Allegheny County Government & Administrative Lawyers

Jonathan Cohn (Jon) focuses on employment, employee benefits, and whistleblower cases. Jon also litigates individual employment discrimination actions in both federal and state court, advises executives and professionals concerning their employment and non-competition agreements, and negotiates severance packages.

TYLER J. SMITH is an attorney with the law firm of Bordas & Bordas, PLLC, which has been identified as one of West Virginia's best personal injury law firms. He is proud to open the firm's first Pennsylvania office. Mr. Smith is an expert in trial advocacy, having tried more than 40 corporate and professional liability lawsuits to verdict in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. He specializes in a wide array of complex civil litigation, including but not limited to: medical malpractice, hospital and nursing home negligence, oil and gas, legal malpractice, interstate trucking litigation, ski accidents, premises liability, construction...

Attorney Tim Burns has been operating his regional general law practice in historic Ebensburg, Cambria County for nearly a decade. His office, located an hour and a half east of Pittsburgh, is conveniently located just steps from the Cambria County Courthouse. A Johnstown native, he received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science and Secondary Education from St. Vincent College in Latrobe, and his Juris Doctorate from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh where he served as Editor-in-Chief of Juris, the school’s award winning legal newsmagazine. Prior to opening his law office, Attorney Burns was an Associate in the...

Representing individuals throughout Western Pennsylvania in claims for Social Security disability benefits or Veteran's compensation in the following counties: Allgeheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Clarion, Clearfield, Crawford, Elk, Erie, Fayette, Forest, Greene, Indiana, Jefferson, Lawrence, McKean, Mercer, Venango, Warren, Washington, and Westmoreland County

Jay Alberstadt is a senior partner with MacDonald Illig. He concentrates his practice in the areas of real estate, commercial and economic development ,and conventional and tax-exempt financing. He provides legal services to individuals, business entities, lending institutions, municipal authorities and development agencies. Mr. Alberstadt handles matters ranging from residential real estate transactions to detailed title and development issues. He also provides representation in commercial financings and tax-exempt municipal, industrial development and 501(c)(3) bond issues. He is co-chair of the Firm's real estate practice group and chair of the firm's marketing committee.

Scott MacNair is a graduate of the Villanova University School of Law. He began his legal career in 1998 with the Pennsylvania State Education Association where he specialized in labor and education law. In 1999, he obtained a judicial clerkship with a Court of Common Pleas Judge, the Honorable Linda K.M. Ludgate, in Berks County, Pennsylvania. In 2001, Scott obtained employment as an Assistant District Attorney with the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office. In 2004, he was promoted to Chief of Narcotics with the District Attorney’s Office. In 2005, he was promoted to Deputy District...

Licensed to practice in Pa. and N.J. Comprehensive knowledge of disability employment and benefit law, federal state and local government employment and benefit claims, private sector employment law, contract negotiations and litigation, professional licensing, ERISA, administrative agency and court appeals.

Russell S. Warner is the Managing Partner of the law firm of MacDonald, Illig, Jones & Britton LLP in Erie, Pennsylvania. He is the founder and past Chairman of the firm's Environmental Group. He concentrates his practice in the areas of business and environmental law, including matters involving the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, as well as matters before the USEPA Environmental Appeals Board and the Pennsylvania Environmental Hearing Board.

Mr. Warner's practice includes representation of businesses, financial institutions, economic development organizations and municipal entities regarding business and environmental matters, as well as acquisitions, capital...

Joshua L. Grimes, Esq. is principal attorney at Grimes Law Offices, LLC based in Philadelphia. Mr. Grimes has a national practice focused on business and real estate law, as well as the association, nonprofit, meeting, and hospitality industries. He has particular expertise in legal matters relating meetings and conventions, including contracting and dispute resolution. Mr. Grimes also has extensive experience with zoning matters.

Mr. Grimes is a sought-after speaker on legal issues relating to meetings, conventions, and hotel law. He has appeared at over 100 programs sponsored by Meeting Professionals International (MPI), Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA), the American Society of...

Mr. Walczak concentrates his practice in the areas of corporate governance, business transactions and finance, and creditors' rights.

Mr. Walczak acts in the capacity of general counsel for a number of business, non-profit and governmental organizations, providing legal advice on corporate, transactional and tax matters. Mr. Walczak is listed in the Bond Buyer Municipal Market Place Guide (commonly known as the municipal bond attorney's Red Book), and regularly provides tax advice and board counsel tax opinions with respect to tax-exempt financing transactions.

