Babst Calland Attorneys Susanna Bagdasarova and Joseph V. Schaeffer were selected by The Legal Intelligencer as a “2025 Lawyer on the Fast Track, Small/Midsize Winner” in Pennsylvania.
After reviewing the results of nominations for the annual The Legal Intelligencer awards, a judging panel composed of evaluators from all corners of the legal profession and the state selected 12 attorneys as the 2025 Lawyers on the Fast Track, Small/Midsize Winners. This recognition is only given to attorneys under the age of 40 who have demonstrated excellence in four categories: development of the law; advocacy and community contributions; service to the bar; and peer and public recognition.
Susanna Bagdasarova is an associate in the Firm’s Corporate and Commercial and Emerging Technologies groups. Ms. Bagdasarova represents business clients in connection with a broad range of general corporate and commercial law matters, including entity formation, corporate structuring, corporate governance, commercial contracts, and mergers and acquisitions, with a focus on the technology sector. She is a member of the Allegheny County Bar Association and the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Aeronautical and Space Law Section Council and Commission on Women in the Profession. Ms. Bagdasarova is also a member of the board of the Dickinson Law Alumni Society, GlobalPittsburgh, and Radiant Hall. She frequently writes and presents on the Corporate Transparency Act and artificial intelligence. Ms. Bagdasarova is a 2015 graduate, summa cum laude, of The Pennsylvania State University, The Dickinson School of Law.
Joseph Schaeffer is a shareholder in the Firm’s Litigation Group and Co-Chair of the Appellate Practice Group. He focuses his practice on environmental, energy, and complex commercial litigation and has tried these cases before environmental hearings boards, courts, and juries. Mr. Schaeffer also has an active appellate practice and has served as co-counsel or lead counsel in appellate matters before in Pennsylvania and West Virginia State Courts, the United States Courts of Appeals for the Third and Fourth Circuit, and the Supreme Court of the United States. He currently serves as the co-chair of the ABA Litigation Section’s Pretrial Practice & Discovery Committee and is the secretary of the Western District of Pennsylvania Chapter of the Federal Bar Association. Mr. Schaeffer volunteers with Neighborhood Legal Services’ Protection from Abuse Program in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, and has provided pro bono representation to individuals and organizations, including a national voluntary bar association in amicus curiae filings in the Supreme Court of the United States. He is a 2012 graduate, cum laude, of the University of Pittsburgh Law School.
Francesca C. (Cella) Iovino recently joined Babst Calland as an associate in the Litigation Group. Ms. Iovino’s experience encompasses all phases of litigation from initial pleadings through trial and appeal in the state and federal courts. She has handled a variety of complex commercial disputes, involving breach of contract, breach of warranty, shareholder disputes and oppression claims and business torts. Ms. Iovino also has represented clients in financial servicing issues, debt collection and lender liability matters, trade secret misappropriation and restrictive covenants. In addition, her experience includes handling estates and trusts litigation, real estate matters, corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, and domestic and international arbitrations. Ms. Iovino also has a background representing clients in complex employment disputes related to discrimination claims, harassment claims, wrongful termination, wage and hour violations, and unionization.
Prior to joining the Firm, Ms. Iovino was an associate at Jackson Lewis P.C. and formerly an associate in the commercial litigation group with Metz Lewis Brodman Must O’Keefe. She is a 2017 graduate of Duquesne University School of Law.
Ethan F. Johnson recently joined Babst Calland as an associate in the Environmental Group. His practice involves counseling clients on federal and state environmental regulatory compliance matters, representing clients involved in complex Superfund and other environmental remediations, and advising on environmental aspects of corporate transactions.
Prior to joining the Firm, Mr. Johnson practiced at a law firm in Maine where he gained substantial environmental regulatory and litigation experience, including litigating one of the largest Superfund cleanups in the country. In addition, he advised businesses and municipalities on PFAS regulations, assisted a solar development company with construction law, and advised clients on land use, permitting, and environmental compliance.
Mr. Johnson is a 2020 graduate of Vermont Law and Graduate School.
Law firm Babst Calland recently named James D. (JD) Mazzocco a shareholder in the Firm.
JD Mazzocco is a member of the Litigation and Environmental groups. His practice focuses on environmental and complex commercial litigation. His environmental litigation experience includes representing clients in environmental cost recovery cases and federal, state, and local environmental regulatory matters, including large-scale citizen suits and environmental class actions. Mr. Mazzocco has extensive experience representing clients in trials and hearings in federal and state courts, as well as before administrative bodies and arbitration panels.
His complex commercial litigation experience includes representing clients in a wide variety of matters, including toxic tort actions, contract and lease disputes, and premises liability actions.
Mr. Mazzocco is a 2014 graduate of Duquesne University School of Law. Mr. Mazzocco is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania and before the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania and is a member of the Allegheny County Bar Association. In addition, Mr. Mazzocco is a member of the Junior Advisory Council of Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh.
