The law firm of Triplett Woolf Garretson, LLC mourns the loss of one of its namesakes and founding partners, Thomas P. Garretson. Mr. Garretson was a Member of Triplett Woolf Garretson, LLC from its inception on November 1, 1985 until his death on December 18, 2022.
Mr. Garretson enjoyed a distinguished and very productive career with TWG. He was very involved in securities law practice, representing companies in connection with initial public offerings and secondary offerings, as well as preparation and filing of periodic reports and merger and acquisition transactions with other public and closely held companies. Mr. Garretson represented numerous closely held companies in private placements in equity securities and complex financing and re-financing transactions. Mr. Garretson regularly counseled clients in connection with all aspects of their business affairs and corporate governance.
During his five decades of legal practice, Mr. Garretson became a highly recognized attorney, including an “AV”
Martindale-Hubble peer review rating for 35 years. Mr. Garretson authored the Securities Regulation chapter for the Kansas Bar Association’s Corporate Law and Practice handbook, served as a Member of the Advisory Committee to the Kansas Securities Commissioner, was consistently selected to the Best Lawyers® list, was named Best Lawyers® Lawyer of the Year 2020 in Corporate Law, and was recently designated by Chambers USA as Senior Statesman in Corporate/Mergers and Acquisitions Law. Mr. Garretson was particularly recognized for his exceptional legal drafting talents. Every lawyer at TWG experienced Tom’s revisions to their first drafting efforts.
Tom enjoyed participating in many sports and was very good at all of them. A graduate of Northwestern University, Tom was a two-sport athlete in football and baseball captain. He went on to play a season in professional football with the Washington Redskins. In 1971, Mr. Garretson graduated from the University of Kansas School of Law and went into private practice later that same year.
Mr. Garretson built his practice with a focus in securities law representing public companies on initial public offerings and secondary offerings under the Securities Act of 1933. He prepared and filed periodic reports under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and represented clients in merger and acquisition transactions with other public and closely-held companies.
In 1985, Mr. Garretson along with namesakes Thomas C. Triplett and John P. Woolf, founded the law firm with a simple philosophy – to provide clients with the best possible legal representation in a prompt, efficient, and cost-effective manner. Mr. Garretson embodied that philosophy and was the dedicated and trusted advisor to many clients over his lengthy career. He helped grow TWG to 26 attorneys through his guidance and mentorship.
Mr. Garretson was very active over the years in the Wichita community and throughout the State. Most recently he has been very active in the Kansas Wildscape Foundation which creates, enhances and promotes outdoor opportunities in Kansas.
Mr. Garretson is, and has always been, well-liked by the lawyers and staff at TWG, his clients and in the community. Tom always had an unending reservoir of stories to share.
Ours is a difficult, time-consuming and stressful profession, as well known. Mr. Garretson enjoyed the support of his wife Carole through the entirety of his career. TWG has greatly benefitted from Mr. Garretson’s friendship, presence, lawyering skills, work ethic, business knowledge and leadership. He will undoubtedly be missed by friends and family, but Mr. Garretson also had a profound impact on our law firm and will be deeply missed by all of us at TWG.
To learn more about Mr. Garretson’s background, law practice and contributions to legal community visit https://twgfirm.com/thomas-p-garretson/.
To read the family obituary visit Thomas P. Garretson Obituary 2022 – Cozine Memorial Group
