Thomas R.Goots (Tom)

Of Counsel

Cleveland + 1.216.586.7011

Tom Goots's practice focuses on intellectual property litigation, as well as counseling clients on a broad range of intellectual property issues, including restrictive covenant issues. Tom's 10 years of experience as an engineer and as a named inventor on United States patents provide him with an understanding of the issues facing clients.

Tom is experienced in counseling clients on noncompetition, trade secrets, nonsolicitation, and employee raiding issues. He has litigated matters involving employment agreements, covenants not-to-compete, and trade secrets in many different state and federal courts.

He has successfully litigated unfair competition matters in federal court.

His experience in patent litigation involves a wide range of technologies, including wireless email, bone screws, tire design, lighting and electrical products, automotive components, and chemical compounds. He also has represented clients in trademark matters, including opposition proceedings and infringement actions.

Tom also counsels clients on intellectual property issues associated with mergers and acquisitions and private equity transactions.

Experience

  • Diebold Nixdorf completes $950 million Senior Secured Notes offering and obtains $310 million revolving credit facilityJones Day represented Diebold Nixdorf, Incorporated (“Diebold”), a global market leader in providing mission-critical hardware, software, and services to global blue-chip banking and retail clients, in connection with various financing transactions, including (i) a Rule 144A and Regulation S offering by Diebold of $950 million aggregate principal amount of 7.750% Senior Secured Notes due 2030, (ii) obtaining a new $310 million revolving credit facility, and (iii) a Dutch auction to repurchase all of the outstanding term loans under its existing term loan credit facility.
  • Morgan Stanley Capital Partners acquires FoodScienceJones Day advised Morgan Stanley Capital Partners in the acquisition and financing of FoodScience, a provider of nutritional supplements and products for people and pets.
  • SAP America resolves allegations of trade secret misappropriation by competitorJones Day defended SAP America, Inc. in a trade secret case brought by Paragon Data Systems in the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas in Cleveland, Ohio.
  • Inflexion Private Equity portfolio company acquires Malco Tools, Inc.Jones Day advised Inflexion Private Equity Partners LLP in connection with the acquisition by portfolio company Aspen Pumps Group of Malco Tools, Inc., one of the nation's top manufacturers of high-quality tools for working with sheet metal, fiber cement, vinyl siding, gutters, and other materials in the HVAC and building construction industries.
  • Riverside sells Red Nucleus to Thomas H. Lee PartnersJones Day represented The Riverside Company in its sale of Red Nucleus, an industry-leading integrated provider of learning and development, medical communications, market access, and R&D and clinical solutions to the life sciences industry globally, to Thomas H. Lee Partners.
  • Blue Point Capital acquires Pinnacle MEP HoldingsJones Day represented Blue Point Capital Partners in connection with the acquisition and financing of Pinnacle MEP Holdings, an HVACR, plumbing, and related mechanical services provider with operations throughout the Midwest.
  • Accelmed Partners acquires Bioventus Advanced Rehabilitation businessJones Day is advising Accelmed Partners in its acquisition of Bioventus Inc.'s Advanced Rehabilitation business.
  • Metso USA acquires Screen Machine Industries, LLCJones Day represented Metso USA in its acquisition of Screen Machine Industries LLC, a manufacturer of heavy crushing and screening equipment for the mining, land clearing, and recycling industries.
  • Avient completes $650 million Senior Notes offeringJones Day represented Avient Corporation in connection with a Rule 144A and Regulation S offering of $650 million aggregate principal amount of 6.250% Senior Notes due 2031.
  • Sonepar acquires Echo Electric SupplyJones Day advised Sonepar in the acquisition of Echo Electric Supply, a wholesale electrical distributor ranked in the top 30 of Electrical Wholesaling’s 2024 North America distributors list and headquartered in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
  • MPE Partners portfolio company acquires Allegheny ContractingJones Day represented MPE Partners in connection with the acquisition and financing by portfolio company Precision Pipeline Services of Allegheny Contracting, a provider of technical utility services for the natural gas end market in Pennsylvania and surrounding Mid-Atlantic and Midwest states.
  • Riverside portfolio company acquires FleetWatcherJones Day represented The Riverside Company in connection with the acquisition and financing by portfolio company Align Technologies of FleetWatcher, LLC, a leading provider of fleet and materials management software.
  • Sky Island Capital acquires Pacific Paper TubeJones Day advised Sky Island Capital in the acquisition and financing of Pacific Paper Tube Inc., a leading manufacturer of paper tubes and cores throughout the western U.S.
  • Morgan Stanley Capital Partners portfolio company acquires American Label TechnologiesJones Day advised Morgan Stanley Capital Partners in connection with the acquisition and financing by portfolio company AWT Labels & Packaging, Inc. (AWT) of American Label Technologies (ALT), a leading manufacturing and supplier of custom label, RFID, print and packaging materials.
  • MPE Partners acquires Allor-Plesh ManufacturingJones Day advised MPE Partners in the acquisition and financing by portfolio company Webster Industries of Allor Manufacturing, LLC and Plesh Industries, LLC.
  • Riverside portfolio company acquires Prism SpecialtiesJones Day represented The Riverside Company in connection with the acquisition and financing by portfolio company EverSmith Brands of Prism Specialties, a leading franchisor of specialty restoration services of electronics, textiles, arts and documents.
  • Integrated Power Services acquires Midwest Switchgear ServicesJones Day advised Integrated Power Services in its acquisition of Midwest Switchgear Services, a provider of low- and medium-voltage electrical services for customers in power generation, steel and aluminum, pulp and paper, and refineries.
  • Riverside acquires CRIO, Inc.Jones Day advised The Riverside Company in the acquisition of CRIO, Inc., a leading provider of eSource and other eClinical software for clinical trial sites, CROs and the pharmaceutical/biotech market.
  • Riverside sells Energy Exemplar to Blackstone and Vista Equity PartnersJones Day advised investment funds affiliated with Riverside's Australia Fund in connection with the sale of its Energy Exemplar platform to a newly formed acquisition vehicle jointly controlled by investment funds affiliated with Blackstone and Vista Equity Partners.
  • MPE Partners acquires BAF IndustriesJones Day advised MPE Partners in the acquisition and financing by portfolio company Appearance Technology Group of BAF Industries, a manufacturer of branded, consumable car care liquid chemicals and specialty aerosols for professional and do-it-yourself users.