Position: Attorney

Michael W. Davis

Michael W. Davis is an attorney with Barley Snyder and concentrates his practice in the areas of environmental, real estate, agribusiness, higher education and municipal law. Mike’s more than 30 years of practice have provided him with experience representing a wide range of clients ranging from large Fortune 500 companies to small closely held businesses, agricultural ventures, colleges, economic development companies, industrial development organizations and government entities including counties, townships, boroughs, zoning hearing boards, housing authorities, and industrial development authorities.

Environmental

As chair of Barley Snyder’s Environmental Law Group, Mike routinely assists his clients with the environmental aspects of real estate and business transactions including site remediation, permitting, cleanup compliance, and Brownfield development. Mike’s 30-plus years of experience in the environmental area have provided him with ample experience interfacing with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on regulatory issues. Additionally, Mike has extensive experience in handling issues regarding:

  • Act 2 including attaining relief of liability and Act 2 Buyer-Seller Agreements
  • HSCA and CERCLA
  • TSCA
  • RCRA
  • The Nutrient Management Act and Act 6 compliance
  • The Chesapeake Bay Strategy Initiative
  • Marcellus Shale leasing and contracting/permitting issues associated with natural gas removal and fracking procedures
  • Environmental regulatory compliance issues including EPCRA Section 313 Form R reporting and lead based paint notifications and enforcement actions

Recently, Mike has handled high profile environmental projects including the Northwest Gateway Project and the Turkey Hill Experience:

  • The Northwest Gateway Project is a two phase project that involves the restructuring and redevelopment of an entire quadrant of the City of Lancaster. Mike has served as the primary counsel for the project partners on both phases of the Project. The first phase included the redevelopment of a 47-acre portion of the former Armstrong World Industries, Inc.’s Liberty Street Flooring Plant. Working on behalf of Franklin & Marshall College, Lancaster General Hospital and EDC Finance Corporation, Mike assisted in securing and negotiating appropriate legal documentation for federal, state and local funding including Business In Our Sites and Growing Greener II funding. Mike secured the rezoning of the 47-acre parcel as well as an Act 2 Buyer-Seller Agreement for impacted soils and groundwater at the site. Mike also negotiated appropriate agreements with the impacted municipalities to assure coordinated development of the site and related infrastructure improvements. The second phase of the Project involves the relocation of Norfolk Southern Railway Company’s Dillerville Rail Yard. On behalf of Franklin & Marshall College and Lancaster General Hospital, Mike successfully negotiated a Master Development Agreement with Norfolk Southern Railway Company that details the process for the development and construction of the new rail yard over a former municipal landfill with the existing Dillerville Rail Yard then transferring to the College and the Hospital. This second phase of the Project involves securing Act 2 clearance for the new rail yard site and significant infrastructure improvements. When complete, this $70 million plus project will transform the northwest quadrant of the City of Lancaster and will provide Franklin & Marshall College and Lancaster General Hospital with the opportunity to develop a state-of-the-art “Meds and Eds” campus.
  • The Turkey Hill Experience project is a private/public partnership aimed at redeveloping an abandoned industrial facility in Columbia Borough, Lancaster County into a major tourist attraction. Mike was retained by the Borough to provide guidance on Act 2 issues and the site clean-up plan. Mike successfully negotiated an Act 2 Buyer-Seller Agreement positioning this unique project to move forward to completion.
Real Estate

Mike’s real estate practice dovetails with his work in the environmental, municipal and agribusiness areas. In addition to land use, zoning, easement, tax assessment appeals, leasing and conveyance matters, Mike has handled a number of eminent domain matters. 

  • In a recent prominent takings case, Mike served as a primary counsel to Lauxmont Holdings, LLC, the developer and condemnee, in both the validity and valuation trials regarding 79 acres of land at the Lauxmont Farms property (“Highpoint”) in Lower Windsor Township, York County, Pennsylvania. This highly controversial case involved York County’s taking of land for a public park where the land in question was approved for development and under development by Lauxmont Holdings. While the Court of Common Pleas upheld the taking, a York County jury awarded Lauxmont Holdings a judgment of $17.25 million plus interest at the conclusion of the valuation trial. The County’s initial offer of just compensation was only $2.0 million.
Agribusiness

In the agribusiness area, Mike has significant experience with securing zoning, soil conservation district approvals and permitting associated with developing Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs). These CAFO projects also typically involve Nutrient Management Act and Act 6 issues including manure importer and exporter agreements. Mike is also well-versed on nutrient credit trading and related trading agreements as well as storm water issues associated with agricultural operations.

Higher Education

In the higher education area, Mike serves as a primary contact for several private colleges and a community college in the region on issues relating to board governance, redevelopment activities, non-profit status, environmental compliance and environmental audits, safety and security concerns including police powers, faculty, personnel and student matters, contract review and negotiation including sole source contracting, zoning and land development, and real estate acquisition and leasing. Mike is experienced in dealing with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Campus Security Act and is a member of the National Association of College and University Attorneys.

Municipal

In his municipal practice, Mike focuses on the representation of public bodies including boroughs, municipal authorities, economic development companies, industrial development companies, and zoning hearing boards. Mike works closely with municipal officials and staff in dealing with public bidding issues, the Sunshine Law, the Right-to-Know Law, the Ethics Act, the Eminent Domain Code, zoning determinations, permitting issues, Environmental Hearing Board proceedings, DEP enforcement actions, leasing issues, reviewing and revising bid specifications and construction contracts, vendor contracts and personnel issues. 

