Thomas J. Sawyer

Throughout his more than 30-year career, Tom has represented employers in a broad spectrum of employment matters, including wage and hour, discrimination, and employee termination. He is known particularly for his employee defection work, including drafting and enforcing non-competes and other employment-based restrictive covenants, and litigating related contract, fiduciary duty, trade secret, tortious interference, conspiracy, and unfair competition disputes. Tom's clients include national and international companies, as well as numerous local companies based in the Washington, D.C. area. He has particularly deep experience counseling technology and government contracting companies on employment issues and representing them in related litigation. Prior to joining the firm, Tom was the head of the Labor & Employment practice of a 1,300-attorney, international law firm and the co-founding partner of its Northern Virginia office. Tom has long been recognized as a leading employment lawyer, including by Chambers, Best Lawyers in America, International Who's Who of Management Labour & Employment Lawyers, and Martindale-Hubbell. He has also spoken often on employee defection and other employment topics to law and industry groups, including the American Bar Association, Association for Corporate Counsel, and the Washington Metropolitan Area Corporate Counsel Association. Awards and Honors Super Lawyers® Selectees Thomas J. Sawyer included in a Super Lawyers® list Honors 2008-2025, Chambers USA, Leading Lawyer in Virginia Labor and Employment Law 2014-2026, The Best Lawyers in America®, Employment Law - Management and Litigation - Labor & Employment Martindale-Hubbell, AV Preeminent Peer Rated 2012-2023, International Who’s Who of Management Labour & Employment Lawyers 2006-2026, Virginia Super Lawyers - Employment Law 2007-2026, District of Columbia Super Lawyers - Employment Law Other Sources of Feedback About Thomas J. Sawyer Included on the 2026Virginia Super Lawyers list Past Lists 2025 Virginia Super Lawyers list 2024 Virginia Super Lawyers list 2023 Washington DC Super Lawyers list 2022 Washington DC Super Lawyers list 2021 Washington DC Super Lawyers list 2020 Washington DC Super Lawyers list 2019 Washington DC Super Lawyers list 2018 Washington DC Super Lawyers list 2017 Washington DC Super Lawyers list 2016 Washington DC Super Lawyers list 2015 Washington DC Super Lawyers list 2014 Washington DC Super Lawyers list 2013 Washington DC Super Lawyers list 2012 Washington DC Super Lawyers list 2011 Washington DC Super Lawyers list 2010 Washington DC Super Lawyers list 2009 Washington DC Super Lawyers list 2008 Washington DC Super Lawyers list 2007 Washington DC Super Lawyers list 2006 Virginia Super Lawyers list

• Shareholder

• 2011: “Employee Defection and the Multi-jurisdictional Employer: Drafting and Enforcing Non-competes in a Disparate Legal Environment,” Washington Metropolitan Area Corporate Counsel Association, Tysons, VA
• 2011: “30(b)(6) Depositions,” Washington Metropolitan Area Corporate Counsel Association, Tysons, VA
• 2008: “Employee Defection and the Multi-jurisdictional Employer: Practical Advice for In-house Counsel on Using Non-competes,” Association for Corporate Counsel, Tysons, VA
• 2006: “Covenants Not to Compete and Trade Secrets,” American Bar Association Committee on Employee Rights and Responsibilities Midwinter Meeting , Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
• 2006: “Document Retention and Destruction: To Shred or Not to Shred,” National Business Institute, Fairfax, VA

• Virginia
• District of Columbia
• Maryland
• U.S. Court of Appeals 4th Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals District of Columbia Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals Federal Circuit
• U.S. District Court Eastern District of Virginia
• U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia
• U.S. Court of Federal Claims
• U.S. Tax Court
• U.S. District Court District of Maryland
• U.S. Bankruptcy Court Eastern District of Virginia
• U.S. Bankruptcy Court District of Columbia
• U.S. District Court Western District of Virginia

• American Bar Association, Section on Labor & Employment Law, Committee on Employee Rights and Responsibilities, Subcommittee on Covenants Not to Compete and Trade Secrets, 2005-2015
• Lex Mundi, Labor & Employment Law Committee, 2008-10
• Greater Washington Board of Trade, Virginia Public Affairs Committee, 2006-07
• Northern Virginia Technology Council, Co-chairman, Human Resources Advisory Board, 1998-99
• Tysons Regional Chamber of Commerce, Chairman, 1996-97, and Director, 1993-98
• Fairfax Area Disability Services Board, Co-chairman, Standing Committee on Americans with Disabilities Act, 1992-93