Thomas M. Melsheimer

Thomas M. Melsheimer is a prominent trial lawyer recognized for his extensive patent litigation practice, handling disputes across diverse technology areas including medical devices, online ticketing systems, semiconductors, Internet security, financial services, and telecommunications. His practice demonstrates a balanced approach, representing both plaintiffs and defendants, with two tracked appearances on the defendant side and one on the plaintiff side in patent cases. This aligns with his broader experience successfully representing both sides in trials across the U.S..

Currently, Mr. Melsheimer serves as the Global Head of Trial and Managing Partner of the Dallas office at King & Spalding, which he joined in February 2026 as part of a significant litigation group move. Prior to this, he was a co-chair of the Global Litigation Department and managing partner of the Dallas office at Winston & Strawn, which he helped open in 2017. His career also includes a tenure as an intellectual property litigator and managing principal at Fish & Richardson, which he left in 2017.

His notable patent litigation experience includes securing a complete defense jury verdict that found no infringement and invalidated two asserted patents, clearing USWS of over $76 million in infringement allegations. He also achieved a significant victory at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in 2017, ending a patent infringement lawsuit brought by AmerisourceBergen against his client, FFF Enterprises, a case that involved a Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) covered business method review. Additionally, in SAP America v. InvestPic, Mr. Melsheimer obtained a ruling invalidating all claims of InvestPic's patent due to patent-ineligible abstract concepts, followed by a grant of attorney fees for SAP America Inc. He has represented high-profile companies such as Microsoft, Texas Instruments, and Bank of America in litigation.

Mr. Melsheimer earned his J.D. magna cum laude from The University of Texas School of Law in 1986, where he was a member of the Texas Law Review. He graduated magna cum laude from the University of Notre Dame in 1983. Following law school, he clerked for the Honorable Homer Thornberry at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. He was admitted to the State Bar of Texas on November 7, 1986.