Tom focuses on mechanical patent prosecution, and trademark and copyright registration law, as well as litigation involving patents, trademarks and unfair competition.

Tom first became aware of patent law in the eighth grade, sparking his interest in working with people who are creative and inventive. He met Bob Hovey while in engineering school at the University of Kansas, and stayed in touch. While in school, Tom wrote for the Nathan Burkan copyright competition, participated in the Rich Moot Court competition and served as a law clerk for the 10th Judicial District in Johnson County.

Tom has been in the U.S. Naval Reserve since 1986 and served for more than eight years in the Judge Advocate General's Corps, U.S. Navy.

LEGAL EDUCATION

University of Kansas School of Law, J.D., 1978

UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION

University of Kansas, B.S. Mechanical
    Engineering, 1975

MEMBERSHIPS

Kansas Bar Association

Missouri Bar Association

Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association,
    Past Chairman, Patent, Trademark, and
    Copyright Committee

BAR ADMISSIONS

Kansas, 1986

Missouri, 1978

U.S. District Court, Western District of
    Missouri, 1978

U.S. Court of Military Appeals, 1978

Court of Appeals for 6th, 8th, 10th,
    and Federal Circuits