Mr. Torchia has been a managing member of the firm since 2000. His practice is concentrated in commercial litigation with a strong emphasis on employment law. He routinely represents and counsels local, regional, national and international businesses of all sizes in state and federal courts throughout the country on a variety of litigation matters. When he first joined the firm in 1995, he established an employment law department which has expanded to include representative clients such as national manufacturers, health care providers and pharmaceutical companies, large contractors, financing institutions and a multitude of non-profit and for-profit small and mid-size businesses.

He is a sought-after lecturer in programs that advise and train attorneys and human resources personnel, speaks extensively on employment law and litigation topics and is often asked to present in-house training and seminars for clients. He is a regular presenter for PBI, a course planner for its annual Employment Law Institute and since 2018 has presented the opening plenary session “Year in Review.” He is also the Past Chair of the Montgomery County Bar Association’s Employment and Labor Law Committee.

Mr. Torchia’s personal style of becoming intimately familiar with the client and the client’s goals and objectives has allowed him to accurately provide preventative strategies and advice in crisis situations, and it is those qualities that have attracted and maintained his loyal client base. Clients generally are drawn to two of Mr. Torchia’s opposing characteristics, that is, his easy-going style with clients versus his aggressive and tenacious style in the courtroom.

Mr. Torchia enjoys an AV Rating from Martindale-Hubbell; has been recognized as a Preeminent Lawyer in the fields of litigation and employment law each year since 2002; and was chosen every year since 2009 as a “Super Lawyer” in the area of Employment Law. He was also named to the Top 100: Philadelphia Super Lawyers list, which recognizes the top 100 attorneys ranked in the nomination and research process. He was chosen as a 2007, 2008 and 2009 “Leader in the Law” by Philadelphia Business Journal and an “Awesome Attorney” by Suburban Life Magazine. In addition, Mr. Torchia is very involved in community activities, backpacking, skiing, the Red Sox, his son’s professional acting career, and is a Chancellor Emeritus of his law school alumni association.

 Independent Workplace Investigator

Mr. Torchia is a well-known workplace investigator, and is routinely hired by other attorneys and corporate executives to investigate a wide variety of workplace misconduct. Mr. Torchia also serves as an expert witness for workplace investigations, and has developed programs and lectures on workplace investigations as well. He is the author of several publications regarding employment law including the Workplace Investigations chapter of the Pennsylvania Employment Law Deskbook published by PBI Press, and an in depth white paper about at-will employment in Pennsylvania.

Mr. Torchia conducts independent workplace investigations nationwide of claims of sexual harassment, discrimination, retaliation, wrongful discharge, defamation and employee malfeasance for both public and private employers. Various clients including large international corporations, public entities, non-profits, governmental agencies and departments and closely held businesses. His experience includes:

• Prepares written Investigative Reports; testifies at deposition, arbitrations and trials as Investigator.
• Hired as Expert Witness in Workplace Investigations by both plaintiff and defendant to provide opinion on sufficiency of previously completed investigation
• Hired to train in-house investigators in Commonwealth agencies
• Conducted over 120 workplace investigations

Download CV for Michael J. Torchia, Esquire

 Recent TV Interviews

• “Coronavirus Concerns Leads to Big Questions for Local Businesses
  Interview with NBC 10 News
  March 10, 2020
• Who is Eligible for Unemployment During the Coronavirus Shutdown?
  Interview with NBC 10 News
  March 17, 2020
• Know Your Employee Rights Before Heading Back to Work During Coronavirus Pandemic
  6 ABC Action News
  May 12, 2020
• Covid-19 Privacy Concerns in the Workplace
  NBC 10 News
  May 30, 2020
• Are Workers Laid-off in Pandemic Entitled to Getting Their Jobs Back and Better Protections?
  NBC 10 News
  June 20, 2020

Articles by Michael J. Torchia, Esq.

