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.


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.

Stefanie Pitcavage Mekilo Selected for YWCA’s 2025 Tribute to Women of Excellence Award

Stefanie Pitcavage Mekilo has been selected for the YWCA of Greater Harrisburg’s 2025 Tribute to Women of Excellence (TWE) Award as a member of the TWE Class of 2025.  This regionally recognized, annual award recognizes leading female professionals and community volunteers who have devoted their time and energy to making Central Pennsylvania a better place to live and work.

An award ceremony will be held at the Hershey Lodge and Convention Center on March 26, 2025. 

Anna Hosack Co-Authors Legal Intelligencer Article

On November 20, 2024, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court unanimously upheld the constitutionality of state preemptive firearm laws that prohibit municipalities from passing local gun regulations. Attorneys Michael T. Korns and Anna Hosack discuss the implications of this decision for municipalities on gun regulation in Pennsylvania.

To read the full article, click here.

Susanna Bagdasarova and Kate Cooper Co-Author Firm Alert

In their recent alert Court Blocks Enforcement of the Corporate Transparency Act Nationwide Susanna Bagdasarova, Kate Cooper, Chris Farmakis and Dane Fennell discuss how the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas granted a nationwide preliminary injunction temporarily halting enforcement of the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA). With less than a month to go before the January 1, 2025 compliance deadline for entities formed prior to 2024, this ruling blocks the U.S.

Morgan Madden Selected as a 2024 Winner of the City & State Pennsylvania Impact Awards

Morgan Madden has been selected as a 2024 winner of the City & State Pennsylvania Impact Awards. The Impact Award represents Pennsylvania’s most outstanding corporate and civic citizens.

This list “recognizes Pennsylvania’s most influential executives, thought leaders, visionaries and trailblazers, who are setting new standards of excellence, dedication and leadership in improving their communities and making transformative change by successfully promoting one of core principles of social responsibility which include: Charity, Community Engagement, Customer Service, Diversity &

Attorney Spotlight on Sara Antol

This is the fifth in a series of profiles featuring the women attorneys of Babst Calland to acknowledge and celebrate their success and to connect women attorneys across the Firm’s practice groups, offices and clients. This attorney spotlight features Sara Antol.

To view the profile on Sara, click here.

Carla Castello Co-Authors TEQ Hub Article

In her recent article Best Practice for Conducting an Effective Internal Company Investigation with Kevin Douglass and Steve Antonelli, Carla Castello discusses how to effectively conduct an internal investigation when faced with an allegation that can potentially expose the company to legal, financial and reputational harm. To read the full article, click here.

Attorneys Alexandra Graf and Katerina Vassil Join Babst Calland

Alexandra N. Graf and Katerina P. Vassil recently joined law firm Babst Calland.

Ms. Graf joins Babst Calland’s Environmental Group as an associate. She assists clients with matters encompassing a broad range of environmental issues, including those related to federal and state permitting, regulatory compliance, transactional due diligence, resolving liabilities under federal and state remediation programs, and environmental litigation. Ms.

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 Partners with PLDIC for “Ask Us Anything” Panel Discussion
Babst Calland partnered with the Pittsburgh Legal Diversity & Inclusion Coalition (PLDIC) to sponsor and...
Events
Film Screening and Panel Discussion in Celebration of International Women’s Day
On March 8, in celebration of Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day, Babst Calland’s...
Women's Initiative
Women’s Initiative 2024 Mentoring Circle Kickoff Meeting
The Babst Calland Women’s Initiative is celebrating the fourth consecutive year of one of the...
Women's Initiative
Babst Calland Names Buchman and Castello Shareholder
Babst Calland recently named Gina Falaschi Buchman and Carla M. Castello shareholders in the Firm....
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