Thomas D. Rees heads the firm’s Litigation and Employment Practice. He focuses his practice primarily on employment law, where he represents employers in litigations over employment terminations; restrictive covenants, trade secrets, and other employee mobility issues; employment discrimination and sexual harassment matters; employment contract disputes; and defamation and privacy related matters. Tom also serves employers in a wide variety of non-litigation matters including contract negotiation, preparation of policies and procedures, and hiring and termination. These services help employers to avoid and resolve disputes without resorting to the courtroom.

In addition to employment law matters, Tom also handles complex litigation and dispute resolution in the areas of land use and zoning law, education law, and government regulation.

Areas of Practice:
Business, Employment and Real Estate Law
Business and Corporate Law
Employment Law
Employment Litigation
Employee Mobility
Real Estate and Land Use Law
Real Estate Litigation
Nonprofit and Education Law
Litigation
Contract & Business Litigation
Municipal & Governmental Law
Zoning and Land Development

Bar Admissions:

• New York, 1976
• Pennsylvania, 1977
• U.S. District Court Eastern District of Pennsylvania, 1977
• U.S. Court of Appeals 3rd Circuit, 1978
• U.S. Supreme Court, 1982

Education:

• University of Pennsylvania Law School, J.D., 1975
• Stanford University, A.B., 1971
  Honors: Dean’s List; Major: Political Science

Noteworthy Cases:

• Norristown FOP v. Borough of Norristown
• Pottstown School Dist. v. The Hill School
• Malik v. American Arbitration Association

Professional Affiliations & Honors:

• Montgomery Bar Association
  Past Chair and Co-Chair of the Employment Law Committee
  Employment Law course planner and lecturer
  Past Chair of the Real Estate and Land Use Planning Committee
• Pennsylvania Bar Association
  Past Chair of the Municipal Law Section
• Pennsylvania Bar Institute
  Employment Law course planner and lecturer
• American Arbitration Association
  National Panel of Employment Arbitrators member
• Pennsylvania Super Lawyer
  Employment Law, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
• “Corporate Counsel” Magazine Super Lawyer
  Employment Law, 2008, 2009
• Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce (and predecessor Chambers), VP/General Counsel since 1998
• Recipient of the Kenneth R. Taylor Award for Excellence in Chamber Service, 2001

Civic & Community Activities:

• Gladwyne Free Library, Board of Trustees
  Member (2000-2005 and 2007-Present) and President (2004-2005)
• Gladwyne Civic Association, President 1995-1997

Publications & Presentations:

• “New Trends in Employee Noncompetition Law,” Pennsylvania Law Weekly, July 6, 2009
• BNA Books Contributing Editor:
  • “Covenants Not to Compete: A State-by-State Survey,” (2008)
  • “Trade Secrets: A State-by-State Survey,” (2008 Supplement)
  • “Tortious Interference in the Employment Context: A State-by-State Survey,” (2004 and 2008 Supplement)
  • “Employee Duty of Loyalty,” (2008 Supplement)
• Pennsylvania Bar Institute
  • “Damages and Forfeitures in Restrictive Covenant, Trade Secret and Employee Defection/Mobility Cases,” 2009
  • “Overview of Post-Employment Restrictions,” 2005
  • “Restrictive Covenants in the Professions,” 2000
• PBI Employment Law Institute
  • “When the Employee is a Shareholder,” 2010
  • “Ten Hot Issues in Noncompete Enforcement,” 2009
  • “Wage Payment and Collection Law,” 2006
  • “Employee Non-Solicitation Covenants,” 2005
  • “Privacy Rights Basics in Employment Law,” 2004
  • “Executive Employment Contracts,” 2003 and 2007
  • “Ethics in Employment Law,” 2002
  • “Restrictive Covenants & Trade Secrets,” 2000 and 2001
• Pennsylvania Bar Institute Municipal Law Colloquium
  • “Employment Law,” 1993 – 2001