Richard Joseph De Fortuna

Richard J. De Fortuna began his career practicing labor law just over twenty years ago. He focuses his practice on the representation of unions and workers in all aspects of labor and employment law in the public and private sectors, including collective bargaining negotiations, labor arbitrations, union elections, unfair labor practice proceedings and employment discrimination litigation. Rich has advocated on behalf of workers before numerous boards and agencies, including the National Labor Relations Board, the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, the Philadelphia Commission on Human Rights, the New Jersey Division of Civil Rights, the United States Department of Labor and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Rich has also argued numerous cases before the Superior Court of New Jersey, Appellate Division, the Supreme, Superior, and Commonwealth Courts of Pennsylvania, and the Second, Third and D.C. Circuit Courts of the United States.

In addition, Rich has significant experience handling employee benefit issues involving both single employer and Taft-Hartley multi-employer plans, having counseled multiple plans and their fiduciaries with regard to both plan sponsor initiatives and fiduciary obligations. He has also guided several plans with respect to benefit eligibility issues and fiduciary duty issues, most significantly in litigation involving retiree health and welfare benefits, employer contribution obligations and withdrawal liability claims.

Prior to joining Markowitz & Richman, Rich represented labor unions while with Jennings Sigmond, P.C., and practiced labor, employment, employee benefit, and construction law at a suburban boutique firm following nearly a decade with the Philadelphia office of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP. Prior to that, Rich was employed as an Assistant District Attorney for Chester County, Pennsylvania.

When not engaged in the active practice of law, Rich enjoys time with his two sons and spends his spare time playing music, studying history, and occasionally writing songs.

Mr. De Fortuna is admitted to practice in the state and federal courts of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and the District of Columbia, and the federal District of Maryland.