February 18, 2016
PITTSBURGH, PA, February 18, 2016 – Jonathan B. Bompiani, Melissa M. Hall and Meghan A. Moran recently joined law firm Babst Calland as associates in the Firm’s Mineral Title Services and Energy & Natural Resources groups.
Mr. Bompiani’s practice focuses on energy matters, whereby he advises and represents corporate clients with oil and gas matters throughout West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. Mr. Bompiani is also a member of the Firm’s Pipeline and HazMat Safety practice. He counsels clients on federal and state pipeline safety issues related to gas and hazardous liquids pipelines and on the regulations for transportation of hazardous materials by other modes. In addition, his experience includes rendering drilling, rights-of-way, and division order title opinions; managing due diligence asset acquisition projects; and resolving title defects, surface damage disputes, rights-of-way issues, administrative permitting issues, and zoning and lease challenges. He also represents his clients in state and federal court upon the initiation of a wide array of industry related litigation.. He is a 2005 graduate of West Virginia University College of Law.
Ms. Hall counsels various energy, oil, gas and mineral-related clients on transaction matters as they relate to gas title issues and opinions. She is a 2006 graduate of Capital University Law School.
Ms. Moran’s practice focuses primarily on counseling oil, gas and mineral-related clients on matters related to ownership of and title to oil and gas, including title examination, title curative, oil and gas title opinions, due diligence, and litigation. She is a 2003 graduate of Duquesne University School of Law.
February 17, 2016
PITTSBURGH, PA, February 17, 2016 – Hetal S. Dhagat recently joined Babst Calland as an associate in the Environmental Group. Ms. Dhagat’s practice focuses on assisting clients on a variety of environmental matters including permitting, regulatory compliance and remediation. A 2005 graduate of Northwestern University School of Law, she was previously with Picadio Sneath Miller & Norton, P.C.
January 25, 2016
PITTSBURGH, PA and WASHINGTON, DC, January 25, 2016 – The law firm of Babst Calland today announced the opening of a new office in Washington, D.C., and the addition of two experienced energy attorneys, James Curry and Keith Coyle. Attorneys Curry and Coyle represent clients in the energy industry on a variety of matters, particularly in the areas of pipeline safety and the transportation of hazardous materials, and are joining the Firm’s Energy and Natural Resources Practice Group as shareholders. Adding to the Firm’s energy and environmental capabilities, these new attorneys bring deep experience in compliance, regulatory and legislative affairs, strategic counseling, enforcement, litigation, and audit preparation.
Attorneys Curry and Coyle are joining Babst Calland from a prominent D.C. environmental and energy law firm, where they played a critical in role in developing and expanding a nationally-recognized pipeline safety practice group. Both previously served as attorneys for the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), the federal agency that oversees the safety of the country’s growing network of gas and hazardous liquids pipelines. Active in several pipeline trade organizations and a frequent speaker at industry events, Curry counsels clients throughout the United States on PHMSA compliance matters and other transportation-related issues. Coyle, a member of the Pennsylvania Governor’s Pipeline Infrastructure Task Force who also specializes in PHMSA and transportation matters, is returning to Babst Calland, where he was an associate attorney earlier in his career.
The opening of the Firm’s new Washington, D.C. office, its sixth location, marks a significant event in Babst Calland’s 30-year history. The new office will be located at The Southern Building at 805 15th Street NW, Suite 601, Washington, DC. Founded in 1986, the Firm has a nationally-recognized environmental practice and is a leading provider of legal services to the energy industry in the Appalachian Basin and beyond.
Commenting on these developments, Chester R. Babst III, managing shareholder of Babst Calland, said, “We are expanding the capabilities of our nationally-recognized energy and environmental practice through the addition of Jim Curry and Keith Coyle, and the creation of a pipeline safety and regulatory practice with a new office in our nation’s capital. We are very pleased to welcome these well-regarded attorneys to our Firm as they share similar values, experience and philosophy for serving clients, some with whom we have shared business relationships,” said Babst.
“It is an exciting time for us to join Babst Calland, a firm with a significant energy and environmental legal practice and reputation that will complement our pipeline safety and regulatory practice in support of clients across the United States,” said Attorneys James Curry and Keith Coyle.
