Johnstown Government & Administrative Lawyers

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...

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...

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

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.

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,...

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...

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...

Arbitrator on American Arbitration Association, American Health Lawyers Association and FINRA rosters. Advocate in appeals from administrative agencies, benefit plans, and trial court decisions. Comprehensive knowledge of disability employment and benefit law, federal, state and local government employment and benefits, security clearances and ERISA. Rated AV (preeminent) by Martindale-Hubbell, recognized by Pennsylvania SuperLawyers for more than 11 years. Admitted to practice in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and the Federal Circuit and the United States District Courts for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and the District of...

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...

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...

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.

Brian received his bachelor's degree in political science from Rutgers University College Camden where he graduated summa cum laude, earning the Jack Marvin Weiner award and the Armitage award for highest overall grade average. He graduated from Rutgers School of Law Camden in 2008. While in law school he performed pro bono work for the Community Dispute Resolution Pro Bono Mediation Project and completed a pro bono research project for a local maritime non-profit. Brian has over twenty years experience as a licensed mariner and over fifteen years in marine management positions, including Port Captain. He has extensive experience in...

Combined 15 years’ experience as in-house counsel, litigation attorney, fraud investigator and law enforcement officer with certification in public law and policy, providing the assets necessary for the successful legal analysis and execution of operational procedures in legislation, compliance, fraud investigation, contractual agreements, and litigation of client needs in resolving various matters. Successful as team leader over various special projects. Holds a proven record of achieving the highest cost/benefit results in the representation of government agencies and corporate clients.

Michael is an experienced, well-respected litigator and trial attorney. He concentrates his practice in litigation, specifically personal injury matters including wrongful death and catastrophic injury, as well as a wide range of complex municipal matters. He also currently serves as the Solicitor to the Montgomery County Controller. Born in lower Bucks County, Bristol, Pa, Michael learned to value both hard work and education from his mother, who taught at Pennsbury for 40 years and his father who was a laborer and roofer. Michael’s father immigrated here from Calabria, Italy, where most of his relatives still live in a small southern...

After more than two decades of service with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Attorney Rish returned to private practice uniquely positioned to represent professionals with licensing and disciplinary issues involving the Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs. As legal counsel to the Board of Medicine, the Board of Osteopathic Medicine, and the Board of Funeral Directors in addition to other boards, Attorney Rish advised Board Staff and Board Members on licensing, disciplinary, reinstatement, regulatory and other issues on a daily basis. His experience with the Commonwealth includes service as the Chief Counsel to the Office of Inspector General from 2007 to...

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...

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...

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...