Thomas began practicing as a patent agent in 1978 and started practicing intellectual property law as an attorney in 1982. Thomas is a registered patent attorney with extensive experience in prosecuting and litigating patents, with a specific focus on litigations under the Hatch-Waxman Act.
Since the enactment of the Hatch-Waxman Act in 1984, Thomas has successfully represented U.S. and foreign clients under the Act, assisting them to enter the U.S. market concerning generic drugs such as tamoxifen, ciprofloxacin, albuterol/ipratropium, terazosin, enalapril, norethindrone/ethinylestradiol, cyclosporine, bupropion, omeprazole, nabumetone, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, and others. Thomas also has extensive experience in the preparation of opinions on patent validity, infringement, and freedom-to-operate issues in the chemical, pharmaceutical, and mechanical arts.
In addition, Thomas has prosecuted numerous patents, especially in the chemical, pharmaceutical, and mechanical arts for more than 25 years. He has also counseled clients on intellectual property issues and has lectured on U.S. patent law and practice in Europe, India, and China. Thomas earned his M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Innsbruck and subsequently earned his J.D. from Fordham University School of Law. He is fluent in German.