  • Mike serves as the solicitor for the Letterkenny Industrial Development Authority (LIDA) in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. LIDA is a local reuse authority under the Defense Base Closure and Realignment (BRAC) regulations and is responsible for the development of the Cumberland Valley Business Park. As solicitor, Mike negotiated with the United States Environmental Protection Agency one of the only depth limited conveyances of real estate in the United States under the BRAC guidelines and finalized the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Department of Defense and LIDA. In addition, Mike provides guidance on LIDA board of director issues and prepares appropriate legal documents to facilitate the transfer of the BRAC property from LIDA to third parties within the business park.
RECOGNITIONS
  • Top Lawyers of Chester County List – Municipal Court, Daily Local News (2025)
  • Select Lawyer, Polk-Lepson Research Group; Environmental Law
  • Corporate American Legal Elite – Agricultural Ventures (2015)
  • Pennsylvania Super Lawyers; Real Estate Law (2014)
MEMBERSHIPS
  • American, Pennsylvania and Lancaster Bar Associations
  • Pennsylvania Borough Solicitor’s Association
  • National Association of College and University Attorneys
PRESENTATION
  • “Ever-Changing Challenges of Construction & Development in PA”, Wake up with Barley: A Morning on Real Estate (June 2018)
OTHER PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
  • Penn State University Continuing Education Program for Realtors (Instructor)

Michael W. Fox

Mike is an attorney in the firm’s Business and Real Estate practice groups with nearly a decade of experience. He is a transactional attorney with a varied and wide-ranging practice focused in the areas of business, mergers and acquisitions, real estate, and finance.

A significant part of Mike’s practice is guiding clients through the often-complex process of mergers and acquisitions. As an M&A advisor, he conducts due diligence, structures transactions, negotiates and drafts letters of intent, negotiates and drafts acquisition agreements, assists with the coordination of financing sources, and brings a transaction to a successful close. Mike has worked on behalf of buyers and sellers in transactions ranging in value from $200,000 to over $250 million.  Mike also assists clients with a variety of general business matters including entity selection and formation, contract drafting and review, lease negotiation and review, corporate governance and more. 

In his real estate practice, Mike helps clients with commercial real estate transactions, real estate development and financing, and real estate title matters. Early in his career, Mike developed a strong foundation in the areas of real estate development, land use planning, real estate title matters, and business entity formation.  Mike represents buyers and sellers of commercial real estate from letter of intent/agreement of sale stage through closing and development, and also regularly represents landlords and tenants in commercial lease drafting and negotiation. As a member of the firm’s Construction Industry Group, Mike also represents construction contractors, subcontractors, and owners in the review and drafting of construction contracts, and advising on issues in the construction process as they arise in this inherently complex field.

In his finance practice, Mike has experience working with banks and private lenders to document commercial loan transactions, and he also negotiates loan documents on behalf of borrowers.

A Lebanon County native, Mike is based in the firm’s Schuylkill Haven office and works frequently with clients throughout central Pennsylvania, including Schuylkill, Lancaster, Lebanon, Harrisburg, York, Reading and beyond. His clients range from individuals to small and large businesses, and he often works with clients in the construction and manufacturing industries.

Mike also has experience advising clients in the senior living industry, providing strategic counsel on mergers and acquisitions as well as real estate development and construction matters. He supports clients through all phases of a transaction – from due diligence and deal structuring to closing – while navigating the unique regulatory and operational challenges of the sector. 

Mike is active in the communities in which he works and lives. He currently sits on the board of directors for the Schuylkill Economic Development Corporation. He also serves as a co-facilitator of a Berks County Key Executive Peer Group for The S. Dale High Center for Family Business. Mike is the son of two public school music teachers. Mike resides in Lebanon with his wife, Irene, two daughters, Margot and Lillian, and son, Benjamin. 

RECOGNITIONS
  • Central Penn Business Journal Forty Under 40 Honoree (2024)
  • Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America, Mergers and Acquisitions Law (2026), Real Estate Law (2026)
PRESENTATIONS

Mike has experience advising clients in the senior living industry, providing strategic counsel on mergers and acquisitions as well as real estate development and construction matters. He supports clients through all phases of a transaction – from due diligence and deal structuring to closing – while navigating the unique regulatory and operational challenges of the sector.Exploring and Negotiating Key Clauses in Construction Contracts, ABC Keystone’s Fall Regional Construction Wake-up Call Series (Fall 2022)

Jill Sebest Welch

Jill is a partner in Barley Snyder’s Employment Practice Group, where she counsels companies in handling workplace challenges and helps clients resolve disputes, claims, cases, and litigation in all aspects of labor and employment law.

As an employment law counselor, Jill assists in developing employment policies, employee handbook provisions, non-compete and restrictive covenants and severance agreements, and has assisted companies through difficult layoffs and reductions in force. Jill serves as her clients’ counselor-on-call, advising clients daily on a myriad of employment issues such as Internet and drug and alcohol abuse, evaluating requests for Family Medical Leave Act and military leaves of absence, questions under the Fair Labor Standards Act, using criminal background checks in hiring, conducting terminations, and other workplace challenges.

In her employment litigation practice, Jill represents employers and companies of all types – large and small, public, private, family-owned, emerging companies, entrepreneurs and others – on matters ranging from employment discrimination, benefits, contracts, collective action wage and hour claims, non-compete cases and unemployment compensation appeals to Sarbanes-Oxley and OSHA whistleblower cases, and labor-management relations before administrative tribunals and state and federal courts.