• Employee Handbooks and Checklist
  Michael J. Torchia, Esq.
• At-Will Employment and Wrongful Discharge in Pennsylvania
  Michael J. Torchia, Esq. and Stephen C. Goldblum, Esq.
• Conducting Workplace Investigations
  Michael J. Torchia, Esq.
• Who’s next? Is your company prepared to respond to claims of sexual harassment?
  Smart Business Magazine: February, 2018
• Individual liability: How executives and managers are vulnerable
  Smart Business Magazine: March 2013
• Smart Separation: How to implement a comprehensive employee separation agreement and release
  Smart Business Magazine: May 2012
• “Non-Competes Supported By ‘Intending To Be Legally Bound?”
  September 14, 2012 as special contributor to The Legal Intelligencer

 Publications and Speaking Engagements

• Employment Law Institute (Pennsylvania Bar Institute two day seminar, Philadelphia) Course Planner Panel 2014-2023
• “Employment Law Year in Review”; seminar co-presented at 2018-2023 Pennsylvania Bar Institute seminar, Employment Law Institute, April 2018, April 2019, August 2020, April 2021, April 2022, April 2023 (CLE credit 1 hour)
• SOGT Employment Law Symposium presented by Semanoff Ormsby Greenberg & Torchia, LLC, October 25, 2022, Course Planner 2022
• “Ten Things Every Employee Should Know About Employment Law” presented at Delaware Valley MENSA annual meeting November 5, 2022
• “Year in Review and Current Employment Law Trends”; seminar co-presented at SOGT Employment Law Symposium presented by Semanoff Ormsby Greenberg & Torchia, LLC, October 25, 2022 (CLE credit 1 hour)
• “You Talkin’ To Me? Individual Liability in Employment Law” seminar presented to Society for Human Resources Management (Southeastern Pennsylvania) (SEPA-SHRM), June 21, 2022
• “How to Hire, Pay, and Fire Employees Without Getting Sued” webinar presented to Delaware Valley Mensa (General Meeting), April 20, 2022
• “A Dozen Things About Employment Law You Have Completely Wrong!” presented to the Bucks County Estate Planning Council, February 23, 2022 (CLE credit 1 hour)
• “Employment Law Update – Not Just COVID!” webinar presented from Semanoff Ormsby Greenberg & Torchia, LLC, December 9, 2021 (CLE credit 1 hour)
• “Navigating the Minefields of Current Employment Issues,” webinar presented to Bee Bergvall & Co., November 3, 2021
• “Navigating Pay Equity 2021” webinar presented with PROXUS, September 14, 2021
• “Navigating the Minefields of Employment Issues Post-COVID,” webinar presented to Bee Bergvall & Co., Catalyst Non-Profit Institute, August 16, 2021
• NBC-10 and 6ABC news appearances to discuss issues related to COVID-19 and employment considerations. March – June, 2020, April/September, 2021
• “Where’s The Remote?! Working from Home as COVID 19 Winds Down” webinar presented to Society for Human Resources Management (Southeastern Pennsylvania) (SEPA-SHRM), June 15, 2021
• “Employment Law Update: COVID-19” webinar presented from Semanoff Ormsby Greenberg & Torchia, LLC, May 14, 2021 (CLE credit 1 hour)
• “Employment Law Update” webinar presented at Bucks County Business Law Institute May 13, 2021 (CLE credit 1 hour)
• “Employment Law Year in Review”; seminar co-presented at 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 Pennsylvania Bar Institute seminar, Employment Law Institute, April 2018, April 2019, August 2020, April 2021 (CLE credit 1 hour)
• “Roundtable: Elevating Employees Returning To Work” webinar presented with PROXUS, April 14, 2021
• “Best Practices for Conducting and Managing Workplace Investigations” private webinar to Human Resources Department of corporate client (train the investigators session), March 16, 2021.
• “COVID-19 Vaccine: Everything You Need to Know and Do” webinar co-presented with medical expert to the Eastern Montgomery Chamber of Commerce” March 9, 2021.
