Thomas A.
Pendleton

Bio

Tom is an attorney at MacDonald Illig who has represented businesses, nonprofit organizations, and individuals in a wide range of legal matters for more than 30 years. His practice focuses on business law, commercial litigation, intellectual property protection, and appellate advocacy. Tom works with clients to develop practical legal solutions for business transactions, disputes, and regulatory matters.

Tom Helps Clients With:

• Business and commercial legal matters
• Commercial litigation
• Contract drafting and negotiation
• Debt collection and commercial disputes
• Oil and gas lease agreements
• Solar energy lease agreements
• Covenants not to compete and restrictive covenants
• Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) contract matters
• Trademark searches and trademark registration
• Copyright registration and protection
• Trade secret protection and confidential information safeguards
• Nondisclosure agreements
• Appellate litigation and appeals
  

Tom regularly represents clients in commercial disputes ranging from collection matters to complex litigation involving significant financial claims.

Approach to Client Service

Tom approaches legal matters with careful preparation and a focus on clear, practical guidance. His extensive experience allows him to help clients evaluate their legal options and pursue solutions that align with their business objectives.

Experience and Professional Background

Tom has extensive experience drafting and negotiating business agreements across a variety of industries, including energy and commercial transactions. His work includes preparing leases for oil and gas interests, agreements related to solar energy generation, and other commercial contracts governed by the Uniform Commercial Code.

He also assists clients with protecting intellectual property by conducting trademark searches, registering trademarks and copyrights, and developing strategies to safeguard trade secrets and confidential business information.

Appellate Practice

A significant portion of Tom’s practice involves appellate advocacy. He has briefed and argued cases before the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, as well as before panels of the Pennsylvania Superior Court and the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court.

His appellate work has involved a range of legal issues, including motor vehicle accident claims, contract disputes, marital settlement agreements, oil and gas rights, Pennsylvania Public School Code matters, and Pennsylvania Election Code issues.

Education Law and Nonprofit Representation

Tom devotes a substantial portion of his practice to representing charter schools on matters involving the Pennsylvania Charter School Law. In this role, he advises clients on issues including Right-to-Know Law compliance, Sunshine Act matters, and special education issues.

He also provides legal guidance to nonprofit organizations on business operations, governance matters, and contractual issues.