01 / Biography
Employee-side litigation since 2013.
David Manes is a Bulldog Law employment litigation attorney based in Pittsburgh. His practice focuses on sexual harassment, workplace discrimination, retaliation, and wrongful termination. He also represents employees in matters involving unpaid wages, overtime, protected leave, disability accommodations, severance agreements, employment contracts, and other workplace disputes.
David filed the original class action complaint in Dittman v. UPMC, launching a groundbreaking employee data-breach case that went to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. The Court held that an employer that collects employee data owes a duty to exercise reasonable care in safeguarding it and that the economic loss doctrine did not bar the employees' negligence claim. The case later produced a class settlement valued at up to $2.65 million for roughly 66,000 current and former employees.
Before joining Bulldog in 2026, David founded and managed the Pittsburgh practice that became Manes & Narahari LLC. Since 2013, he has overseen more than 3,500 matters that won over $25 million for his clients. Under his leadership, the Pittsburgh Business Times recognized the firm as one of its Top 10 Fastest-Growing Companies in 2017, a Fast 50 award recipient in 2018, and a Best Places to Work award recipient in 2018. David combines detailed factual development, practical case valuation, and direct client communication. He has taught as an adjunct professor at the Duquesne School of Law and has written about law and entrepreneurship.
02 / Practice
Areas of practice.
- Sexual harassment and hostile work environment
- Employment discrimination
- Retaliation and wrongful termination
- Unpaid wages and overtime
- Disability discrimination and workplace accommodations
- FMLA and other protected leave
- Severance and employment agreements
- Employee class and collective actions
03 / Career
From founding a firm to a statewide precedent.
2013
Co-founded what became Manes & Narahari
Co-founded and managed the firm that later became Manes & Narahari LLC and built its employee-side employment docket.
2014–2021
Filed a class action for 66,000 UPMC workers
Personally filed the original class action complaint in the employee data-breach case that produced a Pennsylvania Supreme Court precedent and later a settlement valued at up to $2.65 million for roughly 66,000 employees.
2017–2018
Built one of Pittsburgh's fastest-growing firms
Led KM&A when the Pittsburgh Business Times named it one of its Top 10 Fastest-Growing Companies in 2017, presented it with a Fast 50 award in 2018, and recognized it as one of the Best Places to Work in 2018.
Teaching and writing
Taught at Duquesne and co-wrote The Entrepreneur's Counsel
Has taught as an adjunct professor at Duquesne University School of Law and as an instructor at Butler County Community College, has presented to professional and community groups, and co-authored The Entrepreneur's Counsel.
04 / Education
Education.
- University of Pittsburgh School of Law, J.D., 2012
- John P. Gismondi Certificate of Advanced Study in Civil Litigation
- Murray S. Love Mock Trial Competition champion
- JURIST staff editor and Moot Court Board participant
- Dean's Award and Donald Moritz Award
- Harding University, B.A. in Political Science, summa cum laude, 2008
- Honors College, graduated with distinction
05 / Admissions
Courts and jurisdictions.
State courts
- Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, admitted 2012
Federal district courts
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
- U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
06 / Credentials
Selected credentials.
- Founding and managing partner of the Pittsburgh practice that became Manes & Narahari LLC
- Oversaw more than 3,500 matters that won over $25 million for clients since 2013
- Filed the original Dittman v. UPMC class action that produced a Pennsylvania Supreme Court precedent and a settlement valued at up to $2.65 million
- Grew an earlier firm to roughly 30 staff, a second office, and more than 2,500 clients over four years
- Pittsburgh Business Times Top 10 Fastest-Growing Company, 2017
- Pittsburgh Business Times Fast 50, 2018, ranked No. 9
- Pittsburgh Business Times Best Places to Work, 2018
07 / Credentials
Teaching and writing.
- Adjunct professor at Duquesne University School of Law, where he created a course on law and entrepreneurship
- Instructor at Butler County Community College
- Co-author, The Entrepreneur's Counsel: Practical Legal Guidance for Starting & Running a Business, 2016
- Presenter to business owners, professionals, students, networking organizations, and community groups
08 / Credentials
Service and community.
- Volunteer legal service through Neighborhood Legal Services
- Christian Legal Aid
- Community legal education
- Business Network International
- The Independent Networking Group
- Allegheny County Bar Association
