Gary Lynch

Gary F. Lynch is a prominent attorney and founding partner of Lynch Carpenter LLP, a law firm based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He has over 30 years of experience in the legal field, focusing primarily on plaintiffs' class action litigation involving data breach, privacy rights, employee rights, and consumer protection.

Education and Early Career

Lynch graduated from Penn State University in 1986 with a degree in Accounting, complemented by minors in English and Business Logistics. He earned his law degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law in 1989, where he served as an editor for the Law Review. Lynch began his legal career at Reed Smith, one of Pittsburgh's largest law firms, before transitioning to represent plaintiffs in various employment and consumer lawsuits starting in 1991.

Legal Practice

As a founding partner of Lynch Carpenter, Lynch has handled more than 100 class action lawsuits across federal and state courts nationwide. His significant cases include representing clients against major corporations such as Home Depot, Equifax, and Target. Notably, he served as Counsel of Record in the U.S. Supreme Court case Symczyk v. Genesis, which addressed critical issues regarding collective actions under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) .234

In 2018, he successfully argued before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in Dittman v. UPMC, establishing a common law duty for organizations to protect electronically stored personal data .34 His work has led to numerous multi-million dollar recoveries for plaintiff classes, reinforcing his reputation as a leading figure in consumer protection and employee rights litigation.

Professional Recognition

Lynch has received multiple accolades throughout his career, including being named a finalist for The Legal Intelligencer's Attorney of the Year award and being recognized as a Super Lawyer by Thomson Reuters .34 He is also actively involved in community services, serving on the board of the Human Services Center, Inc., which provides behavioral healthcare .3

Current Focus

At Lynch Carpenter, Lynch continues to advocate for individuals facing injustices related to wage rights, data privacy violations, and discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). His firm emphasizes a commitment to fighting for "everyday people" against large corporations that may exploit or harm them .124

In summary, Gary F. Lynch is a dedicated attorney known for his extensive experience in class action litigation and his commitment to protecting consumer rights and employee interests.