Thomas M. Tarpy

Tom is a retired partner in the Vorys Columbus office and a retired senior partner of the labor and employment group.  His practice involved a full range of labor and employment matters in which he both counseled and represented clients in state and federal courts and before the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the U.S. Department of Labor.  In addition, Tom served as general counsel for a group of large multi-employer benefit plans which involved him in ERISA counseling and litigation.  He also had a general business practice advising clients on acquisition and disposition of businesses, vendor and customer agreements, and key employee contracts. 

Career highlights include:

• Serving as chief spokesman in numerous labor contract negotiations
• Serving as lead counsel in numerous NLRB elections and unfair labor practice proceedings
• Defending dozens of employment lawsuits
• Leading negotiations for the $500 million sale of a major corporation
• Successfully defending an automotive manufacturing company in a unit question case resulting in the defeat of the auto workers’ unions only formal organizing drive

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

Tom has been the lead presenter at more than 40 seminar programs over 25 years, speaking on topics which included employment-at-will, National Labor Relations Act issues, wage and hour matters, investigation and litigation of employment discrimination questions, and investigation and compliance with the regulations of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs.

Tom received his J.D. from The Ohio State University Michael E. Moritz College of Law and his A.B. from John Carroll University.

Honors & Recognitions

The Best Lawyers in America, Columbus Labor Law Management “Lawyer of the Year,” 2017

The Best Lawyers in America, Labor and Employment Law, 2006-2011

The Best Lawyers in America, Employment Law - Management, 2012-2017

The Best Lawyers in America, Labor Law - Management, 2012-2017

Ohio Super Lawyers, Employment and Labor, 2004-2017

Ohio Management Lawyers Association, Charter Member, 2003-present

Columbus CEO, Top Lawyers in Columbus, 2010-2015

Martindale-Hubbell AV Peer Review Rated

Fellow of The College of Labor and Employment Lawyers since 2000

Fellow of the Columbus Bar Foundation since 1991

Professional & Community Activities

Scioto Country Club Board of Trustees, Member, 2001-2005; President, 2002

City of Columbus Graphics Commission, Member, 1979-1982; Chairman 1981-1982

Columbus Bar Association Legal Education Committee, Chairman, 1976-1980