Thomas S. Zaremba

Thomas’ practice focuses on advising and representing clients in all aspects of the development of building codes and standards, including proceedings before the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the International Code Council (ICC), the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC), the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), ASHRAE (formerly the American Society of Heating Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers), the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), the California Energy Commission, and numerous other forums. His clients include a number of worldwide glass manufacturers and trade associations representing the glass industry.

He has more than 30 years of experience representing Fortune 500 companies in civil litigation and financial institutions in restructurings, reorganizations, and insolvency proceedings. He was lead trial counsel for the Trustee appointed to liquidate the stockbrokerage firm of Bell & Beckwith following discovery of a $40 million theft from its customers.

In 2003, he was selected by the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC) and appointed by U.S. District Court as Trustee to oversee the liquidation of two stockbrokerage firms, Continental Capital Securities, Inc. and Continental Capital Investment Services, Inc., after massive thefts were discovered by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). As the Trustee in these cases, he worked closely with the Office of the United States Attorney in connection with its criminal prosecution of one of Continental's principals; he successfully repaid Continental's customers 100% of their allowed losses; and he returned more than $1.7 million to the SIPC for advances it made to Continental's customers.

Experience

• Represents numerous primary glass and window makers regarding all aspects of the development of U.S. building codes and standards affecting architectural glass and glazings (energy performance, fire safety, structural, and human impact)
• Represents the Glass Association of North America's (GANA) Glazing Industry Code Council (GICC) before model code and standard development bodies as to all issues involving fire protection, structural, and human impact issues
• Represents GICC on the NFPA 80 Technical Committee on Fire Doors and Windows (alternate voting member)
• Voting member of UL’s Standards Technical Panel for Fire Doors (STP 10)
• Voting member of the International Code Council’s Fire Code Action Committee (FCAC) Task Group tasked with the development of proposed changes to Chapters 7 of the International Building Code and Chapter 7 of the International Fire Code
• Appointed by the Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB) as a voting member of its Glass Committee, tasked to review and revise all Canadian architectural Glass and Glazing Standards
• Previous voting member of the ANSI Z97.1 Accredited Standards Committee responsible for the development of architectural glazing safety standards in the U.S.
• Previous Chair of the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) Task Group responsible for developing a rating and labeling system for storm windows and storm doors
• Previous voting member of the International Code Council’s Code Technology Committee (CTC) Task Group tasked to develop and update the marking of Fire Rated Glazing Materials in the International Building Code (IBC)
• Appointed Trustee by the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio to liquidate two northwest Ohio stockbrokerage firms under the Securities Investor Protection Act, 15 USCA §78aaa-lll (SIPA)

Services

• Corporate & Transactional
• Complex Business & Commercial Litigation

1. Case Western Reserve University School of Law, J.D.
   • summa cum laude
2. Hillsdale College, B.A.
   • summa cum laude

Bar Admissions

1. Ohio

Court Admissions

1. U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
2. U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
3. U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio
4. U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio
5. U.S. Supreme Court

• Rated AV® Preeminent™ for 10-years by Martindale-Hubbell
• Selected for Life Membership in the Sixth Circuit Judicial Conference (2006)
• Selected as an "Ohio Super Lawyer" by Ohio Super Lawyers magazine (2007)
• Selected as "One of the Glass Industry's Most Influential People" by editors of USGlass Magazine (2008)
• Recognized in "Who's Who in Toledo Area Law" by Toledo Business Journal (2010-2015)
• Named the Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law "Lawyer of the Year" for Toledo by The Best Lawyers in America® (2015)
• Named to The Best Lawyers in America® for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law (2011-2024); Litigation - Bankruptcy (2012-2024); and Commercial Litigation (2024)

Professional Affiliations

• American Inns of Court, Morrison R. Waite Chapter in Toledo, Ohio, Master of the Bench (2000-present)
• Sixth Circuit Judicial Conference of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, Life Member
• Ohio State Bar Association, Board of Editors, Ohio Lawyer (1994-1996)
• Toledo Bar Association
• International Code Council (ICC)
• National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
• National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC)
• ASHRAE – formerly American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers
• Glass Association of North America (GANA)

Community Affiliations

• Mobile Meals of Toledo, Board of Directors (1997-2003) and Advisory Board (1996-1997)
• Family Services of Northwest Ohio, Board of Directors (2002-2005)
• St. Patrick's Soup Kitchen, Volunteer (1995-present)