Luzerne Lawyers

My Journey...

I first thought of pursuing a career as an attorney when I was taking a course in the inequalities of our judicial system during my undergrad work at Penn State. By the time I finished that course, I had made up my mind to attend law school and become an attorney. Once I graduated law school and passed the Bar Exam, the first area of law I practiced was a Pro-Bono case involving child custody. Today I still practice Family Law as well as Real Estate and Estate Planning, Criminal, Business, Probate and Contracts.

My Focus...

I love these areas of...

I speak your language. I’ve grown to understand and relate to your case through my very diverse life experiences. I grew up in a small steel town, in a family of a steel mill engineer and a metallurgical chemist. The decline of the steel industry and the closure of the steel plant had a devastating effect on my family. Both of my parent struggled to find jobs in the new manufacture-less era. Although my family was able to make the necessary adjustment (my mom became a high school science teacher and my dad found a job with a local utility...

Katie Yingling Schellenger is a freelance attorney who has developed exceptional legal research, writing, and analytical skills through almost a decade of experience as a federal law clerk and litigation associate at two international AmLaw 100 firms. Katie’s broad legal experience allows her to support her clients: solo practitioners, law firms, and general counsel, in a variety of ways. She provides perspective and insight to every matter, while shouldering part of the burden to meet deadlines. No project is too big or too small; Katie attacks every matter with diligence and fervor, and delivers her services in...

For more than 25 years, I have represented individuals and business of all sizes in a wide spectrum of business, commercial litigation and intellectual property matters. I now concentrate my practice on copyright, trademark and computer/Internet law with a focus on assisting entrepreneurs and early-stage businesses, particularly in the technology sector. I also represent individuals in the entertainment and publishing industry. In addition to my legal practice, I operate a software company, Essentia Software Corporation, which publishes a popular payroll software application for household employers.

Philip W. Fisher, Partner at Reger Rizzo Darnall LLP Philadelphia Office and Chair of the Firm’s Corporate & Business Services Group, has extensive experience in a wide range of matters, including structuring and negotiating mergers and acquisitions, dispositions, private securities offerings, corporate finance, secured transactions, licensing, leasing, joint ventures and real estate transactions.

Mr. Fisher’s client base is as diverse as his experience, including start-up companies and smaller entities to large established organizations, such as software developers, private-equity companies, broker-dealers, investment advisors, distributors, banks and finance companies, manufacturing companies, technology companies, inventors and founders, and telecommunications corporations. Additionally, Mr. Fisher has...

FAMILY LAW - We are parents, spouses, significant others that fully understand the struggles and issues that surround custody, parenting, domestic violence, support, and family finances issues.

IMMIGRATION LAW - We are immigrants who know all too well what it is like coming into a new country, trying to fit in, navigating the overly complicated immigration processes, translating for our parents, watching our parents overpay for incompetent legal servies, and living life in a whole new world.

We understand what you are going through and we are here to help.

Mr. Murphy has devoted his entire legal career to employment law. He has represented both employees & employers & knows all the angles & pressure points in any employment dispute. He has litigated claims brought under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (“Title VII”), the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (“WARN”), the Family and Medical Leave Act (“FMLA”), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (“ADEA”), the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”), the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act (“PHRA”) & the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (“LAD”). Mr. Murphy also has extensive experience bringing individual & class...

Michael J. Duffy is an associate in Montgomery McCracken’s Business Department. He focuses his practice on general corporate matters, with a concentration on government contracting, intellectual property, finance, consulting, employment, real estate, and corporate governance. Michael has extensive experience with a wide variety of business transactions, from initial contact with transaction targets and indications of interest, through to closing and post-transactional events. Michael has represented businesses in a broad range of industries including pharmaceutical distribution and research, technology, construction, and real estate, in matters of negotiating and drafting organizational documents, distribution agreements, independent contractor agreements, construction agreements and purchase agreements, as...

Thomas Wilkinson is an experienced commercial and appellate litigator and bar leader. He also has extensive experience in lawyer professional responsibility, legal malpractice, and risk management matters. He has been accepted as an expert witness in federal and state courts. He has presented and published numerous articles in the civil litigation and legal ethics areas. He has served on the Board of Governors of the American Bar Association and is a member of the ABA Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility. He is a past President of the Pennsylvania Bar Association (PBA) and Pennsylvania Bar...

Sol H. Weiss, a Shareholder of Anapol Weiss, is an experienced trial attorney known for his exacting preparation and attention to detail. A “lawyer’s lawyer,” he is able to handle the most complex case and still present the facts and law in a way that the judge and jury will understand. Mr. Weiss concentrates his practice in complex civil litigation including class actions and pharmaceutical cases, medical and other professional malpractice, securities litigation and products liability matters. Presently, Mr. Weiss is Co-Lead Counsel in the National Football League Players’ Concussion Injury Litigation, MDL 2323. He is also...

