Thomas A. Heywood

Tom Heywood has significant experience in health care, banking and corporate/commercial law, and is frequently called upon by clients and community leaders for advice on business matters related to acquisitions, divestitures and other transactional matters. An experienced facilitator, he regularly assists businesses and organizations in the strategic planning process.

As a former Chief of Staff to the Honorable Gaston Caperton, Governor of the State of West Virginia, Tom has extensive experience working with government officials at the federal, state and local levels, and is an active member of the Bowles Rice Government Relations team.

He has significant experience in health care, corporate, finance and commercial law, and is recognized as one of the “Best Lawyers in America” in several professional, peer evaluation publications.

Mr. Heywood earned his law degree in 1982 from Harvard Law School, where he served as Developments Editor of the Harvard International Law Journal (1981-82) and Editor of the Harvard Law Record (1980-82). He graduated from Stanford University in 1978, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations, with distinction, and was elected to the Phi Beta Kappa Honorary Society.

Upon graduation from law school, Mr. Heywood clerked for the Honorable John A. Field, Jr., Senior Judge for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. He joined Bowles Rice in 1983. From 1989 to 1990, Mr. Heywood served as Counsel to West Virginia Governor Gaston Caperton, and from 1990 to 1993 he served as Governor Caperton’s Chief of Staff. He returned to Bowles Rice in 1993.

Mr. Heywood remains active as a leader in many civic activities, and has led the following initiatives in recent years: Chairman, Affordable Insurance Workgroup (2005); Co-Chairman, Finance & Benefits Committee, Health Advisory Council (2002-2003); Chairman, Results-Based Government Task Force, Vision Shared (2002 - Present); Chairman, TANF Advisory Council (2001); Chairman, Community and Technical College Implementation Board (2000); Co-Chairman, Celebration 2000 (1999-2000); Co-Chairman, “Yes on 1 Committee” (Stock Investment Amendment to West Virginia Constitution) (1998); Chairman, Transition Committee on Medicaid (1997); Chairman, Medicaid Crisis Panel (1995). He has also served as Chairman or Co-Chairman of several Kanawha County school bond and levy advocacy groups in recent years.

In 2009, Mr. Heywood was appointed by Governor Joe Manchin, III to serve as a member of the Judicial Reform Commission. The Commission was charged with evaluating West Virginia’s judicial system and its current practices and providing its findings to the Governor for the West Virginia Legislature.

Mr. Heywood was recognized for his many contributions to the legal profession and community by being named a Fellow of the American Bar Association (2010) and a recipient of the 2010 “Who’s Who in West Virginia Business” award. He has received numerous awards for his public service, including the Alliance Leader for Children Award (2006) (awarded by the Alliance for Children), the Margaret Baldwin Friend of Education Award (2000) (awarded by the West Virginia Education Association); the Sam Walton Community Leadership Award (1999) (awarded by the Charleston Regional Chamber of Commerce and Development); Citizen of the Year (1999) (awarded by the National Association of Social Workers); the Distinguished Service Award (1996) (awarded by the West Virginia Hospital Association); and the Friend of Education Award (1995) (awarded by the Kanawha County Education Association).

He serves on numerous charitable and non-profit boards, and participates actively in various business and trade associations.