Mission Statement

The Babst Calland Women’s Initiative strives to increase the retention and advancement of women attorneys at our Firm and in the broader legal community by promoting inclusivity and equal opportunities.

The Women’s Initiative meets regularly to facilitate open discussions about workplace challenges historically faced by women in professional settings and encourages the exchange of advice and experiences to aid others in navigating those challenges.

The Women’s Initiative further supports the Firm’s women attorneys in developing and promoting their practices by acknowledging and celebrating successes and encouraging mentorship among all of the Firm’s attorneys. A key goal of the Women’s Initiative is to connect women attorneys across the Firm’s practice groups and offices, allowing for organic support systems to develop and prosper. This blending of practice groups and offices encourages collaboration and cross-marketing opportunities that benefit our attorneys and clients. By encouraging these relationships, the Women’s Initiative’s work advances the professional and business development of women attorneys at the Firm and within the legal community at large.

 

Features

The following celebrates the initiatives of the women attorneys at Babst Calland.


Justine Kasznica Co-Authors OnRAMP Article

As the “backbone” of digital infrastructure, data centers are becoming more and more critical in meeting the demands of the modern digital world. With advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and the increased reliance on computing by people all over the world, demand for data centers is outpacing supply. In their recent article in the OnRamp Magazine, Justine Kasznica and Moore Capito discuss the increased demand for complex data centers and the infrastructure and legal challenges facing developers in the region.

Anna Jewart Sits as a Panelist for Women’s History Month Educational Networking Event

Anna Jewart will be a panelist for the Women’s History Month Educational Networking Event on March 26 from 4 – 6 pm.  This event celebrates Women’s History Month by showcasing women driving sustainability in four fields – business, healthcare, law, and technology. The event will also offer an opportunity to network with the panelists.

Undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and anyone interested are invited.

Babst Calland Celebrates International Women’s Day

On March 8, 2025, we observe International Women’s Day (IWD), a global day to celebrate the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. This year’s theme for IWD is #AccelerateAction. This theme emphasizes the importance of taking swift and influential steps to achieve gender equality. It calls for urgency in addressing the systemic barriers and biases that women face, both in personal and professional spheres.

Janet Meub Selected as the Recipient of the Neighborhood Legal Services Partner in Justice Award

Attorney Janet Meub has been selected as the recipient of the Neighborhood Legal Services Association Partner in Justice Award for her essential and noble legal work for Pittsburgh communities and her leadership in involving Babst Calland attorneys to volunteer in representing victims of domestic violence.

Babst Calland supports Neighborhood Legal Services in their commitment to provide equal access to justice for all residents in the region.

Gina Falaschi Buchman and Alexandra Graf Co-Author Environmental Alert

In their recent alert U.S. EPA Approves Class VI Injection Well Primacy in West Virginia with Jim Curry, Kip Power, and Gary Steinbauer, Gina Falaschi Buchman and Alex Graf discuss on February 26, 2025, the US EPA published a notice in the Federal Register approving West Virginia’s application for Class VI injection well primary enforcement authority (primacy) pursuant to the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) underground injection control (UIC) program.

Susanna Bagdasarova and Kate Cooper Co-Author Firm Alert

In their recent alert BOI is Back: Corporate Transparency Act Reporting Requirements Reinstated with Chris Farmakis and Dane Fennell, Susanna Bagdasarova and Kate Cooper discuss the recent developments for the reporting requirements under the Corporate Transparency Act. FinCEN has announced a 30-day deadline extension for reporting companies. The new deadline for the majority of reporting companies to file an initial, updated, and/or corrected BOI report is March 21, 2025.

Attorney Francesca (Cella) Iovino Joins Babst Calland

Francesca C. (Cella) Iovino recently joined Babst Calland as an associate in the Litigation Group. Ms. Iovino’s experience encompasses all phases of litigation from initial pleadings through trial and appeal in the state and federal courts. She has handled a variety of complex commercial disputes, involving breach of contract, breach of warranty, shareholder disputes and oppression claims and business torts. Ms. Iovino also has represented clients in financial servicing issues, debt collection and lender liability matters, trade secret misappropriation and restrictive covenants.

Anna Hosack Co-Authors Legal Intelligencer Article

In a recent case, the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court found that the use of an attestation may negate the need for a full privilege log when responding to a Right-to-Know Law request where there are redacted privileged documents and an attestation providing context for the privilege. In her recent article Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law Update: The Death of the Attorney-Client Privilege Log? with Michael Korns, Anna Hosack provide this Pennsylvania RTKL Update.

Alex Farone Co-Authors Employment and Labor Alert

The new presidential administration’s efforts to prioritize immigration law enforcement has resulted in increased activity by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and an uptick of questions from employers about how to handle ICE investigations. In their Alert, “Employer Guidance for Workplace Interactions with ICE,” Alex Farone and Steve Antonelli provide guidance to employers for potential interactions with or inspections by ICE at the workplace, including preliminary actions, suggested steps during an ICE visit (whether announced or unannounced), and follow-up recommendations.

Stefanie Mekilo Authors Federal Lawyer Article

In her recent article Help the Clerk to Help Your Case: Writing Insights from a Federal Career Clerk Turned Litigator Stefanie Mekilo shares writing insights and practical tips gleaned during her time in chambers to help get and keep the judge’s law clerk on your side. To read the full article, click here.

Mackenzie Moyer, Christina Puhnaty, and Alexandra Graf Co-Author Firm Alerts

On January 20, 2025, the Trump administration issued a suite of Executive Orders and memoranda signaling a dramatic shift in American energy and environmental policy. Collectively these actions, among a historically large array of “Day One” orders issued by the administration, aim to stimulate domestic energy production (with a focus on oil, natural gas, coal, hydropower, biofuels, critical minerals, and nuclear energy resources), expand energy transmission infrastructure, enlarge refining capacity, and streamline environmental permitting and review requirements for energy production and infrastructure projects while canceling Biden-era domestic climate policies, disengaging from international climate agreements, and curtailing leasing and permitting for offshore and onshore wind energy projects.

Sloane Wildman and Jessica Deyoe Co-Author Environmental Alert

In their recent alert PFAS: A New Four-Letter Word in Environmental Law? Updates from 2024 and Predictions for 2025 with Joseph Schaeffer, Sloane Wildman and Jessica Deyoe discuss some of the more significant PFAS-related developments from the past year and considers what might happen in 2025 and beyond. To read the full alert, click here.

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.

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.

Women's Initiative
Anna Jewart Sits as a Panelist for Women’s History Month Educational Networking Event
Anna Jewart will be a panelist for the Women’s History Month Educational Networking Event on...
News
SAY “YES”: Reinventing Yourself in the Legal Profession
The Legal Intelligencer (by Janet Meub) Clients come and go. There is no guarantee that...
News
Babst Calland Participates in the New Jersey State Bar Association’s DEI Conference
Babst Calland participated in the New Jersey State Bar Association’s DEI Conference on October 7,...
Women's Initiative
Babst Calland Celebrates International Women’s Day
On March 8, 2025, we observe International Women’s Day (IWD), a global day to celebrate...
News
Babst Calland Partners with PLDIC for “Ask Us Anything” Panel Discussion
Babst Calland partnered with the Pittsburgh Legal Diversity & Inclusion Coalition (PLDIC) to sponsor and...