“To think that you have changed over 100,000 lives, and the lives of their families, is a purposeful life.”
Managing Partner Samuel H. Pond has been practicing workers’ compensation law for 30 years. In July of 2010, Sam founded a workers’ compensation firm in Philadelphia with Jerry M. Lehocky, and Thomas J. Giordano, Jr.
As Sam explains, there is no greater way to give back to others than by fighting for their rights.
“As I sit here on our 8th anniversary and think about how grateful I am, our staff and our clients are the first that come to my mind. The sheer magnitude of what we have done is emotionally overwhelming to me,” says Sam.
What started out as a small law firm with only a handful of associates, is now the largest workers’ compensation law firm in the greater Philadelphia area, with over 200 staff members, 40 attorneys, a fully-staffed Social Security branch, and 12 locations across the country–all achieved in less than a decade.
This past year alone, Pond Lehocky Giordano has seen momentous growth. The Partners launched two new departments of specialty law: Employment Law and Long-Term Disability. The addition of these practice areas allows them to expand services at the Firm and offer even more resources to help clients.
“We continue to add new practice areas, which complements our core specialties. We are committed to a complete technological upgrade, which I know will translate to better, more efficient work on our clients’ files, and will ultimately produce better results,” says Partner Tom Giordano, Jr.
The Firm also now has the most certified workers’ compensation specialists in the state of Pennsylvania. This achievement is administered by the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Section on Workers’ Compensation Law as authorized by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
In 2015, Partner Thomas Giordano, Jr. established Disability Justice, a one-of-a-kind Social Security Disability and Supplemental Security Income advocacy group. It services disabled Americans in all 50 states as well as Puerto Rico and has helped over 30,000 people in just three years.
“Since we opened our doors, we have helped secure over 30,000 Social Security Disability awards,” says Tom. “That is over 30,000 lives that have been improved because of our involvement. Those are 30,000 people who can now sleep just a little bit easier knowing they can pay their mortgage, provide for their children, and most importantly, survive because of our help.”
Each Partner expresses the need to be client-focused in their line of work and to never lose sight of the fact that behind each case, there is a client with a family who is depending on them.
“My work, foremost, is as a trial lawyer and an advocate for our clients in the courtroom,” says Sam. “That means bringing all my experience and energy to get the best holistic result for them and allowing them to come out of a bad situation in a positive way.”
Over these past eight years, Sam has continued to grow the Firm’s commitment to client services.
“As the Firm has grown, I’ve shifted more to making sure the culture of the Firm, our DNA and our delivery of the best client experience is not only preserved, but is also constantly improving. It starts and ends with our clients,” emphasizes Sam.
During their Firm’s 8-year anniversary, Partner Jerry Lehocky extends his thanks to those who have supported Pond Lehocky’s mission of helping injured workers.
“I’m thankful to the colleagues and friends who believe in our ability to represent injured and disabled workers at the highest level by referring cases to us in record numbers. I am thankful to those who joined our Firm along the way and believed in our culture and passion for protecting those in need,” says Jerry, “I am very grateful to my Partners for standing tall, fighting the good fight, and being the best leaders and trial lawyers anyone can have on their side.”
Tom also attributes the successes of Pond Lehocky Giordano and Disability Justice to his fellow Partners.
“I also have immense feelings of gratitude to my Partners for giving me this once in a lifetime opportunity, our attorneys and staff for working so hard day in and day out, and our referral partners and friends for having the faith and confidence in our Firm to send their clients, patients, friends and loved ones to us,” says Tom.
As the Firm grows, the Partners of Pond Lehocky Giordano and Disability Justice will keep striving to expand the Firm to help even more clients and to implement new technologies to help them advance in the legal field.
“I am excited that we continue to get better every day. Complacency has no home here. Because of that, I know that the next eight years will be even better than the first,” says Tom.
The Firm also celebrates its recognition as Philadelphia Business Journal’s Best Places to Work in 2018. Philadelphia Business Journal awards companies who have displayed outstanding workplace culture based on feedback from their employees.
