Randal (“Randy”) Whitlatch is a nationally recognized supply chain lawyer and commercial litigator who advises manufacturers, suppliers, and industrial companies on the legal risks that arise throughout global supply chains. He serves as Team Leader of Steptoe & Johnson’s Supply Chain Practice and helps clients navigate the intersection of commercial relationships, operational risk, regulatory compliance, and high-stakes disputes.
For nearly two decades, Randy has represented domestic and international companies whose businesses depend on complex manufacturing and sourcing networks. His clients include Tier 1 and Tier 2 automotive suppliers, mobility and transportation technology companies, Oil Country Tubular Goods (OCTG) and energy manufacturers, life sciences and chemical companies, robotics and automation businesses, healthcare manufacturers, and technology companies. He regularly advises organizations whose products, components, and raw materials cross multiple jurisdictions and regulatory regimes before reaching the market.
Randy’s practice spans the full lifecycle of supply chain risk. He counsels clients on commercial contracting, force majeure events, allocation programs, supplier and customer disputes, warranty claims, indemnity obligations, product liability exposure, trade, tariff, and regulatory developments, ESG compliance, cybersecurity, antitrust considerations, and securities-related disclosures impacting supply chains. His ability to combine litigation experience with a deep understanding of manufacturing and supply chain operations enables him to deliver practical business solutions before disputes arise and effective advocacy when they do.
A seasoned first-chair trial and arbitration lawyer, Randy has led complex litigation in state and federal courts throughout the United States and has coordinated multidisciplinary teams of lawyers, consultants, and technical experts across multiple jurisdictions. He has represented clients in significant commercial disputes, product liability matters, toxic tort litigation, mass tort proceedings, and other high-exposure business litigation.
Clients frequently turn to Randy during periods of disruption, including supplier insolvencies, raw material shortages, tariff and trade developments, geopolitical events, cybersecurity incidents, regulatory changes, and other events that threaten business continuity. He works closely with executive leadership, legal departments, procurement teams, supply chain professionals, and operational personnel to develop legally defensible strategies that protect production, customer relationships, and enterprise value.
Randy is also an Adjunct Professor at the Duquesne University Thomas R. Kline School of Law, where he teaches a course on the Law of Global Supply Chains. He is a frequent speaker and author on supply chain risk, commercial contracting, ESG, trade and tariff developments, force majeure, and other issues affecting manufacturers and industrial companies.
He is active in numerous industry organizations, including Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG) and MEMA Original Equipment Suppliers, whose members conceive, design, engineer, and manufacture the systems and technologies that comprise the majority of every vehicle produced in North America.
Court Admissions
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia
Representative Experience
- Automotive
- Defended global tier 2 automotive parts manufacturer in commercial litigation brought by tier 1 automotive parts manufacturer seeking injunction and nine figure damages award for alleged failure to make timely deliveries under a just-in-time supply contract
- Advised global compressed gas manufacturer regarding force majeure and fair and reasonable allocations programs and defended the company against claims by customers dissatisfied with gas product allocations
- Represented global tier 1 automotive parts manufacturer in commercial contractual dispute with third party vendor over the vendor’s performance under a QA/QC sorting contract impacting the quality of parts supplied to the tier 1’s OEM
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- Represented global tier 1 automotive, aerospace, and train glass manufacturer against another tier 1 commercial glass manufacturer in litigation over alleged theft of trade secrets
- Represented global tier 2 automotive parts manufacturer in litigation involving the alleged theft of trade secrets during participation in a JV by another tier 2 automotive parts supplier and a tier 1 automotive parts supplier
- Provided training to a global tier 1/tier 2 automotive parts manufacturer’s executives, in-house counsel, and front-line sales team across the client’s operations in seven countries regarding force majeure or other impediment to performance in the global automotive supply chain
- Represented global tier 1/tier 2 automotive parts manufacturer in workplace issues at factory sites, including with respect to internal investigation into employment discrimination and OSHA claims
