Thomas G. Schultz

Education

Cornell Law School, J.D., summa cum laude, 2013
- Senior Articles Editor, Cornell Law Review
University of Minnesota, B.S., magna cum laude, 2009

Clerkships

Law Clerk, Judge Roger Wollman, U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit, 2013-2014

Admitted

2014, New York
2015, District of Columbia

Tom Schultz represents plaintiffs and defendants in a wide range of complex civil matters at the trial and appellate levels, with a particular focus on plaintiff’s-side trial litigation.

Tom currently represents the families of more than 800 American service members in a trilogy of cases arising under the Anti-Terrorism Act (“ATA”) and the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act of 1976. Previously, he served as trial counsel for the State of Florida in a case against opioid manufacturers, distributors, and dispensers, which helped recover more than $3.5 billion, and he represented the National Credit Union Administration in a series of lawsuits against major financial institutions, recovering more than $5.1 billion. He also represents individuals and organizations in SEC investigations, relators and defendants in False Claims Act cases, plaintiffs and defendants in civil fraud cases, telecommunications carriers in civil and regulatory matters, and family members in litigation concerning closely held businesses and trusts.

Representative Experience

Atchley, et al. v. AstraZeneca, et al. Represents service members, civilians, and their families in an Anti-Terrorism Act case against Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, GE, AstraZeneca, and Roche.
State of Florida v. Purdue, et al. Served as trial counsel for the State of Florida in civil case against opioid manufacturers, distributors, and dispensers that contributed to the opioid crisis in Florida. The case settled during the fourth week of trial, at which point Florida had recovered more than $3.5 billion from the defendants. (2023)
Atos v. Desai. Represented founder of business in fraud case brought by purchaser of business. Obtained voluntary dismissal of all claims. (2023)
Harbinger v. Singh, et al. Argued motion to dismiss and obtained dismissal of complaint alleging fraud in the sale of satellite spectrum and seeking hundreds of millions of dollars in damages. (2022)
Werlich v. Schnell. Represented pro bono client in constitutional challenge to Minnesota registration statute. After a series of appeals, the Minnesota Supreme Court held that the statutory scheme was unconstitutional as applied to the client as alleged in complaint. (2020)
Confidential family business arbitration. Represented a co-owner of a closely held family real estate and business empire worth billions of dollars, in a dispute with the owner’s sibling and co-owner. The case proceeded to an arbitration hearing and settled on favorable terms during the hearing. (2019)
Confidential SEC investigation. Represented individual in connection with SEC investigation and threatened enforcement action alleging market manipulation. The investigation ended with no enforcement action and no settlement by the client. (2018)
Marriott Family Trust Litigation. Represented the primary beneficiary of a trust in a high-profile lawsuit against the trustees, his father, and uncle. The complaint alleged that the trustees violated their fiduciary duties by, among other things, wrongfully refusing requests for the distribution of principal and/or income from the trust. The lawsuit settled on favorable terms. (2018)
NCUA v. Goldman Sachs, et al. Represented the National Credit Union Administration as liquidating agent in a series of lawsuits against major financial institutions regarding the sale of residential mortgage-backed securities. The last of these suits were resolved shortly before trial, with defendants in three suits offering judgment for the full damage demand plus attorneys’ fees. More than $5.1 billion was recovered. (2017)
People v. Roberts. Obtained reversal of client’s conviction for illegally possessing a firearm after an appellate court held that the search that uncovered this firearm violated client’s Fourth Amendment rights. (2017)

Articles, News & Events

How Law Firms Can Cautiously Wield AI To Streamline Tasks, Law360 (2023)

News

May 12, 2023

Kellogg Hansen Attorneys Thomas Schultz and Eden Bernstein Published in Law360

May 12, 2023— Artificial intelligence is at the forefront of everyone\'s thoughts: how to harness its potential, where to apply it, and what practices yield the best results. Attorneys Thomas Schultz and Eden Bernstein recently published an article in Law360 proposing suggestions for those queries. Law firms should embrace artificial intelligence (AI) technology where appropriate and set clear rules on its use for legal work. Attorneys should be educated about the benefits and limits of AI, trained to use the tools safely and effectively, and encouraged to integrate them into their daily tasks. The article also discusses how modern AI tools have evolved in legal work, with the ability to communicate in plain English, supercharging research capabilities and drafting legal documents. Read the full article here. Should you be blocked by the paywall, please access the article here. ..

