Kate Cooper and Susanna Bagdasarova Co-Author Firm Alert

In recent weeks, significant developments have unfolded regarding the implementation of the Corporate Transparency Act and its beneficial ownership information (BOI) reporting requirements to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), which remain subject to a nationwide injunction. The ongoing legal challenges have left the status of the BOI reporting requirement in flux. For the time being, unless the Supreme Court intervenes, the nationwide injunction is likely to remain in place through at least March 25, 2025, the scheduled date for oral arguments before the Fifth Circuit. Businesses that have not yet complied with the reporting requirements should remain alert to any changes. Babst Calland will continue to closely monitor developments on this matter. To read the full alert author by Chris Farmakis, Susanna Bagdasarova, Kate Cooper, and Dane Fennell, click here.

Veteran West Virginia Attorney Ramonda Marling Joins Babst Calland’s Charleston Office as Shareholder

Babst Calland announced the lateral move of established West Virginia attorney Ramonda C. Marling who will be joining as a Shareholder in the firm’s office in downtown Charleston.

Effective today, Ms. Marling is joining forces with Babst Calland senior-level legal counsel in its Litigation and Energy and Natural Resources practice areas. Ms. Marling primarily represents clients in litigation and commercial matters. She has extensive experience in complex, high-dollar commercial litigation matters representing natural gas producers, midstream companies, coal companies, pharmaceutical manufacturers, tobacco companies and other corporations.

Susanna Bagdasarova and Kate Cooper Co-Author Firm Alert

In the previous Alert, Susanna Bagdasarova and Kate Cooper along with Chris Farmakis and Dane Fennell discussed the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas granted a nationwide preliminary injunction in Texas Top Cop Shop, Inc., et al. v. Garland, et al., temporarily halting enforcement of the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) and its beneficial ownership information (BOI) reporting requirements, including the January 1, 2025, filing deadline. The ruling provided temporary relief to affected businesses, but a pending Department of Justice (DOJ) emergency motion to stay the injunction pending appeal has created further uncertainty. Babst Calland will continue to closely monitor developments on this matter. Please reach out to fincenassist@babstcalland.com or your Babst Calland client relationship lawyer if you have any questions.

Stefanie Pitcavage Mekilo Selected for YWCA’s 2025 Tribute to Women of Excellence Award

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.

Anna Hosack Co-Authors Legal Intelligencer Article

On November 20, 2024, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court unanimously upheld the constitutionality of state preemptive firearm laws that prohibit municipalities from passing local gun regulations. Attorneys Michael T. Korns and Anna Hosack discuss the implications of this decision for municipalities on gun regulation in Pennsylvania.

To read the full article, click here.

Susanna Bagdasarova and Kate Cooper Co-Author Firm Alert

In their recent alert Court Blocks Enforcement of the Corporate Transparency Act Nationwide Susanna Bagdasarova, Kate Cooper, Chris Farmakis and Dane Fennell discuss how the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas granted a nationwide preliminary injunction temporarily halting enforcement of the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA). With less than a month to go before the January 1, 2025 compliance deadline for entities formed prior to 2024, this ruling blocks the U.S. Department of Treasury from enforcing the requirements of the Beneficial Ownership Information Reporting Rule (the “Rule”) issued by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN).

To read the full alert, click here.

Morgan Madden Selected as a 2024 Winner of the City & State Pennsylvania Impact Awards

Morgan Madden has been selected as a 2024 winner of the City & State Pennsylvania Impact Awards. The Impact Award represents Pennsylvania’s most outstanding corporate and civic citizens.

This list “recognizes Pennsylvania’s most influential executives, thought leaders, visionaries and trailblazers, who are setting new standards of excellence, dedication and leadership in improving their communities and making transformative change by successfully promoting one of core principles of social responsibility which include: Charity, Community Engagement, Customer Service, Diversity & Inclusion, Equity, Ethics, Transparency, Sustainability and Volunteerism.”

To view the listing, click here.

Attorney Spotlight on Sara Antol

This is the fifth in a series of profiles featuring the women attorneys of Babst Calland to acknowledge and celebrate their success and to connect women attorneys across the Firm’s practice groups, offices and clients. This attorney spotlight features Sara Antol.

To view the profile on Sara, click here.

Carla Castello Co-Authors TEQ Hub Article

In her recent article Best Practice for Conducting an Effective Internal Company Investigation with Kevin Douglass and Steve Antonelli, Carla Castello discusses how to effectively conduct an internal investigation when faced with an allegation that can potentially expose the company to legal, financial and reputational harm. To read the full article, click here.

Attorneys Alexandra Graf and Katerina Vassil Join Babst Calland

Alexandra Graf

Katerina Vassil

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.

Janet Meub Authors Employment and Labor Alert

In case you haven’t noticed the yard signs popping up like mushrooms, the constant barrage of television and radio advertisements, or the unsolicited text messages from unknown numbers, we are in the homestretch of election season. For those employers with questions on how to handle political speech in the workplace, especially during the last few days before (and hopefully not much beyond) Election Day, here is a refresher by employment attorney Janet Meub on the basics for private employers. To read the full alert, click here.

Babst Calland’s Women’s Initiative Hosts Night on Broadway Event

The Women’s Initiative hosted a “Night on Broadway” networking event for the opening show of & Juliet at the Benedum for clients and Babst Calland women attorneys. The event included dinner and tickets to the show. Members of the cast also shared some “behind the scenes” insights followed by a Q&A session.

This special event showcased our firm’s commitment to supporting women in the legal profession and strengthening our client relationships.

 

Janet Meub Authors Women in the Law Article

In her recent article Say “YES”: Reinventing Yourself in the Legal Profession, Janet Meub discusses how you can land new clients or land on your feet in a more supportive environment if you embrace the unfamiliar by saying “yes” to new work, experiences and opportunities. To read the full article, click here.

Morgan Madden Co-Authors Legal Intelligencer Article

Ordinance enforcement is an essential function for a municipality to keep its residents and community functioning efficiently. In their recent article in The Legal Intelligencer, Robert Max Junker and Morgan Madden explain the goal of zoning enforcement is to “ensure compliance with an ordinance such that the community is protected.” To read the full article, click here.

Susanna Bagdasarova Selected to Leadership Pittsburgh Inc.’s Leadership Development Initiative Program

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.