- Advised global tier 1/tier 2 automotive parts manufacturer on commercial issues, including supply contracts both in the United States and internationally
- Represented minority shareholder in a closely held motor manufacture in dispute with majority shareholder
- Acted as firm’s primary contact to MEMA-OE, the premier automotive industry group for tier 1 and 2 parts manufacturers and suppliers as well as OEMs for heavy duty commercial vehicles
- Metals Manufacturing
- Represented seamless expandable tubulars company in complex multi-party commercial litigation against third party fabricator, supplier, and large oil & gas operator over alleged breach of contract, negligence, and products liability
- Represented global metals manufacturing company in commercial litigation with another global steel tubing manufacturer over alleged breach of contract, fraud, piercing the corporate veil, and other business torts relating to the sale of a seamless tube manufacturing facility
- Represented large injection molding company in federal litigation against former sales and service representative alleging theft of trade secrets, violation of non-compete, and other unfair trade practices when sales and service representative began diverting business through personal competing company
- Represented global metals fabrication company in products liability matters
- Represented computer circuit board manufacturer and distributor in employment discrimination and commercial litigation matters
- Food and Beverage
- Represented regional restaurant chain in contract and business tort litigation with commercial landlord and third party
- Represented regional restaurant and specialty food chain in high stakes dispute with landlord and local government over commercial restaurant space
- Energy
- Represented large oil & gas company in commercial litigation with escrow agent and promoter pertaining to alleged breach of contract, fiduciary duties, and fraud relating to Marcellus Shale gas leases
- Represented large coal company in commercial litigation with landowners and contract miner pertaining to alleged breach of contract, unjust enrichment, fraud, and other business torts relating to the mining of coal
- Represented large coal company in commercial litigation against large natural gas transport company pertaining to the natural gas transport company’s failure to mitigate its pipelines and resulting interference with company’s interest in coal
- Represented large coal company in AAA commercial arbitration against landowner pertaining to alleged breach of contract, fraud, and other business torts relating to the coal royalties
- Represented large Oil & Gas company in commercial litigation against oil & gas promoter Debtor in Bankruptcy pertaining to alleged breach of contract and fraud by Debtor associated with Oil & Gas company’s large-scale investment in Utica gas play
- Drafted indemnity agreement and assisted large coal company in designing insurance and indemnity requirements for third party vendors
- Advised executives of large coal company regarding D&O coverage provisions of insurance policy
- Negotiated with insurance carrier on behalf of large coal company to obtain more favorable insurance policy terms under a surety bond agreement
- Chemicals and Life Sciences
- Defended large manufacturer of PFOA/PFAS in federal mass tort class action over the alleged contamination of several public water systems
- Defended large polymer manufacturer in multi-state class action brought by coal preparation plant workers for claims relating to alleged neurological disease and cancer from exposure to water clarification chemicals
- Defended large polymer manufacturer in state class action by individuals alleging water contamination stemming from a spill of the manufacturer’s water clarification chemicals
- Defended large medical device and pharma company in state and federal litigation alleging defects with mesh and prosthetic hips and knees
- Defended large life sciences company in state litigation alleging defects with certain hair care and beauty products
- Represented large life sciences company in federal litigation against former sales representative alleging theft of trade secrets, violation of non-compete, and other unfair trade practices when sales representative began working for competing company
- Healthcare
- Assisted mid-size pharmacy chain in various matters, including unfair competition litigation against competitor chain, regulatory investigations, and pricing disputes with pharmaceutical vendors
- Assisted mid-size veterinarian in shareholder litigation, with practice buy-out, and with real estate lease negotiation
- Assisted mid-size pediatrics practice with various issues including contract review, employment matters, and medical malpractice litigation
- Assisted mid-size pediatrics practice with various issues arising from shareholder-practitioner’s conduct, leading to the forced buy-out of shareholder
