Bio
Patrice A. Toland is a Principal in the Firm's Workers' Compensation Department, dedicating her practice to the defense of employers in workers' compensation cases. In addition to litigating claims, she assists her clients in developing best practices to prevent liability and to reach favorable resolutions when necessary. She is a frequent lecturer to the industry on current topics in this area. Her client base includes large international corporations in the health care, maintenance, retail, and transportation industries.
In 1999, Ms. Toland became the Firm's liaison to the Philadelphia Bar Association. She served as the Association's defense Chair to the Workers' Compensation Section and its Section representative to the Board of Governors. She was an elected member of the Board of Governors and then served as the Vice Chair and Chair of the Board. Ms. Toland was appointed as a Philadelphia member of the House of Delegates to the Pennsylvania Bar Association. She participated in the Women in the Profession Committee and was the liaison between that committee and other organizations for professional women. Ms. Toland also served on the Executive Committee for the Philadelphia Association of Defense Counsel. In 2021, Ms. Toland was appointed as a Trustee of the Philadelphia Bar Foundation.
Ms. Toland is a mentor for junior attorneys in Post & Schell and other law firms and organizations. In 2018, The Legal Intelligencer honored her with its Best Law Firm Mentor Award in recognition of her efforts in preparing the next generation of legal talent. In 2019, the Philadelphia Bar Association’s Workers’ Compensation Section honored her with the Martha J. Hampton Award.
In 2022, Ms. Toland was elected as a Fellow of the College of Workers' Compensation Lawyers. The College of Workers' Compensation Lawyers is a national, non-profit organization established to honor those attorneys who have distinguished themselves in their practice in the field of workers' compensation.
In 2023, 2024 and several preceding years, Ms. Toland was recognized as a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer by her peers, following statewide voting and review by a special panel. The Best Lawyers in America™ recognized Ms.Toland in its 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 editions in the Workers' Compensation Law - Employers category and was recognized as a Lawyer of the Year in the same category in the 2021, 2023 and 2025 editions. For information about this selection and an overview of common third-party publications, rankings, and list methodologies, click here.
Education
-
J.D., Cum Laude, New England School of Law, 1978
Law Review: Coordinating Editor, New England Law Review - B.A. in Criminal Justice, University of Delaware, 1974
Bar Memberships
- Pennsylvania
Court Admissions
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
Affiliations
- Philadelphia Bar Association
- Trustee, Philadelphia Bar Foundation
- Philadelphia Association of Defense Counsel
- Faculty Advisory Board, Insurance Society of Philadelphia (ISOP)
Speaking Engagements
- Panelist. "How Cyber and Crypto Currencies are Financing the Exploding Gig Economy. What it Means to Your Workers' Comp Insurance Defense," CLM's Virtual 2021 Workers' Compensation and Retail, Restaurant & Hospitality Conference (May 12, 2021)
- Presenter, "Medical Marijuana in PA and NJ: Legal and Practical Issues," Post & Schell CLE Seminar, Philadelphia, PA (October 14, 2019)
- Presenter, "The Front Lines of Workers’ Compensation Law and Claims," Continuing Education Seminar Co-Sponsored by Dallas-Fort Worth Chapter of RIMS, Dallas, TX (June 11, 2015)
- Panelist, "The Front Lines of Workers' Compensation Law," Post & Schell Seminar, Philadelphia, PA (February 19, 2015)
- Speaker, "A Review of the Reasonableness and Necessity of Medical Treatment in the Realm of Neuromuscular Care with an Analysis of the New Utilization Review Procedure and Case Law Update," Post and Schell, P.C., Philadelphia, PA (June 17, 2011)
- Speaker, "Workplace Violence and Mental Stress Claims," Post & Schell, P.C., Philadelphia, PA (March 25, 2011)
- Speaker, "Claim Prevention and Legal Updates," Delaware Valley Workers' Compensation Trust, Horsham, PA (November 2010)
- Speaker, "Claim Prevention and Legal Updates," Delaware Valley Workers' Compensation Trust, Horsham, PA (November 2009)
- Speaker, "Claim Prevention and Legal Updates," Delaware Valley Workers' Compensation Trust, Horsham, PA (November 2008)
- Speaker, "Claim Prevention and Legal Updates," Delaware Valley Workers' Compensation Trust, Annapolis, MD (June 2008)
- Speaker, "Legal Updates and Trends," Annual Bureau of Workers' Compensation Conference, Hershey, PA (June 12-14, 2006)
- Course Planner, "Taking the Offensive," a seminar addressing strategies to prevent general liability and workers' compensation claims, issues relating to security, and a legislative update, PA Retailers' Association and Post & Schell, P.C. Joint Seminar (June 2006)
- Speaker, "Settlement of the Workers' Compensation Claim and Its Implication for the Employment Relationship," Navigating the Troubled Waters of Employment and Workers' Compensation Issues Seminar, Dallas, TX (June 8, 2004)
- Speaker, Brown & Brown Insurance Seminar to Reduce Workers' Compensation Costs, Bethlehem, PA (April 2004)
- Speaker, "Controlling Workers' Compensation Costs," The Rigg/Darlington Group Seminar, Morgantown, PA (May 2004)
- Panelist, "Expectations of a Medical-Only Claim," Bureau of Workers' Compensation Conference, Lancaster, PA (December 3, 2003)
- Panelist, Discussion on Ethical Consideration in the Workers' Compensation Practice, Annual Meeting of the Pennsylvania Bar Association, Workers' Compensation Section, Hershey, PA (2003)
News & Insights
Education
-
J.D., Cum Laude, New England School of Law, 1978
Law Review: Coordinating Editor, New England Law Review - B.A. in Criminal Justice, University of Delaware, 1974
Bar Memberships
- Pennsylvania
Court Admissions
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
Affiliations
- Philadelphia Bar Association
- Trustee, Philadelphia Bar Foundation
- Philadelphia Association of Defense Counsel
- Faculty Advisory Board, Insurance Society of Philadelphia (ISOP)