Attorney Mychal Schulz was selected to The DRI Center for Law and Public Policy’s newly formed State Legislation and Rules Task Force.
State and local defense organizations (SLDOs) facing potential legislation or rules likely to impact their members can seek support from the task force.
In the past year, The Center, at the request of DANY, offered comments that led to a veto in New York of changes to its wrongful death statute; submitted comments supporting positions taken by DTCWV on proposed changes to the West Virginia civil rules; and assisted ADC with a search for legislation in other states similar to a proposed bill in California to outlaw agreements to limit disclosure of discovery material about products posing danger to health or safety.
The Center’s State Legislation and Rules Task Force will provide similar support to SLDOs in the following ways:
1. By assisting, upon request, SLDOs interested in evaluating, supporting, or opposing potential legislation or rules affecting their members and clients through
a. Sharing information about the issue from other jurisdictions;
b. Alerting other SLDOs of such issues and soliciting their advice;
c. Supporting SLDOs by providing comments favorable to the SLDO’s position;
d. Spreading word of critical developments with all SLDOs, a sort of early warning system; or
2. By supporting SLDOs interested in promoting legislation or rules adopted in other jurisdictions, such as the likely changes occurring later this year to FRE 702.
Read more.
Congratulations to Tiffany Arbaugh on being appointed as the 2023 President-Elect of Women’s Energy Network West Virginia Board of Directors.
WEN is an international organization of professional women who work across the energy value chain. Their mission is to develop programs to provide networking opportunities and foster career and leadership development of women who work in the energy industries.
Eric M. Spada recently joined Babst Calland as senior counsel in the Litigation Group. Mr. Spada’s practice focuses primarily on commercial litigation. He has represented a diverse array of clients in a variety of cases in state and federal courts in Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, and Florida, and also in commercial and construction arbitrations. Mr. Spada has also practiced in front of real estate tax assessment and appeal boards and state and federal ALJs. His litigation experience includes matters relating to construction, real estate, energy and natural resources, tax assessments and tax exemptions, and financial services. He has also successfully litigated cases concerning closely-held business disputes, franchising, civil identity theft, and insurance fraud issues. Mr. Spada also has extensive experience in the e-Discovery space.
Prior to joining Babst Calland, Mr. Spada was an associate with Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC. He is a 2008 graduate of George Washington University Law School.
Anna R. Hosack recently joined Babst Calland as an associate in the Public Sector Group of Babst Calland. Ms. Hosack’s practice focuses primarily on municipal and land use law with a concentration in general municipal, zoning, subdivision and land development, and code enforcement. Ms. Hosack participated in the Firm’s Summer Associate’s program. She is a 2022 graduate of Duquesne University School of Law.
Babst Calland attorneys celebrated the opening of the Moonshot Museum and gathered for a special tour of the new Museum housed inside Astrobotic’s headquarters facility, with Justine Kasznica, the firm’s Emerging Tech practice chair and founding board member of the Museum. Babst Calland is a founding partner of the Museum.
To learn more about the Moonshot Museum, visit https://moonshotmuseum.org/.
Justine Kasznica will be a panelist on the Small Business Presentation panel to speak from her role as a lawyer who helps space and other technology businesses/individuals designed soon-to-be proprietary information operate in the tech transfer space, especially individuals and companies in the early stages of idea development moving out of their lab and into the commercial realm.
Sean McGovern was selected to Leadership Pittsburgh 2022-2023 Cohort. Leadership Pittsburgh Inc. is the local independent nonprofit that is best known for serving as the region’s premier
community leadership, identification, connection and development organization.
It’s the 39th cohort to take part in the flagship, highly-selective program, which includes 10 months of curriculum focused around examining the region’s most pressing issues. The program will kick off in mid-September with a reception at the Duquesne Club, followed by an opening retreat later in the month. Then, the class will convene monthly for daylong sessions. The program will wrap up in June 2023.
“The participants selected for LP XXXIX represent a diverse cross-section of our community at significant levels of influence,” Jenn Beer, CEO of Leadership Pittsburgh, said in a release. “We are honored that leaders of this caliber believe that civic leadership engagement in our community matters. The commitment to participating in Leadership Pittsburgh will strengthen bonds and networks between the participants, their organizations and the region.”
In total, 58 individuals were named to the cohort.
Attorneys Susanna Bagdasarova and Joseph A. Pope recently joined Babst Calland.
Susanna Bagdasarova joins the Corporate and Commercial and Emerging Technologies groups as an associate. She 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. Prior to joining Babst Calland, Ms. Bagdasarova was an associate with Jones Day. She graduated summa cum laude from The Pennsylvania State University, The Dickinson School of Law in 2015.
