Thomas Vanis

Thomas Vanis is an associate on the firm’s litigation team, where he supports clients in a wide range of commercial disputes. His practice focuses on commercial litigation, and he regularly assists with all phases of a case, from client intake through resolution. Thomas’s experience includes conducting in-depth legal research, drafting pleadings and briefs, managing discovery, and supporting motion practice and dispute resolution efforts in both state and federal matters. He brings a detail-oriented and strategic approach to litigation support, helping teams efficiently assess risk, develop arguments, and advance client objectives.

In addition to his litigation work, Thomas has a strong foundation in finance and commercial transactions. His background includes experience with investment analysis, financial research, and earnings projections gained through internships at investment firms. This experience enhances his ability to support matters involving lending relationships, financial performance issues, and business operations, and allows him to engage comfortably with financial documents, transaction structures, and the economic context underlying commercial litigation. Thomas’s early exposure to commercial lending and finance also complements the firm’s transactional practices. His familiarity with investment evaluation and financial modeling enables him to effectively support attorneys handling lender-side and borrower-side matters.

Before graduating from law school, Thomas worked as a law clerk at Miller Nash, where he supported attorneys across multiple practice areas. He also interned in the legal department of a sports management agency, assisting with the analysis and editing of endorsement agreements and NFL contract extensions, and conducting research on athlete-agent laws and NCAA compliance regulations.

Thomas enjoys supporting the firm’s sports law practice, drawing on both his legal experience and his personal background in athletics. He was a Division I linebacker at the University of California, Berkeley, and brings a firsthand understanding of the competitive, regulatory, and business pressures facing athletes, teams, and sports-related organizations.