Outstanding Liberal Arts Alumni Awards

Joe Schwachter, ’73 Political Science, is a shareholder at Littler Mendelson, the largest law firm in the United States devoted exclusively to representing companies on employment- and labor-related issues. Joe joined the firm in 1982 and served as the managing shareholder of its flagship office for six years beginning in 1999 before stepping aside to build his practice and to pursue more speaking and litigation opportunities. Joe began his law career as a litigator for the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) after receiving his J.D. from Cleveland State University, where he also served as executive editor of Law Review. Since moving to private practice, he has specialized in appearing before the NLRB and in litigating claims in the state and federal courts concerning a myriad of employment-related disputes including wrongful termination, sexual harassment, and employment discrimination claims, for clients in print and broadcast media, biotech, health care, and telecommunications, to name some industries. Joe lectures frequently throughout the country as well as in Europe and Asia on employment-related issues. He has been named one of northern California’s SuperLawyers, and he has been quoted in numerous periodicals including the New York Times and People.

Joe generously donates his time serving on boards and advising nonprofits. As a Penn State student, he served as president of his fraternity, Alpha Epsilon Pi, and president of his graduating class. Joe and his husband, Ric Rocchiccioli, currently live in San Francisco and in the Napa Valley.