CHARLESTON, WV, March 13, 2018 – Charles Saffer recently joined Babst Calland as senior counsel in the Energy and Natural Resources and Corporate and Commercial groups. Mr. Saffer focuses his practice on real estate and mineral title matters for corporate clients within the commercial and oil and gas industries. A 1998 graduate of the West Virginia University College of Law, he previously represented a multinational chemical corporation in the disposition of significant assets in West Virginia.
PITTSBURGH, PA, March 1, 2018 – Attorneys Nicholas F. Bunner, Brittany J. Boldt, Matthew D. Dishong, Mackenzie A. Kline, and Rachel E. Lutz joined Babst Calland in the Firm’s Mineral Title department in the Energy and Natural Resources Group with focused practices counseling various energy, oil, gas and mineral-related clients on transaction matters, including title examination, title curative, oil and gas title opinions, and due diligence.
Nicholas Bunner is a 2016 graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. He previously interned with the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office and participated in the University of Pittsburgh Health Law Clinic, obtaining special education accommodations and disability benefits for clinic clients.
Brittany Boldt is a 2015 graduate of Washington & Lee University School of Law, she previously worked as a family law attorney in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania.
Matthew Dishong, a 2013 graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, previously worked as an associate at a Pittsburgh-based energy law firm where his practice included examining mineral titles in West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Ohio.
Mackenzie Kline, a 2013 graduate of the West Virginia University College of Law, previously worked in land administration for a Texas-based oil and gas company in its Charleston, West Virginia office where he managed numerous contracts and various working, royalty, and overriding royalty interests. He has also examined mineral title in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Ohio for large firms in West Virginia and Pennsylvania.
Rachel Lutz, a 2012 graduate of the West Virginia University College of Law, previously worked as an associate for a law firm in Wheeling, West Virginia and focused her practice on litigation matters including product liability, employment, and oil and gas matters.
PITTSBURGH, PA, February 21, 2018 – Eric D. Kitcho recently joined Babst Calland as an associate in the Litigation and Employment and Labor groups. Mr. Kitcho focuses his practice on general civil litigation. In his labor and employment practice, Mr. Kitcho defends employers in claims arising under Title VII, Age Discrimination in Employment Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, and Family and Medical Leave Act. He also routinely handles cases involving trade secrets and breaches of restrictive covenants. Mr. Kitcho is a 2014 graduate, magna cum laude, from University of Pittsburgh School of Law.
CHARLESTON, WV, February 15, 2018 – Tiffany M. Arbaugh recently joined Babst Calland as staff attorney in the Energy and Natural Resources Group. Ms. Arbaugh focuses her practice on real estate and energy matters within the oil and gas industry. She earned her J.D. from the Appalachian School of Law in 2005.
Legal Services for Incorporation and Standard Business Agreements
PITTSBURGH (Jan. 23, 2018)— The Pittsburgh Life Sciences Greenhouse (PLSG) has partnered with local law firm Babst Calland to offer startup companies in the PLSG portfolio access to legal assistance regarding certain corporate governance work and drafting of certain standard business agreements, under a flat fee arrangement*. This Flat Fee Program is available to individuals and entities that come through PLSG for investment and development.
Under the Flat Fee program, Babst Calland can assist with:
• Incorporating a business, including preparing and filing with the Department of State the Articles of Incorporation, as well as preparation of other required documents.
• Assisting with the establishment of a single-member limited liability company, including the preparation and filing of a Certificate of Organization with the Department of State, and the preparation of an Operating Agreement.
• Preparing certain standard business agreements, including: (1) confidentiality agreement/non-disclosure agreement; (2) employment agreement/noncompete agreement.
“Our team can provide efficient and effective legal assistance to help companies new and old navigate the day-to-day issues commonly faced by businesses, and we look forward to working with PLSG and its exciting portfolio of emerging life sciences companies,” said Alana Fortna of Babst Calland. “The life sciences space is essential to the continued growth of our region.”
“PLSG believes in the mission of helping regional life sciences companies achieve successful commercialization, and Babst Calland’s offer to bring its legal expertise and insight to bear on behalf of our startups for a flat fee is both incredibly valuable and very much appreciated,” said Jim Jordan, PLSG President and CEO. “By developing this Flat Fee Program with Babst Calland, we can make sure that our companies have experienced counsel at a predictable cost.”
The PLSG kicks off this new program by giving away one free legal service* at a drawing during its B2B event, “Start-ups: Why and when to hire a lawyer?” scheduled from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., Thursday, January 25, at PLSG offices on the South Side, featuring guest speakers Alana Fortna and Ben Milleville from Babst Calland. Please see the PLSG website for details and registration (www.PLSG.com).
PITTSBURGH, PA, January 22, 2018 – Anthony S. DaDamo recently joined Babst Calland as a staff attorney in the Energy and Natural Resources Group. Mr. DaDamo counsels various energy, oil, gas and mineral-related clients on transaction matters as they relate to gas title issues and opinions. Mr. DaDamo is a 2014 graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.
PITTSBURGH, January 10, 2018 – Babst Calland recently named Benjamin W. Milleville, Elena L. Rorabaugh and Nikolas E. Tysiak shareholders in the Firm.
Benjamin W. Milleville, a member of the Firm’s Corporate and Commercial Group, advises businesses and nonprofit organizations on corporate and transactional matters, including mergers and acquisitions, reorganizations, joint ventures, commercial contracts, governance matters, compliance, and real estate transactions. Mr. Milleville advises businesses of varying size and complexity, and at various points in their lifecycles. In his role as outsourced corporate counsel to a multinational public company, he counsels senior management in the U.S. and abroad on a broad range of legal matters. Mr. Milleville also advises entrepreneurs and startup businesses on the legal issues faced by emerging companies, including business structuring and protection of intellectual property. In his nonprofit practice, Mr. Milleville counsels clients, including charitable organizations and trade associations, on obtaining and maintaining tax-exempt status, nonprofit governance, and nonprofit mergers and strategic alliances.
Mr. Milleville is a 2008 graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.
Elena L. Rorabaugh, a member of the Firm’s Energy and Natural Resources Group, is experienced in assisting oil and gas companies navigate the legal obstacles involved with exploration and production. Her practice focuses on energy, oil, gas and mineral-related transaction matters, including title examination and title curative work. Ms. Rorabaugh also counsels clients with respect to the acquisition and disposition of oil and gas properties and has experience in all aspects of title due diligence. Ms. Rorabaugh also has experience representing E&P, midstream and other energy companies in mergers and acquisitions, and she counsels clients on a variety of business and corporate transactional matters.
Ms. Rorabaugh is a 2009 graduate of Duquesne University School of Law.
Nikolas E. Tysiak, a member of the Firm’s Energy and Natural Resources Group, practices in the areas of energy and real estate law, with a primary focus on transactions and ownership involving oil and gas, where he has extensive experience identifying and curing novel real estate title issues in West Virginia, Ohio and Pennsylvania.
Mr. Tysiak also maintains a general real estate practice, with experience conducting foreclosure proceedings, drafting complex retail and commercial leasing agreements, drafting deeds and other documents necessary to effectuate property transactions, conducting real estate closings, researching and writing title insurance policies and overseeing curative measures to finalize property transactions.
Mr. Tysiak is a 2005 graduate of Washington College of Law at American University.