Lawyers
Donald H. Messinger

Donald H. Messinger

  • Partner

Don.Messinger@ThompsonHine.com

  • Direct 216.566.5571
  • Office 216.566.5500
  • Fax 216.566.5800
  • 3900 Key Center
  • 127 Public Square
  • Cleveland, Ohio 44114-1291

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Professional Experience

Don is a partner in the firm's Corporate Transactions & Securities practice group, focusing on matters of public and closely held businesses, mergers and acquisitions, public offerings and securities, finance, leveraged buyouts, and nonprofit corporations. Don has been a member of the firm's seven-member Executive Committee and before that served as Partner-In-Charge of the firm's Cleveland office.

Education

  • Duke University, J.D., 1968
  • Colgate University, A.B., 1965

Representative Matters

Don actively counsels senior management and owners of several of the firm’s major clients. He manages large, complex acquisition, disposition, and financing transactions involving multiple operations in the United States and world-wide. He also has represented issuers and underwriters in the public offering of securities.

  • Representative transactions have ranged in size from under $10 million to over $1.3 billion.
  • Don regularly handles these transactions for major publicly-owned and privately-held businesses, as well as newly emerging businesses, headquartered in North America and Europe.
  • Don has been a director and/or officer of several public and private corporations. In these capacities, he serves as a trusted business and legal advisor to many of the firm’s clients, as well as to a number of community organizations.
  • Don has served as the court-appointed Trustee for the liquidation of a failed broker-dealer.

Professional & Civic Involvement

Corporate Boards

Self-Funded Plans, Inc. - Director and Secretary
Self-Funded Plans Agency, Inc. - Director and Secretary

Professional Associations

American Bar Association
Ohio State Bar Association
Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association · Trustee, 1975-1979; Chair, Securities Law Institute, 1983

Community Activities

Business Volunteers Unlimited · Director and Secretary
Cleveland Hearing and Speech Center · Director and Past President
Cleveland POPS Orchestra · Director
The Free Medical Clinic of Greater Cleveland · Trustee and Past President
Senior Citizen Resources · Trustee and Former Officer
Leadership Cleveland · Class Co-President
Don is frequently consulted on major community initiatives in the Greater Cleveland area. He was an early participant in the actions that led to the development of the Gateway sports complex and has had major leadership roles on behalf of Cleveland's United Way. He currently is also a Community Advisor to The Junior League of Cleveland. Previously, Don has served as trustee and/or officer of Buckeye Area Development Corporation, Colgate University Alumni Corporation, Greater Cleveland Council of Boy Scouts of America, Community Information/Voluntary Action Center, and The University for Young Americans. Don also is an active participant in other community activities as a board member and/or volunteer on the state, local, and national levels.

Presentations

Don regularly speaks at seminars and meetings sponsored by various professional and business organizations.

Awards & Honors

  • Don is listed in Who's Who in America, The Best Lawyers in America and similar directories and has been recognized as a "Client Service All-Star" by BTI Consulting. He also has received awards for his community service activities, including recipient of the Jurisprudence Award of ORT America.