Craig A. Doll brings more than 40 years of experience and knowledge to his representation of clients in the transportation and utility industries. Mr. Doll concentrates his practice in transportation litigation on behalf of limousine, household goods and property carriers, paratransit companies, airport transfer carriers, and taxicab companies before the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission and the Commonwealth’s Courts. He also represents public utilities in proceedings before the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, the Public Service Commission of Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey and the appellate courts of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Mr. Doll has represented both large and small investor-owned utilities in various...

Adam M. Smith concentrates his practice in real estate litigation and insurance coverage.

Throughout his career, Mr. Smith has successfully represented real estate agents and brokers in hundreds of professional negligence claims in Philadelphia and surrounding counties. Mr. Smith has also successfully tried numerous jury and non-jury cases in this unique practice area.

When you’ve been injured or lost a loved one due to an accident on the road, in the workplace or due to medical malpractice, you want an attorney who understands your claim and the best strategy to secure compensation. At McCann & Wall, LLC, our Philadelphia personal injury lawyers bring an individualized level of attention to every case, along with a unique and valuable perspective as former legal counsel for insurance companies. We’ve successfully claimed numerous multi-million dollar settlements for clients in Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey and would be happy to discuss your case.

Jason J. Sweet concentrates his practice in complex commercial litigation as well as catastrophic injury litigation involving product liability, construction and trucking claims.

Throughout his career, Mr. Sweet has successfully represented clients in professional negligence claims. Mr. Sweet has tried numerous jury and non-jury cases in both state and federal courts, and has successfully argued appeals before the Commonwealth Court and Superior Court.

Mr. Sweet serves as national trial counsel for a leading truck body manufacturer and has been admitted pro hac vice in jurisdictions across the country.

David has been a practicing immigration attorney since 2006. He provides quality, affordable representation in a wide range of immigration matters, including deportation defense, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), green cards, citizenship, family unification, and asylum.

Private practice of law for 30 years.

Arik Benari was born and raised in Delaware County, Pennsylvania and proudly pursued his entire education in Pennsylvania. A graduate of Akiba Academy in Merion Station, Arik attended the University of Pittsburgh undergraduate program. He graduated with honors in three years with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Rhetoric and Public Argument. Mr. Benari entered the business management world during his undergraduate studies with experience managing union labor in the wholesale and retail industries. He then managed and drove the opening of two retail start-ups during the two years between his undergraduate and legal studies. In 2000, Arik graduated from the Temple...

I have practiced law for over years. I specialize in patent law, particularly patent prosecution and helping clients protect their inventions. I am a patent attorney licensed to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office and hold a degree in mechanical engineering. I am a partner in the law firm of Lipton, Weinberger & Husick, a specialty intellectual property law firm based in Southeastern Pennsylvania. I opened my patent law office in 1998 and have practiced patent law from that time to the present. I worked in the Environmental Practice Group of Drinker, Biddle...

When you’ve been injured or lost a loved one due to an accident on the road, in the workplace or due to medical malpractice, you want an attorney who understands your claim and the best strategy to secure compensation. At McCann & Wall, LLC, our Philadelphia personal injury lawyers bring an individualized level of attention to every case, along with a unique and valuable perspective as former legal counsel for insurance companies. We’ve successfully claimed numerous multi-million dollar settlements for clients in Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey and would be happy to discuss your case.

When you’ve been injured or lost a loved one due to an accident on the road, in the workplace or due to medical malpractice, you want an attorney who understands your claim and the best strategy to secure compensation. At McCann & Wall, LLC, our Philadelphia personal injury lawyers bring an individualized level of attention to every case, along with a unique and valuable perspective as former legal counsel for insurance companies. We’ve successfully claimed numerous multi-million dollar settlements for clients in Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey and would be happy to discuss your case.

I focus on helping my clients resolve family disputes privately and respectfully without having the court system impose outcomes on them. I believe that most people are best capable of making decisions for themselves and their families. I also act as a mediator, helping parties reach agreements without going to court. I want my clients to be fully informed of all their options for handling family disputes so they can make informed decisions. I also prepare prenuptial agreements, cohabitation agreements and estate plans.

David was born and raised in Hunlock Creek, Pennsylvania in Luzerne County. After graduating from Lake-Lehman high school, David attended King’s College in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania where he studied Political Science. After graduating from King’s College David started his career as a computer programmer and database administrator.

David decided to pursue his passion for law and enrolled at Delaware Law, Widener University . While at Widener David was a member of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Society participating in numerous competitions where he was the winner of the scholastic competition and participant in the East Region Alternative Dispute Resolution competition in New...

