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Tom Califano has been married to his wife Carol Ann for 38 years. They have three children Victoria, Claudia, and Thomas, Jr. and one grandchild Andrew. He is a 1988 graduate of St. John’s University School of Law and is currently a partner at Sidley Austin LLP in their New York Restructuring group.
He represents large private and public companies in distress in and out of court, buyers of distressed companies, and significant creditor constituencies. His practice has a particular emphasis on company and buy side representations, working in a variety of industries particularly healthcare.
Tom has been recommended by Legal 500 U.S. for his “excellent reputation across all aspects of in and out of court restructurings.” He has also been repeatedly recognized for his work in Bankruptcy/Restructuring by Chambers USA (2012–2025), with clients describing him in the 2024 guide as “an outstanding attorney,” whose “intelligence, experience, and compassion guarantee the best results.” Tom is also lauded as “a genius who will make sure the client’s interests are best protected” and “an aggressive and fierce advocate for his clients” with an “expertise in advising financially troubled companies and buyers of distressed assets.” Clients are “extremely impressed at his ability to control a room and get an outcome,” while “[o]bservers admire that he is ‘constantly thinking of new ideas and ways to help clients.’” Tom is listed in The Best Lawyers in America and has been named a New York Super Lawyer. In 2010, Financial Times also commended him for his restructuring work in its U.S. Innovative Lawyers report.
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