Thomas M Dunlap

Tom’s practice focuses on patent, trademark, trade secret, commercial, entertainment law, business, government contracts disputes, litigation, and transactions. Tom has authored numerous books and appeared on national television and radio, including Fox, Sundance T.V., and NPR, speaking on various subjects in his fields of practice. In addition to the state and federal courts of D.C., VA, and M.D., he is a member of the Federal Courts in Puerto Rico, Colorado, and Texas, as well as the Court of Federal Claims, the Federal Circuit, where he has recently argued and won three appellate matters, the Veteran’s Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court, where he was lead counsel on a False Claims Act case (See United States ex rel. Carter v. Halliburton Co.) and in the T.C. Heartland LLC v. Kraft Foods Group Brands LLC (U.S. May 22, 2017) (No. 16-341) case involving jurisdiction in patent infringement cases. Other recent litigation victories where Tom served as lead trial counsel include a $12,317,500 verdict in Zuru v Telebrands et al. (EDTX 2017) (patent infringement) and a $2,600,000 verdict in DPX Gear v Prince et al. (Loudoun Circuit Court 2017) (breach of contract & fraud).Tom has authored and taught numerous classes for the last 20 years to attorneys, law students, and businesses, most recently these include; Copyright Clearance Issues (2018) (internal for AMC Networks), Intellectual Property Essentials (2018) (Virginia CLE), Intellectual Property Issues in Sports and Entertainment Law (2017)(NBI), Reasonable Royalties in Patent Damages (2017)(NBI), and Patent Damages: The Rise of the Footprint Approach (2016) and the revised editions (2013, 2015 and 2017) of the Virginia Lawyer’s Deskbook, Chapter 8 - Intellectual Property (Virginia CLE). 

Tom holds a JD, MBA, and MS in biotechnology, and is a former Army officer (Armor and Cavalry), a former special prosecutor (Loudoun County), has served as co-chair of the ABA’s Copyright CLE subcommittee and is formerly a board member and the past president of the Loudoun County bar association. Tom is also a founder, patent-holder and former CEO and Chairman of Ceres Nanosciences Inc. whose Lyme disease diagnostic test received the FDA’s “Breakthrough Device” designation in July of 2018 () and which has completed more than $20 million in funding since its inception.  As an instrument rated pilot, he also served as a commissioner for the largest executive airport in Virginia (KJYO), the executive feeder airport for Dulles. 

Most recently Tom was again named a SuperLawyer (2012-2014, 2016-2022) for intellectual property (top 5% in DC and Virginia).  Thomas Dunlap named a Washington SmartCEO Centers of Influence Award Honoree.  Tom has also been named a top Virginia lawyer (for litigation).  The firm has for the sixth year in a row been named a “Best Law Firm in Virginia” by Virginia Living and the PCT Global Law 2016 and 2018 Intellectual Property Firm. Outside of his legal practice, Tom is a PADI Master Diver, instrument pilot with high-performance and complex aircraft ratings, a member of MENSA, and participates in marathons and triathlons. 

Education Narrative: I received a BA from Lafayette College (Dean’s List), a Juris Doctor from Washington & Lee University (Phi Delta Phi Legal Honors Fraternity) an MS in Biotechnology & MBA from the University of Maryland (Magna Cum Laude). 

Military Narrative: Until resigning in 2009, I was a Captain (Armor & Cavalry) in the Army National Guard, and a graduate of Army OCS having served in various US and overseas locations as a Recon Scout Platoon Leader, and Executive Officer (XO) (A Troop, 1-158th CAV (RECON)), and aide de camp to Division Commanding General, (Major General Wyman, 29th Infantry Division) and as the Commander of the Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC), 116th Infantry (116th BSTB) (includes the military police, NBC and Recon units for the Battalion). 

Community: I serve as an airport commissioner for the Leesburg Executive Airport (KJYO, 2008- present) and have served on the boards of the United Way RAC in the National Capital Area and the Loudoun Community Free Clinic.  I presently serve as a Historic District Review Commissioner for Loudoun County, Virginia. I am an alumni representative for Lafayette College and have taught as an adjunct at Washington & Lee University (Intellectual Property) and presently serve on the Washington & Lee Entrepreneurship Advisory Executive Board.

Personal: I am SCUBA certified as a Master diver (with O2 and Nitrox) and have completed the PADI Archeology Diver program through the Maritime Archeological Historical Society (), with whom I dive to assist with the recovery and preservation of historic artifacts as well as deep diver, cave diver and a variety of other PADI certifications.  I have held a Humvee and M1 Tank drivers licenses and I am a former National Silver Medalist in full contact Burmese kickboxing, called Bando (2002). As an original founder and co-patent holder/ inventor on certain diagnostic and research nano-particle technology, I served as the CEO of Ceres Nanosciences, Inc. (2007-2010), a biotechnology company based in Manassas, Virginia, and served as the Chairman of their Board of Directors until 2017 when the company completed its $9 million Series A round ().  I have completed numerous marathons and the Vineman Ironman 70.3 Triathlon. I am an avid sailor having crewed for months on the RV Westward (3-masted staysail schooner) as part of a joint research effort by Boston University and NOAA. I am also an experienced pilot and own a Cirrus SR-22 airplane (high performance and complex instrument pilot ratings).  I live with my wife and two children in Loudoun County.

Other Memberships include Rotary International, American MENSA, Freemasons: Olive Branch 114, Scottish Rite Freemasons – Alexandria (32nd), Leesburg Veterans of Foreign Wars (Post 1177), Leesburg American Legion Post, and AOPA.