January 24, 2016
PITTSBURGH, PA, January 24, 2016 – Brian D. Lipkin recently joined Babst Calland as an associate in the Litigation and Employment & Labor groups. Mr. Lipkin’s commercial litigation practice focuses on contract disputes, business torts, and claims involving trade secrets and closely-held corporations. He handles construction, insurance coverage, intellectual property, real estate and securities litigation.
In his employment and labor practice, Mr. Lipkin defends employers against claims for discrimination, retaliation, wrongful discharge and unpaid wages. He handles restrictive covenant litigation and defends whistleblower claims arising under the False Claims Act. Mr. Lipkin advises employers and executives on compliance issues, employee handbooks, employment agreements, non-compete agreements and severance agreements. Mr. Lipkin, a 2008 graduate of Boston College Law School, was previously with Rose, Chinitz & Rose in Boston, Mass.
January 22, 2016
PITTSBURGH, PA January 22, 2016 – Babst Calland recently named Robert Max Junker, Scott K. McKernan, James D. Miller and Krista-Ann M. Staley shareholders in the Firm.
Max Junker, a member of the Firm’s Public Sector Group, has served as a municipal and school district solicitor for several years, and he is currently the Solicitor for the Borough of Franklin Park and the Borough of Bell Acres. Mr. Junker counsels and represents the Firm’s municipal clients on general municipal issues including tax assessment appeals, municipal taxation, public bidding, Sunshine Act, the Right-to-Know Law, the State Ethics Act, general land use and zoning matters, code enforcement, as well as Act 111 and Act 195 interest arbitrations and grievance arbitrations.
Mr. Junker is a 2005 graduate of Duquesne University School of Law.
Scott McKernan, a member of the Firm’s Energy & Natural Resources and Mineral Title groups, focuses his practice primarily on counseling various clients on matters involving natural resources and energy law with an emphasis on transactional matters related to the acquisition and development of oil and gas leases and rendering oil and gas title opinions. He provides services regarding oil and gas leasing, oil and gas title issues and opinions and due diligence projects for various transactions, including those involving the acquisition and divestiture of assets consisting of oil and gas fees and leasehold interests. He also counsels clients in matters involving seismic data acquisition and licensing, as well as matters involving transactions of subsurface rights, including oil and gas rights.
Mr. McKernan is a 2007 graduate of Duquesne University School of Law.
Jim Miller, a member of the Firm’s Litigation and Construction groups, focuses his practice primarily on commercial litigation and construction law. He has represented clients ranging from publicly-traded corporations to individuals in a variety of construction and business litigation cases in state and federal courts in Pennsylvania, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Washington, and West Virginia. Mr. Miller’s commercial litigation experience includes handling claims concerning breach of fiduciary duty, shareholder disputes, non-compete agreements, misappropriation of trade secrets, and cyber-squatting, as well as more standard business claims such as breach of contract.
Mr. Miller routinely advises companies in the construction and energy industries, including contractors, subcontractors, suppliers and project owners, with issues related to contract drafting, project management, dispute resolution and general business consultation. He has experience prosecuting and defending a wide range of construction-related claims arising from private, state and federal projects, including claims involving project delay, acceleration, inefficiencies, non-payment and retainage withholding (including statutory prompt payment damages, as well as bond and mechanics’ lien claims), design and specification defects, quantum meruit/unjust enrichment, active interference by the owner or contractor, and Articles 2 and 2A of the Uniform Commercial Code relating to the sale and lease of goods.
Mr. Miller is a 2008 graduate of Duquesne University School of Law.
Krista-Ann Staley, a member of the Firm’s Public Sector and Energy & Natural Resources groups, focuses her practice primarily on municipal law, with an emphasis on land use and land development issues. She represents boroughs, townships, municipal authorities, zoning hearing boards, individuals and private entities in the Pittsburgh area. Ms. Staley advises these clients when revising or enacting land use regulations and when considering land use applications. She also assists with issues pertaining to state and local roadway regulations, record requests filed under the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law, and public meeting requirements under the Sunshine Act.
In addition, Krista-Ann counsels and represents private landowners and businesses in matters relating to governmental entities, such as analyzing municipal ordinances and applying for and obtaining various land use approvals. She also assists private sector clients with filing Right-to-Know requests and appeals related to these filings. She works often with energy industry clients, including drilling and midstream companies, with a particular emphasis on the land use and roadway use issues related to the development of the Marcellus Shale throughout Pennsylvania.
