Robert J. Baker

Robert J. Baker focuses his practice on the defense of employment and workers’ compensation matters, with a primary emphasis on representing employers in labor and employment litigation, including claims before the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC) and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). He is skilled in advising clients on a wide range of human resources issues, including hiring and termination, progressive discipline, payroll, compensation and benefits, OSHA/risk management, and training and development.

With extensive experience in workers’ compensation defense, Rob effectively represents self-insured clients, insurance carriers, and third-party administrators (TPAs) in a wide array of claims. He has a proven track record in defending workers’ compensation matters for construction companies and hospitals, where unique risks and regulatory complexities often arise. Rob approaches each case with a collaborative mindset, working closely with employers, brokers, and adjusters to ensure a coordinated team response at all times. This team-oriented approach allows Rob to tailor his strategies to each client’s business objectives, providing clear, pragmatic guidance to mitigate risks while ensuring compliance.

Rob’s background includes serving as Corporate Director of Human Resources for PHI/Presbyterian Homes, Inc., a continuing care retirement community, where he oversaw employment law compliance, employee relations, workers’ compensation for both insured and self-insured programs, and various other HR functions. This direct experience allows Rob to provide clients with practical, hands-on guidance, having navigated similar challenges firsthand in his own role as a corporate HR leader. His approach is grounded in his understanding of the pressures and complexities employers face, particularly when managing compliance and risk in a constantly evolving legal setting.

Rob’s notable achievements include managing WARN Act compliance, handling reductions in force, conducting successful OSHA investigations with zero deficiencies, transitioning multiple employee benefits programs from insured to self-insured status, managing welfare and retirement plan documentation, and restructuring retirement plans by implementing new programs. His direct HR experience is complemented by his extensive litigation background, which allows him to represent and counsel employers on the full spectrum of employment law issues with both strategic insight and practical solutions.

Rob is also deeply committed to sharing his knowledge and is a frequent writer and lecturer on employment law topics. He is a course planner and presenter for the Pennsylvania Bar Institute and a regular speaker at the Pennsylvania Business Workers’ Compensation Conference and the Pennsylvania Governor’s Occupational Safety and Health Conference. Rob’s dedication to the field and his contributions to ongoing legal education were recognized by his selection to Pennsylvania Super Lawyers from 2018 to 2024.

Rob earned his J.D. from Widener University School of Law in 2005, following an M.A. and B.A. (magna cum laude) from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 1999 and 1997, respectively. He is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania and Virginia, providing his clients with seasoned representation and an unparalleled commitment to achieving effective solutions in the workplace.