Robert Max Junker

Area of Emphasis

Max Junker is a shareholder in the Public Sector, Energy and Natural Resources, and Employment and Labor groups of Babst Calland. He is currently the chair of the Firm’s Public Sector Group and is on the Firm’s Board of Directors. Mr. Junker has served as a municipal and school district solicitor for several years, and he is currently the solicitor for the Borough of Franklin Park, Borough of Bell Acres Mr. Junker has served as a municipal and school district solicitor for several years, and he is currently the solicitor for the Borough of Franklin Park, Borough of Bell Acres, and O’Hara Township Zoning Hearing Board. He is also the solicitor for the Allegheny County Schools Health Insurance Consortium and is an assistant solicitor for the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority. Mr. Junker counsels and represents the Firm’s municipal clients on general municipal issues, including tax assessment appeals, municipal taxation, public bidding, the Sunshine Act, the Right-to-Know Law, the State Ethics Act, general land use and zoning matters, and code enforcement. His work in the Employment and Labor Group involves collective bargaining, Act 111 and Act 195 interest arbitrations, grievance arbitrations, and civil service issues. Mr. Junker counsels and represents the Firm’s energy clients on local government issues and land use matters. He also counsels private clients in land use matters.

Background
Mr. Junker received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 2001 from the University of Virginia and his Juris Doctor in 2005, cum laude, from Duquesne University School of Law, which he attended on a full merit scholarship. He served as Executive Recent Decisions Editor for the Duquesne Law Review and was a published author. Mr. Junker also served as a legal research assistant to Dean John Rago. He was a member of several moot court teams, one of which reached the national quarterfinals of the Academy of Trial Lawyers Association (ATLA) Student Trial Advocacy Competition. Mr. Junker received the International Academy of Trial Lawyers Student Advocacy Award from the faculty and was elected to the Order of Barristers.

Mr. Junker joined Babst Calland after working for another Pittsburgh firm concentrating on municipal law, education law, and property tax assessment law. In that position, he also served as an Assistant Solicitor to the School District of Pittsburgh overseeing all matters involving the Charter School Law, Right-to-Know Law, and pending legislation.

Memberships and Affiliations
Mr. Junker was admitted to practice law in Pennsylvania in 2005. He is also admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania.

Mr. Junker is a member of the Allegheny County, Washington County, Pennsylvania, and American Bar associations. He served a two-year term as chair of the Association of Municipal and School Solicitors Section for the Allegheny County Bar Association, and recently served a three-year term as a member of the ACBA Judiciary Committee.

House Democratic Leader Frank Dermody appointed Mr. Junker to represent the Pennsylvania School Board Association on the House of Representatives Task Force on Property Assessments in 2011. He has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America^© in the Land Use and Zoning Law Section since 2024 and the Municipal Law Section for 2025 by BL Rankings. Mr. Junker was also selected to the Pennsylvania Rising Stars list (Thomson Reuters) in 2014-2018.

