Thomas S. Giotto

Chair, Labor & Employment Department

Pittsburgh

(412) 620-6550

(412) 275-2390

Thomas is chair of the firm's Labor & Employment Department and concentrates his practice on representing management in many aspects of labor, employment, and employment-related litigation. Tom’s traditional labor practice includes representing employers during union organizing campaigns, collective bargaining, and grievance arbitrations. He has represented employers in litigation involving race, sex, sexual harassment, age and disability discrimination, and against claims alleging violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act, Family and Medical Leave Act, COBRA, and wrongful discharge and related common law claims. Tom has particular experience representing clients in the manufacturing, oil and gas, oil refining, chemical production, hospitality, health care, higher education, sports, and office building association industries.

Tom has experience speaking on a range of employment law topics. Tom has been named one of the top labor law attorneys since 2006 in Chambers USA. Since 2004, he has been consistently selected to the Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list. He has been featured in The Best Lawyers in America® since 2006. Tom was also named Best Lawyers' Pittsburgh Employment Law – Management Lawyer of the Year for 2013, 2018, 2021, and 2024.

Tom received bachelor’s degrees in general arts & sciences and labor studies from the Pennsylvania State University and he earned his law degree from Duquesne University School of Law.

Experience

News

Best Lawyers Honors More Than 200 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys in its Best Lawyers in America 2025 Edition

August 15, 2024

Best Lawyers selected 242 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 24 of the firm’s U.S. offices for inclusion in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America.

31 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys Named Pennsylvania Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

June 11, 2024

Each candidate is evaluated on 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement. Only 5 percent of attorneys are named Super Lawyers; only 2.5 percent of attorneys are listed as Rising Stars.

Nearly 100 Cozen O’Connor Lawyers, 27 Practices Earn Top Recognition in Chambers USA 2024 Guide

June 10, 2024

Chambers USA rankings are based on an “assessment of a firm’s work and opinions from external market sources, with an emphasis on client feedback.” In order to be ranked in the guide, lawyers and firms must demonstrate “sustained excellence.”

Cozen O’Connor Continues its Boston Expansion adding Veteran Labor and Employment Lawyer Walter M. Foster

May 29, 2024

Foster comes to the firm from Eckert Seamans and joins Cozen O’Connor’s national Labor & Employment Department as a shareholder.

City & State Pennsylvania Names Debra Friedman and Thomas Giotto to Their 2023 Pennsylvania Labor Power 100 List

October 03, 2023

Debra Steiner Friedman and Thomas Giotto of Cozen O'Connor’s Labor & Employment Department were named to the 2023 Pennsylvania Labor Power 100.

Best Lawyers Honors More Than 200 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys to its Best Lawyers in America 2024 Edition

August 17, 2023

Best Lawyers selected 232 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 24 of the firm’s U.S. offices for inclusion in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

Business Today Names 32 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys to Its Top 10 Lists

July 28, 2023

These lists recognize lawyers “mastering,” “leading,” “revolutionizing,” and “dominating” their fields in their respective states and nationwide.

Eighty-eight Cozen O’Connor Lawyers, 23 Practices Earn Top Recognition in Chambers USA 2023 Guide

June 05, 2023

Of the 88 lawyers ranked, 17 lawyers have been recognized nationally, and eighteen were recognized in Band 1. Eight of the firm's practice areas have been recognized nationally, and nine were ranked Band 1.

42 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys Named Pennsylvania Super Lawyers & Rising Stars

May 24, 2023

Super Lawyers has selected 42 Cozen O'Connor attorneys to the 2023 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists.

More Than 200 Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Named Best Lawyers and Ones to Watch

August 22, 2022

210 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 24 of the firm’s nationwide offices for inclusion in the 2023 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

Chambers Ranks 86 Cozen O’Connor Lawyers, 22 Practice Areas in Chambers USA 2022 Guide

June 02, 2022

Chambers USA, the leading annual guide to the top lawyers and law firms in the United States, has ranked 86 Cozen O’Connor lawyers as leaders in their respective fields in the guide’s 2022 edition.

49 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys Named Pennsylvania Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

June 01, 2022

Super Lawyers has selected 49 Cozen O'Connor attorneys to the 2022 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists.

More Than 205 Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Named Best Lawyers and Ones to Watch By The Best Lawyers In America

August 19, 2021

Best Lawyers selected 210 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 23 of the firm’s nationwide offices for inclusion in the 2022 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

47 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys Named Pennsylvania Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

May 28, 2021

Super Lawyers has selected 47 Cozen O'Connor attorneys to the 2021 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists.