• “Employee Accommodations Under The ADA (for the hearing and sight impaired)” webinar co-presented with Adam Karasch to national audience, December 17, 2020; and February 25, 2021
• “ADA Compliance and Distance Learning” webinar co-presented with Adam Karasch to national audience, November 10, 2020; December 16, 2020; and February 24, 2021
• “Coronavirus Updates for Employers Law Firms” seminar presented to Association of Legal Administrators, January 13, 2021 (CLE credit 1 hour)
• “Coronavirus Updates for Employers” webinar presented to the Eastern Montgomery Chamber of Commerce” January 7, 2021 (CLE credit 1 hour)
• “Best Practices for Conducting and Managing Workplace Investigations” private webinar to US and European Human Resources Department of corporate client (train the investigators session), December 10, 2020.
• “The Confusing World of Employee Leave” webinar presented to University of Pennsylvania Occupational Medicine residents program, November 20, 2020 and May 28, 2020 (for resident program credit)
• “Coronavirus and Employment Law – The Latest” webinar presented to the Chalfont-New Britain Business Alliance, November 18, 2020
• “Legal Toolkit for COVID-19 / COVID-19 Employment Law Issues for 2020”; Temple University webinar, September 21, 2020
• “Employment and Human Resources Considerations in M&A”; Pennsylvania Bar Institute webinar, September 15, 2020 (CLE credit)
• Employment Law Institute (Pennsylvania Bar Institute two day seminar, Philadelphia) Course Planner Panel 2014-2020
• “Making the Most of Evidence in Your Employment Case”; webinar co-presented with two federal court district judges and two senior attorneys 2020 Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Employment Law Institute, August 2020 (CLE credit 1 hour)
• “Return to Work Strategies” webinar presented with Kreischer Miller, and Connor Strong, June 24, 2020
• “Back to Work – Navigating the New Normal” webinar presented to Society for Human Resources Management (Southeastern Pennsylvania) (SEPA-SHRM), June 16, 2020
• “Overview of Employment Law Considerations During The COVID-19 Pandemic” webinar for Pennsylvania Bar Institute, May 22, 2020 (CLE credit 1 hour)
• “Back to Work: Navigating Reopening” webinar presented to the PA State Alliance of YMCAs: May 13, 2020
• “Back to Work: Navigating the New Normal During the COVID-19 Pandemic” webinar presented from Semanoff Ormsby Greenberg & Torchia, LLC, May 7, 2020 (CLE credit 1 hour)
• “How Do YMCAs Prepare For Reopening?” webinar presented to the PA State Alliance of YMCAs: April 24, 2020
• Managing Your Law Firm During COVID-19 Presented by Michael J. Torchia, Esquire and Matthew Roessler, MS , HRD April 13, 2020
• “Sexual Harassment in the Workplace – An Overview for Legislative Staff and Lobbyists” presented at Pennsylvania Bar Institute’s annual one day “Legislate Update” seminar, November, 2018 (CLE credit 1 hour)
• “Conducting Effective Workplace Investigations” presented to Democratic Caucus for the Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, November, 2018 (CLE credit 1 hour)
• “Workplace Behavior: Avoiding Harassment, Discrimination and Retaliation” presented to the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania judges and staff at an annual conference, State College, PA, September, 2018 (CLE credit 1 hour)
• “Preventing Sexual Harassment and Discrimination” seminar presented to House Republicans and House Democrats of Pennsylvania House of Representatives at State Capitol, Harrisburg, PA, November, 2017 and June, 2018 (CLE credit 1 hour)
• “Drug and Alcohol Issues in the Workplace” presented in the seminar “Drug and Alcohol Issues in Civil Litigation”; Pennsylvania Bar Institute seminar, May, 2018 (CLE credit 1 hour)
