June 10, 2024
Lucy E. Wiesner recently joined Babst Calland as an associate in the Litigation Group. Ms. Wiesner has a broad range of experience representing corporate clients in commercial disputes, shareholder disputes, and energy and natural resources litigation.
Prior to joining Babst Calland, Ms. Wiesner served as a Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable Richard A. Lloret in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. She is a 2021 graduate of Temple University Beasley School of Law.
June 6, 2024
Babst Calland announces that five practice areas and 14 attorneys and recognized in the 2024 Chambers USA Guide. Of those, the Firm was ranked for the first time this year in Litigation: General Commercial in Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh & Surrounds, and USA – Nationwide – Energy: PHMSA Specialists.
Chambers rankings are a definitive mark of excellence across the legal industry for law firms and legal professionals. A ranking from Chambers shows that the firm has stood out in the most rigorous, independent and in-depth research process and has emerged as one of the best in the field. The qualities on which rankings are assessed include: technical legal ability; professional conduct; client service; commercial astuteness; diligence; commitment; and other qualities most valued by the client.
Firm Rankings:
Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh & Surrounds
- Litigation: General Commercial (Band 3)
Pennsylvania
- Environment (Band 1)
- Construction (Band 3)
West Virginia
- Energy & Natural Resources (Band 2)
- Environment (Band 2)
Lawyer Rankings:
USA – Nationwide – Energy: PHMSA Specialists
Pennsylvania – Environment
Pennsylvania – Construction
Pennsylvania – Litigation: Mediators
District of Columbia – Environment
West Virginia – Environment
West Virginia – Litigation: General Commercial
West Virginia – Energy & Natural Resources
May 21, 2024
Babst Calland has been ranked in the top 400 among the largest U.S. Law Firms. The Law360 400 features the largest U.S.-based law firms and international firms with a U.S. component as measured by domestic attorney headcount.
May 17, 2024
Babst Calland is pleased to announce that the following attorneys were selected to the 2024 Super Lawyers’ Rising Stars® lists, published by Thomson Reuters. Only 2.5% of attorneys from each state are selected to receive the Rising Stars® designation for any given year, an honor reserved for those attorneys who exhibit excellence in practice. To be eligible for inclusion in the Rising Stars® list, a candidate must be either 40 years old or younger or in practice for 10 years or less. The multi-factor selection process includes independent research, peer nominations and evaluations, as well as professional achievement in legal practice.
Pennsylvania Rising Stars®
Kathleen H. Cooper – Shareholder, Mergers & Acquisitions
Casey Alan Coyle – Shareholder, Business Litigation
Andrew C. DeGory – Associate, Business Litigation
Alexandra G. Farone – Associate, Employment & Labor
Anna S. Jewart – Associate, Land Use & Zoning
James D. Mazzocco – Associate, Environmental Litigation
Christina Manfredi McKinley – Shareholder, Business Litigation
Joshua S. Snyder – Shareholder, Civil Litigation
Washington, D.C. Rising Stars®
Amanda L. Brosy – Associate, Environmental
Gina Falaschi Buchman – Shareholder, Environmental
May 14, 2024
Yesterday, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court designated Casey Coyle as the next Chair of the Supreme Court’s Civil Procedural Rules Committee, effective July 1, 2024. Established in 1937, the Civil Procedural Rules Committee is the oldest of the Supreme Court’s eight rules committees. The Civil Procedural Committee assists the Supreme Court in the preparation, revision, publication, and administration of the rules of civil procedure. This work includes the entire spectrum of civil matters in the Courts of Common Pleas except matters relating to Orphans’ Court and family court divisions of those courts. Casey—who is one of 13 members who currently serve on the Committee—concentrates his practice on complex commercial litigation and appellate law. He is a former law clerk to Chief Justice Emeritus Thomas G. Saylor of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
To view the Court’s Order, click here.
May 6, 2024
Daniel R. Richey recently joined Babst Calland as a shareholder in the Corporate and Commercial and Emerging Technologies groups. Mr. Richey provides counsel across multiple industries, focusing on private equity, emerging technology, software, energy, fintech, life sciences, telecommunications and entertainment.
Mr. Richey represents investor groups, family offices, private equity and venture funds, independent sponsors and operating companies in a variety of complex corporate transactions, including financial and strategic mergers and acquisitions, early-stage venture investments, and platform formations, add-ons and roll-ups. He also negotiates public and private capital markets transactions, including private securities offerings and alternative equity financing, including PIPE and RDO investments and ATM and ADR facilities.
In compliance matters, Mr. Richey helps clients navigate federal, state and non-governmental regulatory regimes, including under SEC and FINRA rules, state securities regulations, and NYSE and Nasdaq exchange rules. Mr. Richey also advises public companies in proxy and fiduciary matters, has counseled not-for-profit business trade associations in governance and general corporate matters, and provides comprehensive outside general counsel services. He also regularly advises clients on data privacy and cybersecurity practices and policies.