Jill works with companies across a wide range of industries including manufacturing, products, retail, banking and other finance-related companies, hospitals, long-term care facilities and other health care entities, food processing, hospitality, construction and property management, communication, technology, transportation, agri-business, professional services and non-profit organizations. Examples of select matters which Jill has helped resolve for clients include:

– Served as trial counsel and successfully resolved a number of collective action wage and hour claims.

– Secured a complete defense verdict on claims of overtime violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act and breach of contract in the Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas.

– Successfully secured a preliminary injunction in the York County Court of Common Pleas for a company against its former national sales director who began working for a competitor.

– Represented a client in a temporary restraining order/preliminary injunction involving claims of tortious interference with the company’s contracts and misappropriation of confidential client information, involving over 20 pre-trial motions and hearings, resolving the matter favorably for the client.

– Served as co-trial counsel in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania on an ERISA claim for benefits in excess of a million dollars resulting in a complete defense victory for the company.

– Successfully defended a manufacturing client in a breach of employment contract claim in AAA arbitration.

– Successfully represented clients before the Unemployment Compensation Board of Review and the National Labor Relations Board in upholding the independent contractor status of their third-party contractors.

– Successfully defended a manufacturer before the American Arbitration Association, where the union alleged that the company violated the collective bargaining agreement, affirming the company’s management rights in response to changing market needs.

– Represented a client in a jury trial in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania on an employment discrimination claim resulting in a defense verdict on five of six counts and a favorable resolution of the final count.

– Represented County Commissioners in interest arbitration regarding full-time and part-time Adult Probation Officers, Juvenile Probation Officers, BARJ Coordinator and Domestic Relations Hearing and Enforcement Officers under the auspices of the PLRB.

– Secured dismissal of OSHA whistleblower claims alleging retaliation for lodging internal safety complaints. 


Jill also defends Barley Snyder’s food and agribusiness clients in matters ranging from class and collective action wage and hour litigation, whistleblower complaints, restrictive covenants and employment discrimination claims, and provided counsel to companies on a wide range of employment practices and policies.

Jill was selected to the 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 Super Lawyers list. The Super Lawyers list is issued by Thomson Reuters. A description of the selection can be found at Super Lawyers.

A frequent speaker, Jill has trained companies, human resources professionals, managers and supervisors on best practices in such areas as: conducting sexual harassment investigations, planning reductions in force, handling mental disabilities under the ADA, understanding wage and hour laws, effective hiring and discharge strategies, EEOC compliance, managing Sarbanes-Oxley and whistleblower claims, and navigating the ADA – FMLA – Worker’s Compensation maze and other subjects.

For the comparison standards employed by Super Lawyers, please visit superlawyers.com. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.

