Richard Lawton Thurston

sk@sklegal-solutions.com

+91 9448083714

About richard lawton thurston

Dr. Richard (“Dick”) Thurston is a leading non-engineer semiconductor specialist in the U.S., having assisted numerous companies and governments worldwide in establishing and managing semiconductor-focused technology parks. He currently serves as Chairman and CEO of Great Lakes Semiconductor, covering Canadian Provinces and U.S. States bordering the Great Lakes Region.
From 2001–2014, Dr. Thurston was Senior Vice President and General Counsel at Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), residing in Hsinchu, Taiwan, and later served as a consultant to Dr. Morris Chang (2014–2017). At TSMC, he developed the best-in-class intellectual property and trade secret promotion and protection program (PIP); redesigned the disruptive patent innovation program with emphasis on non-logic-based technologies; initiated major global litigation against trade secret misappropriators; drove legislative reform in Taiwan for trade secret protection; and managed compliance, M&A, investments, and joint ventures.
Post-TSMC, he rejoined Duane Morris in New York City for its IP Practice Group, opened the firm’s Taipei office to advise clients on IP and technology matters, and retired in March 2023.
His current and recent activities include:
i. Member, Board of Executive Advisors, International IP Commercialization Council (IIPCC), Hong Kong-based NGO (2015–present), advising governments/agencies/businesses on IP, especially trade secrets; served on WIPO panels for IIPCC.
ii. Active member, Technology and Semiconductor Committees of LES and LES International; co-founded LES-Taipei (2002) and served on its Board/Officer until TSMC retirement.
iii. Member, Board of Trustees, Center for American and International Law (2013–2023), and Advisory Committee (2024–present), focused on international and IP matters.
iv. Member, U.S. Chips and Science Act NSTC-IP Task Force, ASIC Coalition (2022–23), formulating IP policy, process, and procedure for COEs/Tech Hubs.
v. Member, Advisory Board of StrategyRisks (2023–present), founded by Isaac Stone Fish, advising clients on policies/strategies/processes/procedures for IP-related risk evaluation.
vi. Independent Board Member, Nantero, Inc. (2022–23), creating and managing IP matters.
vii. Member, Singapore-based EQUVO PTE. LTD., business/financial advisers, focusing on IP and technology advice to clients.
viii. Founder, RLT Global Consulting LLC, advising private/public/quasi-government clients on technology and IP matters (www.rltglobal.consulting).
ix. Member, Texas, NJ, NY State, New York, and Dutchess County Bar Associations, participating in international trade/investment, semiconductor, IP, and technology-focused committees.
Prior to TSMC, Dr. Thurston was a partner at Haynes and Boone (Dallas), Chairperson of its International Practice Section, and established its Richardson office (now in Plano, TX). From 1984–1996, he served as Regional Counsel, Asia Pacific, Vice President Corporate Staff, and Assistant General Counsel at Texas Instruments, resident in Dallas and Tokyo (1987–1990), focusing on IP promotion/protection, corporate compliance, M&A, and international trade/investment.
Dr. Thurston earned a B.A. in History (Cum Laude) from Alma College (Alma, MI); M.A. and Ph.D. in East Asian Studies from the University of Virginia (Jefferson Scholar); and J.D. from Rutgers School of Law – Camden, NJ. He studied law at Soochow University (Taiwan) while researching his Ph.D. dissertation, *Civil Law Reform in China, 1906-1930*. He has taught law and business classes at SMU School of Law (Dallas, TX); University of Texas, Dallas; Soochow University (Taiwan); National Chiao Tung University (Taiwan); and National Cheng-Chih University (Taiwan). He is admitted to practice and a member of the Bar Associations in Texas, New Jersey, New York/New York City, and Dutchess County, NY.
Dr. Thurston has widely written and lectured on international, transactional, semiconductor, and IP matters—especially trade secret protection, trade/investment, and tech parks/semiconductor ecosystems—and received awards including IAM Strategy 300 (2015–2019, 2023–2025) and ILO Asia-Pacific General Counsel of the Year (2013). He is fluent in Mandarin.
Dr. Thurston retired on December 31, 2023, as elected Town Supervisor of Wappinger, Dutchess County, NY, first elected in November 2017.