About the Business Litigation Committee

The Business Litigation Committee of the Philadelphia Bar Association, Business Litigation Section, is a forum for business litigators to network, share best practices, and advocate to make the litigation process better serve the needs of businesses. Members of the Committee include lawyers from firms of all sizes as well as the public and private sectors.

The Committee's Annual Commerce Program Reception, usually held in the spring, brings together business litigators and members of the judiciary to celebrate the success of the Commerce Case Management Program of the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, which was established in 2000. The Committee strongly supported the establishment of this program, assisted the Court in its implementation, and continues to recruit Judges Pro Tem to serve as volunteer mediators for the Court's Alternative Dispute Resolution program.

Other activities include presenting CLE throughout the year, updating our members on developments in business litigation through our list-serv, and collaborating with other Committees of the Bar Association on public service projects. The Committee especially encourages young lawyers who practice in the area of business litigation to join, as the Committee offers unparalleled opportunities to interact with, and learn from, members of the judiciary and experienced practitioners, as well as to speak and publish on topics of interest to business litigators. To get more involved, please contact one of our Committee Co-chairs!

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Leadership

Co-Chairs

Jonathan W. Hugg

Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott, LLC
50 South 16th Street
22nd Floor
Philadelphia, 19102
(215) 851-8447

Jon L. Cochran

Stapleton Segal Cochran LLC
1760 Market St
Suite 403
Philadelphia, 19103
2152615210

Vice Chair

Rep. Peter C. Buckley

Fox Rothschild LLP
2000 Market Street, 20th Floor
Philadelphia, 19103
(215) 299-2854

Business Litigation Committee Chairs

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Administrative Order Regarding Qualifications for Judges Pro Tem of the Commerce Program

Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Administrative Judge Daniel J. Anders and Paula A. Patrick, Supervising Judge of the Commerce Program signed Administrative Docket No. 12 of 2025, which revises the process for selection of judges pro tempore in the Commerce Program. Click here for the new order.

Effective January 1, 2026, applicants for the JPT program must meet the following criteria:

1. Be a licensed Pennsylvania attorney.
2. Have no less than five years of experience in litigation or alternative dispute resolution (ADR), including a practice focused on the types of disputes described in the Cases Subject to Commerce Program section.
3. Have participated in ADR training by a court-sponsored provider or certified CLE provider, and/or have participated as a neutral, JPT, or mediator in ADR proceedings — including but not limited to mediations, settlement conferences, and private arbitrations — involving the types of disputes that come before the Commerce Program.

The Court has promulgated an updated application form, which is available here.

Any questions about the application process or the JPT Program may be directed to the chairs of the committee.