PUBLICATIONS
RECOGNITIONS
  • Pennsylvania Super Lawyers (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023)
  • Pennsylvania Rising Stars (2010)
MEMBERSHIPS
  • American Institute of Certified Planners
  • Lancaster Bar Association; former chair of the Employment/Labor Law Section, 2011; former vice chair, 2010
  • Pennsylvania Bar Association
  • York Society for Human Resource Management
PRESENTATIONS
  • “Data Privacy and Employee Monitoring: Balancing Compliance, Security, and Workplace Rights”, 42nd Annual Barley Snyder Employment Law Seminar (May 2025)
  • “Wage and Hour Game Changers: Key Legal Updates and Compliance Strategies”, 42nd Annual Barley Snyder Employment Law Seminar (May 2025)
  • “The State of the Nation and State – Wage and Hour Version – with an Update on the Status of Non-Compete Agreements”, 41st Annual Barley Snyder Employment Law Seminar (May 2024)
  • “What is Undue Hardship Anyway?”, 41st Annual Barley Snyder Employment Law Seminar (May 2024)
  • “Bridging the Pay Gap – The Legal Case,” York County Economic Alliance/WBCO Summit: Manifest Your Success (September 2023)
  • “Human Resource Hot Topics,” PennAg (October 2023)
  • “The Pitfalls of Social Media and Informal Communication,” 40th Annual Employment Law Seminar (May 2023)
  • “Remote Work Is Here to Stay…And Wage & Hour Update Too!” 40th Annual Employment Law Seminar (May 2023)
  • Lancaster Bar Association’s Employment Law Summit (November 2022)
  • “Workforce 2022: The Impact of the Great Resignation,” 39th Annual Employment Law Seminar (May 2022)
  • “The 2022 Wage and Hour Update,” 39th Annual Employment Law Seminar (May 2022)
  • “Biden Administration’s First 100 Days: Employment Law Edition”, 38th Annual Employment Law Seminar (May 2021)
  • “COVID-19 Vaccine: The Impact on the Food & Agribusiness Industry”, webinar (December 2020)
  • “2019 and 2020 Federal Update”, 37th Annual Barley Snyder Employment Law Seminar (September 2020)
  • “UC Benefits, Layoffs and Furloughs”, 37th Annual Barley Snyder Employment Law Seminar (September 2020)
  • “Getting Your Business Back to Business Webinar Part 2”, Barley Snyder Webinar Series (May 2020)
  • “The Legal Implications: Re-opening Your Business In Defiance of the Governor’s Order”, Barley Snyder Webinar Series (May 2020)
  • “Getting Your Business Back to Business Webinar Part 1”, Barley Snyder Webinar Series (April 2020)
  • Panelist: “Embracing Change & Preparing for the Future”, 2019 Reading Business Seminar (October 2019)
  • “All Things Wage and Hour – An Update on Developments at the U.S. Department of Labor and the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry”, 36th Annual Barley Snyder Employment Law Seminar (May 2019)
  • “Mock Investigation in the #MeToo Era”, 36th Annual Barley Snyder Employment Law Seminar (May 2019)
  • “Hot Topics in Employment, Labor & Immigration”, Food & Ag Summit (February 2019)
  • “A Discussion of Top Employment Challenges Facing Business Owners and A Human Resources Department of One (Or None)”, Wake up with Barley (September 2018)
    “Paid Sick Leave Trends and Forecasts, Lancaster SHRM Fall Legal Update 2018 (September 2018)
  • “Medical Marijuana in the Workplace”, Lancaster Chamber’s “Wake Up to the Issues” (June 2018)
  • “Is Six Degrees of Separation Enough? Joint Employer Liability & Independent Contractor Misclassification”, 2018 Barley Snyder Employment Seminar (May 2018)
  • “Top Payroll and Payroll Tax Issues Facing Human Resource Professionals (and Their Controllers, Too!)”, 2018 Barley Snyder Employment Seminar (May 2018)
  • “2018 Employee Handbook Workshop”, Lancaster Chamber (March 2018)
  • “The New EEOC and Pennsylvania Employment Law Update”, Cumberland Valley SHRM (October 2017)
  • “Ethics Lessons Learned from the Jerry Sandusky Case”, Financial Executives International, Pennsylvania Chapter (June 2017)
  • “New Faces In The Trump Administration Shaping Labor and Employment Law”, Financial Executives International, Pennsylvania Chapter (June 2017)
  • “The Summit for Food & Agribusiness: The Human Side”, Food & Ag EdCon (May 2017)
  • Moderator, “Taking and Defending the Deposition of an HR Manager”, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, 23rd Annual Employment Law Institute (April 2017)
  • “Wage and Hour Law Developments From Our Courts, Congress and the Trump Administration”, Barley Snyder Employment Law Seminar (April 2017)
  • “Strategic Issues in Non-Competes and Restrictive Covenants”, Barley Snyder Employment Law Seminar (April 2017)
  • “Work and Gender Equality Legal Implications”, Pennsylvania Bankers Association (February 2017)
  • “Compliance Strategies for the New Federal Overtime Rule”, Webinar (June 2016)
  • “Record Breaking Year for Wage and Hour Claims – Managing the Tide”, Barley Snyder Employment Law Seminar (May 2016)
  • “U.S. Department of Labor Proposed Changes to Overtime Rule”, Complimentary Payroll Services Seminar (November 2015)
  • “Using Social Media and Complying with the Latest FTC and NLRB Requirements”, 2015 Employment Law & Legislative Conference (October 2015)
  • “The Year of the Standoff – Wage and Hour Developments in 2015”, Barley Snyder Employment Law Seminar (April 2015)
  • “The Year of the Standoff: The President v. Congress v. The Supreme Court on Key Labor and Employment Issues”, McKonly & Asbury’s Collaborate 2015 Conference (May 2015)
  • “The Healthcare Workplace”, PBI’s 21st Annual Employment Law Institute (April 2015)
  • “Workplace Harassment and Risk Management Strategies for Investigation and Compliance”, Barley Snyder Employment Law Seminar (May 2014)
  • “Pay Me Now – Or Pay Me Double (and My Attorney) Later”, Barley Snyder Employment Law Seminar (May 2014)
  • “Out Of The Frying Pan . . . But Still In The Fire — Traps Lurking In Pennsylvania’s Wage And Hour Laws”, Barley Snyder Employment Law Seminar (May 2013)
  • “Contending with Social Media in the Workplace,” Pennsylvania Bar Institute (August 2012, panelist)
  • “FMLA/ADA and Managing Leave”, Barley Snyder Employment Law Seminar (May 2012)
  • “Under Attack: Independent Contractor and Contingent Workers Classifications,” Pennsylvania Bar Institute (March 2012, panelist)
  • “Social Media Issues in the Workplace,” Barley Snyder Business Seminar (October 2011)
  • “Basics of the ADA and the ADA Amendments Act,” Pennsylvania Bar Institute (July 2011 )
  • “Ethical and Privilege Considerations in the Age of Electronic Discovery,” Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Employment Law Institute (April 2011)
  • “Wage and Hour Overview and Litigation Trends,” Lancaster Bar Association (January 2010)
  • “Ethical Implications of Social Networking,” Pennsylvania Bar Institute Employment Law Institute (April 2010)
  • “Review of the ADA Amendments Act,” Lancaster Bar Association (February 2009)
    “Minimum Wage and Overtime Requirements,” Pennsylvania Bar Institute (December 2007)
  • “The Ethics of Ex Parte Communications in Employment Disputes,” Lancaster Bar Association (August 2006)
CLERKSHIPS
  • Law Clerk to Hon. Thomas L. Ambro, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit

Paul G. Mattaini

Paul concentrates his practice in the mergers and acquisitions, securities, banking and corporate areas. Paul’s practice includes complex and sophisticated transactions and counseling clients on a variety of business matters. While Paul has a significant amount of specialized experience, he has maintained the breadth of practice necessary to effectively lead transactions and client relationships and function as outside general counsel for clients without inside counsel. During his career, Paul’s client base has consisted largely of public companies and large to medium privately-held businesses.

