Thomas A. Clare

Thomas A. Clare is a Washington, DC partner whose practice focuses on defending clients against high-profile reputational attacks in print, broadcast, and online media. He also litigates complex business disputes in state and federal courts across the country. His work includes defamation, invasion of privacy, contract disputes, bankruptcy adversary proceedings, product liability, securities, RICO, insurance coverage, data privacy, government enforcement, and leak investigations.

Clare earned a J.D., summa cum laude, from the University of Notre Dame Law School in 1995, where he served as Editor-in-Chief of the Notre Dame Law Review and received the Farabaugh Prize for High Scholarship in Law. He received a B.A., cum laude, from the University of Notre Dame in 1992. His education supports careful litigation strategy, legal writing, trial preparation, and analysis of complex media and business disputes.

Clare served as a law clerk to Judge Kenneth F. Ripple of the US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit from 1995 to 1996. He later worked at Kirkland & Ellis LLP as an associate and partner before founding his current litigation practice. His representative work includes major defamation verdicts, media disputes, proxy contest-related claims, business litigation, and matters involving Fortune 500 companies, executives, investors, universities, athletes, journalists, and public figures.

Thomas A. Clare is ranked by Chambers USA for nationwide First Amendment litigation and by Chambers High Net Worth for global defamation and reputation management. His recognition also includes Super Lawyers listings for Business Litigation and Media and Advertising, BTI Consulting ClientService All-Star MVP recognition, and National Law Journal honors for trial work. Clare also teaches and presents on media law, trial advocacy, depositions, arbitration, and reputation-related litigation strategy.

Law Office Affiliations

• Co-Founder & Partner, Clare Locke LLP
• Member, District of Columbia Bar Association
• Member, Virginia State Bar

Licensed State

• District of Columbia
• Virginia

Education

• University of Notre Dame Law School
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• University of Notre Dame
  BA with Cum Laude

Awards & Badges