  • Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
    - Chairman, International Practice Group, 1990-1997
    - Chairman, Business Department, 1984-1990
    - Partner, 1979-1997
    - Associate, 1971-1978
  • Military Service:
    - Army Officer (Captain, TC) in various reserve components, 1968-1975
    - Commanding Officer, 1070th Transportation Company, 1973-1975

Professional Activities

  • Multilaw
    - Chairman, 2000-2003
    - Mr. Schmuhl was the first American to serve as chairman of Multilaw and he became the second recipient of the organization's Hawley Award in 2003
    - Executive Council Member, 1990-2011
    - Management Committee Member, 1994-2012
    - Chairman, Corporate and Commercial Group, 2009-present
    - Chairman, Finance Committee, 2012-2014
    - Member, Finance Committee, 2014-2015

Honors and Awards

Civic and Charitable Activities

  • Counsel, International Center for Women in the Arts (UNESCO)
  • Counsel, U.S. Committee for the Preservation of Ancient Tyre in Lebanon
  • Board of Trustees, Beaver College, 1991-1999
  • Committee of Seventy, 1976-2007

Selected Publications

Selected Speaking Engagements

  • "Opinion Preparation," The Insurance Society of Pennsylvania, March 2016
  • "Changes in Pennsylvania Corporate Law," The Insurance Society of Pennsylvania, June 2015
  • "Opinions," The Insurance Society of Pennsylvania, February 2014
  • "Working with Foreign Counsel," Pennsylvania Bar Institute, March 2013
  • "Drafting Agreements in English," Horsens, Denmark, 2010
  • "The Art of Doing a Deal," Quebec, Canada, and Dublin, Ireland, August 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005
  • "New US Regulation of International Hedge Funds," New York, American Conference Institute, January 2005
  • "Letters of Intent," Philadelphia, Atlas Seminars, June 2005
  • "Recent Developments in Money Laundering Controls," Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, January, 2002
  • "Corporate Defense and Risk Management," Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, January, 2001
  • "Extra-territorial Application of United States Money Laundering Laws," 1998 International Fraud and Money Laundering Conference, London, England, December, 1998
  • "The United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods: An Overview for Attorneys Representing U.S. Clients," CLE program sponsored by the American Corporate Counsel Association, August, 1997
  • Pennsylvania Bar Institute (Numerous Topics)
  • Dickinson School of Law CLE Program
  • "Doing Business in the United States," City University of London, England, 1987