Paul’s philosophy is to take a practical, hands-on and results-oriented approach to his practice. In addition to paying attention to the details necessary to properly represent his clients, Paul maintains the ability to see the big picture by focusing on the outcome, rather than just the process. While he acts as an effective advocate for his clients’ interests, Paul recognizes that the best results often are achieved by taking a collaborative and reasonable, rather than adversarial, approach with other parties and their advisors.

Several years ago, Paul helped develop the firm’s guidelines that focus on client service as a leading firm core value and, more recently, he led the firm’s Practice Excellence® initiative – an ongoing firmwide effort to constantly increase its capacity to provide excellent service, professional quality and outstanding value to its clients. Paul’s firm responsibilities during his career have included participation and leadership in almost every area of firm management, including management, compensation, opinion, marketing, hiring, practice group and associate review and training.

Paul was a partner at Devine, Millimet & Branch in Manchester, New Hampshire prior to joining Barley Snyder as a partner. During his career, Paul has developed a reputation among, and earned the recognition of, his peers as comparing favorably with business attorneys from larger firms; please see “Recognitions”.

For a representative sample of transactions in which Paul participated, please visit the firm’s tombstone announcements page here.

The following provides additional detail with respect to Paul’s experience:

Mergers and Acquisitions – Paul’s experience in the mergers and acquisitions area was initially concentrated in transactions in the banking industry. During his career, Paul has branched out into other industries in dozens of public and private transactions, many of which have been multi-million dollar, multi-state transactions. These transactions often require coordination of a number of different “moving parts” and various levels of financing.

– Representation of acquirors, targets, management teams and financing sources in M&A transactions

– Private equity and recapitalization transactions

– Leveraged and management buyouts

– Roll-ups

Securities – In the securities area, Paul has built a solid base of knowledge over the years with respect to public company disclosure requirements, including a working knowledge of accounting aspects of securities filings. This knowledge base is valuable to the firm’s public clients in both their periodic SEC reports and their capital raising activities.

– Representation of issuers and underwriters in registered 33 Act and Blue Sky public offerings, IPOs and follow-up offerings of equity and debt (over a dozen)

– Private placements of equity, debt and partnership interests

– Drafting and review of offering, underwriting and subscription documents

– 34 Act reporting for issuers (more than 15 reporting companies) and shareholders

– Stock benefit plans

– Corporate governance, including SEC and stock exchange listing requirements

– Tender offers

– Proxy solicitations

Financing – Paul has established expertise in financings, ranging from conventional bank borrowings to venture capital, private equity and mezzanine financings. In the financing area, Paul’s experience representing both lenders and borrowers is valuable in closing transactions.

– Representation of lenders and borrowers in financings, including syndicated loans

– Tax-exempt financings, including representation of banks providing credit enhancement and liquidity

– Representation of investors in, and recipients of, venture capital and private equity financings

Bank Regulatory – Paul represents large, regional financial institutions and community banks. Paul’s knowledge of the financial services industry and his bank regulatory experience allow him to “add value” in his work for institutions in the industry. 

– Representation of acquirors and targets in mergers and acquisitions of bank holding companies, banks and thrifts, including “mergers of equals”

– General bank regulatory practice

– Guidance on specialized bank disclosure requirements, including Industry Guide 3

– Mutual-to-stock conversions

– Bank holding company formations

– Representation of bank trade association

– Acquisition of failed institutions from the FDIC

Business – Paul strives to understand the businesses of his clients and, as a result, often becomes a counselor to, and an adjunct member of, his clients’ management team. 

– Negotiation, drafting and review of a variety of corporate contracts

– Development of procedures and documents for purchasing and sales functions

– Joint ventures, including formation of jointly-owned companies

– Training of client representatives on a variety of topics

RECOGNITIONS
  • Rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell
  • Best Lawyers® “Lawyer of the Year” in Harrisburg metro area, Mergers and Acquisitions Law (2025)
  • Pennsylvania Bankers Association’s Champion for Women Award (2023)
  • Best Lawyers® “Lawyer of the Year” in Harrisburg metro area, Banking and Finance Law (2020, 2026)
  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Banking and Finance Law (2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026), Corporate Law (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2026), Mergers and Acquisitions Law (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026), Securities / Capital Markets Law (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026)
  • Pennsylvania Super Lawyers (Mergers and Acquisitions)
  • Select Lawyers (Business/Commercial Law)
MEMBERSHIPS
  • New Hampshire Bar Association (Former Chair, Corporate Section)
  • Pennsylvania and Lancaster Bar Associations
PRESENTATIONS
  • “What Makes a Deal Bankable Today: An M&A Case Study for Lenders,” Barley Snyder LendiCon (April 2026)
  • “Buy-Side M&A: Key Considerations and What’s New in M&A,” ACC of Central PA Chapter’s Holiday Style Program (2025)
  • “Strategic Growth Through Conventional (and Unconventional) Deals: From Hidden Gems to Wins,” Philadelphia Smart Business Dealmakers Conference (2025)
  • “Succession Planning Insights,” Panelist, Barley Snyder Business Seminar (2024)
  • “Emerging Trends in Corporate Governance: Navigating ESG, Board Diversity, and Investor Expectations,” Association of Corporate Counsel’s In-House Lawyer All Day CLE program (2024)
  • “Navigating Buy-Side M&A: Insights and Strategies,” Moderator, Philadelphia Smart Business Dealmakers Conference (2024)
  • “Current Challenges in Closing and Integrating M&A Transactions,” Barley Snyder Business Seminar (2023)
  • “M&A: Succession Planning, Valuing Small Firms,” Co-presenter, Pennsylvania Institute of CPAs’ Advisory Services Conference (2023)
  • “Bank Regulation & Failure,” Barley Snyder Webinar (2023)
  • “How to Talk to Your Customers About the Recent Bank Failures and Reassure Them of Your Bank’s Position,” Moderator, Barley Snyder LendiCon (2023)
  • “ESG, DEI and Why You Should Care,” Association of Corporate Counsel’s In-House Lawyer All Day CLE program (2022)
  • “Transition or Sell: What to Do With Your Family Business,” Co-presenter, Philadelphia Smart Business Dealmakers Conference (2022)
  • “Raising Capital in 2020,” Barley Snyder Virtual Business Seminar (2020)
  • “Running Your Business Under Green,” Hanover Area Chamber of Commerce Webinar (2020)
  • “The Expected Impact of COVID-19 on M&A: A Look at the ‘New Normal’,” Barley Snyder Webinar Series (2020)
  • Featured speaker, NACD’s The Board’s Role in Risk Oversight and Cybersecurity (2017)
  • “Swaps in Loan Transactions.” Barley Snyder LendiCon (2017)
  • “The Latest Changes in M&A Srategies,” Barley Snyder Business Seminar (2016)
  • “Jolley v. Chase Home Finance – Are Lenders Facing New Threats in Lender Liability Claims?” Lendicon (2015)
  • “Buying a Company: How to Position Yourself as a Buyer,” Barley Snyder Business Seminar (2014)
  • “Expanding Your Business Through a Joint Venture,” Barley Snyder Business Seminar (2010)
  • “Buying Businesses: Opportunities in a Down Economy?” Barley Snyder Business Seminar (May 2009)
  • “What Your Lender is Thinking in the Current Lending Environment”. Barley Snyder Business Seminar (2009)
  • “The Role of Private Equity in Mergers and Acquisitions, Parts I and II,” Barley Snyder Business Seminar (2008)

