N. Thomas Connally, III
Partner Litigation, Arbitration, and Employment
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Overview
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Experience
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Credentials
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Insights and events
Chambers USA"He has a rare combination of a strategic mind and practicality."
Tom Connally is a leading trial lawyer representing businesses and individuals in important and high-profile commercial litigation, with extensive experience in handling cases in regulated industries.
Tom has tried and won substantial cases involving breach of contract, fraud, and other business torts. He handles disputes for companies in technology, government contracts, satellite, aerospace, communications, media, energy, automotive, aviation, pharmaceutical, health care, professional sports, and real estate, as well as matters for associations, colleges, and universities.
Ranked by Chambers USA since 2008, and in Band One since 2018, clients have commented to Chambers USA that Tom is "extremely smart," "superb at litigation strategy," and "excellent at oral argument," praising Tom's "creativity and ability to think outside the box," reporting Tom "was extremely effective in managing his team, developing a strategy, building the case within that strategy, thinking on his feet, handling our witnesses and our opponent's witnesses, and getting the point across to the jury."
His work includes high-profile disputes for technology companies, government contractors, and satellite companies involving contracts, joint ventures, and teaming agreements.
Tom defends public companies and their officers and directors in shareholder, antitrust, and securities litigation, and represents public and private entities and individuals in corporate, LLC, and partnership control disputes.
Tom is the former Practice Area Leader of the firm's Commercial Litigation practice across the United States, Mexico, and Brazil. He has also served as the Managing Partner of the firm’s Northern Virginia office, and as a member and past co-chair of the firm's Legal Ethics Committee. Tom has served as President of the Northern Virginia Chapter of the Federal Bar Association and on the Board of Governors of the Virginia Bar Association. He is a 2024 Fellow of the Virginia Law Foundation.
Chambers USA"He has a rare combination of a strategic mind and practicality."
Representative experience
Won three-week Eastern District of Virginia patent jury trial for major international chemistry conglomerate in dispute over technology to obtain health-critical omega-3 fatty acids from crop plants.
Won a US$385m jury trial for Orbital ATK over a joint venture to market Orbital ATK's mission extension vehicle, a spacecraft built to extend the lives of geostationary satellites.
Defeated motion for injunction seeking to halt construction on extension of toll lanes on the Capital Beltway.
Obtained emergency injunction extending Virginia voter registration by two days after Department of Elections website failed on the final day to register for the 2020 general election.
Won jury verdict for the defense in LLC control dispute over wealth management company, defeating derivative claims for breach of fiduciary duty, loyalty, and LLC operating agreement.
Successful representation of agencies of the Commonwealth of Virginia in litigation over a US$2.6bn contract outsourcing the information technology services of the state government.
Successful defense of REITs accused of breaching right of first offer for office complex in US$1.4bn real estate portfolio transaction.
Successful representation of shareholders in corporate control dispute over major real estate development and management company.
Won dismissal of a wrongful death claim featured on "60 Minutes".
Won substantial verdict, including US$3.3m in punitive damages, for pro bono client against perpetrators of a "foreclosure rescue" scam.
Won trial of online news feed royalty dispute in the Eastern District of Virginia.
Won appeal to the Fourth Circuit sustaining the dismissal of major False Claims Act case against a state student loan authority.
Won an appeal to the Virginia Supreme Court on statute of limitations issues for the American Physical Therapy Association.
Successful representation of the Holy See in licensing dispute regarding the reproduction rights for Vatican treasures and works of art.
Successful representation of colleges and their boards in litigation over merger, reformation or closure.
Successful handling of claims involving subcontracts, teaming agreements and joint ventures for government contractors in state and federal courts.
Credentials
- J.D., University of Virginia School of Law, 1993
- B.A., University of Virginia, with distinction, 1990
- District of Columbia
- Virginia
- U.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit
- U.S. District Court, District of Columbia
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Virginia
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Virginia
- U.S. Supreme Court
- Past president, Federal Bar Association, Northern Virginia Chapter
- Past member, Board of Governors, Virginia Bar Association
- Member, Arlington County Bar Association
- Member, Fairfax County Bar Association