Thomas P. Witt

Of Counsel

Thomas has extensive experience in commercial real estate transactions, including sales, leasing, financing, brokers licensing, zoning, and land development regulation. His practice includes zoning, land use, and historic preservation for projects in Philadelphia, including the Comcast Center (which is the tallest building in the city), the luxury condominium 1706 Rittenhouse Square, and the National Museum of American Jewish History. He also handles sale leaseback transactions and the representation of office tenants in leasing. Tom has lectured on real estate practice and zoning, currently teaches a seminar at the University of Pennsylvania Law School in the practice of land use law, formerly taught the course in land use law at the University of Pennsylvania Law School, and is listed in Who's Who in American Law.

Tom served as co-chair of the Zoning and Land Use Committee of the Real Property Section of the Philadelphia Bar Association and was active on committees of the Philadelphia Bar Association and Development Workshop commenting on Philadelphia's 2012 Zoning Ordinance. He is also a member of the board of directors of Regional Housing Legal Services. Tom is a past president and current publications chair of the Bicycle Club of Philadelphia, chairs the advisory committee of the LaSalle University Art Museum, and, with his wife, Loretta, is past co-president of the Science and Art Club of Germantown. He also served on the board of Historic RittenhouseTown, and was recently elected Treasurer of Historic RittenhouseTown.

Tom earned his undergraduate degree, magna cum laude, from LaSalle College, his Master of Arts from Harvard University, and his law degree, cum laude, from Temple University. In 1968, he was a Woodrow Wilson Fellow. 

Experience

News

Best Lawyers Honors More Than 200 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys in its Best Lawyers in America 2025 Edition

August 15, 2024

Best Lawyers selected 242 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 24 of the firm’s U.S. offices for inclusion in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America.

Nearly 100 Cozen O’Connor Lawyers, 27 Practices Earn Top Recognition in Chambers USA 2024 Guide

June 10, 2024

Chambers USA rankings are based on an “assessment of a firm’s work and opinions from external market sources, with an emphasis on client feedback.” In order to be ranked in the guide, lawyers and firms must demonstrate “sustained excellence.”

Best Lawyers Honors More Than 200 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys to its Best Lawyers in America 2024 Edition

August 17, 2023

Best Lawyers selected 232 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 24 of the firm’s U.S. offices for inclusion in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

Eighty-eight Cozen O’Connor Lawyers, 23 Practices Earn Top Recognition in Chambers USA 2023 Guide

June 05, 2023

Of the 88 lawyers ranked, 17 lawyers have been recognized nationally, and eighteen were recognized in Band 1. Eight of the firm's practice areas have been recognized nationally, and nine were ranked Band 1.

More Than 200 Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Named Best Lawyers and Ones to Watch

August 22, 2022

210 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 24 of the firm’s nationwide offices for inclusion in the 2023 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

Chambers Ranks 86 Cozen O’Connor Lawyers, 22 Practice Areas in Chambers USA 2022 Guide

June 02, 2022

Chambers USA, the leading annual guide to the top lawyers and law firms in the United States, has ranked 86 Cozen O’Connor lawyers as leaders in their respective fields in the guide’s 2022 edition.

Thomas Witt Awarded Philadelphia Bar Association’s Harris Ominsky Award

November 30, 2021

Thomas P. Witt, a member of the Real Estate Practice at Cozen O’Connor, will receive the Harris Ominsky Award at the Philadelphia Bar Association’s Real Property Section’s Annual Meeting on November 30, 2021.

More Than 205 Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Named Best Lawyers and Ones to Watch By The Best Lawyers In America

August 19, 2021

Best Lawyers selected 210 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 23 of the firm’s nationwide offices for inclusion in the 2022 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

82 Cozen O’Connor Lawyers, 19 Practices Earn Top Recognition in Chambers USA 2021 Guide

May 26, 2021

Chambers USA, the leading annual guide to the top lawyers and law firms in the United States, has ranked 82 Cozen O’Connor lawyers as leaders in their respective fields in the guide’s 2021 edition; of those, 15 lawyers have been recognized nationally.

200 Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Named Best Lawyers and Ones to Watch By The Best Lawyers In America

August 20, 2020

Best Lawyers selected 200 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 23 of the firm’s nationwide offices for inclusion in the 2021 edition of The Best Lawyers in America© (Copyright 2020 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken, SC).

63 Cozen O’Connor Lawyers, 16 Practices Earn Top Recognition in Chambers USA 2020 Guide

May 14, 2020

Chambers USA, the leading annual guide to the top lawyers and law firms in the United States, has ranked 63 Cozen O’Connor lawyers as leaders in their respective fields in the guide’s 2020 edition.

Publications

Council President Clarke Introduces District Overlay Requiring Affordable Housing in New Construction [Alert]

November 02, 2022

Philadelphia City Council President Darrell Clarke introduced legislation that would institute mandatory inclusionary zoning in a portion of his district.

Pennsylvania Suspends the Expiration Dates of Development Permits and Approvals Until July 2, 2013 [Real Estate Alert!]

July 07, 2010

Pennsylvania Suspends the Expiration Dates of Development Permits and Approvals Until July 2, 2013 - Real Estate Alert! - This Alert addresses an Act passed by the Pennsylvania Legislature and signed by the Governor just this week, suspending the expiration dates of development permits and approvals issued by state and local governments and agencies throughout Pennsylvania. The Act applies to permits and approvals that expired after December 31, 2008, as well as those permits and approvals that are otherwise scheduled to expire prior to July 2, 2013.

Events & Seminars

Past Events

Building Reuse in Philadelphia: Doing Well by Doing Good

September 23, 2014 - Philadelphia, Pa

Land Use and Zoning 101

October 17, 2012 - Philadelphia, PA

Session Two: Land Use and Zoning 101

October 12, 2011 - Philadelphia, PA

Industry Sectors

Education

  • Temple University—James E. Beasley School of Law, J.D., cum laude, 1975
  • Harvard University, M.A., 1969
  • La Salle University, B.A., magna cum laude, 1968

Awards & Honors

Chambers and Partners USA, 2010-2024

Best Lawyers in America, 2018-2025

Pennsylvania Super Lawyers, 2006, 2008

  • Pennsylvania
  • American Bar Association
  • Pennsylvania Bar Association
  • Philadelphia Bar Association