Thomas focuses his practice on complex electrical, mechanical, and computer software patent litigation. He is an experienced first-chair attorney with extensive experience in the federal district courts, in § 337 proceedings before the International Trade Commission (ITC), in post grant review proceedings including AIA proceedings before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and in appeals to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Tom has argued numerous times before the Federal Circuit on appeals from district court, the ITC, and the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. His litigation experience includes matters directed to electrical and mechanical technologies such as software, encryption, GPS systems, micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) technology, mechanical devices, medical devices, and aseptic packaging systems.
In addition to his litigation practice, Tom counsels both domestic and foreign clients on patent portfolio development, intellectual property issues related to various corporate transactions, licensing, trade secret protection, litigation avoidance, risk management, and post-litigation tactics. He is also a Certified Licensing Professional.
A former engineer, Tom has more than 12 years of industry experience in electrical engineering, software, and information technology. As an engineer, he developed software solutions for business and government applications as well as modeling and simulation tools, analyst workstations, and real-time control systems including satellite ground systems and traffic control systems. He also owned and operated his own software consulting business, and has significant project management experience on large software development projects, as well as government contract procurement experience. Tom’s background brings a unique combination of skills to his client representation.
Tom has lectured on U.S. patent law for the NDS Intellectual Property program at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, and frequently lectures worldwide on patent litigation and ITC litigation practice.
Tom graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering and earned his law degree from George Mason University School of Law.