Counsel

Heather C. Giordanella is counsel in the firm’s Commercial Litigation Practice Group. She has worked extensively on a variety matters involving special master services, business and employment disputes, ERISA, and federal and state qui tam litigation.

Heather has acquired vast experience in the area of special master services. Specifically, she has assisted the special master Gregory P. Miller, appointed to oversee discovery in thousands of federal cases transferred to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania for coordinated and consolidated pretrial proceedings in the In Re: Diet Drugs (Phentermine/Fenfluramine/Dexfenfluramine) products liability litigation. In this role, Heather has developed discovery procedures, resolved discovery disputes and acted as a liaison between the district court and various parties.

Heather's work also has included defending against allegations of employment-related retaliation and sexual harassment, initiating claims against brokers and investment advisors on behalf of an insurance commissioner, litigating breach of contract and other business-related disputes and pursuing federal and state qui tam lawsuits involving health care fraud. Additionally, Heather has experience in evaluating claims against ERISA plan fiduciaries, and she has helped an ERISA-regulated employee benefits trust secure its right to operate a self-insured, risk-assuming preferred provider organization.

In General.  Heather is the president of the National Association of Women Lawyers.  She has long been active in the organization, previously serving as an officer and member-at-large on the executive board and as chair of the sponsorships and National Program Committee. In addition, she is a member of the American, Pennsylvania and Philadelphia Bar Associations, as well as the Pennsylvania Bar Association's Commission on Women in the Profession.  An avid college sports fan, she also participates in the alumni groups that supports Temple University's Varsity athletic program.