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Richard G. Poulson
Alternate image for Richard G. Poulson

Richard G. Poulson

Partner

rpoulson@wwdlaw.com
215.656.3672

Philadelphia

1845 Walnut Street, 24th Floor Philadelphia, PA 19103

  • Labor Lawyer Richard Poulson Cautions Workers Mulling Public vs. Private Sector
  • Willig, Williams & Davidson Attorney Discusses Arbitration for Collective Bargaining
  • Richard G. Poulson Elected a Fellow of College of Labor and Employment Lawyers
  • 18 Willig, Williams & Davidson Attorneys Named 2023 PA Super Lawyers & Rising Stars
  • 14 Willig, Williams & Davidson Attorneys Named Among 2023 ‘Best Lawyers in America,’ Amy Rosenberger Named ‘Lawyer of the Year’ in Philadelphia in Labor Law for Unions
  • 13 Willig, Williams & Davidson Attorneys Named Among 2022 ‘Best Lawyers in America,’ Two Named ‘Lawyers of the Year’ in Employee Benefits, Union Law
  • 17 Willig, Williams & Davidson Attorneys Named 2021 PA Super Lawyers, Managing Partner Named Among Top Attorneys in State
  • Willig, Williams & Davidson Partner Richard G. Poulson Presents at American Arbitration Association Webinar
  • 15 Willig, Williams & Davidson Attorneys Named Among 2021 ‘Best Lawyers in America,’ Nancy B.G. Lassen Named ‘Lawyer of the Year’ in Philadelphia Labor Law
  • 16 Willig, Williams & Davidson Attorneys Named 2020 PA Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
  • Willig, Williams & Davidson Labor Lawyer Richard Poulson Represents San Antonio Firefighters in Arbitration Proceedings
  • Willig, Williams & Davidson Lawyers Named Among 2020 ‘Best Lawyers in America’
  • 14 Willig, Williams & Davidson Attorneys Named 2019 PA Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
  • Willig, Williams & Davidson Labor Lawyer Richard Poulson Argues for Stronger Police Compensation Package Before PA Supreme Court [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]
  • 15 Willig, Williams & Davidson Attorneys Named Among 2019 ‘Best Lawyers in America’
  • 14 Willig, Williams & Davidson Attorneys Named 2018 PA Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
  • 14 Willig, Williams & Davidson Attorneys Named Among 2018 ‘Best Lawyers in America’
  • 13 Willig, Williams & Davidson Attorneys Named 2017 PA Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
  • 12 Willig, Williams & Davidson Attorneys Named Among 2017 ‘Best Lawyers in America’
  • Philadelphia Labor Lawyer Shares Collective Bargaining Strategies for Police, Fire
  • 12 Willig, Williams & Davidson Attorneys Named 2016 PA Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
  • 12 Willig, Williams & Davidson Attorneys Named to 2016 ‘Best Lawyers in America’
  • 11 Willig, Williams & Davidson Attorneys Named 2015 PA Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
  • Attorney Richard Poulson Quoted Regarding Pittsburgh Police Union Contract Arbitration
  • Obamacare and Act 111 – What’s in Store for 2014?
  • Labor Lawyer Richard Poulson Cautions Workers Mulling Public vs. Private Sector
  • Willig, Williams & Davidson Attorney Discusses Arbitration for Collective Bargaining
  • Richard G. Poulson Elected a Fellow of College of Labor and Employment Lawyers
  • 18 Willig, Williams & Davidson Attorneys Named 2023 PA Super Lawyers & Rising Stars
  • 14 Willig, Williams & Davidson Attorneys Named Among 2023 ‘Best Lawyers in America,’ Amy Rosenberger Named ‘Lawyer of the Year’ in Philadelphia in Labor Law for Unions
  • 13 Willig, Williams & Davidson Attorneys Named Among 2022 ‘Best Lawyers in America,’ Two Named ‘Lawyers of the Year’ in Employee Benefits, Union Law
  • 17 Willig, Williams & Davidson Attorneys Named 2021 PA Super Lawyers, Managing Partner Named Among Top Attorneys in State
  • Willig, Williams & Davidson Partner Richard G. Poulson Presents at American Arbitration Association Webinar
  • 15 Willig, Williams & Davidson Attorneys Named Among 2021 ‘Best Lawyers in America,’ Nancy B.G. Lassen Named ‘Lawyer of the Year’ in Philadelphia Labor Law
  • 16 Willig, Williams & Davidson Attorneys Named 2020 PA Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
  • Pennsylvania Passes COVID-19 Benefits for Police Officers, Firefighters and Correctional Officers
  • COVID-19, First Responders and Heart & Lung/Workers’ Compensation Benefits
  • Willig, Williams & Davidson Labor Lawyer Richard Poulson Represents San Antonio Firefighters in Arbitration Proceedings
  • Willig, Williams & Davidson Lawyers Named Among 2020 ‘Best Lawyers in America’
  • 14 Willig, Williams & Davidson Attorneys Named 2019 PA Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
  • Willig, Williams & Davidson Labor Lawyer Richard Poulson Argues for Stronger Police Compensation Package Before PA Supreme Court [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]
  • 15 Willig, Williams & Davidson Attorneys Named Among 2019 ‘Best Lawyers in America’
  • 14 Willig, Williams & Davidson Attorneys Named 2018 PA Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
  • Act 22 Closes Police Body Camera Loophole – Prepare to Bargain!
  • 14 Willig, Williams & Davidson Attorneys Named Among 2018 ‘Best Lawyers in America’
  • 13 Willig, Williams & Davidson Attorneys Named 2017 PA Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
  • 12 Willig, Williams & Davidson Attorneys Named Among 2017 ‘Best Lawyers in America’
  • Philadelphia Labor Lawyer Shares Collective Bargaining Strategies for Police, Fire
  • 12 Willig, Williams & Davidson Attorneys Named 2016 PA Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
  • 12 Willig, Williams & Davidson Attorneys Named to 2016 ‘Best Lawyers in America’
  • 11 Willig, Williams & Davidson Attorneys Named 2015 PA Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
  • Attorney Richard Poulson Quoted Regarding Pittsburgh Police Union Contract Arbitration
  • Obamacare and Act 111 – What’s in Store for 2014?

