Thomas M. Dunham

Thomas M. Dunham is a partner at the intellectual property boutique firm Cherian Harkins Dunham LLP, where he became a named partner as of January 1, 2026. He has over thirty years of experience in patent litigation in federal district courts, appeals before the Federal Circuit, and post-grant proceedings before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. His practice covers a wide range of technologies, including wireless and wireline telecommunications, computer hardware and software, networking, medical devices, and automotive technologies. Before practicing law, Dunham was a staff engineer at General Electric Corporation’s Aerospace Control Systems Division, giving him industry experience with complex hardware and software systems.

Based on the provided case list, Dunham has recently represented plaintiff IOT Innovations LLC as lead counsel in litigation against Fortinet, Inc. His firm's broader litigation history includes representing both plaintiffs and defendants. Dunham's own representative matters show a mix of plaintiff-side enforcement and defense work, including successfully asserting a patent portfolio for a client against a spin-off company and securing dismissals and favorable settlements for major telecommunications and computer hardware companies. This suggests a practice that is not exclusively limited to one side, though the single tracked case is for a patent-holding entity.

Dunham is an experienced practitioner before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), representing clients in inter partes reviews (IPRs) and ex parte reexaminations. His profile notes his involvement in obtaining a discretionary denial of IPRs filed against a client's patents related to internet proxy technology and serving as counsel for the patent owner in an IPR proceeding. Prior to his current firm, Dunham was a partner at Winston & Strawn, which he joined in from Novak Druce + Quigg where he chaired the litigation group. He was also previously a partner at Howrey, LLP.

Dunham earned his J.D. from Villanova University School of Law and a B.S. in Physics from SUNY Binghamton. He is admitted to the bars of the District of Columbia, Colorado, and Alaska, and is registered to practice before the USPTO.