Brownfield Lawyers

Gwen R. Acker Wood, PhD., Esq., is a registered patent attorney with over 18 years experience in all forms of intellectual property, including patents, trademarks and copyrights. Her practice includes preparation and prosecution of U.S. and foreign patent applications, patentability and infringement/freedom-to-operate opinions, due diligence analyses, U.S. and foreign patent portfolio strategy and management, trademark searches and registration, and copyright registration. Dr. Acker Wood has a doctorate in biology, and her areas of expertise include biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, biomechanical and mechanical devices, chemistry and life sciences. Dr. Acker Wood is admitted to practice in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the State...

James Doring is an associate at Goldberg, Persky & White, P.C. Several years after receiving his bachelor’s degree in business software, Mr. Doring became interested in the legal profession and graduated summa cum laude from Duquesne University with his Juris Doctor. Jamie Doring joined Goldberg, Persky & White, P.C. in 2014 and is dedicated to helping those suffering from asbestos-related injuries and harmful chemical exposures.

Justin has experience handling all construction-related claims and disputes, ranging from complex delay claims, change order disputes, defective construction claims, mechanic’s lien claims, bonding disputes, and differing site condition claims, among many others. In addition, Justin advises clients during all project phases, including contract negotiation and planning, procurement, project execution, and change order management. In addition to his construction practice, Justin regularly represents clients in complex commercial litigation and business disputes involving breach of contract, fraud, UCC-claims, and business tort claims.

Matt is a trial attorney focusing on business, construction, collections, and probate, estate and trust litigation matters. Matt routinely represents his clients in both federal and state court, along with private arbitration and mediation.

As part of his business litigation practice, Matt frequently handles breach of contract claims, tort litigation claims, non-competition/non-solicitation matters, and shareholder disputes. As part of his construction law practice, Matt frequently represents architects and engineers in design defect cases, and assists all his construction clients, including design professionals, contractors, and suppliers in filing, when applicable, mechanic’s lien claims or making claims through the CASPA and...

Born in Pittsburgh, Bill is the son of a city firefighter. After growing up in Pittsburgh’s Garfield section and in Penn Hills, Pa., he worked his way through college and law school, earning his Juris Doctor degree from Duquesne University.

Mr. Goodrich serves as President of the law firm of Goodrich & Geist, P.C. He received his B.A. in 1974 and his J.D. in 1979 from Duquesne University. Mr. Goodrich is a Past President of the Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association (1996-1997), as well as a past President for the Western Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association (1994-1995). Attorney Goodrich is an active member...

The son of a mining equipment salesman and a public–school teacher, Josh grew up in Lancaster, Pa. He earned his B.A. and Juris Doctor degrees from the University of Pittsburgh, where he became a member of the distinguished academic honor society Phi Beta Kappa.

Mr. Geist is a partner with Goodrich & Geist, P.C. in Pittsburgh. He concentrates his practice in personal injury representation, automobile litigation, medical negligence and product liability. Mr. Geist received his B.A., summa cum laude, from the University of Pittsburgh and his J.D. from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. He is the Immediate Past President...

Jessica Nelson in an associate at SWMW Law, Ms. Nelson began her journey at SWMW Law, as a paralegal. Inspired by the firm’s practice and dedication to its clients, Ms. Nelson decided to pursue her Juris Doctor at Duquesne University; taking classes at night while working full time for the firm. Jessica Nelson’s primary focus is in asbestos litigation, products liability, and premises liability.

Attorney Bill Copetas has been practicing law since 1993 after completing both his undergraduate and graduate degrees in Pennsylvania. Over the span of his nearly 25 year career, he has chosen to focus his work in the areas of workers’ compensation, personal injury, and litigation.

After many years of representing defendants in workers’ compensation and personal injury cases, Mr. Copetas now represents plaintiffs exclusively. His prior experience on the other side of the courtroom affords him a well-rounded perspective of how these cases, and insurance companies, work. When you choose to work with Mr. Copetas, you can rest assured that he...

I am an experienced family law attorney with a law practice primarily focused on divorce, child custody, child support, and pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements. After nearly thirty-five years of practice, I have the knowledge, skill, and patience it takes to assist individuals through what can be a difficult transition in their life. Most cases settle without court and my practice focuses on keeping clients out of court, if possible, by using the collaborative law process, mediation, or traditional negotiation. I have completed the basic collaborative law training and have more than 100 hours of additional collaborative law training. I also...

