Global Protection for Your
Brand, Data, and Business!

Global Protection for Your
Brand, Data, and Business!

RTJr Law Group, PLLC is a boutique law firm dedicated to Trademarks, Data Privacy & Emerging Technologies, and Business matters.

RTJr Law Group, PLLC is dedicated to the following areas with a strategic approach and focus on practical solutions to assist clients in achieving their business objectives.

RTJr Law Group, PLLC is dedicated to the following areas with a strategic approach and focus on practical solutions to assist clients in achieving their business objectives.

Trademarks

Leverage decades of experience to advise clients on trademark/brand creation, ownership, use, clearance, registration, maintenance, protection, and global portfolio management

Data Privacy & Emerging Technologies

• Advise clients on data use & compliance with domestic (US) and international (e.g., GDPR) privacy laws

• Review & draft privacy notices (external) & policies (internal)

• Help clients manage vendors/suppliers entrusted with Personal Information (PI)

• Prepare clients to address privacy issues related to emerging technologies (AI, biometrics, IoT)

Business Law

Assist & counsel clients in business formation (e.g., LLCs), contract drafting & negotiations (e.g., MSAs, SOWs), etc.

Other Legal Services

• Act as outside/fractional general counsel to small-medium businesses

• Serve as independent specialty counsel (deep subject matter expertise) to support other law firms in collaborative efforts to help their clients achieve business objectives

• Assist boards in satisfying their corporate governance duties by educating members on data privacy laws & best practices to avoid brand damage & reputational harm

Ray Thomas, Jr.

Attorney at Law
linkedin.com/in/RayThomasJr

Over the past 20+ years, Ray has strategically covered the entire spectrum of the legal profession. His varied experience includes government, law firms, academia, trade associations, and corporations.

Most recently, Ray served as Vice President, Chief Privacy Officer, Associate General Counsel & Corporate Secretary at Strada Education Foundation, Inc. Previously, Ray served as Director & Senior Counsel at Walmart Inc. where he advised on data privacy & emerging technologies (AI & biometrics). He also had various roles & responsibilities at IBM Corporation, including General Lawyer, Chief Procurement Privacy Officer, Head of Legal Academia – Global University Programs, and a 2-year assignment at the Watson IoT Global Headquarters in Munich, Germany.

As Adjunct Assistant Professor & Supervising Attorney at Howard University School of Law, Ray: i) founded the Trademark Clinic, which continues to operate under the United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) – Law School Clinic Certification Program; and ii) lectured on International Trademark Law during the summer program at the University of Western Cape in Cape Town, South Africa. While on international assignment in Europe, he also served as Adjunct Professor (Information Privacy Law) for The George Washington University Law School’s summer program at the Munich Intellectual Property Law Center.

General Education

  • American University, Washington College of Law
    Master of Laws (LL.M.), 2006 
  • Cleveland State University College of Law
    Juris Doctorate (J.D.), 2001
  • State University of New York, College at Buffalo
    Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Criminal Justice, 1994

Executive Education

  • University of California, Berkeley School of Law
    Certification – General Counsel University, November 2025
  • University of Pennsylvania, The Wharton School
    Certification – Corporate Governance: Maximize Your Effectiveness in the Boardroom June 2025
  • North Carolina Central University School of Law (IAPP Official Training Partner)
    Certification – Artificial Intelligence Governance Professional (AIGP), June 2026

Bar

  • Maryland [2001]
  • District of Columbia [2003]
  • Texas [2016]
  • Illinois [2022]

International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP)

  • Certified Information Privacy Professional/United States (CIPP/US) [2013]
  • Certified Information Privacy Manager (CIPM) [2015]
  • Certified Information Privacy Professional/Europe (CIPP/E) [2017]
  • Fellow of Information Privacy (FIP) [2017]
  • IAPP, American Bar Association & Texas: Board-Certified Privacy Law Specialist (PLS) [2024]

Special Government Employee

  • Data Privacy Integrity & Advisory Committee (Emerging Technologies Subcommittee) on 3-year appointment by US Secretary of Department of Homeland Security (Office of the Chief Privacy Officer) [November 2021–December 2024]
  • Trademark Public Advisory Committee (International Subcommittee) on 3-year appointment by US Secretary of Commerce (Office of the Commissioner of Trademarks) [October 2011–December 2014]

Law Schools

  • Technology Law & Policy Center at North Carolina Central University School of Law [March 2021 – Present]
  • Center for Cybersecurity & Privacy Protection at Cleveland State University College of Law [March 2021 – Present]

Trade Associations

  • International Association of Privacy Professionals
    • Diversity in Privacy Section Advisory Board [January 2024 – Present]
  • International Trademark Association
    • Data Protection Committee: Vice Chair (general committee) [January 2018 – December 2018] and Member (Education & Awareness Subcommittee) [January 2016 – December 2017]
    • Government Officials Education & Training Committee (USPTO Industry Seminar Project Team) [January 2014 – December 2015]
    • Trademark Office Practices Committee (USPTO Subcommittee) [January 2010 – December 2013]
  • American Intellectual Property Law Association
    • Annual Trademark Boot Camp (Planning Committee and co-Instructor with USPTO Managing Attorneys for practical sessions titled Responding Effectively to Office Actions) [July 2009 – July 2012]

The Connection & Interplay Between Data Privacy and Trademarks

Bad data privacy practices lead to incidences (breaches) resulting in negative press that taints the goodwill in a brand (damage to trust of customers/clients, partners, investors) and negatively impact the bottom line. Conversely, by establishing & maintaining data privacy best practices, businesses Enjoy a Competitive Advantage!℠

The Business of Emerging Technologies

Artificial Intelligence (AI), for example, is here to stay and expanding rapidly. Businesses that embrace & adopt AI for legal, ethical, responsible use cases will continue to grow fast alongside it to Enjoy a Competitive Advantage!℠

RTJr Law Group, PLLC

RTJr Law Group, PLLC

Washington, DC

920 I Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001

Dallas

1224 North Highway 377, Suite 303-110
Roanoke, TX 76262

Chicago

211 N. Harbor Drive
Chicago, IL 60601

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