Karen is an attorney in the firm’s Employee Benefits practice with more than two decades of legal experience. Karen focuses her practice on assisting employers with all aspects of their employee benefits offerings, including the design and operation of qualified and non-qualified retirement plans, welfare plans and executive compensation arrangements. Karen has significant experience with IRS and DOL compliance programs as well as ERISA fiduciary obligations and best practices. She has also represented clients in IRS and DOL audits.
Karen has trained employers and other employee benefits professionals on best practices in employee benefit plan administration, and changes in the laws that govern employee benefit plans (including SECURE 2.0).
In addition to her many years of providing legal advice to employers, she has also worked as legal counsel, in an in-house capacity, with retirement plan service providers. She brings this knowledge and experience to her work with employers, allowing her to provide clients with pragmatic advice and solutions.
Bill is a member of the firm’s Litigation Practice Group with a proven track record of representing businesses, organizations and individuals in federal and state courts across a wide spectrum of business and litigation matters. He is well-versed in the areas of commercial transactions, business torts, insurance coverage, trademark infringement, and municipal finance. Bill’s litigation experience dovetails nicely with his MBA, giving him a unique ability to understand a client’s business, industry and the context in which disputes arise. He works diligently to achieve his clients’ objectives and resolve disputes while advocating zealously for their position throughout all stages of litigation.
In addition to his proficiency in business and commercial litigation, Bill has experience with handling labor and employment matters. He has represented employers before federal and state courts and administrative agencies, including the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, and defended them against discrimination claims, wrongful termination cases and FMLA violations. Bill has represented employers before the National Labor Relations Board in unfair labor practice and union election cases. In addition, Bill has advised employers on post-employment restrictive covenants, including non-competes, and effectively litigated on their behalf to enforce these covenants, including at preliminary injunction hearings.
Before entering private practice, Bill served as a law clerk to Judge Thomas I. Vanaskie of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. Through this experience, he gained valuable insight into the practice and procedure of federal courts.
- Honorable William W. Lipsitt American Inn of Court, Barrister
- Dauphin County Bar Association
- Pennsylvania Bar Association
- Federal Bar Association
- New Jersey State Bar Association
- Law clerk to the Honorable Thomas I. Vanaskie of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.
Julia is a member of the firm’s Trusts & Estates Practice Group with two decades of experience, focusing her practice in the areas of estate planning and trust and estate administration.
Julia is passionate about her chosen field because of how it enables her clients to achieve their goals and effectively plan for the future. Helping her clients through difficult times, whether death or incapacity, and finding creative solutions to problems is important to her. Julia’s practice includes: preparing documents such as last will and testaments, powers of attorney, healthcare powers of attorney, living wills, trusts and non-judicial settlement agreements for trusts; aspects of business succession planning and tax planning; in addition to representing clients in guardianship matters and more.
During the estate planning process, Julia works closely with her clients to identify their priorities. From there, she educates her clients on various aspects of property ownership, taxation, and estate and trust planning, enabling them to make an educated choice for their future. Julia also recognizes the value in collaborating with a client’s team – whether their accountant, financial advisor, children, preferred charitable organization or business partner – to ensure the best results. This combined approach allows Julia to create a comprehensive estate plan that meets her clients’ needs and desires.
Julia started her legal career in York County as an intern for the Prothonotary’s office during college. She then gained experiencing working as a law clerk throughout the York and Harrisburg areas. After that, Julia served as a law clerk for the Honorable James M. Blaney of the Superior Court in Ocean County, New Jersey, before returning to York County to practice as an attorney in a small general practice law firm. More recently, Julia served as counsel for a firm in Dauphin County working in estate planning and trust and estate administration.
Outside of the firm, Julia enjoys spending time with her husband and three children. She and her family are active members of Saint Leo the Great Catholic Church in Lancaster.
- Estate Planning Council of Central PA, Member
- York County Estate Planning Council, Member
- Pennsylvania Society of Tax & Accounting Professionals, South Central Chapter, “Estates, Trusts, and Planning for Tomorrow; Assisting Your Clients to Assess Need and Prepare an Effective Estate Plan” (November 2022, September 2023)
- Dauphin County Bar Association
- York County Bar Association
- Pennsylvania Bar Association
Brandon is an attorney in the firm’s Creditors’ Rights Practice Group with more than a decade of experience. He focuses his practice in the areas of financial services litigation, banking litigation, and residential and commercial mortgage foreclosure. His practice involves multistate representation of financial institutions and secured and unsecured creditors in both federal and state courts at the trial and appellate levels. Brandon frequently handles matters related to bankruptcy, contracts, ejectment, eviction, foreclosure, general collections, surplus funds, tax sales, title curative, and consumer and banking regulatory compliance. He is well-versed with the Consumer Fraud Act (CFA), Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) and Truth in Lending Act (TILA).