Mr. Mazzocco has received a Best Lawyers®: Ones to Watch recognition from BL Rankings for Litigation – Environmental since 2021, Transportation Law since 2022, and Construction Law since 2024. He has also been selected to the Pennsylvania Rising Stars list (Thomson Reuters) since 2018.
Stefanie Pitcavage Mekilo has been selected for the YWCA of Greater Harrisburg’s 2025 Tribute to Women of Excellence (TWE) Award as a member of the TWE Class of 2025. This regionally recognized, annual award recognizes leading female professionals and community volunteers who have devoted their time and energy to making Central Pennsylvania a better place to live and work.
An award ceremony will be held at the Hershey Lodge and Convention Center on March 26, 2025. This year marks the 36th Anniversary of the Tribute to Women of Excellence event, at which well over 785 outstanding women who have made significant contributions to their communities and/or organizations have been honored.
Alexandra N. Graf and Katerina P. Vassil recently joined law firm Babst Calland.
Ms. Graf joins Babst Calland’s Environmental Group as an associate. She assists clients with matters encompassing a broad range of environmental issues, including those related to federal and state permitting, regulatory compliance, transactional due diligence, resolving liabilities under federal and state remediation programs, and environmental litigation. Ms. Graf is a 2024 graduate of the Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University.
Ms. Vassil joins the Firm’s Litigation Group as an associate. She represents clients in a variety of litigation practice areas, including commercial, energy and natural resources, environmental, and employment and labor. Ms. Vassil is a 2024 graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.
Attorney Susanna Bagdasarova was recently selected to Leadership Pittsburgh Inc.’s Leadership Development Initiative program. Susanna was among a diverse group of 49 members identified as high-potential, emerging leaders in the region who are poised to create significant impact in their organizations and communities. For more information, click here.
Lucy E. Wiesner recently joined Babst Calland as an associate in the Litigation Group. Ms. Wiesner has a broad range of experience representing corporate clients in commercial disputes, shareholder disputes, and energy and natural resources litigation.
Prior to joining Babst Calland, Ms. Wiesner served as a Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable Richard A. Lloret in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. She is a 2021 graduate of Temple University Beasley School of Law.
Babst Calland announces that five practice areas and 14 attorneys and recognized in the 2024 Chambers USA Guide. Of those, the Firm was ranked for the first time this year in Litigation: General Commercial in Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh & Surrounds, and USA – Nationwide – Energy: PHMSA Specialists.
Chambers rankings are a definitive mark of excellence across the legal industry for law firms and legal professionals. A ranking from Chambers shows that the firm has stood out in the most rigorous, independent and in-depth research process and has emerged as one of the best in the field. The qualities on which rankings are assessed include: technical legal ability; professional conduct; client service; commercial astuteness; diligence; commitment; and other qualities most valued by the client.
Firm Rankings:
Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh & Surrounds
- Litigation: General Commercial (Band 3)
Pennsylvania
- Environment (Band 1)
- Construction (Band 3)
West Virginia
- Energy & Natural Resources (Band 2)
- Environment (Band 2)
Lawyer Rankings:
USA – Nationwide – Energy: PHMSA Specialists
Pennsylvania – Environment
Pennsylvania – Construction
Pennsylvania – Litigation: Mediators
District of Columbia – Environment
West Virginia – Environment
West Virginia – Litigation: General Commercial
West Virginia – Energy & Natural Resources
Daniel R. Richey recently joined Babst Calland as a shareholder in the Corporate and Commercial and Emerging Technologies groups. Mr. Richey provides counsel across multiple industries, focusing on private equity, emerging technology, software, energy, fintech, life sciences, telecommunications and entertainment.
Mr. Richey represents investor groups, family offices, private equity and venture funds, independent sponsors and operating companies in a variety of complex corporate transactions, including financial and strategic mergers and acquisitions, early-stage venture investments, and platform formations, add-ons and roll-ups. He also negotiates public and private capital markets transactions, including private securities offerings and alternative equity financing, including PIPE and RDO investments and ATM and ADR facilities.
In compliance matters, Mr. Richey helps clients navigate federal, state and non-governmental regulatory regimes, including under SEC and FINRA rules, state securities regulations, and NYSE and Nasdaq exchange rules. Mr. Richey also advises public companies in proxy and fiduciary matters, has counseled not-for-profit business trade associations in governance and general corporate matters, and provides comprehensive outside general counsel services. He also regularly advises clients on data privacy and cybersecurity practices and policies.
Mr. Richey’s commercial practice includes software and SaaS licensing agreements, manufacturing, storage, distribution, wholesale, advertising and agency and other commercial service agreements and transactions, as well as restrictive covenants and consumer-facing terms of service, privacy and cybersecurity policies and clickthrough agreements.