May 01, 2022

Kellogg Hansen Attorneys Named to the 2021 Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll

May 1, 2021— Nineteen Kellogg Hansen attorneys qualified for recognition on the 2021 Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll for contributing fifty hours or more of pro bono work to those who cannot afford legal counsel. Twelve Kellogg Hansen attorneys also qualified for the High Honor Roll for providing one hundred hours or more of pro bono service. The District of Columbia Courts have recognized attorneys through the Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll since 2011. The complete list of 2022 honorees can be found here. Kellogg Hansen 2021 Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll Scott K. Attaway Alejandra Ávila* Daniel G. Bird* Katherine C. Cooper* Matthew N. Drecun* Linda A. Elliott* Kimberly V. Hamlett* Minsuk Han* Vetan Kapoor Geoffrey M. Klineberg* Ariela M. Migdal Aaseesh P. Polavarapu* Catherine M. Redlingshafer Derek C. Reinbold Christopher M. Sarma Thomas G. Schultz* Julius P. Taranto* Jayme L. Weber Matthew J. Wilkins* ..

January 04, 2022

Families of Americans Killed or Injured by Terrorists in Iraq Can Proceed in Anti-Terrorism Act Case Against Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, GE Healthcare, AstraZeneca, and Roche

January 4, 2022— The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled in favor of the families of 395 Americans killed or injured by the terrorist group Jaysh al-Mahdi in Iraq. In this U.S. Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) case against major pharmaceutical and medical-supply corporations, the federal appellate court held that the plaintiffs’ allegations stated a claim under the ATA. The plaintiffs are more than 1,200 Americans, who were attacked or who had a family member attacked by the terrorist group Jaysh al-Mahdi. Among the plaintiffs are more than 180 families who lost a loved one. The defendants are the parent companies and/or subsidiaries of AstraZeneca, GE Healthcare, Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, and Roche. The plaintiffs allege that these companies bribed Iraqi terrorists to obtain contracts from Iraq’s terrorist-controlled Ministry of Health, knowingly financing terrorist attacks on Americans. Kellogg Hansen is plaintiffs\' trial and appellate counsel, serving as lead counsel in the courtroom. Partner Josh Branson argued the appeal for the plaintiffs and was joined on the brief by partners David Frederick and Andrew Goldsmith. Partners Thomas Schultz and Matthew Duffy and associate Grace Knofczynski have also been instrumental in several stages of the litigation. The appeal received support from an impressive collection of amici, who were cited by the D.C. Circuit several times in the opinion. A bipartisan group of eight U.S. Senators, led by Senators Grassley and Blumenthal, submitted a brief explaining why Congress enacted the ATA and describing how Defendants’ arguments defied Congress’s intent. A group of retired U.S. military commanders also submitted a brief detailing Hezbollah’s role in planning and authorizing Jaysh al-Mahdi’s attacks. Other effective briefs were authored by Professor Steve Vladeck and other national-security law professors, a group of anti-corruption experts, and the American Association for Justice. The lawsuit follows an extensive investigation by Kellogg Hansen and the Washington, D.C.-based law firm Sparacino PLLC. Throughout the case, the Sparacino team has been Kellogg Hansen’s partner, serving as lead investigative counsel. Case Caption: Atchley v. AstraZeneca, No. 20-2077 (D.C. Cir. Jan. 4, 2022). ..