Rick Poulson is one of the top public-safety union lawyers in the country. The son of a Philadelphia firefighter, Rick has spent more than twenty years advocating for police officers, firefighters, paramedics, corrections officers and other public-safety professionals throughout the United States.
Best Lawyers Award Badge

Rick serves as general counsel to a large roster of public-safety and civilian unions, and in that role, he helps unions to negotiate and enforce strong collective bargaining agreements for their members and their families. Through collective bargaining, interest arbitration and the legislative processes, Rick and his colleagues have secured groundbreaking bargaining, safe-staffing, disability and equipment protections for police officers, firefighters, paramedics and other public safety workers throughout Pennsylvania. He also serves as Executive Director of Labor Relations Information System, which provides education and training services for public safety labor relations professionals across the country (www.lris.com). At the local level, and in his role as legislative counsel to unions, Rick has fought to preserve collective bargaining rights, pensions and retiree healthcare benefits for public-safety personnel, at the bargaining table and in the legislature.

Rick is also adept at directing multifaceted campaigns to obtain legal protections for workers who have become sick or injured at work. The campaigns, involving negotiation, litigation, legislative initiatives and public relations efforts, have benefited a wide range of union members, from firefighters stricken with Hepatitis C or occupational cancers, to police officers forced to don body cameras, to private-sector workers facing the long-term effects of asbestos exposure. He is currently working to secure legislation to establish post-traumatic stress injuries as occupational illnesses for police officers and firefighters, to protect the confidentiality and speech rights of police officers, and to ensure that all public safety workers are paid what they have earned under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

In addition to his busy practice, Rick is a sought-after speaker on matters facing police officers and firefighters in the modern workplace. Rick regularly trains labor organizations, arbitrators and attorneys nationwide on using state-of-the-art methods to protect the rights of public safety workers, and he testifies before legislative bodies on the importance of maintaining strong collective bargaining systems for public safety professionals.

WHAT INSPIRES ME ABOUT MY WORK

“I’m inspired to work for people who stand up for people. I protect the rights of people who risk their lives to protect others.”

AWAY FROM WORK

“My wife Jennifer and I like to hike with our dogs—Shae, a Goldendoodle therapy dog, and Charlie, a Labradoodle. I also enjoy kayaking and playing the guitar for my own enjoyment.”

