Robert S. Hawkins

Member

Recent News:

Best Lawyers Honors More Than 250 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys in Best Lawyers in America 2026 Edition

Best Lawyers selected more than 250 Cozen O'Connor lawyers from 26 of the firm's US offices for inclusion in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

Robert represents employers and rail carriers in labor and employment law matters, especially those involving the transportation, manufacturing, and construction industries. He represents clients in labor negotiations, arbitration, litigation, counseling, and both regulated and non-regulated transactions.

Bob's experience includes matters involving the Railway Labor Act (RLA), the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), the Interstate Commerce Commission Termination Act, the Federal Railroad Safety Act, and federal and state equal employment opportunity laws.

Bob has been recognized by Chambers USA as one of the leading U.S. business lawyers and, since 2008, has been recognized in the Labor and Employment Law — Management category of The Best Lawyers in America®. In 2012, he was named to the BTI Client Service All-Star list, a roster of 272 elite attorneys regarded for their attention to client needs.

Bob is a senior editor of The Railway Labor Act, Fourth Edition, written by leading practitioners from the American Bar Association's Committee on Railway and Airline Labor Law, Section of Labor and Employment Law and published by the Bureau of National Affairs, Washington, D.C., in 2017.

Bob is a board member of Court Appointed Special Advocates of Philadelphia County (CASA), an organization committed to the recruitment, training, and supervision of volunteers who represent children in the foster care system. Following law school, Bob served as a law clerk to the Honorable Alfred L. Luongo, Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

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Experience

Represented a Canadian company in labor aspects of multiple acquisitions and mergers of U.S. operating entities since 1997, and continues to serve as national U.S. labor counsel for the acquired companies.


Served as the principal labor negotiator and counsel for a major U.S. steel manufacturer in connection with numerous national and local labor agreements (and associated labor disputes) covering new, acquired, and "legacy" plants. 


Provided advice and counsel to a private equity investor on labor-related aspects of a multimillion-dollar acquisition, including review of the target's labor agreements, advice concerning asset and stock purchase agreements, WARN compliance, and post-transaction labor and benefits issues such as retiree health and successorship obligations.


Representation before Presidential Emergency Boards.


Whistleblower litigation under the Federal Railroad Safety Act.


Representation of employers under both the NLRA and RLA in lawsuits enforcing statutory and contractual dispute resolution procedures, especially those involving mandatory arbitration and no-strike obligations.


Proceedings before the National Labor Relations Board.


Representation of rail and non-rail parties in common-situs labor disputes.


Negotiation of collective bargaining agreements for employer associations and individual employers.


Arbitration of disputes arising under collective bargaining agreements and labor protective conditions.


Representation of rail carriers on labor aspects of transactions subject to approval by the U.S. Surface Transportation Board and in negotiation or arbitration of implementing agreements pursuant to approved transactions.


Representation of multi-national corporations on international labor issues involving their U.S. business interests.


News

Best Lawyers Honors More Than 250 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys in Best Lawyers in America 2026 Edition

August 21, 2025

Best Lawyers selected more than 250 Cozen O'Connor lawyers from 26 of the firm's US offices for inclusion in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

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.

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

August 17, 2023

Best Lawyers selected 230 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.

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.

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.

Publications

Dealing with Employee Protests and Strikes due to COVID-19 Concerns [Alert]

April 09, 2020

Adam Gutmann discusses what employers should do when employees strike, participate in sickouts, or request PPE or to work from home due to concerns surrounding COVID-19.

Industry Sectors

Education

  • University of Pennsylvania Law School, J.D., cum laude, 1983
  • St. Joseph's University, B.A., summa cum laude, 1980

Awards & Honors

Best Lawyers in America 2008-2026

  • Pennsylvania
  • New York

Honorable Alfred L. Luongo, U.S. District Court -- Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Employer Co-Chair, American Bar Association's Railway and Airline Labor Law Committee