82 Cozen O’Connor Lawyers, 19 Practices Earn Top Recognition in Chambers USA 2021 Guide

May 26, 2021

Chambers USA, the leading annual guide to the top lawyers and law firms in the United States, has ranked 82 Cozen O’Connor lawyers as leaders in their respective fields in the guide’s 2021 edition; of those, 15 lawyers have been recognized nationally.

Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Eisenberg, Ferrer, Giotto and Tilson Recognized in 2021 Chambers Global Rankings

February 18, 2021

Chambers Global has recognized four Cozen O’ Connor attorneys, Susan Eisenberg (Miami – Labor & Employment), Geoffrey Ferrer (New York – Transportation & Trade), Thomas Giotto (Pittsburgh – Labor and Employment) and Joseph Tilson (Chicago – Labor & Employment), as worldwide leaders in their respective practices. All four attorneys are also ranked in the Chambers USA Guide.

Law in the Time of Corona

December 02, 2020

Thomas Giotto was interviewed in the Duquesne Lawyer Magazine about what it has been like working during the COVID-19 pandemic.

200 Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Named Best Lawyers and Ones to Watch By The Best Lawyers In America

August 20, 2020

Best Lawyers selected 200 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 23 of the firm’s nationwide offices for inclusion in the 2021 edition of The Best Lawyers in America© (Copyright 2020 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken, SC).

Nine Cozen O’Connor Lawyers Named 2021 “Lawyers of the Year” by Best Lawyers in America

August 20, 2020

Cozen O’Connor is proud to announce that nine of the firm’s lawyers have been recognized as “Lawyers of the Year” in their respective practices by Best Lawyers in America.

Thomas Giotto, Anna Wermuth Elected Fellows of The College of Labor and Employment Lawyers

July 07, 2020

Cozen O’Connor labor and employment attorneys Thomas Giotto and Anna Wermuth have been elected Fellows in The College of Labor and Employment Lawyers.

Fifty-Eight Cozen O'Connor Attorneys Named Pennsylvania Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

June 05, 2020

Super Lawyers has selected 58 Cozen O'Connor attorneys to the 2020 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists.

63 Cozen O’Connor Lawyers, 16 Practices Earn Top Recognition in Chambers USA 2020 Guide

May 14, 2020

Chambers USA, the leading annual guide to the top lawyers and law firms in the United States, has ranked 63 Cozen O’Connor lawyers as leaders in their respective fields in the guide’s 2020 edition.

Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Eisenberg, Ferrer, Giotto and Tilson Recognized in 2020 Chambers Global Rankings

February 17, 2020

Chambers Global has recognized four Cozen O’ Connor attorneys, Susan Eisenberg (Miami – Labor & Employment), Geoffrey Ferrer (New York – Transportation & Trade), Thomas Giotto (Pittsburgh – Labor and Employment), and Joseph Tilson (Chicago – Labor & Employment), as worldwide leaders in their respective practices. All four attorneys are also ranked in the Chambers USA Guide.

64 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys Named Pennsylvania Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

May 21, 2019

Super Lawyers has selected 64 Cozen O'Connor attorneys to the 2019 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists.

Fifty-four Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Named 2018 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

June 12, 2018

Super Lawyers has named 54 Cozen O'Connor attorneys to its 2018 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists.

Events & Seminars

Past Events

What’s Trending in Labor and Employment Law

May 23, 2019 - Pittsburgh, PA

Sports Law for Rookies & Veterans 2018

June 06, 2018 - Minneapolis, MN

Hot Issues in Labor and Employment Law

April 17, 2018 - Pittsburgh, PA

Labor and Employment Law Update

June 14, 2017 - Philadelphia, PA

Industry Sectors

Education

  • Duquesne University School of Law, J.D., 1983
  • Pennsylvania State University, B.A., 1978

Awards & Honors

Pittsburgh Employment Law-Management "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers in America, 2013, 2018, 2021, 2024, and 2025

Best Lawyers in America, 2007-2025

Chambers USA, 2006-2024

Chambers Global, 2020

Benchmark Labor & Employment Star for the Northeast

Pennsylvania Super Lawyers, 2004-2024

Fellow, College of Labor and Employment Lawyers

Business Today, Top 10 Innovative Labor & Employment Lawyers in Pennsylvania, 2023

Pennsylvania Labor Power 100, 2023

  • Pennsylvania