Overview

His matters span a wide range of computer software, electrical, medical device, chemical, and mechanical technologies, including ENT medical devices, radiofrequency ablation, healthcare software, microprocessor design, ethernet and wireless network communications, security software, operating system software, chemical compound formulation, product activation software, telecommunications networking systems, computer storage devices, point-of-sale software and hardware, computer-aided design, wearable software and hardware, and textile and laminate flooring.

Most recently, Thad led a team through jury trial in the Eastern District of Texas, obtaining a January 2025 defense verdict up against a $2 billion demand – the largest ever patent damages demand tried to verdict in EDTX (Headwater Research, LLC v. Samsung Electronics, Inc. et al., 2:22-cv-00422). Alongside fellow principals Mike McKeon and Ben Thompson, Thad’s team obtained a judgment of non-infringement that the accused handset software did not practice any of the asserted patent claims. The verdict came on the heels of evidentiary wins trimming the plaintiff’s case, including a sanctions order levied due to Fish exposing the plaintiff’s discovery misconduct.

Thad additionally led a team through District Court litigation, Patent Office IPR proceedings, and Federal Circuit Court of Appeals proceedings for a complete victory for client, Tide International, USA. Thad’s team invalidated the plaintiff’s asserted patent claims before the PTO in inter partes review proceedings, which victory was thereafter affirmed by the Federal Circuit. UPL NA, Inc. v. Tide International (USA) Inc. (C.D. Cal. 2019-23) (adverse to Finnegan Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, LLP).

He and his fellow Fish principal, Christopher Green, tried and won a patent jury verdict in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia for the Velcro Companies in a contentious patent infringement case. His Federal Circuit win for Shaw Industries concerning the scope of IPR estoppel was hailed by Law360 as one of the "Top AIA-Related Decisions” and the "Top Patent Cases” of the year. Whether arguing before federal court judges and juries, the USPTO, or the ITC, time and time again, Thad’s well-reasoned arguments and trial strategy have won the day.

Thad takes a hands-on approach to his matters. He gains a deep understanding of his clients' business and their business objective, and then quickly provides them with targeted guidance on vital issues and opportunities that arise during litigation.

Thad is a devoted alumnus of the Emory University School of Law. He has taught the course on patent law, as well as presented for myriad law school classes. He was a member of the law school alumni board for nearly 10 years, including a two-year term as alumni board and alumni association president (2013-2015). Thad has also delivered two commencement addresses for the Emory Law graduating classes. Thad began his tenure as a member of the Emory University Alumni Board in the fall of 2023.

Thad has also championed numerous pro bono causes. He argued before the Georgia Supreme Court on a long-running habeas corpus petition, trial, and appeal. He has also obtained temporary protective orders for women subject to domestic abuse for the Safe Families Project through the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation, for which AVLF named him its "Intimate Partner Abuse Volunteer Lawyer of the Year" (2022).

Prior to his legal career, Thad was a chemical engineer responsible for chemical technologies for jet engines at Pratt & Whitney Aircraft.