David S. Fryman

Partner
Philadelphia
David S. Fryman is a member of Ballard Spahr's Labor and Employment Group. David represents employers in all types of labor and employment matters, including labor arbitrations, employment discrimination, and wage and hour cases; union representation campaigns and unfair labor practice proceedings; ERISA and employee benefits litigation; restrictive covenant and trade secret cases; and advice and training on a broad range of day-to-day human resource issues.

Experience 

Representative Matters

  • Tried numerous employment discrimination cases to verdict
  • Represented multinational corporations and health care institutions in discrimination and wage and hour class actions filed by current and former employees, and ERISA class actions filed by plan participants
  • Prosecuted and defended multiple preliminary injunction actions seeking to enforce noncompete and nonsolicitation agreements

Professional Highlights

Pro Bono Experience

David has worked on pro bono matters large and small, representing individuals and nonprofit organizations. For the last several years, he has been part of a team of Ballard lawyers seeking to overturn the murder conviction and death sentence of an inmate on Pennsylvania's death row.

Recognition & Accomplishments

College of Labor and Employment Lawyers – Fellow, 2016

Chambers USA, labor and employment litigation, (Pennsylvania), 2007-2023

The Best Lawyers in America, Employment Law - Management, Labor Law - Management, Labor and Employment Litigation, 2012-2024; "Lawyer of the Year," Labor Law - Management (Philadelphia), 2012

Speaking Engagements

Co-Speaker, "Restrictive Covenant and Trade Secret Litigation – Lessons from the Front Lines," a Ballard Spahr CLE program, February 26, 2020

"Trade Secrets and Restrictive Covenants: Keeping Your Secrets Safe and Your Employees Honest," Pennsylvania Bar Institute Employment Law Institute, April 24, 2019

"The Impact of an Aging Workforce and How Employers Can Prepare," Ballard Spahr CLE, January 10, 2019

Board Memberships & Community Service

People's Emergency Center, former President

Arden Theatre Company, former President

Publications

Co-author, "Update on Mental Health Issues in the Workplace," Law.com, February 2020

Chapter author, "The Complex World of ERISA Preemption," ERISA: A Comprehensive Guide, Third Edition

Co-author, "Trade Secrets and Restrictive Covenants: Keep Your Secrets Safe and Your Employees Honest," Pennsylvania Bar Institute's 10th Annual Employment Law Institute (Vol. II)

Credentials 

Education

George Washington University Law School (J.D. 1989, with honors)

Lafayette College (A.B. 1985)

Admissions

New Jersey

Pennsylvania

U.S. District Courts for the Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts of Pennsylvania

U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

U.S. Supreme Court