Christopher A. "Chris" Tinari

Christopher A. Tinari concentrates his practice in the representation of management in labor and employment matters. Chris maintains a national practice of representing employers in all aspects of labor and employment law including sexual harassment, race, national origin, disability and age discrimination cases, wrongful discharge, defamation, slander, and other state law and constitutional claims. As an active litigator, Chris has extensive experience in handling a variety of complex litigation matters including single-plaintiff, class, and collective action litigation involving wage, hour, and discrimination claims, securities class actions, derivative actions and directors and officers (D&O) liability matters, federal patent infringement matters and Consumer Protection Act. He conducts comprehensive internal wage and hour audits as necessary and works with employers to manage issues associated with reclassification projects. He also represents clients in federal and state Department of Labor audits. Chris is national counsel for a major insurance carrier and he is designated panel counsel for several EPLI and D&O carriers.

Chris also specializes in the defense of professional liability claims, with emphasis on accountants, lawyers, architects, engineers and other design professionals, real estate agents and brokers, and insurance agents and brokers liability claims and miscellaneous claims. He also handles complex commercial litigation, business litigation, class action and mass tort litigation, estate and trust litigation, and mergers and acquisitions.

Chris routinely represents directors and officers in derivative and class actions arising out of tender offers, going private transactions, mergers and acquisitions and securities anomalies. He has a wide-ranging experience in all types of litigation involving the duties and responsibilities of directors and officers, including D&O litigation in state and federal court, derivative suits, creditor or trustee claims in bankruptcy, shareholder demand letters and Special Committee investigations.

Chris also devotes his practice to the defense of local governments, their elected and appointed officials and their employees including the defense of police officers, municipalities, school districts, public officials, and both private and public sector employers in cases arising under the federal civil rights statutes and Pennsylvania’s Political Subdivision Tort Claims Act.

Chris represents clients in intellectual property litigation including patent, trademark, trade dress, or copyright infringement and dilution claims. He also represents clients in patent interference and derivation proceedings including actions involving antitrust, fraud, misrepresentation, trademark and copyright infringement and unfair competition (under both the Lanham Act and state law) claims.

Chris defends employers, institutions of higher education, religious institutions and professionals who have been accused of sexual misconduct and abuse. He regularly counsels and defends employers in claims involving workplace torts that include defamation, fraud, invasion of privacy, tortious interference, and negligent hiring and retention.

In addition to litigation, Chris provides hands-on training and counseling on a variety of subjects including medical and religious accommodations, leave of absence policies, harassment and discrimination claims, business diversity, employee termination, hiring practices, and performance appraisals. He provides guidance on compliance with FMLA, FLSA, ADA, and OSHA’s standards for health and safety in the workplace.

Chris is a certified arbitrator in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas.