Daniel F. Thornton

Counsel

Recent Publication:

IRS Clarifies Requirements for “No Tax on Tips” Deduction [Alert]

Marla Presley and Daniel Thornton share an update from the Internal Revenue Service on the requirements for qualified tip deductions and eligible occupations.

Dan represents employers in workplace law matters, with a focus on class action defense and restrictive covenant, trade secret, and unfair competition matters. With extensive experience in both the private and public sectors, he has successfully defended a variety of employment law claims, including those involving harassment, discrimination, retaliation, whistleblower, and wage-and-hour claims, as well as applications for injunctive relief. Recognizing that each client has unique needs, Dan strives to become a seamless extension of the team, anticipating legal needs before they arise.

Before joining Cozen O’Connor, Dan worked for an Am Law 100 firm defending employers in state and federal court, including actions under Title VII, ADA, ADEA, FMLA, FLSA, the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act, the Pennsylvania Minimum Wage Act, and the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination, Civil Rights Act, and Conscientious Employee Protection Act. His clients have included companies in the construction, health care, hospitality, manufacturing, professional services, retail, and technology industries.

Dan’s clients also benefit from his experience as employee’s counsel with a national litigation firm, where he advocated for employees whose wages had been withheld or who had experienced unlawful harassment, discrimination, or retaliation in the workplace. In this role, he handled a variety of high-stakes cases ranging from single-plaintiff litigation to complex class and collective actions.

Prior to entering private practice, Dan served as a deputy attorney general with the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General. In that role, he represented the State of New Jersey in litigation involving harassment, discrimination, retaliation, employee benefits, and government contracts, and briefed numerous appeals before the New Jersey Appellate Division and Supreme Court. This public service was preceded by a judicial clerkship with the Honorable Carmen H. Alvarez, Presiding Judge of the New Jersey Superior Court, Appellate Division.

Dan earned his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law, where he was the executive editor of the Virginia Tax Review. He earned his B.S. in computer science and B.A. in music performance from Washington and Lee University. Before attending law school, he worked as a software engineer with a major IT consulting firm.

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Experience

News

Cozen O’Connor Continues its Labor & Employment Buildout, Adding Two More Labor Lawyers to its Philadelphia Office

September 15, 2025

Daniel L. Blanchard and Daniel F. Thornton both come to the firm from Jackson Lewis P.C.—rejoining former colleague and shareholder Marla N. Presley

Publications

IRS Clarifies Requirements for “No Tax on Tips” Deduction [Alert]

October 02, 2025

Marla Presley and Daniel Thornton share an update from the Internal Revenue Service on the requirements for qualified tip deductions and eligible occupations.

Education

  • University of Virginia School of Law, J.D., 2014
  • Washington and Lee University, B.S., B.A., 2010

Awards & Honors

Super Lawyers, Rising Stars (2024) This award is conferred by Super Lawyers. A description of the selection methodology can be found here. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.

  • New Jersey
  • Pennsylvania
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
  • U.S. District Court -- New Jersey
  • U.S. District Court -- Eastern District of Pennsylvania
  • U.S. District Court -- Middle District of Pennsylvania
  • U.S. District Court -- Western District of Pennsylvania

Burlington County Bar Association, Co-Chair, Employment Law Committee (2022-Present), Trustee (2021-2025), Young Lawyer Trustee (2019-2021)

Burlington County Bar Foundation, President (2024-2025), Vice President (2023-2024), Treasurer (2022-2023), Trustee (2020-2022)

Supreme Court of New Jersey, District Ethics Committee III-B, Attorney Member

Covenant Presbyterian Church, Music Leader