Thomas A. Mickes

Firm Chairman / Founding Partner

Areas of Practice:

Thomas A. Mickes has practiced law for more than 35 years and serves as the Firm Chairman. As one of the leading education law attorneys in the United States, he represents more than 300 school districts, private schools, colleges and universities in a variety of school-related legal matters. Tom is also lead counsel for Mickes O’Toole’s representation of a self-insured pool of 470 school districts in litigation of employment, civil rights and constitutional claims.

Tom has been recognized by attorneys of Missouri and Kansas as the best education attorney for the past five years (SuperLawyers). He has received the same recognition annually from St. Louis Magazine and Kansas City Magazine. He is also routinely recognized as one of the best education attorneys nationally. He is the only Missouri attorney so recognized. A founder of the Missouri Council of School Attorneys, Tom has served as its president for two terms.

He also served on the Board of Directors of the National Council of School Attorneys. Additionally, Tom serves as counsel to the Missouri Association of Rural Education (MARE) and Cooperating School Districts of the St. Louis area. He is a frequent speaker both nationally and in Missouri on school law and constitutional issues.

Tom has a Ph.D. in educational administration. He has been a teacher, principal, superintendent and school board member.

Tom authors school law articles for MARE and Missouri Association of School Business Officials. He has been an adjunct professor in the doctoral program at St. Louis University and currently serves in that capacity at Maryville University.