Thomas A. Tupitza
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814-923-4901
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Thomas A. Tupitza

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Tom advises clients in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors on finance, real estate, and governance matters. A past president of the Pennsylvania Association of Bond Lawyers, he is active as bond counsel in tax-exempt financing transactions. He has served as Knox Law’s President since 2007. An elected member of the American Law Institute, he serves on the boards of several nonprofit charitable organizations and a private business corporation.

Practice Areas

  • Harvard Law School, J.D.; cum laude; Executive Editor, Harvard Civil Rights-Civil Liberties Law Review
  • Westminster College, B.A.; summa cum laude

Admissions

  • Pennsylvania
  • New York
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Pennsylvania
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit

Certifications

  • Title insurance agent, Pennsylvania and New York
  • Licensed Consultant, the Standards for Excellence®: An Ethics and Accountability Code for the Nonprofit Sector
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Ratings

Martindale-Hubbell AV Rating Badge
  • Bond counsel in over $850 million of financing transactions for colleges and universities, hospitals, long-term care facilities, school districts, municipalities, authorities, housing projects, manufacturers, and nonprofits
  • Co-counsel in the affiliation of a regional health care system with a university-affiliated integrated health care provider and insurer
  • Counsel to the developers in over a dozen commercial condominium projects
Tom Tupitza Best Lawyers LOTY Land Use and Zoning 2025
  • Included in The Best Lawyers in America®, (Public Finance Law, 2012-2025; Real Estate Law and Land Use & Zoning Law, both 2015-2025; and Health Care Law, 2016-2025)
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Super Lawyers Logo: Tom Tupitza
  • United States President's Gold Volunteer Service Award, AmeriCorps, 2021 (presented by Youth Leadership Institute of Erie)
  • Honorary Life Member, Board of Corporators, Hamot Health Foundation, 2017
  • Four-Way Test Award, Rotary Club of Erie, 2017
  • Legends of Iroquois Hall of Fame, Iroquois School District Foundation, 2015
  • Humanitarian Award, Eagle’s Nest Leadership Corporation, 2014
  • Excellence Award, Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network, 2011
  • Everyday Leader Award, Pennsylvania Bar Association, 2007
  • Alumni Citation, Westminster College, 1998
  • Legion of Honor Award, Four Chaplains Memorial Foundation, 1992

Community and Professional Service

  • The Erie Community Foundation, Board of Trustees, Vice Chair
  • Infinite Erie, LLC , Board of Managers
  • Westminster College, Board of Trustees, Former Chair
  • The Jefferson Educational Society of Erie, Board of Directors
  • Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Organizations, Board of Directors and Consultants Collaborative
  • Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, Northwest PA Business Advisory Council Member
  • Three Forts of Presque Isle, LLC, Board of Managers, Chair
  • Warner Theatre Preservation Trust, Board of Directors
  • Erie Cemetery Association, Corporator
  • The Pennsylvania Society, Life Member
  • Rotary Club of Erie, Member, Paul Harris Fellow
  • Former Board Chair: UPMC Hamot, Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership, VisitErie, Erie County Historical Society (currently, Member, Board of Governors), Northwestern Legal Services, and Erie City Mission
  • Former Board Member: UPMC, United Way of Erie County (currently, Corporator), The Nonprofit Partnership, Foundation for Erie's Public Schools, Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School (currently, Life Trustee), Hamot Health Foundation (currently, Corporator), Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network, Erie County Bar Association, and Rotary Club of Erie

Professional Affiliations

  • Erie County Bar Association
  • Pennsylvania Bar Association
  • New York State Bar Association
  • American Bar Association
  • Pennsylvania Bar Foundation, Life Fellow, Commonwealth Club Member
  • American Bar Foundation, Fellow
  • Pennsylvania Association of Bond Lawyers, Past President
  • National Association of Bond Lawyers
  • National Association of College and University Attorneys
  • American Health Lawyers Association
  • American Law Institute, Elected Member
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Speaking Engagements

  • Programs on nonprofit governance and compliance for The Nonprofit Partnership, the Pennsylvania Bar Institute, the Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Organizations, and others

Audio Presentations

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