Thomas K. Hedemann
Counsel
Thomas Hedemann focuses his practice on intellectual property and commercial litigation. His experience ranges across all aspects of litigation from pre-litigation counseling and strategy through fact and expert discovery, dispositive motions and trial. Thomas also has significant appellate experience before the Federal and Second Circuit Courts of Appeals.
Thomas K. Hedemann
Counsel
Thomas Hedemann focuses his practice on intellectual property and commercial litigation. His experience ranges across all aspects of litigation from pre-litigation counseling and strategy through fact and expert discovery, dispositive motions and trial. Thomas also has significant appellate experience before the Federal and Second Circuit Courts of Appeals.
In the area of intellectual property, he has represented clients in cases involving diverse technologies, specializing in pharmaceutical cases brought under the Hatch-Waxman Act. In the area of commercial litigation, he has represented clients on matters involving supply contracts, employment contracts, insurance claims and various business torts. Before joining Axinn, Thomas served as a law clerk to the Honorable Alfred V. Covello of the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut.
Thomas is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Connecticut School of Law where he teaches patent litigation. He is also active in the community and serves on the board of Capitol Squash, which seeks to provide underprivileged students with life-changing opportunities through the sport of squash, intensive educational support, mentoring and community service activities.
Experience
- Obtained summary judgment of noninfringement on behalf of Alvogen in a Hatch-Waxman litigation involving a generic version of the Exelon dementia treatment patch.
- Obtained a dismissal of all claims against Nautilus, Inc. in a case involving allegations of indirect trademark and copyright infringement.
- Successfully briefed an appeal on behalf of pharmaceutical company Natco involving a generic version of Tamiflu®, obtaining a reversal of the trial court’s holding that a later-issued but earlier-expiring patent cannot serve as a double-patenting reference against an earlier-issued but later-expiring patent.
- Represented Fila against infringement allegations involving utility and design patents and, after fact discovery and inventor depositions, obtained an advantageous settlement.
- Obtained summary judgment that the asserted patent was invalid for obviousness, and successfully briefed the appeal affirming the summary judgment on behalf of Mutual Pharmaceutical Company.
- Obtained a favorable resolution for pharmaceutical company Actavis of a multibillion-dollar patent infringement claim by Pfizer relating to a generic version of Neurontin®. Thomas’s work on the case included designing and implementing a strategy using Pfizer’s admission of unlawful off-label promotion to dramatically reduce the potential damages, resulting in a key ruling on a motion in limine that he authored.
- Obtained dismissal of state court claims and, after fact discovery and inventor depositions, an advantageous settlement on behalf of Custom LeatherCraft in patent litigation involving tool carriers.
- Successfully briefed an appeal on behalf of Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance, obtaining affirmance of the trial court’s summary judgment of the plaintiff’s breach of contract and related claims.
Honors
- Recognized in Am Law "Litigator of the Week" column for representation of Hobby Lobby
- Recognized by the New York State Bar Association’s Empire State Counsel Program for significant pro bono work
- U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut Pro Bono Honor Roll (2023)
- Best Lawyers “Ones to Watch” (2024)
Education
- JD – Yale Law School (2005) Articles and Submissions Editor, Yale Journal of Health, Law, Policy, and Ethics (2002–2004)
- MA – University of Wisconsin (2001)
- BA – University of Oslo, Norway (1997)
Admissions
- Connecticut
- U.S. District Court of Connecticut
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
- U.S. District Court Southern District of New York
Quotes
Clients say Axinn provides 'excellent availability, a minimum of bluster and pragmatic solutions to thorny legal and business issues.'
Chambers USA
Their work has been really, really top notch - they're quite comfortable moving beyond the obvious issues and digging down deeper to get to the next level of analysis.
Chambers USA
News & Insights
News & Insights
Axinn Attorneys Named to Best Lawyers 2025
Awards & Recognitions
Antitrust
Intellectual Property and Antitrust
Byline Articles
Antitrust
Vanda Strikes Out at the Supreme Court
Axinn Viewpoints
Intellectual Property
Vanda Swings for the Fences and Asks the Supreme Court to Heighten the Standard for Obviousness
Axinn Viewpoints
Intellectual Property
Eight Axinn Attorneys Named to the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut 2023 Pro Bono Honor Roll
News
Antitrust
Axinn Team Receives Am Law "Litigator of the Week" Shout Out for Representation of Hobby Lobby
News
Intellectual Property
Commission Affirms Axinn’s ITC Victory for Hobby Lobby
News
Intellectual Property
Axinn Attorneys Named to Best Lawyers 2024
Awards & Recognitions
Antitrust
Supreme Court Confirms Full Scope Enablement Standard in Amgen v. Sanofi
Publications
Intellectual Property
Axinn IP Update: The Supreme Court Hears Arguments About the Enablement Standard in Amgen v. Sanofi
Publications
Intellectual Property
