| Tom Shayes | |
|---|---|
| |
| General information | |
| Full name | Thomas Shayes |
| Occupation | Senior partner at Hewes & Associates Senior associate at Hewes & Associates (formerly) Student at Harvard Law School (formerly) |
| Status | Deceased |
| Relationship information | |
| Significant others | Deb Shayes (wife) |
| Children | Megan Shayes (daughter) |
| Siblings | Cynthia Shayes (sister) |
| Series information | |
| Seasons | 1 • 2 • 3 |
| First appearance | Get Me a Lawyer |
| Last appearance | The Next One's Gonna Go in Your Throat |
| Episode count | 39 |
| Portrayed by | Tate Donovan |
Thomas Shayes, or simply Tom, is a main character in the first three seasons of Damages.
Tom works at Hewes & Associates and is Patty Hewes' senior legal associate and most trusted advisor. His paternal demeanor and unassuming air make him a natural confidant for new-hire Ellen Parsons.
Background[]
Tom graduated from Yale Law School. He clerked for Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.
Tom is a vegan.
Tom has a sister, Cynthia Shayes.
Tom is married to Deb Shayes, and they have a daughter, Megan Shayes. He is very protective of his family.
Series[]
Tom showed Ellen around the office and gave her her first assignments. While in the car, Patty pretended to fire Tom, even making him get out of the car. It was a ruse in order for Patty to more easily manipulate and keep an eye on Ellen. While "unemployed", Tom was offered a partnership position at a rival law firm, a move that caused the clients in the Forbisher lawsuit to seek to fire Patty and hire Tom as their lawyer. Eventually, Patty decided to meet the rival firm's offer by making him equal partner but without adding his name to the law firm. He returned to Hewes & Associates.
Tom had a personal investment in the Tobin case. He was one of the victims of the Tobins' fraud, as he and his in-laws had invested money with an investor who had invested with the Tobins. He became desperate to get their money back and seek justice. Tom was later killed by Joe Tobin.[1]