We are proud to announce that Thomas Baumann has been named a 2023 Pennsylvania Super Lawyer, and was ranked in the top 50 in the Pittsburgh region as part of a peer-influenced and research-driven selection process in recognition of his outstanding legal expertise. This honor means that Baumann, a top-rated Workers’ Compensation lawyer, is among the top five percent of attorneys in this specialty area in the state.
Tom and Abes Baumann partner Doug Williams were also recognized recently as Best Lawyers 2023, and our firm was ranked as a Tier 1 Law Firm in Pittsburgh.
Congratulations to Tom and Doug, whose expertise and tireless efforts have consistently garnered positive outcomes for our clients.
At Abes Baumann we take tremendous pride in the accomplishments of our team, as they reflect our dedication to serving workers and veterans and delivering the highest standards of client service.
Thank you for entrusting us with your legal needs. We remain committed to guiding you through the legal process and providing you with the personalized attention you have come to expect from us. We are proud to represent you and help you get the benefits you deserve.
New partners build on the firm’s more than 40-year history of fighting for workers’ rights
Abes Baumann announced today that attorneys James Burn, Susan Paczak, and Douglas Williams have been named partners at the firm. This appointment elevates the three lawyers after years of dedicated service to the firm and its clients.
Mr. Burn has more than 30 years of experience in the areas of workers’ compensation and social security disability, and has dedicated his professional life to helping injured people. Martindale Hubble ranks him, “AV,” the highest ranking that can be given to a practicing attorney. Prior to joining Abes Baumann, he was elected mayor of the Borough of Millvale, Pa. in 1994 and served until 2005; past chairman of the Allegheny County Democratic Party from 2006 to 2011; Allegheny County Council member from 2006 to 2013; and he is the former chair of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party. Outside of the office he has been training and teaching at Young Brothers Tae Kwon Do Institute in the North Hills of Pittsburgh, being promoted to sixth-degree black belt by Grand Master Young Bo Kong in 2020. A 1985 graduate of Duquesne University, he earned his J.D. from the University of Dayton in 1988.
“Jim has spent his career fighting tirelessly for injured people,” said Thomas C. Baumann, partner, Abes Baumann. “His dedication to his clients and community make him the ideal partner to help build the future of our firm.”
Mr. Williams has spent more than 25 years experience in workers’ compensation law. He began his career as a law clerk at Abes Baumann, he has also clerked for the Pennsylvania Bureau of Workers’ Compensation, researching and drafting decisions for workers’ compensation judges. Mr. Williams currently serves on the Amicus Committee of the Pennsylvania Association for Justice, writing friend of the court briefs to the Pennsylvania Commonwealth and Supreme Courts on a variety of issues. A 1991 graduate of Grove City College, he earned a J.D. from Duquesne University in 1996.
“Doug began his career as a law clerk at Abes Baumann,” added Mr. Baumann. “It has been a true honor and delight to see him grow his career as an attorney at the firm. He represents the best of our firm and I am thrilled to have him join me as a partner.”
Ms. Paczak has spent more than 30 years in the areas of workers’ compensation, social security and veterans’ benefits. She graduated magna cum laude from the University of Pittsburgh in 1980 and earned her J.D. from Duquesne University, graduating cum laude. Her experience working with veterans allowed the firm to launch its successful veterans’ benefits practice, which helps the nation’s veterans get the benefits and support they have earned. Ms. Paczak has argued precedent setting cases before the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims and the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
“Susan’s work in veterans’ benefits has provided our firm with the opportunity to grow and expand our offerings,” continued Mr. Baumann. “Her dedication to the men and women of our nation’s armed services is a shining example of how we hope to serve all of our clients.”
Doug Williams’ outstanding work in the area of workers’ compensation law has once again been recognized by Best Lawyers in America. The peer-reviewed publication named Williams to their 2021 edition for his high caliber of work. Since 2010, Williams has made the list six times.
Best Lawyers in America features the top 6% of private practicing attorneys across 146 areas of law. The 2021 edition recognizes roughly 65,000 attorneys who were vetted by more than 8 million evaluations. The publication started in 1983 and continues to maintain a highly regarded and stringent review process.
We congratulate Doug’s ongoing excellence in workers’ compensation law and on achieving this designation once again.
James Burn and Douglas Williams join the workers’ compensation panels of the NFLPA and PHPA.
Our firm is pleased to announce two tremendous appointments to professional sports union legal boards. Congratulations to James Burn and Douglas Williams who were named to the workers compensation panels of the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) and the Professional Hockey Players Association (PHPA), respectively.
“Both Doug and Jim have been relentless advocates for workers’ rights and have spent a significant amount of time working on these types of cases. This recognition highlights the caliber of work they have been doing and will continue to do,” said partner Thomas Baumann.
Burn and Williams’ appointments come at a time when professional sports organizations are seeing significant challenges due to COVID-19 and may require additional representation. This designation exemplifies their ongoing dedication to the sports industry and its players, and we are proud of their accomplishments.
Tom Baumann was once again recognized as one of the top 50 lawyers in Pittsburgh by Super Lawyers. This is the 16th consecutive year Baumann has been recognized as a Super Lawyer. Specifically, he is listed as a Top Rated Workers’ Compensation Attorney in Pittsburgh by Super Lawyers.
Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Only five percent of lawyers receive this designation and are chosen based off Super Lawyer’s patented multiphase selection process, nominations received, independent research and peer evaluations.
The Abes Baumann team congratulates Tom for achieving Super Lawyers’ status once again.
As of January 1, 2020, founder and partner Ed Abes has retired after a more than 50-year career practicing law.
After graduating from Pennsylvania State
University and Duquesne University School of Law in Pittsburgh, Ed began his
career working for the State Workers’ Insurance Fund as a Special Assistant
Attorney General. In 1978, he decided to use his knowledge and experience of
Workers’ Compensation to establish a law firm dedicated to fighting for injured
workers.
Not long after opening the doors at Abes
Baumann, Ed began representing injured professional athletes as a member of the
Workers’ Compensation Panels of the National Football League Players
Association, the National Hockey League Players Association, and the
Professional Hockey Players Association. The Major League Baseball Players
Association also recommends Abes Baumann to their injured players.
In addition to practicing law full-time, Ed
has volunteered his time on a number of boards and committees including chair
of the Pennsylvania Bar Association Workers’ Compensation Section Liaison
Committee, which facilitates communication among the judges, administrators,
and attorneys of the Workers’ Compensation judicial system. Ed is past
president of the Pittsburgh Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union and
past treasurer of the Allegheny County Democratic Committee.
Ed has won numerous industry awards and
accolades during his career. In 2011, Ed was elected to the National Academy of
Social Insurance. Super Lawyers Magazine has listed him as one of the top 5% of
lawyers in Pennsylvania since 2004 and also as one of the Top 50 Lawyers in
Pittsburgh. He has been recognized continuously since 2004 by Best Lawyers in
America as one of Pittsburgh’s Best Workers’ Compensation Lawyers.
On behalf of the entire firm at Abes Baumann,
we thank Ed for his years of leadership, mentoring and friendship.
We wish him all the best in his retirement.
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