Knox McLaughlin Gornall & Sennett, P.C.

Bios

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  Bryan G. Baumann

  Attorney

  Brian is a full-time litigator, and is AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rated (Martindale-Hubbell). He has extensive experience representing clients in commercial and construction disputes, injunction proceedings and trust & estate disputes. He has argued before the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania and represented clients in federal and state courts in various jurisdictions. Bryan is licensed to practice in Illinois, New York and Pennsylvania.

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  Link: Bryan G. Baumann

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  Colleen D. Campbell

  Attorney

  Colleen focuses her practice in business, commercial and tax law; banking and commercial lending; nonprofit and tax-exempt entities; and community development projects. She has prior experience as a Certified Legal Intern during law school, providing counsel to nonprofit organizations on start-up and governance matters. She also served as an intern for the Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership, The Erie Community Foundation, and Knox Law. While in law school, Colleen was the Managing Editor of the Journal of Law, Technology, and the Internet; and participated in the Women's Law Association as treasurer. At Gettysburg College, she was Co-President of the Pre-Law Club and President of the Economic Research Club. She was also captain of the varsity cross country and track and field teams, and member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

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  Link: Colleen D. Campbell

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  Mark G. Claypool

  Attorney

  Mark is a full-time member of the Knox law firm’s Bankruptcy and Creditors' Rights Group and is Board Certified in bankruptcy law by the American Board of Certification. His practice is concentrated in creditors' rights, bankruptcy and commercial litigation. Mark has lectured extensively on the subject of bankruptcy and creditors' rights to attorneys, business professionals and creditor groups.

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  Link: Mark G. Claypool

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  Alexander K. Cox

  Attorney

  Alex focuses his practice on litigating complex and commercial disputes in state and federal courts throughout the country. He has significant experience in a wide variety of subject matters, including contract, business, and intellectual property disputes, along with labor and employment litigation, administrative and regulatory matters, trusts and estate disputes, and appellate and constitutional law practice. A significant portion of Alex’s practice is devoted to protecting clients’ intellectual property rights, including trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets, and thus he has significant trademark application and prosecution experience before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

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  Link: Alexander K. Cox

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  Mark A. Denlinger

  Attorney

  Mark concentrates his practice in the areas of business, commercial and tax law; nonprofit and tax-exempt entities; real estate; health law and the healthcare industry; and intellectual property & technology. He has a special emphasis on mergers and acquisitions, business formation and dissolution, manufacturing and supply arrangements, and general contracts and licensing arrangements. Throughout his career, he has handled numerous merger and acquisition transactions for local and national clients of all levels of complexity and size, whether on behalf of the purchasing entity, the financing entity, the investors, or the target entity. He speaks on a number of corporate, industrial, tax-exempt and health care topics to local business, financial, healthcare and nonprofit leaders.

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  Link: Mark A. Denlinger

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  Neal R. Devlin

  Attorney

  Neal focuses his practice on litigating complex disputes. He has litigated such disputes in state and federal courts throughout the country. He is also experienced in addressing all manner of disputes in arbitration and other forms of alternative dispute resolution. Neal's practice includes litigating contract, business and intellectual property disputes, as well as white collar crime matters.

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  Link: Neal R. Devlin

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  Guy C. Fustine

  Attorney

  Guy's practice is focused on business reorganization, commercial litigation, collection and sports law. He is board certified in business bankruptcy law by the American Board of Certification. Guy is a mediator and neutral evaluator in the Alternative Dispute Resolution Program of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. He uses his experience, knowledge and skill to represent multi-million dollar debtors, creditors holding secured, unsecured and priority claims, creditors’ committees and trustees. Guy is also a certified contract advisor for the National Football League Players Association and a licensed athlete agent in Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Georgia. He represents current as well as retired professional athletes.

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  Link: Guy C. Fustine

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  Rachael Downey Glasoe

  Attorney

  As a member of the Governmental Practice Group, Rachael focuses her practice on providing legal services to school districts, municipalities and public authorities. Rachael has 16 years of experience in various county government roles, including in Pennsylvania and Texas. She has served in both District Attorney and Public Defender offices, including active participation on advisory boards and bar associations. She is a graduate of the University of San Diego School of Law and Alfred University.

