Associate

Connor J. Thomson

BIOGRAPHY

Holding the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter designation earned by only 4% of insurance professionals and recognized as a “35 Under 35 Rising Insurance Star Executive,” attorney Connor J. Thomson is a valuable asset to the many homeowners associations (HOAs), condominium associations, cooperatives and insurance companies that turn to Gawthrop Greenwood.

A lifelong resident of community associations, Connor prides himself on providing insurance-savvy general counsel services to community associations, as well as timely and thought-provoking advice to adjusters while defending board members against directors’ & officers’ liability claims.

Connor joined Gawthrop Greenwood in Fall 2025 after earning his JD from Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law and MBA in Spring 2025. Previously, he studied Risk Management and Insurance at Saint Joseph’s University, where he was a Deans’ Scholar, was inducted into the Beta Gamma Sigma International Business Honor Society, and graduated summa cum laude with University Honors. During law school, Connor clerked at Gawthrop Greenwood, as well as at a boutique insurance defense law firm, and externed for FEMA’s Office of Chief Counsel, where he oversaw the defense of NFIP claims in federal courts during Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

A winner of the Philadelphia Bar Association’s 2025 Irvin Stander Award for outstanding scholarship, Connor has published the following articles:

“Hostile Environments in Today’s Community Associations,” April 2025, Ask the Experts, Community Associations Institute (CAI)
“Everything Community Associations in Pennsylvania Should Know About 2022 Act 122’s Annual Reporting,” February 2025, Legal Insights, Gawthrop Greenwood
“Putting the U.S. Postal Service Under the Microscope: A Thorough Workers’ Compensation Claims Analysis,” February 2024, WorkersCompensation.com

A resident of Glen Mills, Pennsylvania, Connor enjoys spending time with his family, his fiancée Erica and his mini-labradoodle Polly. Connor also enjoys sampling local craft beer and watching the Phillies and Eagles.

CREDENTIALS

COURT ADMISSIONS

Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 2025
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, 2025
U.S. Court of Appeals Third Circuit, 2025

EDUCATION & CERTIFICATIONS

Villanova University, JD, 2025
Western Governors University, MBA, 2025
Saint Joseph’s University, Honors Program, BSBA, summa cum laude, 2022
The Institutes Knowledge Group, CPCU, 2023

MEMBERSHIPS & SERVICE

Community Associations Institute (CAI), Developing and Emerging Community Association Lawyers Network
Chester County Bar Association
Board Member, Brandywine Valley CPCU Society Chapter, 2023-Present
Law Student Vice-Chair, American Bar Association – Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section: Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee, 2024-25
Law Student Vice-Chair, American Bar Association – Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section: Workers’ Compensation and Employers’ Liability Committee, 2023-24

ADDITIONAL DISTINCTIONS

Philadelphia Bar Association – Irvin Stander Award, 2025
“35 Under 35” Rising Insurance Star Executive, RISE Professionals, 2024
CPCU Go-Getter, The Institutes CPCU Society, 2023
CPCU Class of 2023 Spokesperson, The Institutes CPCU Society, 2023
1st Place, The College of Workers’ Compensation Lawyers – Law Student Writing Competition, 2022
1st Place, Global Insurance Symposium x Deloitte – The Future of Insurance Case Study Competition, 2022

NEWS & INSIGHTS

What Can Happen If I Use AI as a Condo or HOA Board Member?

Members of association boards must now be on the look-out for certain exclusions to their directors & officers liability policies relating to artificial intelligence. Recently, a large commercial lines insurance company introduced a new “absolute” exclusion to its D&O policies that seeks to eliminate coverage for nearly all claims related to AI-generated content, including using AI-generated content to assist with making complex financial, legal or governance decisions, as well as creating budgets, contracts, declarations, bylaws and more.

Gawthrop Greenwood Welcomes Community Association Law Attorney Connor J. Thomson

Community association law attorney Connor J. Thomson has joined the firm as an associate, joining one of the largest law firms supporting homeowners associations (HOAs), planned communities, condominium associations and cooperatives across Pennsylvania in the residential and commercial arena.

Hostile Environments in Today’s Community Associations

A recent survey revealed that 31% of Gen-Zers believe that violence to persons or property can be an appropriate way to bring about change. Community association managers and board members should be aware of the survey. When owners or renters begin to distrust data...

Everything Community Associations in Pennsylvania Should Know About 2022 Act 122’s Annual Reporting

Beginning on January 1, 2025, certain registered entities are now required to file an annual report to verify continued existence. Included are domestic non-profit corporations, which typically include community associations (condominium, homeowner, co-operatives).

(610) 696-8225

cthomson@gawthrop.com

PRACTICE AREAS

DISTINCTIONS

Philadelphia Bar Association – Irvin Stander Award, 2025
“35 Under 35” Rising Insurance Star Executive, RISE Professionals, 2024
CPCU Go-Getter, The Institutes CPCU Society, 2023
CPCU Class of 2023 Spokesperson, The Institutes CPCU Society, 2023
1st Place, The College of Workers’ Compensation Lawyers – Law Student Writing Competition, 2022
1st Place, Global Insurance Symposium x Deloitte – The Future of Insurance Case Study Competition, 2022

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What Can Happen If I Use AI as a Condo or HOA Board Member?

How Can We Help You?

With offices in West Chester, Berwyn and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as well as Greater Wilmington, Delaware,
we provide the highest level of legal services throughout the Greater Mid-Atlantic Region.