Tom Filarski is an experienced patent litigator, chemist and chemical engineer whose four-decade career bridges science, innovation, and law. Trained first as an engineer in the energy sector before transitioning to intellectual property, Tom built a reputation for translating complex technologies into persuasive courtroom narratives. His work spans patent litigation, licensing, and appellate advocacy across industries ranging from pharmaceuticals and medical devices to semiconductors and materials processing.
Before entering law, Tom worked for a Chicago-based oil refinery design company, where he gained hands-on experience with cracking catalysts and heavy oil downstream processes. When the 1980s energy recession curtailed new projects, Tom pivoted, earning his J.D. and beginning a lifelong career helping innovators protect and commercialize their inventions. His scientific foundation in chemistry and chemical engineering continues to shape his approach to every case: analytical, precise, and grounded in real-world technology.
Over the years, Tom has guided clients through some of the most transformative moments in modern patent law. In the 1990s, he successfully enforced a patent on a needleless IV valve—a device that helped protect healthcare workers during the height of the AIDS epidemic. He later led development of a patent portfolio for aortic stent technology developed by a major Indiana medical manufacturer, advising on prosecution, strategy, and enforcement.
In the pharmaceutical sector, Tom became deeply involved in Hatch-Waxman litigation, representing pharmaceutical companies in injunction and exclusivity disputes primarily in Delaware and New Jersey federal district courts and in the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals. His balanced understanding of patent rights and market dynamics has earned him recognition from IAM Patent 1000, which praised him as being “on the cutting edge at all times” and for his ability to “extract value out of patent rights.”
Tom contributed to the growth of the Chicago IP department of Steptoe LLP, following more than two decades at Brinks Gilson & Lione, where he represented Fortune 500 and emerging companies in complex IP enforcement, licensing, and technology transfer matters. His clients and colleagues alike note his measured, calm presence and gift for explaining sophisticated concepts in plain English—qualities that make him as effective before judges and juries as he is in boardrooms.
Beyond his casework, Tom has been a prominent leader in the licensing and innovation community. A past president of the Licensing Executives Society (USA & Canada), he served on its Board of Trustees 2001-14 and chaired multiple national conferences and committees. He is also a member of the Richard Linn American Inn of Court, where he contributes to professional mentorship and education in intellectual property law.
outside the office
An avid athlete and traveler, Tom enjoys golf, swimming, cycling and the occasional triathlon and has hiked extensively throughout Colorado and a bit in Europe. A frequent traveler to Scotland and Switzerland, often with golf clubs in tow, he combines his love of sport with a curiosity for new places and cultures.
Tom is also a proud father of two daughters who have each charted remarkable professional paths: one a trademark and brand attorney, the other a physician assistant specializing in otolaryngology surgery, both at nationally-recognized entities. Their work, like his, reflects a shared commitment to precision and purpose.
In addition to family and travel, Tom serves on the advisory board of Naples Technology Ventures, a venture capital firm focused on SaaS investments and early-stage technology growth. Through this role, he applies his blend of business insight and technical expertise to help emerging companies scale strategically and prepare for successful exits.