Tomasulo has appeared in more than 70 patent cases throughout the country and before Federal Circuit courts, the Patent Trial and Appeals Board, and the U.S. International Trade Commission. His litigation matters span a range of technologies and industries, including videogames, networking, cloud computing, virtual networks, semiconductors, mechanical equipment, balloon catheters, infusion pumps, medical devices and other biotechnologies. He recently racked up defense wins in six patent cases against leading video game companies in Delaware, the U.S. PTAB, and in federal appeals court. Tomasulo has patent litigation experience in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas. In 2021, he, litigation lawyer Kat Li and Judge Alan Albright co-taught a 13-week in-person class on oral advocacy in patent cases at the University of Texas Law School in Austin.
“Michael’s knowledge, skills and experience are a strong fit with our strategy to grow by adding leading attorneys,” said Peter Chassman, firmwide chair of Reed Smith’s intellectual property practice. “He has experience in gaming, and we expect that he will collaborate with our existing entertainment and media group and our lawyers practicing in the blockchain space.”
In addition to patent litigation, Tomasulo founded and co-led Winston & Strawn’s Videogame, Gaming and Esports Group and was a helped lead the firm’s efforts to build its blockchain and Web3 practice. Tomasulo has two decades of experience representing leading companies in the videogame, cloud computing and social media industries. He counsels companies involved with blockchain technology in finding business-focused solutions and is very active in the emerging fields of blockchain, NFTs, Web3 and DAOs.
“There is significant opportunity to expand my practice on the Reed Smith global platform as well as to provide my services to Reed Smith’s clients. The firm’s patent litigation group is diverse, talented and growing, and the firm’s client base is astonishing, particularly in technology, media and entertainment,” Tomasulo said. “Reed Smith’s On-Chain team has more than 100 lawyers with experience in blockchain and Web3 technologies. In addition, the firm’s emerging markets and venture capital practices will be of enormous benefit to my clients.”
A graduate of the University of Southern California School of Law, Order of the Coif, Tomasulo regularly leverages his broad knowledge of and deep experience with the intellectual property implications of non fungible tokens and smart contracts transactions to counsel companies in those sectors. He is also in demand as a resource for companies using blockchain technologies who require innovative, business-focused solutions. An author of numerous articles on these topics in leading publications, he provides targeted, effective advice and counsel, as well as transactional work for such companies. Examples of his work include counseling an NFT marketplace in its 2022 launch and leading a pro-bono team forming a “decentralized autonomous organization” for a global nonprofit using blockchain and Web3 technology to promote its mission of helping small farmers in developing countries.
Before joining Winston & Strawn more than a decade ago, Tomasulo was a partner with Dickstein Shapiro from 2009 to 2012, and with Jones Day from 2002 to 2009. Prior to that, he was as an associate with Lyon & Lyon from 1995 to 2002.
“Michael will be an exceptional asset to our office,” said Amber Finch, Reed Smith’s Los Angeles managing partner. “He is a well-known heavy hitter in Southern California’s intellectual property ballpark, and we are delighted to have him on our team as we continue to add talented partners in California and across the firm. Michael will be a superb mentor and role model for younger lawyers and a valuable colleague for all of us.”