PRACTICES
OVERVIEW
For more than 30 years, Tom Fiddler has represented clients in business disputes arising out of contractual breaches, complex financing transactions, investment fraud, real estate acquisition and development, corporate mergers and acquisitions, misappropriation of trade secrets, corporation/partnership relationships, bank and check fraud, accounting malpractice, commercial foreclosures, commercial landlord-tenant relationships, franchise and distributorship relationships and restrictive covenants.
Tom believes the key to creating a successful litigation strategy lies in understanding the businesses of his clients and the motivations of his opponents. He works hand-in-hand with clients to enable them to meet their business litigation goals, whether through trial, arbitration, pre-trial disposition or mediation. Tom works tirelessly to advocate for his clients, utilizing the trial, litigation, and negotiation skills that he has honed over a career devoted to resolving business disputes. He has tried numerous cases in federal and state courts throughout the country.
While in law school, Tom was Managing Editor of the Journal of Law and Commerce.
Recognition and Involvement
Recognition & Involvement
Tom has a strong commitment to providing pro bono legal services to clients unable to afford legal representation. Over the last several years he has devoted hundreds of hours of time to pro bono matters, which include successfully prosecuting Civil Rights claims, successfully defending mortgage foreclosure actions, and advising not-for-profit corporations.
Tom is AV® peer review rated by Martindale Hubbell.
Credentials
Bar and Court Admissions
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
Supreme Court of New Jersey
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
Education
University of Pittsburgh School of Law, JD, 1990
Indiana University of Pennsylvania, BA, 1986, magna cum laude
News & Insights
Memberships
American Bar Association; Litigation Section, Commercial and Business Litigation Committee, Trial Evidence Committee, and Trial Practice Committee
REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS
- Defended a lender liability suit and expeditiously obtaining a multimillion dollar judgment against the borrower and guarantor
- Prosecuted an investor’s claims against a large brokerage house resulting in a multimillion dollar settlement
- Obtained injunctive relief to prevent the misappropriation of confidential and trade secrets information and violations of restrictive covenants
- Prosecuted a real estate developer’s claims against a municipality and municipal officials, resulting in a $10 million verdict
- Successfully defended a manufacturing company in the Court of Common Pleas of Lehigh County, Pennsylvania from claims that it misappropriated trade secrets relating to the electroplating of metals
- Defended and prosecutied claims arising out of withdrawal of shareholders from corporations
- Obtained preliminary injunctive relief in Delaware Chancery Court to prohibit further use and dissemination of trade secrets relating to internet-based business and interference with customer relationships
- Successfully defended claims in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania relating to alleged theft of confidential, proprietary and trade secrets information contained in electronic files and violations of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act
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Represented technology company in connection with breaches of customer contracts
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Represented customers in connection with alleged breaches of contracts with technology companies
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Represented manufacturing company in connection with breach of software license agreement and copyright law relating to modification of source code
- Defended claims against a municipality for allegedly exceeding its municipal powers, resulting in the court’s denial of requests for injunctive relief
- Defended claims in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania relating to alleged improper use of trade secrets consisting of business strategies and customer lists
- Prosecuted an entrepreneur’s breach of contract claims against a large corporation, resulting in a $1.9 million verdict
- Obtained preliminary injunctive relief in the Court of Common Pleas of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania to prohibit use of trade secrets relating to personal service business and interference with customer relationships
- Prosecuted a food manufacturing company’s claims against a municipality and municipal officials, resulting in a multimillion dollar settlement
- Prosecuted breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duty claims, arising out of an agreement to purchase a franchise, resulting in a $900,000 verdict
- Prosecuted a distributor’s claims against a large manufacturer, resulting in a $400,000 verdict
- Prosecuted and defended claims arising out of accountant malpractice
- Prosecuted and defended business disparagement and defamation claims
- Prosecuted and defended successor liability claims
- Obtained the appointment of receiver over hotel after a contested hearing
- Defended a financial institution against conversion and constructive trust claims arising from the transfer of funds, resulting in a defense verdict
- Defended successfully check fraud cases brought against financial institutions
- Defended claims against banks by real estate developers and other businesses for breach of non-loan related contractual obligations and alleged tortious acts by bank employees
- Prosecuted investors’ claims arising from an alleged Ponzi scheme, resulting in multimillion dollar settlements
- Prosecuted claims arising out of fraud in connection with purchase of business and sale of stock
- Defended claims for misappropriations of trade secrets and violations of restrictive covenants
- Obtained a defense verdict on multimillion dollar misappropriation of trade secrets claim
- Defended and prosecuted claims for violations of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act