  Education:

  Link: Rachael Downey Glasoe

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  Jennifer E. Gornall

  Attorney

  Jennifer practices local governmental law, with a specific focus on education and special education law. She represents many school districts in the northwest Pennsylvania region in the capacity of general solicitor and also as special counsel for special education matters or other specific projects. Jennifer provides guidance to school districts involved in the special education mediation process and represents school districts in due process hearings. She has experience in a wide range of school issues such as student discipline matters including expulsion procedures, hearings and student discipline policy drafting; student records and privacy issues; public meeting procedures; constitutional issues affecting students; public records and ethics laws; transportation contracts; construction building projects; and many other procedural and legal issues that confront both school district administrations and boards of directors. Jennifer also represents regional municipal entities such as townships, boroughs and municipal authorities, including port authorities, airport authorities and water and sewer authorities.

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  Link: Jennifer E. Gornall

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  Aurora L. Hardin

  Attorney

  Aurora focuses her practice on complex civil litigation. She litigates these matters in both state and federal courts. Aurora has experience in a wide variety of subject matter, including contract, business, and trust and estate disputes, along with labor and employment litigation, constitutional law practice, personal injury matters, and Title IX. She uses all of this experience to serve clients in litigation-related matters.

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  Link: Aurora L. Hardin

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  Nadia A. Havard

  Attorney

  Nadia concentrates her practice in all areas of qualified and nonqualified retirement plans and employee benefits; transfer taxes; fiduciary income tax and trust administration; business; as well as estate planning and administration. She assists clients with retirement plans regarding drafting and compliance issues. She regularly employs efficient wealth transfer planning techniques and assists clients with estate, business succession, and tax planning. She also helps nonprofit organizations to obtain and maintain their taxexempt status. Nadia speaks English and Russian.

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  Link: Nadia A. Havard

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  William B. Helbling

  Attorney

  Bill focuses his practice on business and tax law.  Prior to joining Knox Law, he clerked at a small law office in Pittsburgh. During law school, Bill interned at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Pittsburgh for the U.S. Department of Justice, served as a judicial intern for the Honorable Nora Barry Fischer of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, and clerked at the Allegheny County Public Defender’s Office. He was also Associate Editor of The Pittsburgh Tax Review and winner of a CALI Excellence for the Future Award in Mergers and Acquisitions, among other honors. Bill also served as a certified legal intern at the University of Pittsburgh Securities Arbitration Clinic, where he represented small investors in FINRA Arbitration.

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  Link: William B. Helbling

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  Julia M. Herzing

  Attorney

  Julia focuses her practice on management-side labor and employment matters, working with employers of all sizes, both private and public, to prevent and resolve a wide variety of employment disputes. She provides employers with counseling and training on compliance with workplace laws and advises on the full spectrum of day-to-day human resources issues employers face. She represents businesses throughout the administrative process and employment litigation, including defense of discrimination, wage and hour, and other employment-related matters. She routinely advises and represents employers during the collective bargaining process, at labor arbitration, and on other labor relations matters. Julia also advises educational institutions at all levels on Title IX compliance, providing training, guidance, and services on all aspects of the Title IX grievance process, including investigations.

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  Link: Julia M. Herzing

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  Thomas C. Hoffman, II

  Attorney

  Tom concentrates his practice on closely held business planning, business succession planning, implementation of sophisticated estate and trust planning, administration of complex estates and trusts, and the tax consequences of these matters. He often uses atypical approaches seeking the best possible solution for clients’ complex ambitions and circumstances. He works closely as a team with clients’ accountants, bankers, insurance agents and wealth management advisors, aspiring to provide high quality, seamless client care. He also taps into his own working group of key strategic legal and tax advisors, including former IRS agents who bring an even broader base of knowledge and experience to bear on clients’ more unusual matters. He has helped plan hundreds of business successions for a diverse group of clients, including entrepreneurs engaged in manufacturing, oil & gas, timber, publishing and other industries in more than 15 states. He began his career as a CPA with Ernst & Young in Pittsburgh.

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  Link: Thomas C. Hoffman, II

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  Boutros Imad

  Attorney

  Boutros concentrates his practice on estate planning, trust planning, estate administration, and business & tax matters. He helps clients with a variety of asset protection needs, including simple estate plans, multi-generational trusts, complex estate plans, business succession, and more. He has previous legal experience as a judicial intern at the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, and also as a legal intern for the Lebanese Parliament in Beirut, Lebanon. Originally from Lebanon, he graduated with honors from the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik with an LL.B. degree. He became interested in the U.S. legal system and moved to Pittsburgh to enroll in the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, where he earned his LL.M. in 2020 (cum laude) and his J.D. in 2022 (cum laude). He is fluent in both Arabic and French.

