Thomas M.Horan
Partner
Labor & Employment
thoran@seyfarth.com
Tom advises and defends employers in numerous industries on a range of employment and labor law matters in class actions and individual-plaintiff actions.
More About Tom
Disagreement and conflict are unavoidable in daily life, and the workplace is no exception. Tom recognizes that dealing with this reality has both short- and long-term components; accordingly, he works with clients to strategically defend themselves against claims asserted in litigation, while also looking at proactive means of taking action to minimize the risk of litigation where possible.
Tom has experience representing clients in both single-plaintiff and class action litigation, and has advised them on a range of employment matters, including disability accommodation, harassment, discrimination, and retaliation. He has also represented plans, plan sponsors, plan fiduciaries, and plan record-keepers in complex class actions under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), with experience from the initial pleading stage, through class certification, and to resolution.
His educational background in labor relations and experience in both unionized and non-unionized workplaces provides Tom with insight into how the legal framework has changed over time, and how different groups view those changes.
To improve client service, Tom identifies ways to leverage the use of technology within the confines of current law to minimize the pain points that can be part of litigation. For example, he has sought opportunities to apply Continuous Active Learning to improve the efficiency of document review and production by having the technology identify the most-likely responsive documents, and prioritize them for review. As more and more information is stored and available electronically, finding ways to identify relevant information in timely and efficient ways allows both clients and their legal teams to focus on the substance of a given matter.
At Seyfarth, Tom appreciates the opportunity he has to work with, learn from, and ask questions of numerous colleagues on a daily basis. The depth of the firm's bench presents opportunities to work with employers across a range of fields and geographies, with the confidence that he can deliver representation that measures up to the standards clients expect.
Tom has experience representing clients in both single-plaintiff and class action litigation, and has advised them on a range of employment matters, including disability accommodation, harassment, discrimination, and retaliation. He has also represented plans, plan sponsors, plan fiduciaries, and plan record-keepers in complex class actions under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), with experience from the initial pleading stage, through class certification, and to resolution.
His educational background in labor relations and experience in both unionized and non-unionized workplaces provides Tom with insight into how the legal framework has changed over time, and how different groups view those changes.
To improve client service, Tom identifies ways to leverage the use of technology within the confines of current law to minimize the pain points that can be part of litigation. For example, he has sought opportunities to apply Continuous Active Learning to improve the efficiency of document review and production by having the technology identify the most-likely responsive documents, and prioritize them for review. As more and more information is stored and available electronically, finding ways to identify relevant information in timely and efficient ways allows both clients and their legal teams to focus on the substance of a given matter.
At Seyfarth, Tom appreciates the opportunity he has to work with, learn from, and ask questions of numerous colleagues on a daily basis. The depth of the firm's bench presents opportunities to work with employers across a range of fields and geographies, with the confidence that he can deliver representation that measures up to the standards clients expect.
- JD, Northwestern Pritzker School of Law
Cum laude
American Bar Association Regional Competition, Negotiations Team - BS, Cornell University, School of Industrial and Labor Relations
Industrial and Labor Relations
- Illinois
- US District Court, Northern District of Illinois
Related Services
Related News & Insights
-
Firm News
01/19/2024
Seyfarth Names 19 New Partners
-
Attorney Publication
09/25/2023
Ada Dolph and Thomas Horan Write on Why Bugielski v. AT&T Servs., Inc. Should be Reheard in Employee Benefit News
-
Firm News
09/11/2023
Seyfarth Files Amicus Brief with Ninth Circuit Urging It to Rehear Its Decision in Bugielski v. AT&T Services, Inc.
-
Blog Post
Mar 29, 2023
Court Finds Named Plaintiffs Inadequate to Represent Proposed Class on ERISA Excessive Fee Claims
- Recognized as a "Ones to Watch" lawyer by Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.) for Litigation - Labor and Employment (2023-2024)
- Co-Author, "A legal opinion of ERISA threatens to ignite class action challenges to retirement plan fees," Employee Benefit News (September 25, 2023)
- Co-Author, "Newly Enacted Workplace Transparency Act To Change Illinois Employment Law Landscape," Trading Secrets Blog, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (August 27, 2019)
- Co-Author, "Court Vacates New Rules on Association Health Plans," Health Care Reform Management Alert (Issue 119), Seyfarth Shaw LLP (March 29, 2019)
Tom advises and defends employers in numerous industries on a range of employment and labor law matters in class actions and individual-plaintiff actions.