• Employment Law Institute (Pennsylvania Bar Institute two day seminar, Philadelphia) Course Planner Panel 2014-2018
• “Employment Law Year in Review”; seminar co-presented at 2018 Pennsylvania Bar Institute seminar, Employment Law Institute, April 2018 (CLE credit 1 hour)
• “Who’s Next? What Employers Need To Do Now To Address Sexual Harassment Claims”; seminar co-presented at 2018 Pennsylvania Bar Institute seminar, Employment Law Institute, April 2018 (CLE credit 1 hour)
• “Who’s Next? What Employers Need To Do Now To Address Sexual Harassment Claims” seminar presented at Montgomery County Bar Association, Women in Law Committee, April, 2018 (CLE credit 1 hour)
• “Who’s Next? What Employers Need To Do Now To Address Sexual Harassment Claims” seminar presented at Proxus HR, January, 2018
• “Who’s Next? What Employers Need To Do Now To Address Sexual Harassment Claims” seminar presented at Semanoff Ormsby Greenberg & Torchia, LLC, December, 2017 (CLE credit 1 hour)
• “Employee Compensation: What Employers Need To Know To Avoid Getting Sued” seminar presented at Streamline Payroll, December, 2018
• “Preventing Sexual Harassment and Discrimination” seminar presented to House Republicans and House Democrats of Pennsylvania House of Representatives at State Capitol, Harrisburg, PA November, 2017 (CLE credit 1 hour)
• “What Non-Employment Lawyers Need To Know About Employment Law” seminar presented at Bucks County Bar Association, October, 2017 (CLE credit 1 hour)
• “Fire At-Will: Wrongful Discharge in Pennsylvania”; course planner, moderator, presenter; 2003, 2006, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2017 Pennsylvania Bar Institute seminar (Live presentations in Philadelphia, Mechanicsburg, Pittsburgh, Scranton-Wilkes Barre; videotaped for 15 video replays; simulcast and webcast) (CLE credit 3 hours)
• “Employment Law 101: What Employers Need To Know To Avoid Getting Sued”; presented at Montgomery County Bar Association, July, 2017
• “What Non-Employment Lawyers Need To Know About Employment Law” seminar presented at Semanoff Ormsby Greenberg & Torchia, LLC, June, 2017 (CLE credit 1 hour)
• “Wage and Hour Update” presented at Southeastern Pennsylvania (SEPA) SHRM, June, 2017 for SHRM Training Credit
• “Employment Law Overview for Accountants”; presented at Business Development University CPE seminar in Marlton, NJ to CPAs.
• “Fire At-Will: Wrongful Discharge in Pennsylvania”; presenter and author; 2001-2007, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2017 Pennsylvania Bar Institute seminar, Employment Law Institute. (CLE credit 1 hour)
• “There’s No Place Like Home: Telecommuting and Remote Employees” seminar presented at Semanoff Ormsby Greenberg & Torchia, LLC, January, 2017 (CLE credit 1 hour)
• “Employment Law 2016: Five New Changes You Can’t Ignore”; presented at Semanoff Ormsby Greenberg & Torchia, LLC, November, 2016 (CLE ethics credit 1 hour)
• “Off to a Good Start (Up)”; presenter and author of “Employment Matters” session; 2013, 2014, 2016 Pennsylvania Bar Institute seminar (CLE credit 1 hour)
• “Manual of Steel: Updating Your Employee Handbook” presenter and author; 2016 Pennsylvania Bar Institute seminar, “A Day on Employment Law” (CLE credit 1 hour)
• “Effectively Conducting Workplace Investigations”; course planner, moderator, presenter; 2016 Pennsylvania Bar Institute seminar (Philadelphia, Mechanicsburg) (CLE credit 3 hours)
• “Nine Employment Law Issues Every Physician Should Know”; presenter, June, 2014 and June 2016, Pennsylvania Bar Institute seminar Representing Physician and Dental Practices (CLE credit 1 hour)