- Assisted mid-size pediatrics practice with negotiation of provider agreement(s) with larger health system and employment contracts with newly hired physicians
- Assisted large urgent care provider in trademark dispute with competing Eastern Pennsylvanian urgent care provider
- Assisted large physical therapy provider in contract dispute with large nursing care provider
- Advised large healthcare system in pre-litigation with outside IT vendor relating to vendor’s failure to deliver promised health information exchange platform
- Assisted large healthcare system in litigation over alleged privacy breach and HIPAA violation
- Assisted provider of ASL interpreting services (exclusive to hospitals) in various commercial litigation matters, including litigation with prior shareholders, employment discrimination claims, and contractual claims relating to various suits brought under the Americans with Disabilities Act and state analogues
- Advised physician and healthcare system with respect to possible Anti-Trust and other unfair trade practices
- Advised chiropractic practice on legalities of proposed telemedicine practice in Pennsylvania
- Assisted various individual healthcare providers with employment contract negotiations with various health care practices
See All Representative Experience
- Stark Young Leadership Award, Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh (2016)
- Allegheny County Bar Association
- Pennsylvania Bar Association
- West Virginia Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- Community Relations Council, Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh
- Partnership2Gether Committee, Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh
- Former Board Member, Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh
- Former Member, Governance Committee, Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh
- Former Board Member, Jewish Council for Public Affairs
- Jewish Federations of North America
- Volunteer Coach, Pittsburgh Dynamo Soccer
- Volunteer Coach, 14th Ward Baseball Association
- “Antitrust Risk in Sustainability Collaborations for 2026,” MEMA-OESA Sustainability Hour (April 6, 2026)
- “Emerging Contaminants Exposure: A 2026 Risk Heatmap for the Rubber and Resins Supply Chain,” Association for Rubber Products Manufacturers (March 18, 2026)
- “Turning Trade Disruption into Recovery: A Briefing on IEEPA Tariff Refund Opportunities,” Steptoe & Johnson PLLC Webinar (March 11, 2026)
- “Reverse Deal Prep: Lessons from Broken Deals and Costly Mistakes,” Smart Business Dealmakers Conference (February 19, 2026)
- “2026 Supply Chain Risk Outlook: Tier 1 and Tier 2 Automotive Suppliers,” MEMA-OESA’s Morning Grind (February 10, 2026)
- Panelist, MEMA Original Equipment Suppliers Annual Conference & Podcast (November 13, 2025)
- “Supply Chain & Tariff Update | Q3 2025,” Steptoe & Johnson PLLC Webinar (November 10, 2025)
- “Supply Chain Brief: A Discussion of Q2 2025 Cases and Legislation Impacting Supply Chains,” Steptoe & Johnson PLLC Webinar (July 23, 2025)
- “ESG Trends for 2025 – An Environment of Competed Forces,” MEMA-Original Equipment Suppliers (January 14, 2025)
- Panelist, “Masters of Electronic Discovery,” Washington, D.C. (2013)
- Featured Presenter, “Medical Monitoring and Toxic Torts,” Pittsburgh Paralegal Association, Pittsburgh, PA (2013)
- “Tariffs Are No Longer Just a Pricing Problem for Construction,” Breaking Ground (April 28, 2026)
- “Supply Chain & Tariff Update | Q1 2026,” Steptoe & Johnson PLLC Newsletter (April 7, 2026)
- “IEEPA Tariff Updates Since the February Supreme Court Ruling,” Steptoe & Johnson PLLC Client Alert (April 7, 2026)
- “Supreme Court Issues Ruling Invalidating Trump Administration Tariffs Under International Emergency Economic Powers Act,” Steptoe & Johnson PLLC Client Alert (February 20, 2026)
- “The Role of Force Majeure Protocols in Maintaining Supply Chain Health,” Amplify – Resilience by Design (December 12, 2025)
- “Gist of the Action and Economic Loss Doctrines Remain Viable in Pennsylvania Federal Courts,” Lawyers Journal, Allegheny County Bar Association, Vol. 27, No. 1 (January 10, 2025)
- “Navigating Today’s Volatile Supply-Chain Environment Requires Legal Counsel,” The Legal Intelligencer (April 18, 2022)
- “Best Pleading Practices in Federal Court Following Twombly and Iqbal,” Financial Fraud Law Report (January 2011)
- “Federal Pre-Emption in Medical Device and Pharmaceutical Litigation,” Product Liability, Law360 (November 2009)
- “West Virginia Removal Jurisdiction,” ABA 50 State Survey on Removal Jurisdiction (2007)
- “May Prevailing Party Obtain ERISA Attorney’s Fees in Action Outside the Civil Enforcement Scheme?” Life, Health and Disability News (Spring 2007)
- “ERISA Subrogation and the Search for ‘Appropriate Equitable Relief,’” ABA Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Law Journal, Volume 41:4 (Summer 2006)
