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tod-northman

Tod Northman

Tod Northman has more than 25 years of broad business and corporate law experience in commercial law, business transactions, artificial intelligence technology, contract negotiation and dispute resolution, mergers and acquisitions, and real estate.

With a skillful combination of negotiations and corporate counseling, Tod helps guide clients through difficult situations with pragmatic advice and a can-do attitude. Tod represents publicly traded and privately held companies in diverse industries across the country and has particular expertise in the aviation and autonomous vehicles industries.

In his aviation practice, Tod represents cargo conversion companies, maintenance and repair organizations, financial institutions, high-net worth individuals, and middle-market corporations in connection with the acquisition and disposition of corporate and commercial aircraft portfolios and the related financing and/or leasing thereof. He also advises clients on conversion contracts, maintenance, service and supply contracts, leases, and FAA and DOT regulatory matters.

In his autonomous vehicles practice, Tod focuses on advising businesses on acquisitions, contract negotiation, corporate structure, artificial intelligence technology, and regulatory compliance.

Education
Case Western Reserve University School of Law (J.D., cum laude, 1994); CWRU Law Review, Articles Editor; Dean Dunmore Moot Court Champion, first place for oral advocacy (1994)
New York University (M.A., 1991); Committee on Theory and Culture, Coordinator
Portland State University (B.A., 1988); Presidential Merit Scholarship (1984-88); Student Body President (1987-88); Portland State Vanguard, Editor (1986-87), Sports Editor (1984-86)
State Admissions
Ohio, 2011
Oregon, 1994
Washington, 1995
Federal Admissions
United States Tax Court
  • Represented a local retail display manufacturer in the reorganization of its corporate structure, including the acquisition of its Chinese subsidiary
  • Represented a regional trucking business in the acquisition of a regional trucking company
  • Represented a publicly traded company in the acquisition of a Dassault Falcon and the divesture of two business jets
  • Represented a national trucking and logistics business in the divesture of container yards
  • Represented a shareholder in the contentious divestiture of 50% ownership interest in a holding company
  • Represented a lender in financing the acquisition of a thriving regional business’s acquisition of its first business jet
  • Represented a publicly traded company in the acquisition of a global specialty manufacturing business
  • Represented a national trucking and logistics business in the sale of regional rail depots
  • Represented a multi-modal transportation business in the acquisition of a regional trucking company
  • Represented a regional logistics business in the acquisition of a regional logistics company
  • Represented an international shipping and logistics conglomerate in the sale of shipping operations
  • Represented a high-net-worth individual in the acquisition of a partial ownership stake in a growing regional aircraft business (Part 135 and Part 145 operations)
  • Represented a family-owned business in the sale of its oil refinery business and real property in Southern California
  • Represented an aircraft conversion company in negotiating an agreement for a mainland China-based aircraft maintenance organization to provide touch labor to convert aircraft from passenger to freighter configuration
  • Represented an aircraft conversion company in negotiations with prospective customers from China, Brussels, England, Brazil, and the United States to convert aircraft from passenger to freighter configuration
  • Represented an international frozen food distributor on distributorship relationships
  • Represented an aircraft museum on the real-property acquisition and construction of a new museum facility and the acquisition of vintage aircraft
  • Represented aircraft owners in myriad transactions to purchase, sell, lease, maintain and charter aircraft of various sizes and ages
  • Advised a privately held middle-market company on structure for aircraft ownership and tax matters
  • Represented aircraft conversion companies in negotiating master and one-off vendor agreements with engineering services and parts providers
  • Represented a seller in the reorganization and $28-million stock sale of a company holding three destination resorts in Oregon
  • Represented a national HVAC distributor on distributorship reorganization
  • Represented an engineering company in joint venture agreement negotiations to engineer and obtain regulatory certification to convert Boeing 757 aircraft from passenger to freighter configuration
  • Represented an aircraft conversion company in negotiations with the Boeing Company to obtain license rights to use Boeing proprietary materials

