Thomas Birsic maintains an active trial, arbitration, and counseling practice focused on a wide range of complex commercial and insurance coverage litigation. Tom has extensive jury and bench trial experience involving complex commercial cases, including class actions, complex business disputes, environmental and toxic torts, and shareholder disputes. In addition, he has tried numerous international and US based commercial and coverage arbitrations to conclusion. Since 2008 alone, Tom has tried more than 18 significant complex cases to conclusion. In recognition of his extensive trial work, Tom has been inducted as a fellow of both the American College of Trial Lawyers and the International Academy of Trial Lawyers. For 2024, the United States Lawyer Rankings again selected Tom as one of the top two commercial litigation lawyers in the nation. He is also regularly (past 15 years) featured in both the The Best Lawyers in America® and Chambers USA (Band 1) for bet-the-company, commercial, and business litigation. He is also regularly featured in The International Who's Who of Commercial Arbitration.
Tom has been a lawyer with the firm since 1979 and recently completed a term (1993 to 2018) as one of the global practice area leaders of the firm's litigation and dispute resolution practice area and as a member of the firm’s management committee. He is a frequent lecturer to professional groups on trial and arbitration related issues involving complex commercial litigation, insurance coverage, and international arbitration issues.
- Selected again by United States Lawyer Rankings as the Nation’s No. 2 Best Commercial Litigation Trial Lawyer, 2024
- American College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow
- International Academy of Trial Lawyers, Fellow
- Litigation Counsel of America - Trial Lawyer Honorary Society, Fellow
- Designated as Top Rated Lawyer in Insurance Law by American Lawyer
- Recognized by Chambers USA for Litigation: General Commercial in Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh & Surrounds, 2009-2024
- Recognized by The Legal 500 United States as a Recommended Lawyer for General commercial disputes, 2024
- Regularly featured in The Best Lawyers in America® for Business and Commercial Litigation in Pittsburgh
- Regularly featured in The International Who’s Who of Commercial Arbitration
- Selected to Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list for Business Litigation
- Top 50: Pittsburgh Super Lawyers list, 2004, 2011-2018, 2020-2024
- ADR Champion Award by National Law Journal, 2017
- Atlantic Legal Foundation, Board of Directors, 2010-2024
- Academy of Trial Lawyers of Allegheny County, Past Fellow and Member of Board of Directors
- Judiciary Committee of the Allegheny County Bar Association, Current Member
- Former Chairman, 2002-2003
- Judicial Merit Selection Committee, Officer
- Board of Directors of the United Way of Allegheny County
- Member, 1999-2011
- Member of Governance Committee
- National Pancreas Foundation, Board of Directors and Executive Committee
- American Heart Association, Executive Committee for Heart Walk Campaign
- Collaborative Alliance for Pancreatic Education and Research, Board of Directors and Chair of Executive Committee
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Recipient of Distinguished Alumni Award from University of Pittsburgh School of Law, 2014
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Catholic Charities presented Tom with its Caritas Award for Service in recognition of his public service in the area of law, 2003
- "Additional Insured Coverage and Contractual Indemnity Issues," 12 September 2012
- "Post-Macondo: Will Contractual Indemnities Hold?," Risk Management Roundtable: Oilfield Service Contractors and Manufacturing Industries, 27 September 2011
- Co-author, Health Care Institutions: Chapter 87, Business and Commercial Litigation in Federal Courts, Fourth Edition, December 2016
- Trial Pros: K&L Gates' Tom Birsic, Law360, 16 March 2016
- “Insurance Coverage for Marcellus Pollution Claims: Myth or Reality,” Pennsylvania Independent Oil and Gas Association (PIOGA) Newsletter, December 2012, Issue 32
- Quoted in “Samsung Biometric Data Door Opens New Mass Arbitration Front,” Bloomberg Law, 21 Oct. 2022
- Mentioned, "Judge Trims Investors' Claims In Revamped Grenfell Fire Suit," Law360, 23 June 2021
