Thomas G. Wilkinson, Esq. '81, Inaugurated as President of the Pennsylvania Bar Association
On May 10, 2012, Thomas G. Wilkinson '81 was inaugurated as the 118th president of the Pennsylvania Bar Association (PBA).
Wilkinson is a Member at Cozen O'Connor in the firm's Philadelphia office, where he practices in the Commercial Litigation Group and heads its Alternative Dispute Resolution practice. He has served the PBA in various capacities, including: Chair of its Civil Litigation Section, as a member of the Legal Ethics and Professional Responsibility Committee and as a member of House of Delegates.
As President, one of his goals is to encourage the use of youth courts to deal with student conduct and the "bullying" issue in Pennsylvania's school system. Wilkinson also has affiliations with the Philadelphia Bar Association, the American Bar Association and the Association of Professional Responsibility Lawyers.
While at Villanova Law, Wilkinson was the managing editor of the Villanova Law Review.
Wilkinson has had an ongoing relationship with VLS since his time as a student. He serves as an adjunct faculty member and has held various leadership positions within the School's J. Willard O'Brien American Inn of Court. He and his wife, Kathleen, a partner with Esler Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker LLP, met on their first day of classes at Villanova Law School in 1978. Kathleen is the chancellor-elect of the Philadelphia Bar Association. Their daughter, Lindsay is a member of the Law School's incoming class of 2015.
"Villanova Law prepared me well to succeed as a lawyer, but it also instilled the importance of service to the legal profession and to the broader community," Wilkinson said. "Both Kathleen and I are energized in our professional lives by our work with the organized bar and legal services organizations. We encourage law students and newly admitted lawyers to join and take advantage of the many benefits and useful resources and networking opportunities bar association involvement can provide."
Wilkinson follows in the footsteps of other VLS alumni who served as President of the PBA, including, Andrew F. Susko '81 (2007-2008) and C. Dale McClain '64 (2008-2009).