Mr. Richey’s commercial practice includes software and SaaS licensing agreements, manufacturing, storage, distribution, wholesale, advertising and agency and other commercial service agreements and transactions, as well as restrictive covenants and consumer-facing terms of service, privacy and cybersecurity policies and clickthrough agreements.
Prior to joining Babst Calland, Mr. Richey was an associate with McGuireWoods LLP. He is a 2012 graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.
April 29, 2024
Angela M. Harrod recently joined Babst Calland as an associate in the Construction and Litigation groups. Ms. Harrod has a broad range of experience representing corporate clients in matters including breach of contract, unfair trade practices, and complex litigation.
Ms. Harrod represents contractors, subcontractors, owners, developers, design professionals, and construction companies in a broad range of matters arising from complex construction and development projects. She has experience with Pennsylvania’s Mechanics’ Lien Law, and routinely prosecutes and defends lien claims. Ms. Harrod also represents clients in contractual and payment disputes.
April 2, 2024
Bryan M. Seigworth recently joined Babst Calland as a shareholder in the Corporate and Commercial and Emerging Technologies groups. Mr. Seigworth acts as outside general counsel for clients across multiple industries with a focus in the manufacturing, life sciences, and software as a service (SaaS).
Mr. Seigworth negotiates a broad array of commercial and real estate agreements on behalf of his clients and prepares agreements governing all aspects of the manufacturing relationship, including contract, toll, and private label manufacturing; build-to-print and design and spec fabrication; engineering and development services; exclusive relationships; vendor-managed inventory arrangements; teaming relationships and joint ventures; and independent representative services. He also advises clients on regulatory obligations governing their manufacturing activities, including under the FAR/DFARs, ITAR, and FDA cGMP regulations.
Mr. Seigworth assists life sciences clients in negotiating agreements for technology development, collaboration, licensing, and transfer; product and service co-promotion and marketing; consulting arrangements; investigator-initiated studies; turnkey offerings; product distribution; and reseller arrangements. He routinely advises clients with respect to HIPAA compliance and other data security and privacy obligations, as well as applicable healthcare regulations.
Mr. Seigworth also regularly negotiates agreements for software as a service (SaaS) offerings; software development, licensing, and transfer; professional services; and confidentiality obligations. He assists software providers in complying with their data privacy and security obligations, including under US and EU data privacy laws.
In addition to his commercial and regulatory practice, Mr. Seigworth advises clients in connection with their acquisition and sale of businesses and product lines. Before focusing his practice on commercial and corporate transactions, Mr. Seigworth was a commercial and intellectual property litigator. He also relies on his in-house counsel experience when helping clients operationalize strategies designed to mitigate commercial and regulatory risk.
Prior to joining Babst Calland, Mr. Seigworth was the founder of Seigworth Law Group. He is a 2004 graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.
March 18, 2024
Kristen L. Petrina recently joined Babst Calland as an associate in the Corporate and Commercial and Emerging Technologies groups. Ms. Petrina represents domestic and international clients on a broad range of general corporate and commercial law matters, including recapitalizations, restructuring, mergers and acquisitions, commercial lending, commercial contracts, entity formation, corporate governance, and corporate exit and succession planning.
Prior to joining Babst Calland, Ms. Petrina was an associate of Dentons Cohen & Grigsby. She is a 2022 graduate of Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University.
March 14, 2024
Babst Calland Attorney Casey Alan Coyle was selected by The Legal Intelligencer as a “2024 Lawyer on the Fast Track, Small/Midsize Winner” in Pennsylvania.
After reviewing the results of nominations for the annual The Legal Intelligencer awards, a judging panel composed of evaluators from all corners of the legal profession and the state selected 13 attorneys as the 2024 Lawyers on the Fast Track, Small/Midsize Winners. This recognition is only given to attorneys under the age of 40 who have demonstrated excellence in four categories: development of the law; advocacy and community contributions; service to the bar; and peer and public recognition.
Mr. Coyle is a shareholder and co-chair of the Firm’s Litigation Group. He is also the Managing Shareholder of the Firm’s Harrisburg Office. He concentrates his practice on appellate law and complex commercial litigation. He frequently represents clients in state and federal appellate courts, with a particular emphasis on appeals before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. Over his career, he has represented either a party or an amicus curiae in 15 appeals before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. Mr. Coyle has also successfully petitioned the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to grant review of an appeal—commonly known as “allocatur”—on six different occasions. In addition, he has presented oral argument before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, Pennsylvania Supreme Court, Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court, and Pennsylvania Superior Court.
January 30, 2024
Babst Calland is pleased to announce that we have earned a place on the U.S. News & World Report’s 2024 Best Companies to Work: Law Firms list.