Joseph Pope joins the Corporate and Commercial Group as senior counsel. Mr. Pope’s practice focuses on corporate and transactional matters, including corporate and commercial finance transactions, with a particular focus on transactions involving commercial real estate. Prior to joining Babst Calland, he was a senior attorney with Hergenroeder Rega Ewing & Kennedy. Mr. Pope graduated cum laude from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law in 2008.
Attorney Alex Farone who is also the Co-Chair of the Allegheny County Bar Association’s Communications Committee of the Young Lawyer’s Division and the Editor and Chief of its “Point of Law” Newsletter led the newsletter to receive a 2022 American Bar Association Award of Achievement. This award is presented to projects submitted by local, state and national ABA YLD Affiliates for well-planned, and executed, programs that contribute significantly to the public and the betterment of the legal profession. Recognition is determined by a jury of their peers.
View the “Point of Law” Newsletter, here.
View the Spring 2022 issue, here.
Babst Calland is pleased to announce that three lawyers were selected as 2023 Best Lawyers “Lawyer of the Year” in Pittsburgh, Pa. and Charleston, W. Va. (by BL Rankings). Only a single lawyer in each practice area and designated metropolitan area is honored as the “Lawyer of the Year,” making this accolade particularly significant.
Receiving this designation reflects the high level of respect a lawyer has earned among other leading lawyers in the same communities and the same practice areas for their abilities, professionalism, and integrity. Those named to the 2023 Best Lawyers® “Lawyer of the Year” include:
Blaine A. Lucas, Litigation – Land Use and Zoning “Lawyer of the Year” in Pittsburgh, Pa.
Timothy M. Miller, Oil and Gas Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Charleston, W.Va.
Mychal Sommer Schulz, Litigation – ERISA “Lawyer of the Year” in Charleston, W.Va.
In addition, 31 Babst Calland lawyers were selected for inclusion in the 2023 edition of The Best Lawyers in America (by BL Rankings), the most respected peer-review publication in the legal profession:
- Chester R. Babst – Environmental Law, Litigation – Environmental
- Donald C. Bluedorn II – Environmental Law, Water Law, Litigation – Environmental
- Dean A. Calland – Environmental Law
- Matthew S. Casto – Commercial Litigation
- Frank J. Clements – Corporate Law
- Kathy K. Condo – Commercial Litigation
- James Curry – Energy Law and Oil and Gas Law
- Julie R. Domike – Environmental Law, Litigation – Environmental
- Kevin K. Douglass – Natural Resources Law
- Christian A. Farmakis – Corporate Law
- Leonard Fornella – Admiralty and Maritime Law
- Kevin J. Garber – Environmental Law, Natural Resources Law, Energy Law, Water Law, Litigation – Environmental
- Steven M. Green – Energy Law
- Lindsay P. Howard – Environmental Law, Litigation – Environmental
- Blaine A. Lucas – Energy Law, Land Use and Zoning Law, Municipal Law, Litigation – Land Use and Zoning
- John A. McCreary – Labor Law – Management
- Janet L. McQuaid – Environmental Law
- James D. Miller – Construction Law and Litigation – Construction
- Timothy M. Miller – Energy Law, Commercial Litigation, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Oil and Gas Law, Litigation – Environmental
- Jean M. Mosites – Environmental Law
- Christopher B. Power – Environmental Law, Natural Resources Law, Energy Law, Commercial Litigation, Mining Law, Oil and Gas Law, Litigation – Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy), Litigation – Environmental, Litigation – Land Use and Zoning, Litigation – Municipal
- Joseph K. Reinhart – Environmental Law, Natural Resources Law, Energy Law, Litigation – Environmental
- Bruce F. Rudoy – Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Corporate Law
- Charles F.W. Saffer – Real Estate Law
- Mychal Sommer Schulz – Litigation – ERISA
- Mark D. Shepard – Commercial Litigation, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Litigation – Environmental
- Steven B. Silverman – Information Technology Law, Commercial Litigation
- Laura Stone – Corporate Law
- Robert M. Stonestreet – Environmental Law, Energy Law, Commercial Litigation
- David E. White – Construction Law, Litigation – Construction
- Michael H. Winek – Environmental Law
11 Babst Calland lawyers were also named to the 2023 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America list which recognizes associates and other lawyers who are earlier in their careers for their outstanding professional excellence in private practice in the United States:
- Mary H. Binker – Corporate Law and Real Estate Law
- Katrina N. Bowers – Energy Law and Environmental Law
- Carla M. Castello – Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Labor and Employment and Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants
- Nicholas M. Faas – Administrative / Regulatory Law and Government Relations Practice
- Marc J. Felezzola – Commercial Litigation and Litigation – Construction
- Alyssa Golfieri – Land Use and Zoning Law and Municipal Law
- Sean R. Keegan – Commercial Litigation and Litigation – Labor and Employment
- Jennifer L. Malik – Land Use and Zoning Law and Municipal Law
- James D. Mazzocco – Litigation – Environmental and Transportation Law
- Joshua S. Snyder – Commercial Litigation and Energy Law
- Benjamin R. Wright – Commercial Litigation and Construction Law
Best Lawyers undergoes an authentication process, and inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America is based solely on peer review and is divided by geographic region and practice areas. The list has published for more than three decades, earning the respect of the profession, the media, and the public as the most reliable, unbiased source of legal referrals. Its first international list was published in 2006 and since then has grown to provide lists in over 65 countries.
