Thomas W. Ferrell

Tom Ferrell joined Higgs Fletcher & Mack as a partner in 2006.  He previously worked with the Baker & McKenzie law firm where he was a partner in the firm’s San Diego office for 12 years.  Mr. Ferrell’s practice is concentrated in business trial litigation with an emphasis in business versus business disputes.  Clients include companies in lender versus lender disputes,  financing disputes and copyright and trademark disputes.  Clients also include diverse companies involved in purported and certified class action lawsuits alleging violations of statutory and regulatory rules.

At Baker & McKenzie Mr. Ferrell served a term as the San Diego litigation practice group leader and was resident in the firm’s Melbourne, Australia office during 1989 – 1990.  There he advised U.S. multinational and non-U.S. companies on U.S. trade rules, intellectual property rights, lender rights and liabilities and exposure under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

Before joining Baker & McKenzie, Mr. Ferrell served as a Civil Division Trial Attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., where he specialized in the defense of high ranking government officials and managers.  There he received the Justice Department’s Award for Outstanding Performance as a Trial Attorney.  He led the Department’s negotiating team that manuscripted and secured underwriting for the first errors and omissions insurance policy created for U.S. government officials.  After graduating from Wake Forest Law School and before joining the Department of Justice, Mr. Ferrell served as Law Clerk to both a U.S. Magistrate Judge and a Chief U.S. District Judge.

Mr. Ferrell has lectured in trade law for the U.S. Department of Commerce and Foreign Commercial Service, has taught National Institute For Trial Advocacy seminars, and currently provides seminars delivering California CLE credit in such topics as lender liability and managing and protecting  intellectual property assets.   He has volunteered in diverse San Diego community organizations including an animal welfare committee of the San Diego Zoological Society as Animal Ethicist, the Endowment Committee of the Desert Pacific Counsel of the Boy Scouts of America, and the Australian American Chamber of Commerce as liquidating President.  He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Downtown San Diego Partnership.

Mr. Ferrell has received the highest rating (A-V) available for Martindale-Hubbell for ethics and legal ability.

• J.D., Wake Forest University School of Law (1979)
• B.A., Wake Forest University (1975)

• California
• District of Columbia
• North Carolina

• State Bar of California
• San Diego County Bar Association
• Downtown San Diego Partnership