More About Tom
Disagreement and conflict are unavoidable in daily life, and the workplace is no exception. Tom recognizes that dealing with this reality has both short- and long-term components; accordingly, he works with clients to strategically defend themselves against claims asserted in litigation, while also looking at proactive means of taking action to minimize the risk of litigation where possible.
Tom has experience representing clients in both single-plaintiff and class action litigation, and has advised them on a range of employment matters, including disability accommodation, harassment, discrimination, and retaliation. He has also represented plans, plan sponsors, plan fiduciaries, and plan record-keepers in complex class actions under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), with experience from the initial pleading stage, through class certification, and to resolution.
His educational background in labor relations and experience in both unionized and non-unionized workplaces provides Tom with insight into how the legal framework has changed over time, and how different groups view those changes.
To improve client service, Tom identifies ways to leverage the use of technology within the confines of current law to minimize the pain points that can be part of litigation. For example, he has sought opportunities to apply Continuous Active Learning to improve the efficiency of document review and production by having the technology identify the most-likely responsive documents, and prioritize them for review. As more and more information is stored and available electronically, finding ways to identify relevant information in timely and efficient ways allows both clients and their legal teams to focus on the substance of a given matter.
At Seyfarth, Tom appreciates the opportunity he has to work with, learn from, and ask questions of numerous colleagues on a daily basis. The depth of the firm's bench presents opportunities to work with employers across a range of fields and geographies, with the confidence that he can deliver representation that measures up to the standards clients expect.
Tom has experience representing clients in both single-plaintiff and class action litigation, and has advised them on a range of employment matters, including disability accommodation, harassment, discrimination, and retaliation. He has also represented plans, plan sponsors, plan fiduciaries, and plan record-keepers in complex class actions under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), with experience from the initial pleading stage, through class certification, and to resolution.
His educational background in labor relations and experience in both unionized and non-unionized workplaces provides Tom with insight into how the legal framework has changed over time, and how different groups view those changes.
To improve client service, Tom identifies ways to leverage the use of technology within the confines of current law to minimize the pain points that can be part of litigation. For example, he has sought opportunities to apply Continuous Active Learning to improve the efficiency of document review and production by having the technology identify the most-likely responsive documents, and prioritize them for review. As more and more information is stored and available electronically, finding ways to identify relevant information in timely and efficient ways allows both clients and their legal teams to focus on the substance of a given matter.
At Seyfarth, Tom appreciates the opportunity he has to work with, learn from, and ask questions of numerous colleagues on a daily basis. The depth of the firm's bench presents opportunities to work with employers across a range of fields and geographies, with the confidence that he can deliver representation that measures up to the standards clients expect.
- JD, Northwestern Pritzker School of Law
Cum laude
American Bar Association Regional Competition, Negotiations Team - BS, Cornell University, School of Industrial and Labor Relations
Industrial and Labor Relations
- Illinois
- US District Court, Northern District of Illinois
Related Services
Related News & Insights
-
Firm News
01/19/2024
Seyfarth Names 19 New Partners
-
Attorney Publication
09/25/2023
Ada Dolph and Thomas Horan Write on Why Bugielski v. AT&T Servs., Inc. Should be Reheard in Employee Benefit News
-
Firm News
09/11/2023
Seyfarth Files Amicus Brief with Ninth Circuit Urging It to Rehear Its Decision in Bugielski v. AT&T Services, Inc.
-
Blog Post
Mar 29, 2023
Court Finds Named Plaintiffs Inadequate to Represent Proposed Class on ERISA Excessive Fee Claims
- Recognized as a "Ones to Watch" lawyer by Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.) for Litigation - Labor and Employment (2023-2024)
- Co-Author, "A legal opinion of ERISA threatens to ignite class action challenges to retirement plan fees," Employee Benefit News (September 25, 2023)
- Co-Author, "Newly Enacted Workplace Transparency Act To Change Illinois Employment Law Landscape," Trading Secrets Blog, Seyfarth Shaw LLP (August 27, 2019)
- Co-Author, "Court Vacates New Rules on Association Health Plans," Health Care Reform Management Alert (Issue 119), Seyfarth Shaw LLP (March 29, 2019)