Sarah L. Tomkin has extensive litigation experience in state and federal courts throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York.  She has also represented clients before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and state civil rights agencies.  As a member of the Commercial Litigation, Franchise, Employment, and Professional Liability practice groups, she has represented a diverse group of major corporations, franchisors, closely held businesses, and individuals in a wide range of disputes.  

Her practice includes handling litigation involving contract disputes, discrimination and whistleblower claims, professional malpractice for insurance agents and brokers, and disputes involving intellectual property, specifically trademark infringement.  Sarah assists her clients with their litigation needs and works with them to craft litigation strategies geared toward their unique goals and to obtain successful results.

Admissions

• New Jersey
• New York
• Pennsylvania
• U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey
• U.S. District Court, Eastern, Southern, and Western Districts of New York
• U.S. District Court, Eastern and Middle Districts of Pennsylvania

Commercial Litigation

Sarah has considerable experience handling litigations through trial and appeal involving general commercial litigation claims, including contract disputes, prosecution and defense of trademarks and trade dress, and premises liability matters.  

Franchise Law

She devotes a significant portion of her practice to the representation of franchisors, including litigating and enforcing franchise agreement terminations, non-competition restrictions, forum selection clauses, and liquidated damages provisions.  She has obtained multiple injunctions in favor of franchisors to prevent former franchisees from continuing to utilize trademarks following the termination of franchise agreements.  She has also resolved numerous disputes between franchisors and current or former franchisees related to non-payment of franchise fees and compliance with provisions of franchise agreements without court intervention.  

Employment Law

Sarah regularly defends businesses and individuals in employment matters, including claims involving discrimination, retaliation, and harassment.  She has obtained a directed verdict on behalf of a physical therapy and rehabilitation facility while serving as second chair at trial in an employment discrimination case where the plaintiff asserted claims for failure to accommodate, disability discrimination, and wrongful termination.  She has also obtained voluntary dismissals by claimants of various employment discrimination complaints following discovery.

Professional Liability

She had defended a wide range of professionals against malpractice claims.  She has obtained summary judgment on behalf of an engineering firm facing claims stemming from an alleged negligent inspection of a commercial property.  Ms. Tomkin also obtained summary judgment on behalf of a radiological program and service provider in a medical malpractice/wrongful death action. 

Publications

Enforcing Arbitration Awards in International Franchising, Franchise Law Journal (Winter 2015)

Presentations

Presenter, ADA Website Compliance, GRSM, October 2019