George E. Yokitis

George’s practice concentrates on complex commercial, mass tort, products liability, environmental, media, and employment litigation.

George has been lead trial counsel in numerous commercial disputes, including employment, securities, lender liability, commercial paper, contracts cases, and in complex, multi-jurisdictional class actions involving tens of thousands of claims with billions of dollars at stake. He has litigated and tried cases in Pennsylvania, Ohio, New Jersey, Maine, Michigan, Tennessee, Missouri, Louisiana, Colorado, Texas, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Maryland, Arizona, West Virginia, and California. George has argued in a number of federal courts of appeals as well as state supreme courts. He also has experience before the United States Supreme Court.

In the employment area, George has defended and/or prosecuted cases involving covenants-not-to-compete, trade secrets, and employment agreements. He has also litigated cases involving age, sex, disability and race discrimination claims, drug-testing policies, and unfair labor practices.

As lead trial counsel, George has obtained successful verdicts or summary dismissals in a number of cases. He has:

• Obtained defense verdict in complex lender liability trial following more than three weeks of trial
• Obtained dismissal based upon Daubert/Frye challenge in two leading reported Pennsylvania cases
• Obtained injunctive relief for national outdoor advertising… Read More

George’s practice concentrates on complex commercial, mass tort, products liability, environmental, media, and employment litigation.

George has been lead trial counsel in numerous commercial disputes, including employment, securities, lender liability, commercial paper, contracts cases, and in complex, multi-jurisdictional class actions involving tens of thousands of claims with billions of dollars at stake. He has litigated and tried cases in Pennsylvania, Ohio, New Jersey, Maine, Michigan, Tennessee, Missouri, Louisiana, Colorado, Texas, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Maryland, Arizona, West Virginia, and California. George has argued in a number of federal courts of appeals as well as state supreme courts. He also has experience before the United States Supreme Court.

In the employment area, George has defended and/or prosecuted cases involving covenants-not-to-compete, trade secrets, and employment agreements. He has also litigated cases involving age, sex, disability and race discrimination claims, drug-testing policies, and unfair labor practices.

As lead trial counsel, George has obtained successful verdicts or summary dismissals in a number of cases. He has:

• Obtained defense verdict in complex lender liability trial following more than three weeks of trial
• Obtained dismissal based upon Daubert/Frye challenge in two leading reported Pennsylvania cases
• Obtained injunctive relief for national outdoor advertising company preserving sale of business
• Obtained multi-million-dollar cost recovery award following successful alternative dispute resolution proceeding
• Obtained injunctive relief for national publication against copyright infringement
• Obtained a seminal ruling in a leading case under the Hague Convention

George is an arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association and has been appointed as a Mediator, Early Neutral Evaluator, and Arbitrator for the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. He has had a broad array of experience with alternative dispute resolution vehicles, including working with nationally recognized mediators in resolving mass tort cases as well as multi-party cost recovery actions. He has also handled private and court-imposed mediation, mini-trials, neutral evaluation, and arbitration.

George co-authored the textbook Environmental Disputes Handbook: Liability and Claims and has published in various law publications including the Toxic Law Reporter. He is a frequent speaker for the Pennsylvania Bar Institute and has lectured before the Society of Professional Journalists and various trade organizations.

Prior to graduation from law school, George pursued a professional football career as a quarterback with the New York Jets. He is active in a number of civic and professional organizations, including the St. Vincent dePaul Society Executive Committee. He serves as head boys varsity basketball coach for Acquinas Academy. George was voted as Associated Press Pennsylvania State Coach of the Year (Class A) in 2010-11 as well as Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (North) Coach of the Year in 2010-11 and 2012-13.