Mr. Toohey's practice over the years has included representation of Hospitals, Healthcare Systems, Banks, School Districts, Townships, Boroughs, Zoning Hearing Boards and Private Corporations; as well as private individuals and entities. In addition to representing clients, Mr. Toohey has also been a Hearing Officer in the areas of Civil Service, Tax Appeal, Employment, Divorce, and School law.

Phi Kappa Phi. Member: Willis Society; Ohio Northern University Law Review, 1986-1987.

Law Clerk, Honorable Murray H. Falk, Special Trial Judge, U.S. Tax Court, 1980-1981.

Married; Father of six children. Avid outdoorsman, hunter and fisherman; member of sportsmen’s clubs, NRA and 4-H shooting sports instructor; local 4-H Club Leader 14 yrs; recipient of Boy Scouts of America Distinguished Citizen Award, 2013

As a former Assistant District Attorney for Allegheny County, Natalie has experience prosecuting everything from speeding tickets to serious felonies. In addition to having conducted numerous pre-trial hearings and plea negotiations, Natalie has handled thousands of criminal cases at all levels including jury trials, bench trials and preliminary hearings. With her experience as a prosecutor and her extensive knowledge of current case law, Natalie is able to represent criminal defendants in a wide variety of cases. Having spent years prosecuting, she has intimate knowledge of the justice system's expectations and procedures, which puts her in a unique position to be...

Order of the Coif. Associate Editor, University of Chicago Law Review, 1970-1971. Law Clerk, Hon. (Now Mr. Justice) John Paul Stevens, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, 1971-1972.

Danielle M. Parks is an Associate in Post & Schell's Workers' Compensation Department, defending employers, third-party administrators (TPAs), and insurers in workers' compensation claims throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Prior to joining Post & Schell, Ms. Parks was an associate with a regional firm and represented employees in labor and employment-related claims. Prior to that, she was a legal assistant and paralegal for several Pittsburgh area law firms for almost ten years.

Ms. Parks graduated from Duquesne University's School of Law in 2016. Before law school, Danielle graduated in 2007 from the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown with a Bachelor’s...

Stephen H. Lebovitz, Esquire, graduated from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania in 1986 with a B.S. in Economics concentrating in finance, and from the Law School at the University of Pittsburgh in 1989. Admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar in 1989, he joined Lebovitz & Lebovitz, P.A. practicing with his father and grandfather. He was admitted to the Maine Bar in 1992 and was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1993. Mr. Lebovitz is active in litigation. He also handles family matters, estate planning and tax work being admitted to the U.S. Tax Court. He has experience in...

At SMT Legal, our personal injury attorneys will work aggressively to win your case and make a positive difference in your life. Our experienced lawyers will fight for just compensation in personal injury cases and will rigorously defend your rights and personal liberties against criminal charges. We also provide Mediation and Arbitration services. For personal injury cases we do not charge a fee unless we win your case. Contact us today for a free case evaluation. The sooner we can start helping you, the more likely it is that we will collect the best evidence, witnesses and...

Vanessa’s extensive legal training began at the University of Duquesne School of Law, where she graduated cum laude with a Juris Doctor (J.D.). Vanessa’s strong academic credentials gained the attention of numerous employers eager to capitalize on her legal talents. Over the years, she has served as a Law Clerk at Steele Schneider, an Attorney Advisor for the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission, an Associate Attorney for McMorrow Law, and as an Associate Attorney for May Law Group. Today, Vanessa focuses her practice exclusively on United States immigration law. She has achieved numerous successful outcomes and will fight...

Todd W. Elliott, Esq. is a Pittsburgh area resident and a litigator by vocation. For 16 years, he practiced civil litigation (plaintiff and defense) throughout Western Pennsylvania. Having worked for two prominent regional firms, Mr. Elliott's areas of practice include breach of contract, construction law, mechanic's liens, invention design cases, contractor/sub-contractor disputes, covenant not-to-compete (non-compete clauses), employee defense of non-compete, business enforcement of non-compete, trade secret violations, theft of mailing lists/recipes, professional negligence, premises liability, unfair trade practices, trade disparagement, and multistate litigation. Over the course of his career, Mr. Elliott handled the mediation of disputes, several trials by jury,...

Robert M. Silverman is highly regarded throughout the legal community and the automotive industry for his continuing efforts in helping consumers with their Lemon Law and Breach of Warranty claims. Mr. Silverman has been featured in The Philadelphia Inquirer and in other newspaper stories across New Jersey and Pennsylvania as an expert in warranty litigation. Mr. Silverman has worked hard for consumer rights, trying his cases in the Federal and State Courts in which he practices. He has also successfully briefed and argued cases before the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Mr. Silverman earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree...

