His primary research and teaching areas include anti-discrimination, privacy, and family law, particularly on LGBTQ and HIV issues. Prior to joining NYU in 2014, he was a litigation attorney at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton in New York City and Dorsey & Witney in Seattle. In addition to commercial litigation, Skinner-Thompson maintained an active LGBTQ and HIV pro-bono practice representing clients in discrimination suits in federal and state courts. He clerked on the Third Circuit Court of Appeals for Judge Dolores Sloviter and for Judge Robert Chatigny of the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut. In 2014, he was selected as one of the Best LGBT Lawyers Under 40 by the National LGBT Bar Association.