Jeremy D. Frey

Jeremy Frey is a member of the firm’s Business and Real Estate practice groups, focusing his practice in the areas of planning, negotiation and execution of business and real estate transactions, real estate development, land use and zoning matters, real estate assessment appeals, business and real estate financing, and business planning.

In the real estate area, Jeremy has successfully represented numerous clients on zoning matters, has a broad knowledge of the Municipalities Planning Code, and has been involved in numerous successful land use and real estate assessment appeals (for both commercial and residential properties). Jeremy regularly advises clients in the purchase and sale of residential and commercial properties, including the sale of hotel properties and the transfer of liquor licenses. Jeremy is a mediator for the REALTORS Association of York & Adams Counties (RAYAC), and is a licensed title agent for Commonwealth Land Title Insurance Company.

In the area of business transactions, Jeremy works with clients on stock and asset purchases and sales and mergers between various types of business entities. Jeremy has assisted businesses in purchases and sales ranging from under $1,000,000 to more than $100,000,000 and he has also assisted borrowers and lenders in many types of loan transactions.

Jeremy is also part of the Food & Agribusiness Industry Group where he provides general counsel in a variety of areas to clients in the food and agricultural industries. In 2012, he successfully appealed the denial of a crop insurance claims for an Adams County orchard to the U.S. Federal Court.

He is very active in the community. He formerly was the president of the board of directors of the Hanover YMCA and was instrumental in the planning, fundraising and construction of the South Hanover YMCA. He is also very active in youth sports, coaching football, basketball and baseball in the local community.

Jeremy was selected to the 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers Rising Stars list.

RECOGNITIONS
  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law (2024, 2025, 2026)
  • Hanover Evening Sun Readers’ Choice Awards (Best Lawyer/Law Practice 2016, 2018)
  • Pennsylvania Rising Stars (2010, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017)
  • Select Lawyer (2016)
  • Central Penn Business Journal’s Forty Under 40 (2011)
MEMBERSHIP
  • Mediator, Realtors Association of York and Adams County (RAYAC)
PRESENTATIONS
  • Moderator – Panel Discussion on “Responding to Organizational Change,” Barley Snyder York Business Seminar (September 2024)
  • “Preparation for Zoning,” Wake up with Barley: A Morning on Real Estate (May 2024)
  • Moderator – Panel Discussion on the “Current Business Environment,” Barley Snyder York Business Seminar (October 2023)
  • “Acquisition Activity Perspective,” Barley Snyder Food & Ag Summit (February 2019)
  • “Legal Considerations for Succession Planning,” The High Center York Event (October 2018)
  • “Planning and Sales Considerations for Condominiums and Planned Communities,” Wake up with Barley: A Morning on Real Estate (September 2017)
  • “Common Legal Issues You Need to Know,” PA Treasury’s Small Business Initiative at York College (October 2016)
  • “Legal Issues Involved in Growing your Business,” PA Treasury’s Small Business Initiative (October 2016)
  • “Common Legal Issues for New Businesses,” PA Treasury’s Small Business Initiative at York College (October 2016)
  • “Negotiating Indemnification Clauses, Representations and Warranties and Other Standard Contract Terms,” Barley Snyder Business Seminar (October 2015)
  • “Buying, Leasing and Owning: What is Best for Your Business?” Barley Snyder Business Seminar (October 2014)
OTHER PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
  • Notes and comments editor, American University International Law Review

Jennifer McKenrick Stetter

Jennifer is a partner at Barley Snyder and a dedicated member of the firm’s Trusts & Estates Practice Group, focusing her practice primarily on estate planning and estate administration.

