Tom O’Rourke is a trusted and skilled litigator who leads high-profile, complex commercial litigation matters in federal, state, and appellate courts across the country. He has a diverse practice, which involves a wide range of industries and subject areas, including financial technology and analytics, real estate, securities, manufacturing (food and products), sports, cannabis, and blockchain and cryptocurrency. Tom has substantial experience representing businesses and individuals in complex commercial cases, including complex commercial contract disputes, corporate fiduciary duty and shareholder disputes, and business torts at both the state and federal levels, as well as domestic and international arbitration.
His practice includes cases involving securities fraud, antitrust, RICO, and unfair competition. Tom also handles civil class actions. Additionally, he has appellate experience in the Second Circuit, Third Circuit, and Fourth Circuit as well as several state appellate courts, including the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and the appellate courts of New Jersey and California.
Tom’s experience includes representing a school district in an appeal involving the constitutionality of the Pennsylvania Tort Claims Act. He has also represented software development and analytics companies, sports sanctioning bodies, financial institutions, real estate development companies, and manufacturers and distributors (including fire alarm and foam product manufacturers, food companies, and cannabis companies). Tom also regularly provides advice to clients regarding complex contract issues, including the effectiveness of class action waiver and arbitration clauses in consumer contracts.
Prior to joining the firm, Tom completed two federal clerkships, serving as a law clerk to the Honorable David R. Strawbridge of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania from 2009-2010, and as a law clerk to U.S. District Court Judge Mitchell S. Goldberg of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania from 2010-2012.
Tom regularly provides pro bono services to a nonprofit reuse center dedicated to promoting creative reuse, recycling, and resource conservation, where he represents the company in a dispute pertaining to the center’s commercial lease.
During law school, Thomas served as lead research editor of the Temple Law Review and was recognized for outstanding achievement in oral advocacy, evidence, constitutional law, corporate law, and criminal law.