• “Fire At-Will: Wrongful Termination in Pennsylvania” presented at Southeastern Pennsylvania (SEPA) SHRM, June, 2016 for SHRM Training Credit
• “Hot Topics in Wage and Hour Law” presented at Semanoff Ormsby Greenberg & Torchia, LLC, May, 2016 (CLE ethics credit 1 hour)
• “Manual of Steel: Updating Your Employee Handbook” presenter and author; 2016 Pennsylvania Bar Institute seminar, Employment Law Institute, April 2016, (CLE credit 1 hour)
• Materials and process quoted in “The Process of Investigation,” Charles Sennewald and John K. Tsukayama, Elsevier Press, 2015, 4th ed., p. 325, 328
• “Employment Law Overview for Accountants” presented at Borislow, Factor & Kaufmann, LLC, November, 2015 (CPE credit 1 hour)
• “Employee Handbooks – Time to Update!”; presented at Semanoff Ormsby Greenberg & Torchia, LLC, October, 2015 (CLE credit 1 hour)
• “Nine Employment Law Issues Every Physician Should Know”; presenter, June, 2014 Pennsylvania Bar Institute seminar Physician and Dental Practices (CLE credit 1 hour)
• “Recent Amendments to the Professional Rules of Conduct”; presented at Semanoff Ormsby Greenberg & Torchia, LLC, June, 2014 (CLE ethics credit 1 hour)
• “Workplace Investigations: A Practitioner’s View”; course planner, moderator, presenter; 2014 Pennsylvania Bar Institute seminar (Philadelphia, Mechanicsburg, Pittsburgh)., (CLE credit 3 hours)
• “There’s No Place Like Home: Pros and Cons of Work At Home Policies” seminar presented at Semanoff Ormsby Greenberg & Torchia, LLC, April, 2014 (CLE credit 1 hour)
• “10 Scary Things Every Businessperson Should Know About Employment Law”; seminar presented at Semanoff Ormsby Greenberg & Torchia, LLC, July, 2013 (CLE credit 1 hour)
• “10 Scary Things Every Attorney Should Know About Employment Law”; seminar presented at Semanoff Ormsby Greenberg & Torchia, LLC, June, 2013 (CLE credit 1 hour)
• “Pennsylvania Employment Law”; Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Paralegal Institute, May, 2013 (CLE credit 1 hour)
• “You Talkin’ To Me?”: Individual Liability in Employment Law”; Pennsylvania Bar Institute seminar, Employment Law Institute, April, 2013 (CLE credit 1 hour)
• “You Talkin’ To Me?”: Individual Liability in Employment Law”; seminar presented at Semanoff Ormsby Greenberg & Torchia, LLC, October, 2012 (CLE credit 1 hour)
• Article: “Non-Competes Supported By ‘Intending To Be Legally Bound?’”; September 14, 2012 as special contributor to The Legal Intelligencer
• “Updates in Employment Law”; seminar presented at Semanoff Ormsby Greenberg & Torchia, LLC, April-May, 2012
• “Employment Law Overview” presented to Strayer University Chapter of Society for Human Resources Management, April, 2012
• “Do You Fee Like We Do?” (alternative fee agreements in employment litigation); author and co-presenter; Pennsylvania Bar Institute seminar, Employment Law Institute, April, 2012 (CLE credit 1 hour)
• “All About Non-Competes”; seminar presented at Semanoff Ormsby Greenberg & Torchia, LLC, February, 2012
• “The Nightmare of Employee Leave”; seminar presented at Semanoff Ormsby Greenberg & Torchia, LLC, November, 2011
• “Landmines of Employee Compensation”; seminar presented at Semanoff Ormsby Greenberg & Torchia, LLC, September, 2011
• “How to Hire and Fire Employees Without Getting Sued”; seminar presented at Semanoff Ormsby Greenberg & Torchia, LLC, August, 2011
• “Conducting Effective Workplace Investigations” presented to the Philadelphia Bar Association Labor and Employment Section, January, 2010
• “Very Recent Developments in Employment Law”; seminar presented at Temple University Ambler Campus, February, 2010
• “Employment Law Landmines and Recent Developments”; seminar presented to The President’s Club organization, February, 2010