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  Link: Boutros Imad

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  Patricia J. Kennedy

  Attorney

  As a member of the Governmental Practice Group, Pat focuses her practice on providing legal services to school districts, municipalities and public authorities. She has 34 years of legal experience, including work with local governments. She served in various capacities for Erie County for 26 years, concluding with an 11 year appointment as Chief Public Defender. A native of Edinboro, she is a graduate of Edinboro University of Pennsylvania and of the Dickinson School of Law. She is a member of the PennWest University Council of Trustees and formerly served as a member of the Edinboro University of Pennsylvania Council of Trustees.

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  Link: Patricia J. Kennedy

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  Matthew W. Lasher

  Attorney

  Matt concentrates his practice on labor & employment law. He graduated from The Pennsylvania State University and University of Richmond School of Law. While in law school, Matt was Assistant Symposium Editor for the University of Richmond Law Review and served on the Student Bar Association, among other activities. His legal experience includes business law, commercial litigation, and estate planning & administration. He is active in nonprofit and community organizations including Catholic Charities, NAMI and Young Erie Professionals (YEP).

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  Link: Matthew W. Lasher

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  Christine H. McClure

  Attorney

  Christine has over 40 years of experience in estate planning, representation of borrowers or lenders in business transactions, general business counsel, municipal and school district law. She serves in numerous leadership capacities of the Erie County Bar Foundation, the Pennsylvania Bar Association, the Pennsylvania Bar Foundation and the Pennsylvania Bar Trust & Insurance Fund.

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  Link: Christine H. McClure

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  Frances A. McCormick

  Attorney

  Frances focuses her practice in the areas of business & tax law, estate planning & administration, business succession planning, and real estate. She received her Juris Doctor and Masters in Business Administration degrees from Seton Hall University subsequent to earning a Bachelor of Science in Accounting degree from Villanova University. Prior to joining Knox Law, Frances worked at Deloitte & Touche LLP in Parsippany, New Jersey, preparing tax returns and planning strategies for corporations, partnerships, and individuals. She then joined an international real estate firm in Annapolis, Maryland. After 3 years in that office, she became managing director for the Middle East operation in Doha, Qatar.

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  Link: Frances A. McCormick

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  David M. Mosier

  Attorney

  Dave's practice includes business and tax transactions with significant experience in insurance agency and broker purchases and sales. His work with agency owners has enabled him to understand the nuances of insurance agency transactions and his practical, reasoned approach has effectively guided clients as the market has evolved from local and regional activity to private equity funded acquirers with a national focus. Dave also has significant experience in life and death planning for retirement benefits, distributions and beneficiary designations. He designs and drafts employee pension and welfare benefit plans and represents plan sponsors, trustees and administrators. He is the firm’s liaison to Lawyers Associated Worldwide (LAW), a global association of 100 independent law firms representing a global resource of more than 4,000 lawyers in more than 50 countries around the world.

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  Link: David M. Mosier

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  Michael J. Musone

  Attorney

  Mike is a full-time litigator who focuses his practice on the legal defense of commercial enterprises and insurance companies. He also practices Orphan’s Court litigation, including will contests, trusts and estate matters. Mike is a cum laude graduate of Cleveland Marshall College of Law, where he was a member of the Employment Law Clinic.

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  Link: Michael J. Musone

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  Kenzie P. Ryback

  Attorney

  Kenzie concentrates her practice on estate planning, trust planning, estate administration, and business & tax matters. She has experience with a wide variety of client demographics ranging from simple estate plans to high-net-worth, complex plans. She has also been involved in numerous business succession plans and complex estate administrations. Kenzie is a summa cum laude graduate of both Gannon University and The Pennsylvania State University, Penn State Law. Having graduated law school in the top 1% of her class, she received four CALI awards and participated as Comments Editor for the Penn State Law Review. She served as a certified legal intern at the Rural Economic Development Clinic in State College, creating LLCs, drafting and revising documents and contracts, and conducting legal research.