Attorney Timothy Conboy is the Founder of ConboyLaw. ConboyLaw has offices in Mt Lebanon and Pittsburgh Pennyslvania. He has been selected as one of the top 100 trial lawyers in Pennsylvania by the American Trial Lawyers Association. He earned a Bachelor of Science from Allegheny College in 1979 and a law degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law in 1982. He has been named by Best Lawyers in America every year since 1999. He has been named a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer every year this honor has been bestowed. He was also named a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer Top 50...

I co-founded the law firm over 20 years ago. We specialize in representing injured people. Every one of our attorneys has more than 20 years of experience. We get results for our clients. Unlike others, who charge 40% fee on personal injury cases, our fee is only 25%. We feel that it is our client who has been injured and, therefore, he/she deserves the larger share of the recovery. There is NEVER a fee unless we recover money for you!! We've got your back, not your wallet!!!

Thomas D. Berret has been a personal injury and wrongful death attorrney since he graduated from the University of Akron School of Law in 1995. In those nearly three decades, he has represented thousands of Pennsylvania residents who were injured or killed as the result of the carelessness of others. Over the past twenty eight years, Tom has successfully represented clients in a wide variety of personal injury or wrongful death suits such as ATV accidents, tractor-trailer collisions, car crashes, motorcycle collisions, construction accidents, dog bites, and slip and falls. Although Tom has successfully resolved most of his client’s...

Born and raised in Pittsburgh, I focus my practice on representing injured persons in cases involving motor vehicle accidents, wrongful death, premises liability, dog bites and other types of personal injury claims. I have also represented business clients in litigation matters, assisted families in estate administration proceedings and handled the firm’s criminal practice and zoning cases. I am licensed to practice in all Pennsylvania courts, including U.S. District Court of the Western District of Pennsylvania.

As founder and owner of the Pisanchyn Law Firm, Attorney Michael Pisanchyn started his working life at a chrome-plating company, and not as an attorney. Through that experience, namely a former co-worker he befriended who lost their life due to poor working conditions, he came to know what he wanted in life, and that was to give a voice to those that have been injured. Attorney Michael Pisanchyn has gone up against some of the biggest corporations, and shown those corporations the law is not just reserved for rich. It is something that can mean the difference between life and death...

Blaire Patrick, an employment litigation attorney at KM&A in Pittsburgh, grounds her practice on her experience representing clients who need Social Security disability benefits. Her humanitarian work in Boston and Pittsburgh solidified the knowledge that the law is vital in offering relief and aid to workers in difficult circumstances. Blaire pierces to the center of every legal issue and strategizes to obtain the best possible outcome.

Real life experience of the difficulty of employment issues spurs her to champion the needs of her clients. Blaire listens to her clients. She knows that being unable to work, facing employment discrimination, or being...

Mr. Chaffin is admitted to the Bars of the States of New York and West Virginia, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the United States District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, the Western District of Pennsylvania and the Southern District of West Virginia. He is additionally confessed to practice under the watchful eye of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second and Third Circuits.

Matt Logue is the founder of Logue Law Firm LLC, with offices in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Focusing his practice on litigation, he represents clients in civil matters, including business disputes, medical malpractice, wrongful death, motor vehicle accidents and other personal injury litigation. Mr. Logue also provides criminal defense counsel to those who have been charged with felonies or misdemeanors, including driving under the influence and white collar crimes. In addition to his civil and criminal trial practice, he has represented clients in hearings before state and federal agencies, including the United States Merit Systems Protection Board, the United States...

Attorney Jason Matzus is widely recognized by his peers and colleagues for his professionalism, skill, integrity, and knowledge. He is currently the president of the Pennsylvania Association for Justice, which is the largest organization for trial lawyers in Pennsylvania and one of the most prominent trial lawyer organizations in the country. He has also served as the president of the Western Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association. Attorney Matzus considers election by his peers to these leadership positions to be one of the highest professional compliments that a lawyer can achieve.

Mr. Matzus has consistently been selected to Pennsylvania Super Lawyers®, named a...

Mike established the firm in 2002 after 15 years in the field of Health Care and Insurance law.
As former Special Counsel at Tucker Arensberg.P.C., Now principal of Laffey & Associates and Other Party Liability Inc. Mike has established one of the premier law firm subrogation departments in the country dedicated to serving Employee Benefit Plans subrogation interests. As former in-house counsel for Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, Mike has assisted in the design and delivery of several managed health care systems from design of the benefit package, through contracting, regulatory approval, and the marketing of the new programs. Mike...