Ms. Staley is a 2007 graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.
January 8, 2016
PITTSBURGH, PA and CHARLESTON, WV, January 8, 2016 – Callie E. Waers recently joined Babst Calland’s Charleston, W.Va. office as an associate in the Litigation and Energy & Natural Resources groups. Ms. Waers’s practice focuses primarily on representing oil and gas companies in all forms of litigation, ranging from arbitration to state and federal courts, in a wide variety of matters, including contract and lease disputes, negligence, and other matters as needed to protect their interests.
Ms. Waers has represented clients in cases dealing with a wide variety of legal issues, such as professional liability, insurance coverage, personal injury, construction disputes, constitutional and civil rights claims, privacy law and data breach matters, and issues arising under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
Ms. Waers earned her J.D. in 2013 from Washington and Lee University School of Law.
January 3, 2016
PITTSBURGH, January 3, 2016 – Babst Calland recently named Molly E. Meacham and Peter H. Schnore shareholders in the Firm.
Molly E. Meacham, a member of the Firm’s Litigation, Employment and Labor and Energy and Natural Resources groups, focuses her practice on commercial litigation and representing employers in labor and employment disputes. In her commercial litigation practice, she represents clients in a broad range of business-related litigation including contract disputes, restrictive covenant disputes, toxic tort claims, and premises liability claims. In her labor and employment practice, Ms. Meacham defends employers in claims arising under Title VII, Age Discrimination in Employment Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, Family and Medical Leave Act, Pennsylvania Unemployment Compensation Law, Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), and the Labor Management Relations Act.
Ms. Meacham is a 2006 graduate of the University of Notre Dame Law School.
Peter H. Schnore, a member of the Firm’s Corporate and Commercial Group, concentrates his practice in real estate-related matters, including real estate tax-assessment appeals, eminent domain proceedings, land use, zoning, quiet title actions, and negotiating real estate leases and related agreements.
One area of particular concentration in Mr. Schnore’s practice is real property tax assessment appeals. He represents commercial and industrial property owners before county boards of assessment appeals and courts throughout Pennsylvania who are either seeking a real property tax exemption or a reduction in their tax obligations. Mr. Schnore has also represented numerous clients faced with defending the assessed value from a challenge brought by a local taxing authority. Mr. Schnore has represented owners and lessees of a wide variety of property types including office, retail including conventional malls and lifestyle centers, restaurants, banks, hotels, multi-family including affordable housing, industrial plants, manufacturing facilities, cellular towers, landfills, vacant land, and mineral interests.
Mr. Schnore also concentrates his practice in Pennsylvania eminent domain matters, and in representing landowners and developers who seek governmental approvals needed before proceeding with a planned real estate development project. This includes obtaining changes to zoning ordinances when necessary to meet the client’s goals in high-stakes and sometimes controversial land development projects. Mr. Schnore counsels clients from the Firm’s Pittsburgh and State College offices on real estate matters.
Mr. Schnore is a 2001 graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.
December 23, 2015
PITTSBURGH, PA, December 23, 2015 – James (JD) Mazzocco recently joined Babst Calland as an associate in the Construction and Litigation groups. Mr. Mazzacco has experience in cases involving the Pennsylvania Mechanics’ Lien Law and has represented clients in a variety of commercial and construction-related matters including oil and gas lease disputes, construction defect, and breach of contract actions. Mr. Mazzocco also has experience reviewing real estate abstracts, preparing mineral title opinions, advising clients on issues relating to title and property law, and recommending appropriate curative actions. A 2014 graduate of Duquesne University School of Law, he was previously with Burleson LLP.
November 10, 2015
PITTSBURGH, PA, November 10, 2015 – Grant Hackley recently joined Babst Calland as an associate in the Energy & Natural Resources Group. Mr. Hackley’s practice focuses on energy law, counseling clients on a wide array of issues related to ownership of and title to oil and gas, including the preparation of oil and gas title opinions, title examination, litigation and contractual issues. He is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.