Successful business ventures require perspective, from all vantage points. We offer you a clear view of the surrounding business landscape from the legal vantage point. This outlook provides insight into legal strategies for: business formation, drafting contracts, the hiring process, and protection of intellectual property. That amounts to more than just sound legal counsel; it gives our business clients perspective from the legal vantage point.

As one of the firm’s two founding attorneys, Jeff Drake practices in the areas of real estate, tax assessment appeals, zoning, municipal law, estate administration, family law, and personal injury law. He also represents non-profit corporations such as churches, Christian schools and mission boards, in addition to handling cases involving the preservation of religious liberties.

Jeff received his law degree in 1980 from Capital University Law School and his undergraduate degree from Gordon College in 1977. He has been an adjunct professor at Philadelphia Biblical University (now Cairn University).

David has been an Attorney at Law since 1994. His emphasis is on Personal Injury Cases. These include: insurance claims, motor vehicle accidents, slip and fall injuries due to defective premises, full tort, limited tort, motorcycle accidents, wrongful death, drunk driving accidents, dog bites, insurance claims and defective products. He has successfully handled hundreds of cases, including complex litigation in Federal and Pennsylvania Courts. He began his career as a Stateâs Attorney with the "Governor's Law Firm", called the Office of General Counsel. He represented the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in civil actions, including...

Attorney Kessler has been practicing law in Southeastern Pennsylvania since 1998 and was the founder of the Law Offices of Matthew R. Kessler, L.L.C., located in Douglassville, PA, in 2005.

Beau A. Hoffman is an attorney with AxRunkle, P.C. and has been practicing law in central Pennsylvania since January 2015. Mr. Hoffman practices in the areas of business and estate planning, municipal law, contract review, estate administration, real estate and civil litigation. Mr. Hoffman has legal experience with the Union County District Attorney’s office in Lewisburg, PA under District Attorney Pete Johnson. Mr. Hoffman graduated Cum Laude from Shippensburg University in 2011 with a Bachelor of Sciences in Criminal Justice. At Shippensburg, Mr. Hoffman was a member of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee and the football program. In May 2014,...

I was born and raised in Snyder and Union counties. I completed my education at Meadowbrook Christian School in Milton, PA, and pursued an undergraduate degree in Business Administration at Messiah College. After college, I worked in business management for a group of small businesses near Harrisburg, PA, where I gained significant experience in financial, human resource, and property management. This experience led me to pursue a legal education while continuing my business career, and I attended law school at night at Widener University School of Law, graduating in 2008. I was admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar in October of...

Marla Soffer is Of Counsel at Galfand Berger, LLP. Marla graduated cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania with a BA in Urban Studies and Spanish. She received her J.D. from Temple University Beasley School of Law and has been practicing for over 30 years. Marla concentrates her practice in the areas of workers’ rights, safety, compensation and general personal injury and disability law.

Fluent in Spanish, Marla is a frequent lecturer in community programs that focus on the rights and safety of workers, product liability claims and general personal injury matters. She is a consulting attorney to the Consulate of...

Have you been accused of a crime in Reading? Are you considering the option of filing for bankruptcy? Do you need help in a family law case? You should contact Attorney Curtis Barnes and his team to learn how he could help you. Curtis is a graduate of the Florida State University in Tallahassee where he studied Criminology. As a student, he worked at the Florida State Attorney General’s Office where he was able to gain experience in investigating criminal offenses. He then went on to attend the Delaware Law School of Widener University where he graduated with his law...

Kathleen M. Thomas concentrates her practice in the areas of municipal law, small business, non-profit law, and civil litigation. Kathleen is also experienced in other areas of municipal law, including Right to Know, land development, zoning, code enforcement and litigation.

Recognized as an expert in the areas of Pennsylvania Act 511 taxation, Kathleen serves as Special Act 511 Tax Counsel to the Townships of Lower Merion and Abington, among others. She also serves as the Act 511 Hearing Officer to multiple municipalities in Montgomery and Delaware Counties. She also serves as Special Tax Consultant for ordinance and Regulation Revision and litigation...

Matthew M. Setley, Esq. joined the firm that would become Georgeadis||Setley in 2010. He focuses his practice on family law (divorce and custody) and civil litigation. Mr. Setley has extensive experience representing businesses and individuals in connection with a wide range of matters in Pennsylvania’s state and federal courts. He primarily focuses his practice in the legal fields of divorce, child custody, personal and business litigation matters, and select criminal defense work.

Mr. Setley earned his undergraduate degree in political science from The George Washington University (Washington, DC); thereafter, he earned his Juris Doctor, cum laude (with honors), from...