Who We Are

Over the past two decades, Thomas M. Shepherd has spearheaded over 60 sale of business transactions. Tom’s M&A practice covers a broad spectrum of industries, with a focus on landscaping, construction, roofing and information technology companies. Tom also delivers tailored advice on proper corporate structuring to entrepreneurs and privately held businesses.

Before his twenty year career as a corporate attorney, Tom spent 6 years as an accountant with an Atlanta-based construction company. Tom draws upon this extensive financial training when structuring transactions and advising business owners.

The early years of Tom’s career were spent at a prominent corporate boutique law firm located in Atlanta, Georgia. After several years, Tom left to serve as General Counsel for an Atlanta-based, international technology company. In 2009, Tom started Shepherd Law, LLC to provide the same premier legal services to privately held businesses.

Tom grew up in Atlanta, obtaining a Business Management Degree from Georgia State University’s Robinson College of Business. While there, Tom minored in entrepreneurship, winning several awards, including “Best New Venture” in GSU’s Entrepreneurship New Venture Competition. Tom also won the Robinson College of Business’s Strategic Management Capstone Competition, and placed first overall in the BBA program’s graduation exit exam.

Tom lives with his wife, two sons and three daughters in the Garden Hills neighborhood located in Buckhead. He is an avid Braves, Falcons, United and Hawks fan, and he and his family are parishioners at Christ the King Church in Buckhead.

• Georgia Superior Courts
• Georgia Courts of Appeal
• Georgia Supreme Court
• U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia

• American Bar Association: Business Law
• State Bar of Georgia: Corporate Counsel Section
• State Bar of Georgia: Labor and Employment Section
• Atlanta Bar Association

Mark D. Oaks is equally active in both the firm’s corporate transactional and litigation practice areas. Mr. Oaks focuses on helping business owners manage litigation risk throughout the risk life cycle. He helps business owners prevent litigation by thoughtfully guiding them through corporate structuring, relationships and transactions, and carefully creating the documents necessary to minimize risk along the way. Mr. Oaks helps business owners manage potential and existing litigation risk by tirelessly advocating on their behalf throughout the dispute resolution and civil litigation processes.

Mr. Oaks calls on substantial and diverse business experience to craft solutions for business owners, including positions in the retail and secondary financial markets and private equity.

Mr. Oaks is a member of the State Bars of Georgia and South Carolina. Mr. Oaks earned a Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, from John Marshall Law School, and a Bachelor of Science in Global Business/Finance from Arizona State University.