• “Understanding the Instant Impact of Bimbo Bakeries USA, Inc. v. Botticella, (3d Cir. July 27, 2010) on the Standard for Granting Injunctions Against Employment by a Competitor Due to Potential Disclosure of Trade Secrets”; presenter for ExecSense webinar September, 2010
• “Conducting Effective Workplace Investigations” presented to Temple University Chapter of Society for Human Resources Management, October, 2010
• “Workplace Investigations of Sexual Harassment Claims”; course planner, moderator, presenter; 2010 Pennsylvania Bar Institute seminar (Philadelphia, Mechanicsburg, Pittsburgh, Norristown). Co-author of PBI book
• “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly of Progressive Discipline”; presenter; Pennsylvania Bar Institute Employment Law Institute seminar (Philadelphia), April, 2010. Co-author of PBI chapter (CLE credit 1 hour)
• “Employment Law Overview” presented to Temple University Chapter of Society for Human Resources Management, November, 2009
• “Employee Leave Considerations” ; seminar presented at Semanoff Ormsby Greenberg & Torchia, LLC, October, 2008
• “Recent Developments in Employment Law”; seminar presented at Semanoff Ormsby Greenberg & Torchia, LLC, March, 2008
• “Workplace Investigations of Sexual Harassment Claims”; course planner, moderator, presenter; 2008 Pennsylvania Bar Institute Employment Law Institute seminar (Philadelphia). Co-author of PBI chapter (CLE credit 1 hour)
• “Ethical Issues in Workplace Investigations”; co-presenter, 2008 Pennsylvania Bar Institute seminar, Employment Law Institute. (CLE credit 1 hour ethics)
• “Recent Developments in Employment Law”; seminar presented at Semanoff Ormsby Greenberg & Torchia, LLC, March, 2007
• “Employment Law: Trends and Developments 2006” presented to Employment Law Committee of DELVACCA (association of in-house corporate counsel) (CLE credit 1 hour), May, 2006
• Appeared on radio station WOGL 98.1 on the “Philadelphia Agenda” program hosted by Brad Siegel discussing employment law issues and workplace investigations, November, 2006
• “Workplace Investigations of Sexual Harassment Claims”; course planner, moderator, presenter; 2002 Pennsylvania Bar Institute seminar (Philadelphia, Mechanicsburg, Pittsburgh) (CLE credit 3 hours)
• “Workplace Investigations of Sexual Harassment Claims”; 2002, author of chapters: “Introduction to Workplace Investigations”; “Investigations Beyond Sexual Harassment”; “Conducting Workplace Investigations”; and “Ethical Considerations in Sexual Harassment Investigations.” (CLE credit 3 hours)
• “Table Talk” guest at Pennsylvania Bar Institute seminar, “Workplace Investigations” 2003-2005
• Article: “Workplace Investigations” for Semanoff, Ormsby, Greenberg & Torchia, LLC website (introductory level), January, 2003
• Appeared on radio station WJJZ 106.1 on the “Labors of Love” program to discuss sexual harassment, June 2000
• Article: “Spierling Focuses on Public Policy Exception” November 20, 1999 as special contributor to The Legal Intelligencer
• Numerous presentations to associations, private companies and clients on a variety of litigation and employment law topics.
• “Employment Law Update – Not Just COVID!” webinar presented from Semanoff Ormsby Greenberg & Torchia, LLC, December 9, 2021 (CLE credit 1 hour)
• “Navigating the Minefields of Current Employment Issues,” webinar presented to Bee Bergvall & Co., November 3, 2021
• “Navigating Pay Equity 2021” webinar presented with PROXUS, September 14, 2021
• “Navigating the Minefields of Employment Issues Post-COVID,” webinar presented to Bee Bergvall & Co., Catalyst Non-
• Profit Institute, August 16, 2021
• NBC-10 and 6ABC news appearances to discuss issues related to COVID-19 and employment considerations. March – June, 2020, April/September, 2021