Jennifer’s estate planning work involves the preparation of wills, financial and health care powers of attorney, and other estate planning documents, as well as trust creation and administration. Her practice also includes probate and estate administration through which a deceased person’s property and other assets are distributed and the estate is managed and settled. Jennifer has practiced in courts throughout central Pennsylvania, including Adams, Berks, Cumberland, Franklin, Fulton and York counties.

Her work in estate planning and administration also serves as a lead-in to the business and real estate elements of her practice. Her business and real estate experience includes:

– Entity formation

– Small business asset and stock purchases

– Commercial and residential real estate settlement and refinancing

– Preparation of commercial and residential purchase agreements

Jennifer is a native of Hanover and lives in the Hanover area with her husband and daughter. She is a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Hanover, and is a graduate of Delone Catholic High School.

MEMBERSHIPS
  • York County Bar Association
  • Pennsylvania Bar Association
  • American Bar Association

John L. Janick

A love of motorsports and all things cars drew John into the world of mechanical and electrical engineering. His passion for the law surrounding the inventions that made cars go faster more safely brought him into intellectual property law. John is one of the many members of our Intellectual Property Practice Group whose real world experience – particularly his development of electrical and mechanical components – prepared him to make the jump into a career as a patent attorney.

In more than a decade as an attorney certified with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, John has worked in drafting and prosecuting domestic and international patent applications in mechanical and electrical arts. He’s also worked in highly technical fields such as communications systems, analog/digital circuits, radar/sonar systems, semiconductors, automotive components, digital imaging devices and optics.

In addition to patent preparation and prosecution, John’s practice includes preparing patentability, invalidity and non-infringement opinions, client counseling and trademark and copyright registration. He also has experience preparing requests for proceedings before the USPTO and prosecuting patent matters in front of boards such as the International Trade Commission.

John continues his love of motorsports on the amateur level, and he volunteers as a performance driving instructor for automobile clubs such as the National Auto Sport Association, Sports Car Club of America and Porsche Club of America. You can usually find him enjoying the outdoors, be it skiing in the winter or running and biking in the summer. Or, you may find him in the outdoors spending time with his two young children. 

MEMBERSHIPS
  • American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA)
  • Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)
  • Pennsylvania Bar Association

John M. Coles

John is a member of the firm’s Real Estate and Business practice groups with more than twenty years of experience. On the real estate side, he represents developers, business owners, landlords, lenders, property managers, and foundations in both commercial and residential matters. He has extensive experience negotiating and drafting leases, handling commercial and residential leasing transactions, and advising on the acquisition, disposition, and financing of real estate projects. His work also includes advising on the creation and governance of planned communities and condominiums.

John’s experience spans large-scale commercial transactions as well as transactions for closely held businesses and individual investors. He frequently helps clients structure and close deals efficiently, balancing risk management with practical business goals. He has also represented clients in real estate tax assessment appeals across eastern Pennsylvania and regularly counsels landlords in bankruptcy and workout situations involving commercial tenants.

In addition to his real estate practice, John counsels business clients on a wide range of corporate matters, including entity formation, governance issues, purchase and sale agreements, broker agreements, mergers, and stock or asset acquisitions. He also serves as outside counsel to businesses, foundations and other organizations, providing ongoing guidance on contracts, leases and day-to-day operational needs.

RECOGNITIONS
  • The Best Lawyers in America®,  Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships) (2025), Real Estate Law (2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026)

  • Leadership Harrisburg Area Class of 2005

MEMBERSHIPS
  • Pennsylvania Bar Association

  • Dauphin County Bar Association

PRESENTATIONS
  • Moderator – Harrisburg Business Seminar (October 2024)
  • Moderator – Harrisburg Business Seminar (October 2023)
  • Transportation Logistics & Trade Seminar (March 2023)
  • A Roundtable Discussion on Due Diligence for Real Estate Construction Project – Wake Up with Barley: A Morning on Real Estate (May 2022)
  • Project Financing: When Can I Start Work? – Wake up with Barley: A Morning on Real Estate (June 2018)
  • Key Terms in Commercial Leases and How They Can Hold Up Your Deal – Greater Harrisburg Association of REALTORS Commercial Council (April 2018)

John M. Quain, Jr.

J. is an experienced attorney in Barley Snyder’s Litigation Practice Group, focusing on litigation, appellate matters and regulatory compliance. He believes that achieving favorable results requires thinking outside the box. Creativity, ingenuity and attention to detail are key to finding the best path forward. J. prides himself on being attentive, communicative, and focused on finding thoughtful, alternative solutions to reach clients’ desired outcomes. 

Litigation
J. assists clients with a diverse range of litigation matters, including breach of contract, real estate disputes, landlord-tenant issues, fiduciary matters and more. He is also a member of the firm’s Finance Creditors’ Rights Practice Group, where he handles bankruptcy and debt collection. J. has worked with contractors and corporate companies on their collection efforts and has defended his clients’ priority of mortgages and liens. He has also asserted the property rights of clients following a change of ownership in real property.  

Previously, J. was the lead litigator at the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED), where he successfully recovered over $15 million in taxpayer dollars through judgments, bankruptcy proceedings and settlement agreements. He also provided counsel during the City of Harrisburg’s financial recovery efforts, representing the DCED throughout the process.

Appellate
J. has extensive appellate experience, having secured victories on appeals in the Commonwealth Court, Superior Court and Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. His in-depth understanding of appellate procedure enables him to guide clients through every stage of the appellate process – from initial filings to post-decision motions. His background in handling administrative appeals and government proceedings adds to his proficiency in navigating complex appeals through administrative agencies and, when necessary, up through the courts.

