Thomas A. Smock

Tom has engaged in being lead labor counsel in a number of high profile union deputes throughout his career. By way of example –

• Chief Labor Counsel to Ravenswood Aluminum in the largest Corporate Campaign leveled against an employer in the last 50 years. Assistance included defense of ULP that had 100 million back pay potential, coordinating defense of extreme violence of USWA, replacing a work force of 1800 employees, and assisting the Corporation in dealing with financial institutions on finance issues related to future of the Company.
• Assisting an Aluminum producer in strategy for exiting bankruptcy and dealing with business interruptions by unions at three separate facilities. Chief labor negotiator for four plants of employer involving 2500 employees. Solid emphasis on vebas, healthcare, pensions, downsizing etc.
• Strike coordinator for major employer with 14 locations at risk of strike at one contract deadline; many issues around replacement worker scenarios.
• Extensive impasse bargaining expertise
• Have defeated union campaigns in hospitals, coal facilities, manufacturing facilities etc.
• Extensive union-free training in healthcare
• Have assisted employers in facing issues with USWA, UMWA, Teamsters, SEIU, AFSCME, Electrical Workers, IAM, and Auto Workers

Education

• J.D., Duquesne University, 1974
• B.A., Bethany College, 1968

Admission to Practice

• Pennsylvania
• U.S. District Court, Middle and Western Districts of Pennsylvania
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Eleventh and District of Columbia Circuits

• Allegheny County Bar Association
• Energy & Mineral Law Foundation (Board of Trustees)
• Better Business Bureau of Western Pennsylvania (Board of Directors)

• Ogletree Deakins Employment Law Seminar – “Don’t Bet on Lady Luck: Will Your Non-Union Handbook Survive NLRB Scrutiny?” – Hershey – September 24, 2014
• Ogletree Deakins Workplace Strategies Seminar – “Leveraging Your Union Relation to Your Business Advantage” – Las Vegas – May 10, 2014
• Ogletree Deakins Labor and Employment Law Update – “Current Trends in Union ‘Corporate Campaigns'” – Pittsburgh – March 26, 2014
• Ogletree Deakins Labor and Employment Law Briefing – “The NLRB’s Policy-Based Enforcement Initiative” – Pittsburgh – April 11, 2013
• Ogletree Deakins Labor and Employment Law Briefing – “The NLRB’s Latest Initiatives: A Deeper Dive” – Pittsburgh – October 18, 2011
• Ogletree Deakins Labor and Employment Law Briefing – “Union Avoidance: New Risks, New Strategies” – April 13, 2011

• July/August 2013 – Ogletree Deakins’ Employment Law Authority – “The Other Labor Case Before the High Court”

• Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® for Labor Law – Management (2024-2025)
• AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell