Thomas Dunlap
Administrative & Regulatory, Business / Contracts, Intellectual Property (Transactional/Litigation)
Vienna, Virginia
Personal Introduction
Tom Dunlap works with clients to manage, protect and enforce their intellectual property rights in private business and government contracts. For over twenty years, his unique background has allowed him to apply legal and practical knowledge to benefit clients in business, intellectual property, and government contracts transactions and disputes. Tom routinely represents clients in transactional matters and before various state and Federal courts, arbitration (AAA, UNCITRAL, and JAMS), and tribunals, which include the GAO, ASCBA, and others (see Experience below). Tom is currently an adjunct Professor of Law at Washington & Lee University where he teaches Intellectual Property Litigation. Tom is WTR 1000 rated, a VA and DC SuperLawyer, and has been included in the Hollywood Reporter's "Power 100" lawyers in the past. He is the lead counsel for the Firm's intellectual property government contracts with NIH, HHS, FDA, CDC and other HHS agencies. His non-law background experience includes founding and selling a software gaming company, co-inventing (U.S. patents US8382987 B2 and US20140045274 A1), founding and venture funding a biotech company (Ceres Nanosciences), running a vineyard, serving on boards and commissions, and nine years in the U.S. military where he served as a Cavalry officer. In addition to prior experience in commercial banking, as a special prosecutor, serving as an Airport Commissioner (KJYO), and serving as president of the Loudoun County Bar Association, serving as special counsel appointed by the governor of Virginia, Tom currently manages the government contracts his law firm holds with the National Institutes of Health and Department of Homeland Security. Tom is both a Washington, D.C., and Virginia SuperLawyer (2016-2023, top 2.5%) and has a “Superb” AVVO rating (10.0). His recent jury victories include a $31 million patent infringement verdict (Federal Court) and a $2.6 million copyright and contract counter-claim verdict. Tom has been counsel in multiple Federal Circuit and United States Supreme Court cases. Tom’s recent publications include the Lexis’ Practice Guide to Trademark Portfolio Management (2023), the 2019 Chambers Guide to U.S. Trademarks (2019), and Essentials of Intellectual Property Law (2022, Virginia CLE). Tom holds a J.D., MBA, and M.S. in biotechnology. In addition to teaching the bi-annual Virginia CLE on intellectual property to lawyers, Tom has guest-taught classes at Washington & Lee University School of Law and George Washington University.
Practice Composition
Transactional/Litigation
Education
Practice Summary
Intellectual Property. Tom counsels clients on the full spectrum of IP matters, including patent prosecution and litigation, trademark registration and enforcement, copyright protection, trade secret disputes, and IP licensing and transactions. He has secured significant outcomes for clients, including a $31 million patent jury verdict in the Eastern District of Texas and a $2.6 million counterclaim verdict. Tom has argued six cases before the Federal Circuit and three before the U.S. Supreme Court. He is recognized in WTR 1000 (2024) as one of the world’s leading trademark lawyers. Government Contracts. Tom represents contractors, subcontractors, and government agencies in federal procurement matters, including contract disputes, bid protests, compliance issues, and regulatory enforcement. He serves as lead outside IP counsel on multi-year contracts for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and regularly advises defense contractors and technology companies navigating FAR/DFARS requirements. Corporate Counsel. Tom serves as outside general counsel for businesses ranging from startups to established corporations, handling entity formation and structuring, contract negotiation, M&A advisory, employment matters, and commercial litigation. His MBA and experience as former CEO of a biotech company inform his practical, business-minded approach to legal challenges.
Response Time
1 day
Personal Interests & Charitable Work
Tom has also worked with the film industry in copyright, licensing, distribution, contract, compliance, fundraising, and clearance, including as an annual legal speaker at AMC Network’s Sundance Film Festival (2016 -2020) on SundanceTV and was selected as a Power 100 Lawyer in entertainment by the Hollywood Reporter for his work with film studios, including Voltage Productions (The Hurt Locker), Millennium Film (Expendables 2), and others. Tom has appeared in national television commercials and is an associate producer and scriptwriter for the film Assault on Wall Street (Uwe Boll, 2012). Tom is a former US Army Officer (Cavalry and Armor), a national silver medal holder in Burmese Kickboxing, and is an instrument rated pilot and Master SCUBA Diver (PADI). Tom is a life member of the Freemasons (32 Degree Scottish Rite), VFW, American Legion, and MENSA. Tom enjoys running marathons, skiing, tennis, and spending time with his family.
What is Overture?
Overture is an attorney-to-attorney referral network. Vetted attorneys refer matters they can’t take on to trusted colleagues and earn fee splits when they do, expanding what every attorney can offer their clients.
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