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  Link: Kenzie P. Ryback

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  Jeffery D. Scibetta

  Attorney

  Jeff's practice involves business & tax planning, complex estate planning & administration, business succession planning, elder care planning and real estate. He is a licensed title insurance agent in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Prior to joining Knox Law, he worked in the Tax Department at Deloitte & Touche’s Washington, D.C. office and was a licensed Certified Public Accountant in Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia. Jeff also served as a Judicial Clerk to the late Arnold Raum of the United States Tax Court.

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  Link: Jeffery D. Scibetta

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  Philip J. Seaver-Hall

  Attorney

  Philip focuses his practice on appellate, constitutional, commercial, and civil-rights litigation. He routinely advises school districts throughout Pennsylvania on complicated civil-rights issues including freedom of speech, freedom of religion, LGBTQ+ rights, and student privacy. Philip is a member of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE)'s Legal Network, a nonpartisan group of attorneys who litigate cases in defense of the fundamental rights of expression, association, and conscience. Philip has argued before the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania, the Superior Court of Pennsylvania, and numerous trial courts throughout Pennsylvania. Philip graduated with Woolsack Society honors from Pennsylvania State University’s Dickinson School of Law. During law school, he served as a federal judicial intern to Chief Judge Christopher C. Conner and Judge Yvette Kane at the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. Before law school, Philip was an accomplished classical musician who routinely worked with Grammy Award- and Juno Award-winning musicians. He has performed in hundreds of concerts throughout the United States—including at Carnegie Hall—as well as in Canada and Italy. Philip’s mission is to advise and advocate for his clients expertly, efficiently, ethically, and empathetically in all stages of a case, from pretrial to appeal.

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  Link: Philip J. Seaver-Hall

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  Timothy M. Sennett

  Attorney

  Tim practices governmental and public finance law, including housing law, education law, eminent domain, zoning, planning and land use. He represents numerous municipal authorities, boroughs, townships, and school districts. Tim also serves as bond counsel and underwriters counsel for governmental issues.

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  Link: Timothy M. Sennett

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  Jeremy T. Toman

  Attorney

  Jeremy’s practice is focused on real estate, business law and environmental law. He has represented commercial clients and individuals in all phases of commercial and residential real estate transactions, including acquisitions, sales, leases, financing, formation and organization of condominiums, and condemnations. Jeremy has negotiated numerous oil and gas leases, earning his clients over $27 million in up-front bonus payments. He has also advised clients on business formation, choice of entity, business structure and organization for publicly and privately held entities, both for-profit and non-profit.

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  Link: Jeremy T. Toman

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  Thomas A. Tupitza

  Attorney

  Tom advises clients in the private, public and nonprofit sectors on finance, real estate and governance matters. A past president of the Pennsylvania Association of Bond Lawyers, he is active as bond counsel in tax-exempt financing transactions and is a title insurance agent in Pennsylvania and New York. He has served as the firm’s President since 2007.

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  Link: Thomas A. Tupitza

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  Timothy S. Wachter

  Attorney

  As a member of the Governmental, Public Finance & Bonds and Business & Tax Practice Groups, and as lead for Knox Law Public Strategies, Tim regularly advises governmental, business and nonprofit clients on highly complex legal, regulatory and public policy related matters. He also regularly provides counsel on matters related to the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law to dozens of agencies throughout Western Pennsylvania, is recognized as a national thought leader in Federal Opportunity Zone Development and regularly advises businesses and stakeholders regarding Opportunity Zone investments. Prior to joining Knox Law, Tim served as an aide to Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge, as the Special Assistant for Special Projects to Pennsylvania Governor Mark Schweiker, and worked with the Pennsylvania Site Advance Team for the White House. Additionally, he gained economic development experience while working as an Economic Development Analyst at the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. Tim also serves as an advisor to candidates for various local, state and national level offices.

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  Link: Timothy S. Wachter

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  Mark T. Wassell

  Attorney

  Mark counsels and defends employers in all aspects of labor and employment law. He represents employers in a range of sectors including manufacturing, financial services, healthcare, education and more. Mark's practice includes hiring and termination issues, claims of discrimination and harassment, drug testing, employee handbooks, employment and severance agreements, grievance arbitration, and collective bargaining. He frequently handles matters before the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the U.S. Department of Labor, the National Labor Relations Board, and similar state agencies. He also conducts in house training programs for employers on a number of employment topics and speaks often to a variety of business and HR groups throughout northwestern Pennsylvania and beyond.