Babst Calland congratulates Attorney Tim Miller as the recipient of this year’s Energy & Mineral Law Foundation John L. McClaugherty Award, which recognizes outstanding contributions to the Foundation and the field of energy and mineral law. Each year, EMLF recognizes leaders who have shaped EMLF, and who are recognized as industry and community leaders.
To view the EMLF award presentation, click here.
Melissa M. Rounds recently joined Babst Calland as senior counsel in the Energy and Natural Resources Group. Mrs. Rounds has represented clients in the oil and gas industry for more than 15 years and has assisted producers in a variety of transactional matters, including real estate closings, preparation of documents for leasing purposes and examining and certifying title. Her work includes resolving complex title defects, coordinating urgent title projects, working in-house with major energy producers to provide comprehensive lease analysis and assistance with mineral purchases, and providing legal analysis for changes in statutory and case law.
Mrs. Rounds’ work on behalf of the oil and gas community is primarily focused in Morgantown, West Virginia. Her representation in the Morgantown area includes working with operators to reach drilling commitments, and interactions with county officials in major producing counties in northcentral West Virginia.
Prior to joining Babst Calland, Mrs. Rounds was the owner and attorney for Melissa Rounds Law. She is a 2006 graduate of West Virginia University College of Law.
Legal Intelligencer
Alyssa Golfieri is a shareholder in the firm’s public sector and energy and natural resources groups. Her practice focuses primarily on municipal and land use law, with an emphasis on zoning, subdivision, land development and municipal ordinance enforcement.
Practice Profile:
Golfieri is a shareholder in the firm’s public sector and energy and natural resources groups. Her practice focuses primarily on municipal and land use law, with an emphasis on zoning, subdivision, land development and municipal ordinance enforcement.
She represents the firm’s municipal clients on a wide array of local government issues, including the preparation of zoning and land development ordinances pursuant to the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, the processing of land development applications, responses to record requests submitted under the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law, navigation of public bidding matters, abatement of property maintenance issues, defense of notices of violations before zoning hearing boards and magisterial district judges, and compliance with both the Pennsylvania Sunshine Act and the Pennsylvania Public Official and Employee Ethics Act.
Leadership Activity:
Golfieri is an active leader within the firm, having served on the associates, summer associates, recruiting, technology and carpetmaster’s committees. She also serves as a mentor to future generations of attorneys outside the firm.
Pro Bono and Civic Work:
She frequently volunteers as an alumni judge for Duquesne University School of Law 1L appellate oral arguments, a juror for Allegheny County High School Mock Trial Competition, a panelist for Allegheny County Bar Association’s young lawyer’s division roundtable discussion titled “Preparing for the Bar Examination,” and a coordinator for Allegheny County Bar Association’s young lawyer division holiday toy drive.
Experience:
Current employer, May 2011-present, summer associate, 2011, associate, September 2012-December 2020, shareholder, Jan. 1, 2021-present.
Education:
The Pennsylvania State University, B.S. in crime, law and justice, 2009; Duquesne University School of Law, J.D., 2012.
To view the full article, click here.
Reprinted with permission from the June 17, 2022 edition of The Legal Intelligencer© 2022 ALM Media Properties, LLC. All rights reserved.
Babst Calland Attorney Christina Manfredi McKinley, has been selected to Super Lawyers, part of Thomson Reuters, 2022 Rising Stars for Business Litigation. Only a few attorneys from each state are selected to Super Lawyers designation for any given year. The multi-factor selection process includes independent research, peer nominations and evaluations, as well as professional achievement in legal practice.
Babst Calland Attorney Gina Falaschi, selected to Super Lawyers, part of Thomson Reuters, Rising Stars for 2022. Based in the Firm’s Washington, DC office, she provides legal services for issues involving Environmental law. Only a few attorneys from each state are selected to Super Lawyers designation for any given year. The multi-factor selection process includes independent research, peer nominations and evaluations, as well as professional achievement in legal practice.