LAWYER PROFILE
Tom Burke

Tom Burke

USA 2026

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Ranked in 1 practice area

About

Provided by Ballard Spahr LLP

Practice Areas

Tom Burke represents clients in consumer financial services matters, enforcement actions, and complex commercial litigation in federal and state trial and appellate courts around the country. Tom is an honors graduate of Harvard Law School, a member of Phi Beta Kappa, and has served the public as a prosecutor in the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office.

In his CFS practice, Tom represents banks, non-bank lenders, and loan servicers in individual and class litigation and arbitration. He specializes in defending claims under the Consumer Financial Protection Act (CFPA), state Unfair, Deceptive, or Abusive Acts or Practices (UDAAP) statutes, and Article 4A of the Uniform Commercial Code (relating to wire transfer fraud). Tom has litigated, arbitrated, and tried complex cases in civil forums around the country, including in highly active regulatory jurisdictions such as New York, California, and Massachusetts.

Tom is also a leading authority on developments under the Higher Education Act and related federal regulations, and his clients in that space include lenders and loan servicers facing high-profile investigations, enforcement actions, and class actions. Tom has litigated student-lending cases against the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the New York Attorney General, the New York Department of Financial Services, the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, and the Massachusetts Attorney General. Tom also regularly advises clients on HEA compliance issues outside of litigation.

More broadly, Tom is an experienced commercial litigator whose practice runs the gamut, having represented major companies in high-value contractual disputes, particularly relating to pharmaceutical licensing.

Career

Admissions

New York

Pennsylvania

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania

U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York

U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois

U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Chambers Guide to the USA

Financial Services Regulation: Consumer Finance (Litigation) - USA - Nationwide

Band 3
Band 3

Individual Editorial

Tom Burke is recognized for his expertise advising clients on a variety of class actions, with additional experience on arbitrations.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • Tom is a really good attorney with a really good sense of the business.

    Financial Services Regulation: Consumer Finance (Litigation)Chambers Guide to the USA
  • I appreciate Tom's common-sense approach and subject matter expertise.

    Financial Services Regulation: Consumer Finance (Litigation)Chambers Guide to the USA
  • Tom is knowledgeable about the issues at hand and the nuances of the client's business.

    Financial Services Regulation: Consumer Finance (Litigation)Chambers Guide to the USA
  • Tom always thinks a step ahead in terms of strategy and gives his recommendation. He is a great writer and really good in oral arguments. He has it all in terms of skill set.

    Financial Services Regulation: Consumer Finance (Litigation)Chambers Guide to the USA

Ranked Individuals at Ballard Spahr LLP (189)

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