Publications/Presentations

• Co-Author, “Right-To-Know Law Policy Update in the Wake of Anonymous FOIA Buddy Record Requests,” The Legal Intelligencer, August 20, 2024.
• Co-Author, “The Devil is in the Details (and the Deemed Approval Deadlines),” The Legal Intelligencer, June 20, 2024.
• Co-Author, “Divided Commonwealth Court Holds Local Agencies are Prohibited from Adding Non-Emergency and Non-De Minimis Agenda Items to the Posted Agenda,” Babst Calland Public Sector Alert, November 9, 2023.
• Co-Author, “Commonwealth Court Strikes Down 2021 Accessibility Regulations as Unconstitutional,” Breaking Ground Magazine, January/February 2023.
• Co-Presenter, “Allegheny County Property Taxes and Your Budget,” AC&WPATC Fall Conference, Erie, PA, October 20, 2023.
• Co-Author, “Commonwealth Court Finds Proposed Sale of Unused Park Land Violates the DDPA,” PA Law Weekly, October 20, 2022.
• Author, “Commonwealth Court Makes a Use Variance a Little Less Scary,” PA Law Weekly, June 23, 2022.
• Presenter, “Issues in Zoning Enforcement,” PA State Association of Township Supervisors’ (PSATS) Summer Solictors Seminar, June 23, 2022.
• Co-Author, “A Field Guide to the Compensation Disclosure Requirements Under Section 202 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act,” December 14, 2021.
• Presenter, “Current Issues Regarding Act 13 Preemption,” Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors, Virtual Fall Solicitors Seminar, November 10, 2020.
• Co-Presenter, “Agritainment & Agritourism,” Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors, PAAZO Virtual Fall Seminar, November 4, 2020.
• Co-Author, “Pennsylvania Enacts Act 15 of 2020 to Address Local Government Issues During the Pandemic,” Babst Calland Client Alert, April 20, 2020.
• Co-Author, “Pennsylvania Legislature Considering Modification of Public Meeting Rules, Suspension/Tolling of Land Use Application Deadlines during COVID-19 Emergency Declaration,” Babst Calland Client Alert, March 26, 2020.
• Co-Presenter, “Zoning Enforcement,” Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors, PAAZO Fall Seminar, November 8, 2019.
• Co-Presenter, “This is another fine ethical mess you’ve gotten me into!” Babst Calland CLE, August 30, 2019.
• Author, “Commonwealth Court Again Rejects a Challenge to an Ordinance Authorizing Oil and Gas Development in Non-Industrial Zoning Districts,” The PIOGA Press, August 2019.
• Co-Author, “State Supreme Court Declines Case Rejecting Challenge to Zoning Ordinance Allowing Drilling in All Districts,” The PIOGA Press, June 2019.
• Co-Presenter, “Recent Zoning & Land Use Case Update,” Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors, PAAZO Fall Seminar, November 1, 2018.
• Co-Author, “Commonwealth Court Upholds Ordinance Allowing Drilling in All Zoning Districts,” The PIOGA Press, November 2018.
• Co-Author, “Commonwealth Court Upholds Validity of Ordinance Allowing Shale Gas Drilling in All Zoning Districts,” Babst Calland Energy Alert, October 30, 2018.
• Co-Author, “Pennsylvania Supreme Court Reverses Approval of Oil and Gas Well on Narrow Grounds,” The PIOGA Press, July 2018.
• Co-Author, “Compulsory Payment of Fair Share/Agency Fees by Public Employees Held Unconstitutional,” Babst Calland Public Sector Alert, June 27, 2018.
• Co-Author, “Pennsylvania Supreme Court Reverses Approval of Oil and Gas Well on Narrow Grounds,” Babst Calland Energy and Natural Resources Alert, June 7, 2018.
• Panelist, “Environmental Rights Amendment Past & Present,” Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Land Use Institute, July 13, 2016.
• Moderator, “A Practical Guide to Zoning Hearings,” ACBA Association of Municipal and School Solicitors, July 7, 2016.
• Presenter, “Open Meetings Law & Public Records Issues,” National Business Institute, Local Government Law: What Attorneys Need to Know, March 3, 2016.
• Co-Presenter, “Local Land Use Powers and Limitations,” Local Government Academy, Newly Elected Officials Course, February 13, 2016.
• Presenter, “An Authorizer’s Perspective,” Pennsylvania Coalition of Public Charter Schools, How to Start a Charter School, February 12, 2016.
• Presenter, “Common HR Questions for Solicitors,” Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Municipal Law Update, January 13, 2016.
• Presenter, “Religious vs. Sectarian Holiday Displays on Public Property,” Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs, Fall Leadership Conference, October 17, 2015.
• Co-Author, “Commonwealth Court Reverses Controversial Lycoming County Decision,” The PIOGA Press, October 2015.
• Co-Author, “Commonwealth Court Reverses Controversial Lycoming County Decision; Rules that Gas Well Development Compatible with Agricultural Zoning,” Babst Calland Administrative Watch, September 15, 2015.
• Presenter, “Municipal Case Law/Legislative Update,” Foxmoor Continuing Education, Pennsylvania Municipal Law, February 27, 2015.
• Presenter, “Local Governments and the Law,” Pennsylvania Business Institute, Legal Issues Involving Local Governments, October 16, 2014.
• Presenter, “Open & Effective Meetings & Records,” Local Government Academy, Managing Marcellus, July 24, 2014.
• Presenter, “An Authorizer’s Perspective,” Pennsylvania Coalition of Public Charter Schools, How to Start a Charter School, February 27, 2014.
• Presenter, “Understanding Court-Ordered Reassessments: The Allegheny County Example,” Pennsylvania Bar Association Annual Meeting, May 8, 2013.
• Presenter, “Court-Ordered Reassessments and How They Will Impact Municipal Budgets for 2013,” Conference of Township, Boroughs & Authorities, September 29, 2012.
• Presenter, “Allegheny County Property Assessments,” Allegheny Intermediate Unit, September 21, 2012, January 31, 2012, and October 4, 2011.
• Presenter, “Recent Developments in Assessment Law in Pennsylvania,” Pennsylvania Bar Institute, July 18, 2012.