  • Willig, Williams & Davidson Partner Richard G. Poulson Presents at American Arbitration Association Webinar
  • 15 Willig, Williams & Davidson Attorneys Named Among 2021 ‘Best Lawyers in America,’ Nancy B.G. Lassen Named ‘Lawyer of the Year’ in Philadelphia Labor Law
  • 16 Willig, Williams & Davidson Attorneys Named 2020 PA Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
  • Pennsylvania Passes COVID-19 Benefits for Police Officers, Firefighters and Correctional Officers
  • COVID-19, First Responders and Heart & Lung/Workers’ Compensation Benefits
  • Willig, Williams & Davidson Labor Lawyer Richard Poulson Represents San Antonio Firefighters in Arbitration Proceedings
  • Obamacare and Act 111 – What’s in Store for 2014?
  • 14 Willig, Williams & Davidson Attorneys Named 2019 PA Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
  • 14 Willig, Williams & Davidson Attorneys Named 2018 PA Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
  • 15 Willig, Williams & Davidson Attorneys Named Among 2019 ‘Best Lawyers in America’
  • 14 Willig, Williams & Davidson Attorneys Named Among 2018 ‘Best Lawyers in America’
  • 13 Willig, Williams & Davidson Attorneys Named 2017 PA Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
  • 12 Willig, Williams & Davidson Attorneys Named Among 2017 ‘Best Lawyers in America’
  • 12 Willig, Williams & Davidson Attorneys Named to 2016 ‘Best Lawyers in America’
  • 11 Willig, Williams & Davidson Attorneys Named 2015 PA Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
  • 12 Willig, Williams & Davidson Attorneys Named 2016 PA Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
  • Attorney Richard Poulson Quoted Regarding Pittsburgh Police Union Contract Arbitration
  • Philadelphia Labor Lawyer Shares Collective Bargaining Strategies for Police, Fire
  • Willig, Williams & Davidson Labor Lawyer Richard Poulson Argues for Stronger Police Compensation Package Before PA Supreme Court [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]
  • Willig, Williams & Davidson Lawyers Named Among 2020 ‘Best Lawyers in America’
  • Act 22 Closes Police Body Camera Loophole – Prepare to Bargain!
  • 17 Willig, Williams & Davidson Attorneys Named 2021 PA Super Lawyers, Managing Partner Named Among Top Attorneys in State
  • 13 Willig, Williams & Davidson Attorneys Named Among 2022 ‘Best Lawyers in America,’ Two Named ‘Lawyers of the Year’ in Employee Benefits, Union Law
  • 14 Willig, Williams & Davidson Attorneys Named Among 2023 ‘Best Lawyers in America,’ Amy Rosenberger Named ‘Lawyer of the Year’ in Philadelphia in Labor Law for Unions
  • 18 Willig, Williams & Davidson Attorneys Named 2023 PA Super Lawyers & Rising Stars
  • Richard G. Poulson Elected a Fellow of College of Labor and Employment Lawyers
  • Willig, Williams & Davidson Attorney Discusses Arbitration for Collective Bargaining
  • Labor Lawyer Richard Poulson Cautions Workers Mulling Public vs. Private Sector
  • Articles + News Coverage

Education

  • Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law (J.D., cum laude, 1997)
  • La Salle University (B.A., 1992)

Honors and Awards

  • The Best Lawyers in America©, 2012 - present
  • Pennsylvania Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters), 2016 - present
  • Best Lawyers' Lawyer of the Year in Philadelphia in Labor Law - Unions, 2015
  • Pennsylvania Super Lawyers Rising Stars, 2005 - 2008

Associations

  • Fellow, Labor, College of Labor and Employment Lawyers, 2023
  • American Bar Association, 1998 – Present
  • Pennsylvania Bar Association, 1998 – Present
  • Philadelphia Bar Association, 1998 - Present

Admissions

Bar Admissions

  • Pennsylvania, 1997

Court Admissions

  • U.S. District Court for the, Eastern District of, Pennsylvania, 1999

Employment

  • Willig, Williams & Davidson, Partner, 2005-Present
  • Willig, Williams & Davidson, Associate, 1998-2004
  • Schwarzwald & Rock, Associate, 1997-1998
  • Laborers’ International Union of North America, Law Clerk, 1996-1997
  • Philadelphia
  • Harrisburg
  • Haddonfield
  • Chicago
  • 215.656.3600
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