May 01, 2021

Kellogg Hansen Attorneys Named to the 2020 Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll

May 1, 2021— Kellogg Hansen attorneys qualified for recognition on the 2020 Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll for contributing fifty hours or more of pro bono work to those who cannot afford legal counsel. Nine Kellogg Hansen attorneys also qualified for the High Honor Roll for providing one hundred hours or more of pro bono service. The District of Columbia Courts have recognized attorneys through the Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll since 2011. The complete list of 2022 honorees can be found here. Kellogg Hansen 2020 Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll Scott Attaway Daniel Bird Christine Bonomo* Matthew Drecun* Linda Elliott* Kenneth Fetterman Daniel Guarnera* Michael Guzman Julia Haines Jacob Hartman* Michael Kellogg Gerald Kerska Geoffrey Klineberg* Grace Knofczynski Sean Nadel* Bradley Oppenheimer* Ana Paul Eliana Pfeffer Gregory Rapawy Thomas Samuels* Christopher Sarma Thomas Schultz* Julius Taranto Jayme Weber Joseph Wenner* *denotes High Honor roll ..

May 01, 2020

Kellogg Hansen Attorneys Named to the 2019 Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll

May 1, 2020— Kellogg Hansen attorneys qualified for recognition on the 2019 Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll for contributing fifty hours or more of pro bono work to those who cannot afford legal counsel. Nine Kellogg Hansen attorneys also qualified for the High Honor Roll for providing one hundred hours or more of pro bono service. The District of Columbia Courts have recognized attorneys through the Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll since 2011. The complete list of 2022 honorees can be found here. Kellogg Hansen 2019 Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll Scott K. Attaway Christine A. Bonomo* Kimberly A. Briggs* Andrew J. Churella* Katherine C. Cooper* Daniel S. Guarnera* Michael J. Guzman* Julia Haines* Minsuk Han* T. Dietrich Hill* Mark P. Hirschboeck* Bethan R. Jones* Michael K. Kellogg* Geoffrey M. Klineberg* Grace W. Knofczynski Gabriel A. Kohan Sean A. Lev Benjamin D. Margo Ariela Migdal* Sean M. Nadel* Bradley E. Oppenheimer* Albert Y. Pak Ana N. Paul* Michael S. Qin Gregory G. Rapawy Melissa Rodriguez* Thomas B. Samuels* Thomas G. Schultz* Benjamin S. Softness James W. Webster* Collin R. White *denotes High Honor roll ..

April 16, 2019

Kellogg Hansen Attorneys Named to the 2018 Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll

April 16, 2019— Thirty-two Kellogg Hansen attorneys qualified for recognition on the 2018 Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll for contributing fifty hours or more of pro bono work to those who cannot afford legal counsel. Twenty-five Kellogg Hansen attorneys also qualified for the High Honor Roll for providing one hundred hours or more of pro bono service. The District of Columbia Courts have recognized attorneys through the Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll since 2011. The 2018 Honor Roll members represent all sectors of the legal community, including 168 law firms and individual practices, as well as federal and local government agencies, corporations, associations, law schools and public interest organizations. Chief Judge Anna Blackburne-Rigsby of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals and Chief Judge Robert Morin of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia stated: “We salute you for using your talents and expertise to help those unable to afford an attorney, to ensure that they too have equal access to justice. Your compassion and dedication, as evidenced by your pro bono service, have helped to level the playing field.” Kellogg, Hansen, Todd, Figel & Frederick, P.L.L.C. Scott K. Attaway*Christine A. Bonomo*Katherine C. Cooper*Brendan J. CrimminsMatthew M. DuffyLinda A. Elliott*David C. Frederick*Andrew E. Goldsmith*Daniel S. Guarnera*Joshua HafenbrackFrederick G. Hall*Minsuk Han*Jacob E. HartmanAndrew M. Hetherington*T. Dietrich HillMark P. Hirschboeck*Geoffrey M. Klineberg*Benjamin D. Margo*Rachel P. May*Ariela Migdal*Jeremy S. NewmanBradley E. Oppenheimer*Albert Y. Pak*Michael S. Qin*Benjamin L. Rudofsky*Thomas B. Samuels*Christopher M. SarmaThomas G. Schultz*Daniel S. Severson*Lillian V. Smith*Benjamin S. Softness*Julius P. Taranto* * denotes High Honor Roll ..