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  Link: Mark T. Wassell

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  Jerome C. Wegley

  Attorney

  Jerry's practice focuses on asset protection and business succession planning. He helps people protect their assets from taxes, creditors, future ex-spouses and ex-in-laws, and nursing homes, so they may choose who benefits from their assets (themselves, their children, charities, etc.). His previous experience as a CPA helps him advise business owners wishing to keep their business operating after their exit; whether it be by their child or other family member, their employees or another party that will carry on their legacy. He is available to speak on business and tax topics, sophisticated estate planning strategies, asset protection, wealth preservation, long-term care planning, business succession and special needs planning. He also serves as Vice President on Knox Law's Board of Directors.

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  Link: Jerome C. Wegley

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  Robert D. Zaruta

  Attorney

  Bob’s practice is focused on a variety of labor & employment matters, including litigation. He has extensive experience working with both private and public employers, counseling clients on hiring and firing issues, wage and hour issues, employer/independent contractor issues, collective bargaining, employee handbooks, and compliance with workplace laws including FMLA, Title VII, ADA, ADEA, FLSA and more. He represents several public school systems, assisting in disciplinary issues, grievances, arbitration and union contract negotiations. His practice also includes representing employers in defense of discrimination, sexual harassment, wage and hour, unemployment compensation, workers’ compensation, wrongful termination and other employment-related claims. Bob has defended employers in EEOC, DOL, PHRC and other agency investigations alleging discrimination or pay practice violations. He offers sexual harassment training for employers, assists employers in handling sexual harassment complaints, and conducts internal investigations. He has represented employers in unfair labor practices actions, including appearances before the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania, the National Labor Relations Board and the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board.

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  Link: Robert D. Zaruta

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  Timothy M. Zieziula

  Attorney

  Tim’s practice is focused on real estate development, environmental law, and land use planning and zoning. He has extensive experience in structuring and negotiating real estate acquisitions and sales, retail leases, commercial loan transactions and complex development projects involving difficult land use, zoning and environmental issues. He is a licensed title insurance agent in both the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the State of New York, and he provides commercial and residential real estate closing services. His real estate practice also includes representing both public and private entities in condemnation matters and real estate tax assessment matters. Tim also counsels oil and gas clients in the negotiation of leases, pipeline easements and surface use agreements, and provides mineral rights title opinions. Prior to attending law school, he worked as an environmental chemist.

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  Link: Timothy M. Zieziula

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  Robert J. Jeffery

  Attorney

  Bob focuses his practice on real estate, estate planning & administration, governmental practice, and business & tax law.  He has practiced law in North East since 1978, most recently as Orton & Jeffery, P.C. with Edward Orton, who retired in 2016.  Bob became affiliated with Knox Law in 2018 as Counsel and continues to serve the North East community along with his paralegal staff.

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  Link: Robert J. Jeffery

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  Jacqueline H. Brangard

  Attorney

  Jacqueline's practice out of our Pittsburgh office is focused on all aspects of real estate law, including both commercial and residential sales, acquisitions, and commercial leases. She has extensive experience in negotiating and preparing leases, amendments, assignments, estoppel certificates, and subordination agreements. Jacqueline has also advised clients (sellers, buyers, and private lenders) through the real estate closing process by negotiating title insurance policy coverage, clearing complex title issues, preparing and previewing settlement statements, and preparing and reviewing loan packages. Jacqueline has represented and assisted a broad spectrum of individuals and businesses in the Pittsburgh area since she became licensed in 2017. In addition to her time in private practice, she was also a Certified Legal Intern at the Duquesne University School of Law Civil Rights Clinic.

  Education:

  Link: Jacqueline H. Brangard

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  Edward C. Spontak

  Attorney

  With over 20 years of experience in the Pittsburgh legal market, Edward represents clients in litigation, estate planning & administration, business & tax, and real estate matters out of our Pittsburgh office. Edward’s litigation experience includes complex matters regarding commercial and contract disputes, construction, environmental issues, and estate, guardianship and fiduciary issues. His estate planning & administration experience includes family trusts, credit shelter trusts, special needs trusts, insurance trusts, charitable remainder trusts, guardianships, and elder law matters. His business & tax experience includes business formation, succession planning, and issues concerning 501(c)(3) exempt status for nonprofit organizations. His real estate experience includes land use and oil & gas matters. Edward is active in the Allegheny County Bar Association and has volunteered in its Will for Heroes program.

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  Link: Edward C. Spontak