Prior to joining Babst Calland, Mr. Richey was an associate with McGuireWoods LLP. He is a 2012 graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.
Angela M. Harrod recently joined Babst Calland as an associate in the Construction and Litigation groups. Ms. Harrod has a broad range of experience representing corporate clients in matters including breach of contract, unfair trade practices, and complex litigation.
Ms. Harrod represents contractors, subcontractors, owners, developers, design professionals, and construction companies in a broad range of matters arising from complex construction and development projects. She has experience with Pennsylvania’s Mechanics’ Lien Law, and routinely prosecutes and defends lien claims. Ms. Harrod also represents clients in contractual and payment disputes.
Bryan M. Seigworth recently joined Babst Calland as a shareholder in the Corporate and Commercial and Emerging Technologies groups. Mr. Seigworth acts as outside general counsel for clients across multiple industries with a focus in the manufacturing, life sciences, and software as a service (SaaS).
Mr. Seigworth negotiates a broad array of commercial and real estate agreements on behalf of his clients and prepares agreements governing all aspects of the manufacturing relationship, including contract, toll, and private label manufacturing; build-to-print and design and spec fabrication; engineering and development services; exclusive relationships; vendor-managed inventory arrangements; teaming relationships and joint ventures; and independent representative services. He also advises clients on regulatory obligations governing their manufacturing activities, including under the FAR/DFARs, ITAR, and FDA cGMP regulations.
Mr. Seigworth assists life sciences clients in negotiating agreements for technology development, collaboration, licensing, and transfer; product and service co-promotion and marketing; consulting arrangements; investigator-initiated studies; turnkey offerings; product distribution; and reseller arrangements. He routinely advises clients with respect to HIPAA compliance and other data security and privacy obligations, as well as applicable healthcare regulations.
Mr. Seigworth also regularly negotiates agreements for software as a service (SaaS) offerings; software development, licensing, and transfer; professional services; and confidentiality obligations. He assists software providers in complying with their data privacy and security obligations, including under US and EU data privacy laws.
In addition to his commercial and regulatory practice, Mr. Seigworth advises clients in connection with their acquisition and sale of businesses and product lines. Before focusing his practice on commercial and corporate transactions, Mr. Seigworth was a commercial and intellectual property litigator. He also relies on his in-house counsel experience when helping clients operationalize strategies designed to mitigate commercial and regulatory risk.
Prior to joining Babst Calland, Mr. Seigworth was the founder of Seigworth Law Group. He is a 2004 graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.
Kristen L. Petrina recently joined Babst Calland as an associate in the Corporate and Commercial and Emerging Technologies groups. Ms. Petrina represents domestic and international clients on a broad range of general corporate and commercial law matters, including recapitalizations, restructuring, mergers and acquisitions, commercial lending, commercial contracts, entity formation, corporate governance, and corporate exit and succession planning.
Prior to joining Babst Calland, Ms. Petrina was an associate of Dentons Cohen & Grigsby. She is a 2022 graduate of Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University.
Babst Calland Attorney Casey Alan Coyle was selected by The Legal Intelligencer as a “2024 Lawyer on the Fast Track, Small/Midsize Winner” in Pennsylvania.
After reviewing the results of nominations for the annual The Legal Intelligencer awards, a judging panel composed of evaluators from all corners of the legal profession and the state selected 13 attorneys as the 2024 Lawyers on the Fast Track, Small/Midsize Winners. This recognition is only given to attorneys under the age of 40 who have demonstrated excellence in four categories: development of the law; advocacy and community contributions; service to the bar; and peer and public recognition.
Mr. Coyle is a shareholder and co-chair of the Firm’s Litigation Group. He is also the Managing Shareholder of the Firm’s Harrisburg Office. He concentrates his practice on appellate law and complex commercial litigation. He frequently represents clients in state and federal appellate courts, with a particular emphasis on appeals before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. Over his career, he has represented either a party or an amicus curiae in 15 appeals before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. Mr. Coyle has also successfully petitioned the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to grant review of an appeal—commonly known as “allocatur”—on six different occasions. In addition, he has presented oral argument before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, Pennsylvania Supreme Court, Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court, and Pennsylvania Superior Court.
Christopher S. Etheredge recently joined Babst Calland as an associate in the Litigation Group. Mr. Etheredge has a wealth of experience representing clients in a wide variety of high-stakes litigation and appellate matters involving state and local governments, elected and appointed government officials, complex energy and business litigation, class actions, product and premises liability, medical malpractice, and criminal defense. Recently, he served as counsel to the West Virginia House of Delegates during consecutive legislative sessions, where he drafted and presented legislation to the House Committees on Judiciary, Government Organization, Workforce Development, and Technology and Infrastructure, and regularly counseled House leadership during floor sessions.
Prior to joining Babst Calland, Mr. Etheredge was an associate with Steptoe & Johnson PLLC. He is a 2020 graduate of Washington and Lee University School of Law.