Throughout his career, Tom has developed substantial expertise in the public-private partnership arena, with a focus on developing large, complex projects throughout the region and has served as Project Counsel to multiple public and private entities regarding major P3 infrastructure projects. Tom has extensive experience dealing with complex real estate, public law and finance and governmental transactions, and represents state and local authorities and municipalities, as well as national and international investors, developers and contractors in financings, real estate acquisitions and construction projects.
Tom has served as Project Counsel to Hamilton County, Ohio on one of the largest P3 projects undertaken in Ohio. Since 1997, he has been extensively involved with the negotiation of various agreements pertaining to the $2.7 billion Redevelopment of Southern Ohio’s Gateway along Cincinnati’s downtown riverfront area known as “The Banks”. The Banks Project, one of the largest social/transportation P3’s undertaken in the Midwest, involves the construction of new stadia for the Cincinnati Reds and the Cincinnati Bengals, two new museums, reconfiguration of major interstate highways and other transportation, transit and infrastructure improvements to leverage an estimated $1 Billion in private residential, commercial, educational and retail development, including the construction of General Electric’s US Global Operations Center. The Banks Project includes major public transportation improvements totaling over $500 million, combined with up to 3 million square feet of private development. Tom also serves as Special Project Counsel to Butler County, Ohio on the $400 million Liberty Town Square mixed-use development project.
Tom also serves as counsel to ODOT with respect to $2.7 billion Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project between Ohio and Kentucky. The $2.7 billion project involves the rehabilitation of the existing Brent Spence Bridge, construction of a new bridge that will double the capacity of the current bridge and the rehabilitation of approximately 8 miles of highway that currently carries both I-75 and I-71 traffic through the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky area which connects the region to eight other states as far north as Michigan and as far south as Florida. The Brent Spence Bridge has been classified as “functionally obsolete” based on Federal Highway Administration criteria set for the National Bridge Inventory.
Prior to joining Frost Brown Todd in 2012, Tom served as legal counsel at Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease in the commercial and real estate practice group.
University of Cincinnati College of Law, J.D.
University of Cincinnati, B.A., summa cum laude
The Best Lawyers in America®: Construction Law, 2007-2025, “Lawyer of the Year,” 2016; Litigation – Construction, 2011-2025, “Lawyer of the Year,” 2020
Chambers USA, Construction, 2012-2017
Selected for inclusion in Ohio Super Lawyers® – Construction/Surety 2004-2019
Cincinnati Magazine, Leading Lawyer Corporate Counsel, 2005-2008
Leadership Cincinnati Class XXIII/Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber of Commerce, 2000; Steering Committee Member, 2001-2006
Hamilton County Distinguished Citizen Award, 2008
Phi Beta Kappa
AV-Peer Review Rated, Martindale Hubbell
Omicron Delta Kappa Leadership Honorary
Commencement Orator, University of Cincinnati
Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society/Scholarship Honorary
Kelly-Carol Foundation for Children with Cancer, Board President, 2001-present
Hamilton County Mental Health and Recovery Services, Trustee and Board Chair, 2000-present
Hamilton County/City of Cincinnati Banks Working Group – Cincinnati Riverfront Development
Joint Banks Steering Committee, Member, 2006-present
Children’s Hospital Leadership Council, 1996-2002
Cincinnati Zoo, Legal Committee, 1996-2001
American Arbitration Association, Regional Advisory Council, 1991-1996
Hamilton County Association for Retarded Citizens, Chairman of the Board of Directors, 1990-1993; President 1987-1990; Board Member 1985-1994
Allied Construction Industries
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Leadership Council
St. Mary Athletic Association, President, 1992-1995
November 11, 2021 | Washington D.C.
In the latest installment of FBT D.C., Frost Brown Todd’s inside-the-Beltway look at the issues of...
May 14, 2020 | Coronavirus Response Team
The coronavirus pandemic has impacted every business and level of our society. The development and c...
January 16, 2019 | Experience
We currently serve as Special Project Counsel to Hamilton County, Ohio, regarding various aspects of...
November 13, 2017 | Blogs
Although it is still very early in the tax reform process, provisions in the House tax bill propos...
August 8, 2017 | Experience
Members of our P3 Service Team serve as Project Counsel to the Ohio Department of Transportation (...
August 19, 2016 | Experience
Frost Brown Todd’s P3 team counsels the Board of County Commissioners of Butler County, Ohio, ...
August 16, 2016 | Press Releases
The Banks Project in Cincinnati has been recognized as one of the “Best Social Infrastructure Proj...
June 3, 2016 | Press Releases
Frost Brown Todd Cincinnati Member Tom Gabelman was a featured speaker at the 2016 P3 Hub Midwest pr...
May 3, 2016 | Press Releases
Frost Brown Todd Member Tom Gabelman participated on a panel at the annual Cincinnati Business Couri...
August 19, 2013 | Experience
Frost Brown Todd represented QIC Global Infrastructure, a subsidiary of an Australian investment man...
August 19, 2012 | Experience
FBT represented the City of Cincinnati in connection with a proposed transaction to monetize its on-...