Brandon’s experience and pragmatic approach allow him to identify and minimize risks for his clients in matters involving lender liability, enforcement of creditors’ rights, consumer lending, title defects and consumer protection claims. His extensive knowledge and diligent approach enable him to make important decisions and provide guidance to his clients concerning compliance, regulations and liability.
Prior to joining Barley Snyder, Brandon worked as a litigation attorney at a law firm primarily focused on creditors’ rights and real estate matters. He regularly handled trials relating to foreclosure, eviction and title matters throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey, oversaw appeals in state and federal court as well as advised clients regarding compliance and regulatory matters. Brandon also has experience working as a public defender in Berks County where he handled all aspects of criminal defense at every stage of the judicial process.
A graduate of Temple University, Brandon earned his juris doctor degree from Widener University School of Law.
Tim is an attorney at Barley Snyder with more than 45 years of experience concentrating his practice in Trusts & Estates and Real Estate law.
In his estate planning and administration practice, Tim enjoys helping clients by working with compassion and building trusted relationships. He regularly guides clients through the estate planning process, preparing fiduciary documents, preparing and maintaining updated wills as well as creating powers of attorney and trusts including special needs trusts for families. His detailed approach helps him create comprehensive plans for clients and their unique needs. Serving his ultimate vocation, Tim understands the importance of thoughtfully helping his clients navigate the estate planning/administration process during what can be a very difficult time of their lives. He also works closely with attorneys in Barley Snyder’s Business Practice Group to help business owners develop transition and succession plans.
In his real estate practice, Tim guides clients through refinancing transactions, the purchase and sale of real estate, and setting up business structures. As a licensed title agent, he actively searches for liens to ensure good title. In addition, Tim has substantial experience representing municipalities. He has represented municipalities and school districts in Lebanon and acted as labor solicitor for the county for 38 years. Furthermore, Tim has experience handling labor and employment matters in the public sector, representing schools, municipalities and unions on both union and management sides.
Born and raised in Lebanon, Tim has strong community ties. He is the original member and chair of Lebanon County Agricultural Land Preservation Board. He is an active volunteer with Cornwall Manor, previously serving as chair of its board of trustees and its foundation committee. Tim received his undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania and earned his juris doctor degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.
- Pennsylvania Bar Association
- Lebanon County Bar Association
Beth is a member of Barley Snyder’s Real Estate, Construction and Land Use groups. She regularly represents private and public clients in land use and zoning matters, municipal law, and real estate transactions. In addition to her years of experience in private law firm practice, Beth has unique knowledge and perspective from her years working for an engineering firm as a land development consultant and working in the real estate/right-of-way department of a pipeline company.
In her land use/zoning practice, Beth represents clients in the submissions of and hearings for text amendment, rezoning, variance, special exception, conditional use, subdivision and land development and condition modification applications. She understands the intricacies of the Municipalities Planning Code and the requirements that municipalities and developers must adhere to during the land development process in Pennsylvania. Beth also has experience assisting with the development of mixed-use, commercial/industrial buildings and complexes as well as residential neighborhoods. Furthermore, she prepares homeowners’ association and condominium documents for a variety of development projects including building conversions, shopping centers, residential planned communities, master-planned developments and site condominiums.
Beth is a member of the Pennsylvania and Berks County Bar Associations, serving as co-chair of the Municipal/Real Estate Law Section of the Berks County Bar Association. She frequently lectures on municipal law and zoning matters. Beth earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the Schreyer Honors College at Penn State University, and earned her law degree from the Thomas R. Kline School of Law at Drexel University in Philadelphia.
A Berks County native, Beth is grateful to be working with residents, businesses, and municipalities in and around southcentral Pennsylvania. Beth is an active member of her community, and serves on the boards of directors of Berks Nature, the Friends of the Reading Hospital and the Pagoda Pacers Athletic Club.
- Pennsylvania Bar Association
- Berks County Bar Association
- Newly Elected Officials Training, Albright College Center for Excellence in Local Government (CELG), Dec. 2, 2021
- Post-Pandemic Municipal Practice, Berks County Bar Association Bench-Bar Conference, August 25, 2021
- COVID-19 and Human Resources, CELG, May 15, 2021
- Recent Land Use Court Decisions, CELG, March 4, 2021
- Recent Land Use Court Decisions and Pending Legislation, CELG, March 7, 2020
- Recent Land Use Court Decisions and Pending Legislation, CELG, March 2, 2019
- Navigating Local Agencies – Questions and Answers, BCTV Ask-a-Lawyer Program, December 18, 2018
- Introduction to Zoning Basics, Berks County Bar Association, July 19, 2018
Albert Keyack is a member of Barley Snyder’s Intellectual Property Practice Group, bringing expansive experience in IP law to the firm. In addition to practicing with law firms and as in-house counsel, Albert represented the European Patent Office (EPO) as the first Attaché to the United States, a role of both advocating for European patents and acting in a liaison role with U.S. based applicants to the EPO. He also represented the U.S. as the Intellectual Property Attaché to Latin America, advocating both for stronger intellectual property laws, judicial reforms and better trade practices, as well as representing the interests of U.S. industry with regard to intellectual property and related issues, such as pharmaceutical regulation. He has spoken extensively on a wide range of intellectual property topics in the U.S., Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Germany and the Netherlands.
