Mr Dave Thomas > Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP > Washington DC, United States > Lawyer Profile
Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP Offices

2099 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, N.W.
SUITE 100
WASHINGTON DC 20006
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
United States
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Mr Dave Thomas

Work Department
Business Trial; Governmental
Position
Dave Thomas is a partner in the Business Trial Practice Group and Office Managing Partner of Sheppard Mullin’s Washington, D.C. office. He is also the partner in charge of lateral recruiting for Sheppard Mullin’s Washington, D.C. office.
Dave’s national practice handles matters in the telecommunications and broadband communications industries, as well as in the cyber and data security sectors. His practice focuses on the deployment and operations of competitive wire-based and wireless networks and services, with a particular emphasis on the mesh of federal, state and local regulations surrounding broadband networks in matters involving network operations and security, local franchising, rights-of-way and infrastructure.
During his more than 25 years as counsel to the nation’s top cable and broadband companies, cable and telecommunications trade associations and other business organizations, Dave became a nationally recognized authority on utility and telecommunications infrastructure, pole attachments, rights-of-way, federal, state and local broadband and telecommunications regulatory and communications plant deployment issues and public utility law. He has worked on cases in approximately 40 states.
Dave handles a wide range of regulatory, litigation and transactional matters involving telecommunications providers, broadcasters, satellite communications, federal, state and local licensing and permitting, data security and privacy and spectrum use. He litigates before the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC), numerous state public service commissions and federal and state courts. In addition to those bodies, he regularly appears before state legislatures and county and municipal governments.
A frequent speaker at communications and utility industry conferences, Dave has published works on a variety of domestic and international industry issues, including cyber and data security, new technology, infrastructure and use, network deployment and spectrum use and allocation.
Languages
Spanish
Memberships
Member, Federal Communications Bar Association
Member, International Association of Privacy Professionals
Member, Advisory Board, Webster’s New World Telecom Dictionary, Wiley Publishing, 2008
Education
J.D., Boston University School of Law, 1990
M.S., Boston University, 1987
A.B., Cornell University, 1984
Lawyer Rankings
United States > Media, technology and telecoms > Telecoms and broadcast: regulatory
The team at Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP is well-versed in regulatory issues affecting space and satellite companies. It also specializes in national security matters and cable infrastructure work. The Washington DC-based group is led by Brian Weimer who is well-known for his work in the satellite industry. Dave Thomas has expertise in regulations affecting broadband networks, such as network operations and security, local franchising, rights-of-way and infrastructure. Douglas Svor works with companies in the tech, telecoms, aerospace, defense and infrastructure sectors. Jodi Goldberg has particular expertise in issues surrounding the satellite, space, wireless and new tech industries.
Lawyer Rankings
Top Tier Firm Rankings
Firm Rankings
- Government > Government contracts
- Healthcare > Health insurers
- Real estate > Land use/zoning
- M&A/corporate and commercial > M&A: middle-market (sub-$500m)
- Tax > Not-for-profit (Fortune 1000 private foundations, national trade associations, and charities)
- Energy > Renewable/alternative power
- Healthcare > Service providers
- Media, technology and telecoms > Cyber law (including data privacy and data protection)
- Media, technology and telecoms > Media and entertainment: transactional
- Real estate > Real estate
- Media, technology and telecoms > Telecoms and broadcast: regulatory
- Insurance > Advice to insurers
- Antitrust > Cartel
- Environment > Environment: litigation
- Labor and employment > Labor and employment disputes (including collective actions)
- Media, technology and telecoms > Media and entertainment: litigation
- Antitrust > Merger control
- Media, technology and telecoms > Technology transactions
- Media, technology and telecoms > Telecoms and broadcast: transactions
- Antitrust > Civil litigation/class actions: defense
- Real estate > Construction (including construction litigation)
- Healthcare > Life sciences
- Intellectual property > Patents: litigation (full coverage)
- Finance > Fintech
- Real estate > Real estate finance