Regulatory Compliance
J. provides business advisory services for state-issued licensure issues, advising clients on regulatory compliance and guiding them through the administrative process and appeals up through the courts when required.

Prior to his experience in Pennsylvania, J. served as a law clerk to the Hon. Michael J. Kassel in the New Jersey Superior Court. A Harrisburg native, J. is very active in the Dauphin County community and currently lives in Lancaster with his family. Outside of the firm, J. chairs the Dauphin County Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Section.  

View a sampling of J.’s litigation victories:
J. prevailed before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court appealing a trial court’s decision that satisfied our client’s $1.6 million judgment based on a Petition for Declaratory Judgment filed by the judgment debtor after the trial court had already upheld the judgment in two prior actions challenging the judgment. The Superior Court affirmed on the basis of the trial court’s opinion. J. filed a Petition to have the Pennsylvania Supreme Court review the lower court decision, which the Supreme Court only grants in about 6% of cases. J. argued that the lower court decisions would make all Pennsylvania judgments lack finality because a judgment debtor court strike the judgment by ignoring procedure and requiring the judgment creditor to relitigate the already decided case.  The Supreme Court agreed and vacated the lower court decision without requiring any briefing on the issue.

J. represented a large childcare provider that had a license to operate revoked following a single violation of the Human Services Code. The Department of Human Services revoked the facility’s license to operate without proper notice and without considering the provider’s long record of historical compliance. After the Department refused to reconsider its action, J. appealed the decision to the Commonwealth Court, arguing that the provider’s record of service and the Department’s failure to consider the lack of serious prior violations entitled it to a provisional license as a matter of law. After the hearing argument, the Commonwealth Court agreed and reversed the Department of Human Service’s revocation of the facility’s license, enabling the provider to continue to serve the community with an unblemished record.

J. represented a beneficiary of a trust that sold a large tract of land worth over $1.6 million.  After initially opposing the sale, the beneficiary agreed to consent to the sale under certain terms guarantying the beneficiary certain distributions in accordance with the trust, which was entered as an Order of Court.  In negotiating the sale, the trustees discovered that a portion of the property was not owned by the trust and proceeded with finalizing the sale without revealing the issue to the beneficiary, resulting in a substantial reduction in the beneficiary’s share of distributions.  J. brought a Petition for Contempt and to Enforce the Agreement wherein the beneficiary authorized the sale of the property.  After a bench trial, the Court ruled that the trustees had breached their fiduciary duties, enforced the terms of the agreement permitting the sale, and awarded compensatory damages and sanctions against the trustees for the breach of fiduciary duties.

RECOGNITION
  • Central Penn Business Journal’s “Forty Under 40 Award” (2025)
  • Pennsylvania Super Lawyers Rising Star (2025)
  • Pennsylvania Immigration Resource Center’s Light of Liberty Award (2022)
  • Central Penn Business Journal’s “Legal Excellence Award” – Up and Coming Lawyers (2021)
PRESENTATION
  • “From Default to Recovery: War Stories Welcome”, Barley Snyder LendiCon (April 2026)
  • “The Commonwealth as a Creditor”, Bankruptcy CLE (May 2017)
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
  • Lipsitt Inn of Court

Randy R. Moyer

Randy is a partner and chair of the firm’s Trusts & Estates Practice Group. He concentrates his practice in both complex and simple estate and tax planning as well as estate and trust administration.

Randy is also a member of the firm’s Family Business group, working closely with family owned business owners in formulating succession plans and advising owners of closely held businesses with respect to their estate and retirement plans. Randy works with his clients to address their business and personal needs in a way that will minimize their future estate, gift, income and generation skipping transfer taxes while maximizing and preserving family wealth. Randy also works with his clients to identify potential family conflicts with respect to succession planning, estate and retirement planning matters and offers suggestions to incorporate into business planning to avoid such conflicts.

Randy’s estate planning practice includes the following:

  • Drafting complex and simple estate plans that include wills, revocable trusts, dynasty trusts, irrevocable insurance trusts, qualified personal residence trusts, grantor retained annuity trusts (GRATs), charitable remainder trusts, family limited partnerships, limited liability companies and powers of attorney for both finance and health care needs. 
  • Assistance with retirement planning and charitable giving.
  • Counseling owners of closely-held businesses on business succession planning, business formation, governance issues including buy-sell agreements and planning for the sale or disposition of family businesses.
  • Advising clients of the consequences of proposed transfers and transactions as they relate to estate, gift, generation-skipping and income taxes.
  • Assistance with estate administration and the probate process.
  • Planning for the creation, preservation and transmission of wealth among generations.
  • Creating charitable foundations/trusts and assisting in corporate governance and formation of such charitable entities.

Randy’s practice also focuses in the area of tax exempt organizations, including the formation of non-profit organizations and obtaining tax exempt status from the IRS. Randy also works with governance issues affecting tax exempt organizations, including public charities, private foundations, colleges, universities and other non-profits.

Randy served in the United States Marine Corps and was stationed in the Persian Gulf as part of operation Desert Shield. He also served in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba during the Haitian refugee crisis from 1991-1992 and was awarded the Navy achievement medal.

MEMBERSHIP
  • Pennsylvania and Lancaster Bar Associations
CLERKSHIPS
  • Judicial Clerk for Judge James P. Cullen (Court of Common Pleas, Orphans’ Court Division)
OTHER PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
  • U.S. Marine Corps

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