Guided by a panel of experts, the U.S. News’ 2024 Best Companies to Work For: Law Firms list analyzes how individual firms meet the needs and expectations of their employees compared to their competitors. Similar to the Best Companies to Work For methodology, the Law Firms list considers six factors that are important to employee well-being and job satisfaction: quality of pay and benefits, work-life balance and flexibility, job and company stability, physical and psychological comfort, belongingness and esteem, and career opportunities and professional development.
Babst Calland is among the 344 U.S. law firms with the highest composite scores on the six factors to be recognized by U.S. News as “Best” employers. To view the listing, click here.
January 2, 2024
Babst Calland recently named Gina Falaschi Buchman, Timothy S. Bytner and Carla M. Castello shareholders in the Firm.
Gina Falaschi Buchman focuses her practice on environmental regulatory matters arising under the Clean Air Act. Ms. Buchman provides advice to clients in the energy, transportation, and technology sectors regarding compliance with state and federal environmental regulations. She has assisted companies with disclosure of regulatory violations to state and federal agencies and has counseled clients in negotiations with the U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. EPA, and California Air Resources Board. In addition to counseling on compliance issues, Ms. Buchman has worked with technology and energy companies in developing new projects and has advised clients on regulatory issues arising from joint ventures, mergers, and acquisitions. She has also advised clients regarding aftermarket parts and vehicle tampering enforcement. Ms. Buchman has litigated cases in federal court, represented clients in administrative cases before various federal agencies, and has experience with administrative rule challenges before the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit and Third Circuit. Ms. Buchman is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia, California, U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, and U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California. Ms. Buchman has litigated cases in federal court, represented clients in administrative cases before various federal agencies, and has experience with administrative rule challenges before the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit and Third Circuit. Ms. Buchman earned her J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center and her A.B. from Georgetown University.
Timothy Bytner focuses his practice primarily on federal and state environmental regulation and litigation. A significant portion of his practice is spent advising clients on matters involving the remediation and reuse of contaminated properties under both state and federal jurisdiction, including counseling clients on Pennsylvania’s Act 2 Land Recycling and Environmental Remediation Standards Act. He has counseled clients on a variety of matters involving storage tank jurisdictional issues and compliance under Pennsylvania’s Storage Tank Program. Mr. Bytner has also counseled clients in environmental compliance issues involving the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, RCRA, EPCRA, CERCLA, and a wide variety of state regulatory issues. He regularly handles wetlands, stream encroachment, and stormwater issues associated with site development. In addition, Mr. Bytner has experience in matters involving environmental emergency response and the Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure Rule, the Facility Response Rule, and various state planning requirements. Mr. Bytner is a member of the Allegheny County, Pennsylvania and American Bar associations. Mr. Bytner received his J.D. from the Duquesne University School of Law, and a B.S. in Biology from the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown.
Carla Castello has a broad range of litigation experience in several practice areas including commercial, labor and employment, consumer protection, antitrust, energy, and toxic tort. Her experience includes assisting corporate clients in defending a variety of matters, including environmental and toxic tort disputes, commercial contract disputes regarding the manufacture, design, installation and testing of large industrial equipment, and conflicts between shareholders in closely-held businesses. Ms. Castello has experience in all stages of litigation, including complex commercial and class action litigation involving extensive electronic and foreign language discovery. She has represented clients in various federal and state courts and before single and three-judge arbitration panels. Ms. Castello is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania, the District of Columbia and Virginia, as well as before the United States District Courts for the Eastern District of Virginia, the Western District of Virginia, and the Western District of Pennsylvania and the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. She is a member of the Allegheny County, Virginia, District of Columbia, and American Bar associations. Ms. Castello graduated from the University of Maryland with a B.A. in Economics and received her J.D. from the George Washington University Law School.
January 2, 2024
Charles F. (Chad) Wall IV recently joined Babst Calland as an associate in the Corporate and Commercial Group. Mr. Wall’s practice focuses primarily on corporate and transactional matters, including mergers and acquisitions, venture capital and private equity investments, corporate governance, and commercial contracts.
Prior to joining Babst Calland, Mr. Wall was an associate with Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP. He is a 2021 graduate of University of Virginia School of Law.
December 1, 2023
Babst Calland sponsored the Pittsburgh Smart 50 Awards event recognizing the top executives of the smartest companies in the Greater Pittsburgh region for their ability to effectively build and lead successful organizations.
Babst Calland Attorney Susanna Bagdasarova introduced a group of the Smart 50 honorees and the Sustainability award.
Babst Calland Attorney Justine Kasznica was a Smart 50 honoree and won the Impact award for the Keystone Space Collaborative.
November 20, 2023
Babst Calland Attorney Tiffany Arbaugh has been elected as President for the Women’s Energy Network West Virginia for 2024.