Mr. Walczak also represents creditors in complex creditor-debtor matters, including the negotiation of workout agreements and the representation of creditors...

Gilbert P. High, Jr. has devoted his career primarily to the practice of Municipal, Real Estate and Land Use Law and Estates & Trusts. He has extensive experience in legislative drafting, subdivision and land development, zoning litigation, public employment issues, local taxation, public contracting, and the law of easements and rights of way. He regularly speaks on issues pertaining to municipal liability, particularly regarding the maintenance of the Urban Forest, a subject on which he has lectured nationally.

Mr. High also practices in the area of estate planning, particularly in the administration of complex estates, will drafting, the creation and...

Thomas E. Panzer’s practice areas focus on administrative litigation, including zoning and workers’ compensation. Mr. Panzer has represented multiple zoning hearing boards over the past 20 years. He also represents both claimants and defendants in workers’ compensation matters, which has made him a sought-after and frequent lecturer on Pennsylvania workers’ compensation topics.

Mr. Panzer joined High Swartz in 2016 as a result of a merger with McNamara, Bolla & Panzer, Attorneys at Law, a firm for which he served as Managing Partner. Mr. Panzer has been practicing law in southeastern Pennsylvania for nearly 25 years.

In addition to the practice of law,...

Jenna Bickford is a partner in the Business Transactions Group of MacDonald Illig. She represents clients across a number of practice areas including Business Transactions, Real Estate, Government Services and Public Finance, and Health Care.

Ms. Bickford routinely represents business clients of all sizes with a variety of legal needs including business formation, contract matters, corporate and regulatory compliance, and mergers and acquisitions. She has also taught mergers and acquisitions as an adjunct instructor at Mercyhurst University.

As a member of the Real Estate Group, she regularly handles both residential and commercial real estate transactions and assists clients with title matters. She...

Kathleen M. Thomas concentrates her practice in the areas of municipal law, small business, non-profit law, and civil litigation. Kathleen is also experienced in other areas of municipal law, including Right to Know, land development, zoning, code enforcement and litigation.

Recognized as an expert in the areas of Pennsylvania Act 511 taxation, Kathleen serves as Special Act 511 Tax Counsel to the Townships of Lower Merion and Abington, among others. She also serves as the Act 511 Hearing Officer to multiple municipalities in Montgomery and Delaware Counties. She also serves as Special Tax Consultant for ordinance and Regulation Revision and litigation...

Craig A. Doll brings more than 40 years of experience and knowledge to his representation of clients in the transportation and utility industries. Mr. Doll concentrates his practice in transportation litigation on behalf of limousine, household goods and property carriers, paratransit companies, airport transfer carriers, and taxicab companies before the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission and the Commonwealth’s Courts. He also represents public utilities in proceedings before the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, the Public Service Commission of Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey and the appellate courts of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Mr. Doll has represented both large and small investor-owned utilities in various...

Jeffrey A. Franklin serves clients in ways that maximize their opportunity to achieve their business goals. Jeff has more than 20 years of experience, primarily in the areas of electric, gas, telecommunication, alternative energy, transportation and water regulation. He also has extensive experience in technology, Internet and computer law and e-discovery issues. Jeff advises clients regarding compliance with regulatory requirements and the successful implementation of business strategies. Jeff has successfully conducted administrative adjudications, civil cases and appeals before various state and federal courts and administrative agencies. He has extensive experience in a variety of legal areas, including administrative law,...

For 30 years, "Jack" Mehler has helped public and private companies, banks, developers, non-profit corporations and individuals in a wide range of legal matters. Jack concentrates in the areas of general business matters, real estate, banking, and financial transactions.

Jack also represents taxpayer-clients and developers in real estate tax assessment (value) appeals, and tax exemption cases throughout western Pennsylvania on many different types of properties as diverse as marinas, waterfront shipping facilities, hospitals, shopping centers and malls, industrial plants, truck terminals and warehouses, commercial and professional office buildings, corporate headquarters, hotels, and senior living facilities.

Jack has written numerous articles and is...

Michael is an experienced, well-respected litigator and trial attorney. Clients benefit from his perfect mix of real-world and legal experience. Prior to returning to school for law, Michael worked for several years with troubled teens in and around Philadelphia. Helping families at their darkest times inspired him to return to school to become an attorney. Following a clerkship with the esteemed President Judge Alex Bonavitacola, Phila Court of Common Pleas, Michael defended businesses, insurance companies and municipalities. He argued before the Delaware Supreme Court (making new law on indemnification), as well as the Federal Courts under...