Thomas J. Duffy

Tom Duffy is the founder of the firm and oversees all cases handled by the attorneys, which include motor vehicle accidents, trucking accidents, construction accidents, product liability, premises liability, negligent security, medical malpractice, birth injury, emergency room injury, spinal cord injury, misdiagnosis, general personal injury, aviation disasters, boating accidents, explosions/burn injuries and athletic injury. 

It all started in 1988, when he left a promising career and partnership track at a large Philadelphia firm to establish his own practice, a practice that has developed into an experienced and respected team of attorneys and staff with one focus—helping individuals and families who are the victims of catastrophic injury.

He is regarded by some as the top personal injury lawyer in Pennsylvania, and has  obtained 8-figure settlements and verdicts on behalf of clients, including the largest medical malpractice settlement in Pennsylvania history. 

He was called a “unicorn” by Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Dan McCaffery, with “unparalleled” success. 

“If you think about the Mount Rushmore of American trial lawyers, Tom Duffy’s face is right up on that mountain,” said McCaffery. “He is probably one of the top...trial lawyers in America.”

Tom has received countless distinctions, awards and titles as testimony to his work and influence in the legal community, such as

• Best Lawyers in America “Lawyer of the Year” for Plaintiffs Personal Injury Litigation in Philadelphia 
• Being selected annually to the Pennsylvania Super Lawyers “Top Ten in Pennsylvania” list 
• Receiving the prestigious Justice Michael A. Musmanno Award from his peers in the Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association

He has an "AV" rating - the highest one possible - from LexisNexis Martindale Hubbell, and is listed in Martindale Hubbell’s Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers. He is also a member of the National Trial Lawyers Association, an invitation-only group comprised of the top trial lawyers in the United States.  

A respected attorney in his field who has successfully argued before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, Tom authored the closing chapter of the book "Medical-Legal Aspects of Pain and Suffering,” and is a lecturer who has given countless educational presentations on trial practice. 

In 2016, he was selected to deliver the prestigious “Kolsby Lecture” to students and faculty of Temple University’s James E. Beasley School of Law and is invited back to Temple Law annually to teach the advanced advocacy skills class “Masters of Litigation.” 

He has been called to appear before the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania House Insurance Subcommittee to discuss legislation involving medical malpractice claims in Pennsylvania, and also addressed the Medical Legal Committee of the Philadelphia Bar Association on how to maintain credibility and control in court. He also served with distinction as President of the Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association and was named in 2015 to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Judicial Selection Commission.

Tom dedicates thousands of hours to a number of charitable causes, such as Magee Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation, where he is a member of the board of trustees. Magee honored him with its "Champion in the Community" award in 2009, and in 2016 named a portion of its rooftop Creative Therapy Center and Healing Gardens “Duffy Avenue” in recognition of his contributions. 

In 2023, he was the recipient of the prestigious Jefferson Moss-Magee Humanitarian Award, joining a distinguished group of past honorees who have contributed positively to the Philadelphia region and are dedicated to improving the lives of individuals with disabilities. This includes former Phillies manager Charlie Manuel, former PA Governor Ed Rendell and retired NFL coach Dick Vermeil. 

Other nonprofits benefitting from his volunteer service include the Irish American Cultural Institute of Philadelphia, the Homeless Advocacy Project, and HelpHOPELive, who named him a “Community Hero” in 2010. 

In 2012, Tom established the prestigious “Duffy Fellowship,” which provides funds to underwrite the salaries of staff attorneys at several legal service organizations in Philadelphia, including the Legal Clinic for the Disabled, Community Legal Services, and the Homeless Advocacy Project. In 2023, Tom expanded the Fellow program to include ten students from Temple University’s Beasley School of Law working in public interest roles in various organizations around the region for the summer, bringing the total number of Duffy Fellows to 16. 

In recognition of the impact the Duffy Fellows have had, The Legal Clinic for the Disabled gave Tom its esteemed “Special Recognition Award” in 2012 and again in 2018; the Hispanic Bar Association of Pennsylvania honored Tom with its prestigious “La Justicia” award in 2014 for his positive impact on the Latino community; Community Legal Services celebrated his philanthropy in 2015 with its “Champion of Justice” award, and in 2023 the Homeless Advocacy Project honored Tom at its annual benefit.