Thomas has also worked on international human rights law compliance for the past 40 years and has taught and authored numerous articles and book chapters on International Labor Organization Convention 169 on Indigenous and Tribal Peoples as well as the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. His deep knowledge of applicable laws and legal protections, treaty rights, and rapidly evolving international principles and obligations affecting Indigenous communities allows him to assist in due diligence compliance and risk management as well as collaboratively facilitate the resolution of disputes.

A dual national of Chile and the United States, Thomas is bilingual in English and Spanish, and fluent in French and Portuguese. Having worked on five continents assisting a broad cross section of industries to overcome intractable bureaucratic and regulatory hurdles, Thomas is ideally suited to convene and facilitate adequate and effective consultations with Indigenous communities impacted by private sector investment projects and government issued licenses and permits. He also brings to the table valuable insights acquired from serving as an administrative law judge for the New York City Department of Finance between 1996 and 2000.