Joseph V. Schaeffer recently joined Babst Calland as a shareholder in the Litigation Group. He focuses his practice on environmental, energy and complex commercial litigation. Mr. Schaeffer has tried various environmental and commercial cases before environmental hearings boards, courts, and juries. He has also had primary responsibility for multiple appeals and argued several cases in the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia.
Mr. Schaeffer has significant experience working with clients on overcoming obstacles that can hinder their commercial development projects. He has served as lead trial counsel in several land use disputes involving zoning ordinances and was lead appellate counsel in a precedent-setting West Virginia Supreme Court decision that established the constitutional limits of municipal zoning. He has counseled clients on other land use disputes involving annexation, deannexation, and state and federal preemption issues. He served as co-trial counsel in successfully obtaining an injunction against a government agency’s attempt to use its eminent domain powers to take an industrial client’s facility. And he has litigated multiple property tax valuation and exemption appeals and worked on two precedent-setting West Virginia Supreme Court decisions affirming the legal structure used by state economic development authorities to offer property tax incentives.
Prior to joining Babst Calland, Mr. Schaeffer was an associate with Spilman Thomas & Battle, PLLC. He is a 2012 graduate, cum laude, of the University of Pittsburgh Law School.
This has been a year like no other! Our annual Top 100 People edition highlights the vibrant economic and social life of central Pennsylvania by honoring the people who make it happen. When goods or services are delivered in an efficient and timely manner, expertise and knowledge brought to bear on a problem, or necessary care provided, it’s not just the businesses and the institutions – but the people behind them that get the job done. We all know that powerhouse individual – the person with the vision, dedication and drive to not only complete the task, but to envision, expand and excel. We are fascinated by the impact a single individual can have on their workplace, their community and the lives of those around them. The stories of these individuals can provide instruction, inspiration and the motivation to raise our own standard of excellence. That is why we take great pride in bringing you Pennsylvania Business Central’s Top 100 People for 2021!
As always, we reached out to community leaders, local chambers of commerce, and you, our loyal readers, to identify those individuals whose unique contributions have set them apart as leaders. We received a wealth of nominations that reflect the rich diversity of central Pennsylvania and its business community. So many deserving nominations in such a challenging year, that we had to expand our list of honorees – and so we are proud to honor 120 outstanding leaders in this year’s edition!
In selecting this year’s honorees, we wanted to show the full spectrum of leadership – from the small entrepreneur to the CEO of a large corporation – that helps shape our communities and our lives. And while every story is unique, we think you’ll find that these honorees share a dedication to hard work, dynamic leadership and the pursuit of excellence.
Many of you probably know some of these distinguished honorees. These are the people who run companies, volunteer in their community and raise families – they are our neighbors and our friends – the ones who give that extra effort that makes all the difference. We hope that you will enjoy learning about them as much as we did. We are proud to honor them.
As a companion to this edition, we are looking forward to our Top 100 Organizations signature edition, which will publish in February, celebrating the best in central Pennsylvania’s businesses, non-profits and brands.
Jean Mosites is a shareholder in Babst Calland’s Environmental, Energy and Natural Resources, and Public Sector groups. She counsels clients on environmental compliance, resolves liabilities under federal and state remediation programs, and represents clients in administrative, state and federal courts. She earned her B.A. and M.A. in Political Science from the University of Pittsburgh and her J.D. from Duquesne University School of Law. She is rated by Martindale-Hubbell as AV Preeminent, Peer Rated for the Highest Level of Professional Excellence, and is listed in The Best Lawyers in America© in the Environmental Law Section. Jean serves on the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Environmental and Energy Law Section Council and the Pennsylvania Environmental Hearing Board Rules Committee. She frequently writes articles and presents educational and training programs on environmental law. She also actively supports community service organizations including the Education Partnership and the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust.
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Babst Calland recently named Ben Clapp, Alyssa E. Golfieri, and Gary E. Steinbauer as shareholders in the Firm.
Ben Clapp is a member of the Environmental, Energy and Natural Resources, and Emerging Technologies groups. Mr. Clapp advises clients on the environmental components of complex transactions, including identifying and analyzing significant environmental liability and compliance issues arising in connection with mergers and acquisitions, asset sales, securities offerings, project financings, and corporate restructurings, and works to resolve, manage, allocate or mitigate these environmental risks in the client’s best interest. Mr. Clapp assists buyers, sellers, financing sources, and underwriters in transactions taking place across a wide range of industries, including the upstream, midstream, and downstream oil and gas sectors, renewable energy, real estate, utilities, chemicals, manufacturing, mining, pharmaceuticals, pulp and paper, and food and beverage.
Mr. Clapp is a 2008 graduate, cum laude, of the American University Washington College of Law.
Alyssa E. Golfieri is a member of the Public Sector and Energy and Natural Resources groups. Ms. Golfieri’s practice focuses primarily on municipal and land use law, with an emphasis on zoning, subdivision, land development, and municipal ordinance enforcement. Ms. Golfieri 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. Ms. Golfieri has also served as assistant solicitor for several years, and is currently the solicitor for the Borough of Ford City.
Ms. Golfieri is a 2012 graduate, cum laude, of Duquesne University School of Law.
Gary E. Steinbauer is a member of the Environmental group. Mr. Steinbauer leverages his experience as a former lawyer for the U.S. EPA to help clients on a wide variety of matters arising under major federal and state environmental and regulatory programs. He provides strategic advice on permitting matters, day-to-day compliance needs, government investigations, and enforcement actions. Mr. Steinbauer regularly works with companies in the power generation and distribution, mining, metals, chemical, oil and gas, healthcare and other industrial sectors. He also represents municipalities, governmental, and non-governmental organizations. Mr. Steinbauer devotes a significant portion of his practice to water resources and wastewater management and permitting. He regularly advises clients on issues arising under the Clean Water Act and related state programs regulating wastewater and storm water discharges, and he handles NPDES permitting matters and appeals. He also assists clients as they navigate matters involving the Clean Air Act, Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act, Endangered Species Act, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, and similar state laws.
Mr. Steinbauer is a 2006 graduate, magna cum laude, of the University of Toledo Law School.
Mr. Steinbauer is a 2006 graduate, magna cum laude, of the University of Toledo Law School.
The Legal Intelligencer and Martindale-Hubbell®, the company that has long set the standard for lawyer ratings, have announced the Pennsylvania Top Rated Lawyers®. To view the list of Babst Calland lawyers who have achieved an AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rating, click here.