Speaking Engagements

  • “Reverse Veil Piercing: Evaluating When an LLC’s Assets Are Subject to Claims Against a Member (2024 Edition),” myLawCLE (February 2024)
  • “Cracking the CFIUS Code: What Happens to Our Deal?” Tucker Ellis In-House Counsel Summit (October 2023)
  • “Reverse Veil Piercing: Evaluating When an LLC’s Assets Are Subject to Claims Against a Member,” myLawCLE (February 2023)
  • “Cracking the CFIUS Code: Does Our Deal Need to Be Reported?” and “Litigation Pitfalls: Things to Consider for Every Corporate/Business Transaction,” 2023 Business Law Institute on Corporate Law and M&A, Tucker Ellis LLP (January 2023)
  • “Reverse Veil Piercing: Protecting an LLC’s Assets From Claims Against a Member,” Association of Corporate Counsel (January 2023)
  • “Piercing the Corporate Veil & Alter Ego Liability,” Rossdale CLE (August 2022)
  • “LLC Collection: Piercing the Veil,” Lorman Webinar (March 2022)
  • “Piercing the Corporate Veil: Avoiding Mistakes & Exposure,” Lorman Webinar (December 2021)
  • “The Future of Artificial Intelligence and What It Means for the Legal Industry,” Ignite: Legal Tech Innovation 2021, Case Western Reserve University School of Law (July 2021)
  • “Piercing the LLC Veil,” Lorman Webinar (February 2020)
  • “The Halachic Implications of Driverless Car Adoption,” Cleveland State University, Cleveland, Ohio (December 2019)
  • “From Shareholders to Stakeholders: Expanding the Purpose of a Corporation,” 2019 In-House Counsel Summit, Tucker Ellis LLP, Cleveland, Ohio (November 2019)
  • “Addressing Corporate Governance Reforms,” Lorman Webinar (September 2019)
  • “Piercing the Corporate Veil Checklist: Avoid Mistakes and Exposure,” Lorman Webinar (March 2019)
  • “Piercing the LLC Veil: Avoiding Member Liability for Business Debts,” Strafford Webinar (February 2019)
  • “When Your Car Is Smarter Than You,” 2018 In-House Counsel Summit, Tucker Ellis LLP, Cleveland, Ohio (October 2018)
  • “Legal and Insurance Issues Related to the Development of Automated, Autonomous, and Connected Cars,” Ohio State Bar Association, Columbus, Ohio (October 2018)
  • “Legal Issues Related to the Development of Automated, Autonomous, and Connected Cars,” Ohio State Bar Association WebCast (June 2018)
  • “The Halachic Origins of Economics Damages Litigation,” Cleveland State University, Cleveland, Ohio (March 2018)
  • “Third Wave of Legal AI,” 2017 In-House Counsel Summit, Tucker Ellis LLP, Cleveland, Ohio (October 2017)
  • “Do’s and Don’ts of Drones,” 2016 In-House Counsel Summit, Tucker Ellis LLP, Cleveland, Ohio (October 2016)
  • “I Thought I Hired You!! Conflicts of Interest Issues for Transactional Lawyers,” Moderator, ICSC Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan & Pennsylvania Retail Development & Law Symposium for Lawyers and Real Estate Professionals, Columbus, Ohio (March 2016)
  • “Does Conscious Capitalism Need Conscious Lawyers? Advising Aspiring Benefit Corporations,” Tucker Ellis Ohio Professional Conduct Program, Cleveland, Ohio (December 2015)
  • “Exit Strategies, Strategies and Drafting Tips,” Lorman Education, Portland Education (December 2007)

Publications

Media Quotes

  • Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association
    • Green Initiative Committee, Vice Chair
  • American Bar Association, Air and Space Forum (2004–present)
  • Green Road Synagogue
    • First Vice President (2022–present)
    • Board of Trustees (2019–present)
  • Maimonides Jewish Day School, Portland
    • Director (2008–2011)
    • President (2010–2011)
  • Village Court Homeowners Association, Portland
    • Director (2007–2016)
    • Treasurer (2008–2016)