About RLT Global Consulting

RLT Global Consulting specializes in assisting people and their organizations with the advancement of their goals to build a stronger business and market, both locally and globally.

Dr. Thurston and his team have the exceptionally unique experience of working with numerous corporations and advancing both technology and intellectual property infrastructure on national levels. His expertise throughout the entire Asia-Pacific region, India and SE Asia is rarely matched on strategic counseling, business savvy, intellectual property rights and so much more.

Four decades of experience enables Dr. Thurston to capitalize on a vast network of technology, business, financial, marketing, and legal specialists in addressing your specific business needs and requirements. Turnkey solutions spanning multiple disciplines will help you respond effectively and promptly to the ever-changing post-Covid business landscape.

Prior to starting his own consultancy, Dr. Richard L. Thurston, Ph.D. practiced in the area of technology and corporate transactions and intellectual property law for Duane Morris. Dr. Thurston was Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd. (TSMC), where he was also Chief Proprietary Information Officer (Trade Secrets) and Corporate Compliance Officer. He reported directly to industry visionary Dr. Morris Chang.

Read his full bio

Dr. Thurston joined TSMC in December 2001 when he moved to Hsinchu, Taiwan. From there he directed the global legal operations of TSMC. Retiring in 2014, Dr. Thurston continued to advise Dr. Chang and TSMC for the next several years. Among his many accomplishments were:

  • The strategic creation and deployment of a new IP system that propelled TSMC to global IP leadership;
  • Customized creation of a best-in-class trade secret policy, procedures/processes and enforcements;
  • Creation of a modern corporate compliance program, most especially in the area of export control/compliance;
  • Establishing the basis for today’s leading ESG system of TSMC;
  • Assisting the Taiwan government in passing world-class trade secret legislation;
  • Spearheading global trade and investment initiatives;
  • Negotiating major corporate transactions such as the pathbreaking investment in ASML’s fledgling EUV R&D program in 2012, and the pathbreaking Apple foundry contract around the same time; and
  • Directing and participating in unheralded US/China/Taiwan litigation victories against patent and trade secret infringers such as China’s SMIC in the semiconductor industry.

Earlier in his distinguished career, he served as Vice President of Corporate Staff and Assistant General Counsel of Texas Instruments. While at TI he and his family resided in Tokyo Japan where he led the investment activities of TI in Japan, Korea, China, Taiwan, Singapore, and India, to name a few. He also assisted in the negotiation of Semiconductor Trade Agreements with Japan and Patent license agreements with Japanese and Korean companies.

After leaving TI, Dr. Thurston joined the Dallas-based law firm of Haynes and Boone as a senior partner and guided Haynes and Boone to establish a technology-focused office in the Telecom Corridor of Richardson, Texas. He also was a founding partner of Kelt Capital, a venture capital group.

Throughout his career, Dr. Thurston has worked on: corporate governance and regulatory compliance; M&A; litigation; and intellectual capital management, including intellectual property and the protection of trade secrets. He also worked on joint ventures, venture capital investments, international trade and investment, and commercial Asia-Pacific strategic planning.

On behalf of his clients, Dr. Thurston has negotiated trade and investment agreements with many governments, most especially for the microelectronics industry.

Dr. Thurston is a 1980 graduate of Rutgers University School of Law—Camden. He also holds an M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Virginia and is a cum laude graduate of Alma College. He is fluent in Mandarin.

RLT Global Consulting is teamed up with Al Maiorino, the  President of Public Strategy Group, Inc.. Al started his company over 25 years ago, and in those years has worked on hundreds of public relations, marketing, engagement, land use PR, and digital campaigns. He has authored numerous articles on the need for advocacy on issues and projects and has spoken at conferences on the subject of public relations, mining, tourism, renewable energy, and more.  Together, Dick and Al and their teams bring over 75 years of experience in enabling businesses to address the many challenges encountered when operating businesses globally.