He began his career in Philadelphia, at a prominent law firm where he represented clients in matters involving patent and trademark prosecution, numerous types of intellectual property litigation and was also involved in a variety of transactional matters such as licensing, financing and acquisitions. He has also held positions as Chief Patent Counsel and as General Counsel at medical device companies and other technology companies both public and privately held, and was the in-house advisor on IP to a venture capital fund and their portfolio companies.
After earning a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Villanova University, Albert worked designing radar systems while simultaneously obtaining a law degree from the Rutgers University School of Law.
- Pennsylvania Bar Association
- American Intellectual Property Law Association
- Intellectual Property Owners Association
- Additional Languages: Portuguese, Spanish, German
John is a member of the firm’s Litigation Practice Group, practicing in commercial and personal injury litigation. He is one of the few Berks County attorneys certified as a civil trial specialist by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. John also maintains an AV Preeminent Rating with Martindale-Hubbell, an attorney rating service, and was selected as a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer from 2011 through 2021 by Super Lawyers Magazine.
From 1995 to 1997, the Berks County native chaired the board of the YMCA of Reading and Berks County. He later served for four years on the executive committee of the Berks County Bar Association, including one year as president in 2002. He was also a delegate from Berks County to the Pennsylvania Bar Association and volunteers with the United Way of Berks County.
John graduated from Denison University with honors in history in 1973 and from Temple University School of Law in 1976. He has spoken at numerous seminars on various trial topics for the Berks County Bar Association and is trained as a mediator and arbitrator through the Berks County Bar Association’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Program.
He coached community youth teams in basketball, baseball and soccer, and led a youth basketball exchange with Germany in 1996. John is married to Patricia C. Giles, also a Berks County native and former senior vice president for Community Impact for the United Way of Berks County. She is also vice president of the Wyomissing Foundation and is on the board of trustees at Alvernia University. They have two sons, a daughter and seven grandchildren.
- AV Preeminent Rating with Martindale-Hubbell
- Pennsylvania Super Lawyer (2011 – 2022)
- Berks County Bar Association’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Program graduate
- Civil Trial Specialist, National Board of Trial Advocacy
- Pennsylvania Bar Association
Allen is a member of the firm’s Trust & Estate and Real Estate practice groups. He maintains a general practice of law with emphasis in the following areas: municipal representation, zoning, land development, real estate, corporate law, estate planning and estate administration. Allen’s more than 30 years of legal experience allow him to provide a unique perspective on a wide variety of legal matters.
A member of the Berks County Bar and Pennsylvania Bar Associations, Allen has been admitted to practice before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and U.S. District Court for the Middle and Eastern Districts of Pennsylvania.
He graduated from East Stroudsburg College and received his Juris Doctor degree from Delaware Law School of Widener University. A Hamburg native, Allen is an avid outdoor enthusiast and enjoys running, biking, whitewater rafting adventures and golf.
- Pennsylvania Bar Association
- Berks County Bar Association
- Recorder of Deeds of Berks County, former solicitor
Matt is a member of the Creditors’ Rights Practice Group, where his practice includes residential and commercial mortgage foreclosure as well as complex consumer and commercial litigation. His practice also involves representation of secured and unsecured creditors, lenders and landlords in various areas including:
- Bankruptcy
- Eviction and Tenant Disputes
- Mechanic’s Liens
- Tax Sales
- Title Curative
- Repossessions and Garnishments
- Receiverships
- General Collection
- Bankruptcy Preference Defense
- Commercial Lease Restructuring
- Consumer and Banking Regulatory Compliance
- Breach of Contract
- Appeals
- Federal and State Consumer Protection Defense Including Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and Fair Debt Collection (FDCPA)
With his extensive experience and practical approach, Matt has developed an understanding of how to identify risks, limit exposure and obtain effective and prompt resolution through cost-effective litigation and settlement. He routinely partners with his clients enhancing operational efficiency and compliance, crisis management, and devising both a litigation case strategy and a national litigation approach. Matt has successfully handled all aspects of complex litigation in state and federal courts, and he has also provided valuable on and off-site training for national mortgage servicers addressing emerging trends in foreclosure litigation in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Maryland.