August 31, 2015
PITTSBURGH, PA, August 31, 2015 – Amie L. Courtney recently joined law Babst Calland as an associate in the Public Sector and Energy & Natural Resources groups. Ms. Courtney’s practice focuses on municipal law and land use law with concentration in general municipal issues, including land use and development, zoning matters, the Right-to-Know Law, real estate, and code enforcement. She also counsels various clients on oil, gas and mineral-related transaction matters as they relate to title issues and opinions. She is a 2014 graduate of the Duquesne University School of Law.
August 18, 2015
Babst Calland is pleased to announce that 27 lawyers have been named to the 2016 Edition of Best Lawyers by BL Rankings, the oldest and most respected peer-review publication in the legal profession. Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence. Its first international list was published in 2006 and since then has grown to provide lists in over 65 countries. Lawyers on the Best Lawyers in America list are divided by geographic region and practice areas. View the list of attorneys
August 18, 2015
Pittsburgh – August 18, 2015 – Babst Calland attorneys Donald C. Bluedorn II, Kevin J. Garber, and Blaine A. Lucas were recently selected as 2016 Best Lawyers® “Lawyer of the Year” by BL Rankings in the Pittsburgh area.
Donald C. Bluedorn II was selected as 2016 “Lawyer of the Year” for Environmental Law. In addition to the Lawyer of the Year award, Donald Bluedorn was also listed in the 2016 Best Lawyers in America for Litigation – Environmental and Water Law.
Kevin J. Garber was selected as 2016 “Lawyer of the Year” for Natural Resources Law. Kevin Garber was also listed in the 2016 Best Lawyers in America for Energy Law, Environmental Law, Litigation – Environmental, and Water Law.
Blaine A. Lucas was selected as 2016 “Lawyer of the Year” for Energy Law. Blaine Lucas was also listed in the 2016 Best Lawyers in America in Land Use and Zoning Law, Litigation – Land Use and Zoning, and Municipal Law.
Only a single lawyer in each practice area and designated metropolitan area is honored as the “Lawyer of the Year,” making this accolade particularly significant. These lawyers are selected based on particularly impressive voting averages received during the peer-review assessments. Receiving this designation reflects the high level of respect a lawyer has earned among other leading lawyers in the same communities and the same practice areas for their abilities, their professionalism, and their integrity.
August 5, 2015
PITTSBURGH, PA, August 5, 2015 – Nicole Vasquez Schmitt recently joined law firm Babst Calland as an associate in the Firm’s Litigation Services, Employment & Labor, and Energy & Natural Resources groups. Ms. Schmitt focuses her practice in the areas of general commercial and environmental litigation, as well as representing business entities in employment litigation. A 2008 graduate of the University of Hofstra Law School, she was previously with Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP.
June 2015
June 30, 2015
PITTSBURGH, PA, June 30, 2015 – W. Dane Fennell, Clement P. Gigliotti, Jr. and Andrew V. Terranova recently joined law firm Babst Calland as staff attorneys in the Firm’s Business Services Group.
Mr. Fennell’s practice focuses primarily on commercial real estate transactions, mergers and acquisitions, drafting commercial transaction agreements, and general corporate matters. He is a 2012 graduate of Duquesne University School of Law.
Mr. Gigliotti’s practice focuses primarily on representing clients in commercial real estate transactions, mergers and acquisitions, commercial transactions, and general corporate matters. He has extensive background in ownership, management, and operation of medium-sized companies in the industrial, construction, real estate and waste management industries. Mr. Gigliotti also works daily in negotiating and drafting commercial transaction agreements, including those related to real estate sales and leasing. He is a 2013 graduate of Duquesne University School of Law.
Mr. Terranova’s practice focuses primarily on representing clients in mergers and acquisitions, negotiating and drafting contracts, real estate matters and general corporate matters. He is a 2013 graduate of Duquesne University School of Law.
Mr. Fennell, Mr. Gigliotti and Mr. Terranova also work closely with Solvaire Technologies, L.P., an affiliate of Babst Calland, to achieve reliable and cost-effective results for managing complex due diligence aspects of small and large acquisitions and contract management projects.
June 29, 2015
PITTSBURGH, PA, June 29, 2015 – Rachel E. James recently rejoined law firm Babst Calland as an associate in the Firm’s Mineral Title Services and Energy & Natural Resources groups. Ms. James counsels various energy, oil, gas and mineral-related clients on transaction matters as they relate to gas title issues and opinions. A 2009 graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, she worked at EQT Corporation before returning to Babst Calland.