Position: Counsel

Julia M. Parrish

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.

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
  • Estate Planning Council of Central PA, Member
  • York County Estate Planning Council, Member
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
  • 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)
MEMBERSHIPS
  • Dauphin County Bar Association
  • York County Bar Association
  • Pennsylvania Bar Association

Brandon D. Pack

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. 

Timothy D. Sheffey

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.

MEMBERSHIPS
  • Pennsylvania Bar Association
  • Lebanon County Bar Association

Beth M. Kohl

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. 

MEMBERSHIPS
  • Pennsylvania Bar Association
  • Berks County Bar Association
PRESENTATIONS
  • 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 T. Keyack

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.

MEMBERSHIPS
  • Pennsylvania Bar Association
  • American Intellectual Property Law Association
  • Intellectual Property Owners Association
OTHER PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
  • Additional Languages: Portuguese, Spanish, German

John J. Speicher

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.

RECOGNITIONS
  • AV Preeminent Rating with Martindale-Hubbell
  • Pennsylvania Super Lawyer (2011 – 2022)
  • Berks County Bar Association’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Program graduate
EXPERTISE & CERTIFICATION
  • Civil Trial Specialist, National Board of Trial Advocacy
MEMBERSHIP
  • Pennsylvania Bar Association

Allen R. Shollenberger

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.

MEMBERSHIPS
  • Pennsylvania Bar Association
  • Berks County Bar Association
  • Recorder of Deeds of Berks County, former solicitor

Ambria L. Armstrong

Ambria is an attorney in the firm’s Business Practice Group. She has experience guiding clients through the complicated processes of mergers and acquisitions, business succession planning, commercial contracts, financing and investment transactions, entity formation and corporate governance matters for both corporate clients and nonprofit entities.

She is an experienced M&A attorney as lead counsel for sellers, buyers, and investors. She assists clients with every level of a deal, from drafting the letter of intent, to conducting due diligence, negotiating the purchase agreement and handling all related matters specific to each transaction – including financing, related real estate sales or leases and employee contracts.

Ambria serves as general counsel to a number of family-owned, local and national businesses and investors. She provides counsel on formation and structuring, corporate governance, commercial contracts, shareholder and investor relations, partnership and buy-sell agreements, and federal and state securities filings. She provides practical and efficient advice and solutions that get to the bottom line of each client’s business priorities in any transaction or contract.

Ambria has experience working with nonprofit organizations, including both private foundations and public charities, for which she provides advice on formation, tax exemption filings, governance and mergers & acquisitions.

Ambria previously practiced in estate planning, including drafting wills, trusts, powers of attorney, federal and state tax planning and charitable planning. She now has incorporated that experience into concepts and strategies she’s applied to her M&A practice.

A Lancaster County native, Ambria is a supporter of the Columbia Animal Shelter and enjoys spending time with lots of local family members, rock climbing, hiking, running and playing soccer.

MEMBERSHIP
  • Lancaster Bar Association
RECOGNITIONS
  • Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America, Securities/Capital Markets Law (2024)

Matthew G. Brushwood

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.

MEMBERSHIPS
  • Berks County Bar Association

  • Lehigh County Bar Association

  • Pennsylvania Bar Association

Martin R. Siegel

Marty is a member of the firm’s Real Estate and Environment & Energy practice groups who spent more than two decades as a litigator at the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. In his time at the DEP, he litigated more than 250 appeals in state and federal courts and in front of the Pennsylvania Environmental Hearing Board in cases involving litigation of solid waste, clean water, environmental remediation and sewage planning. His cases resulted in tens of millions of dollars of environmental remediation and civil penalties throughout Pennsylvania.

In the private sector, Marty has worked with businesses on both environmental and energy issues. He’s helped companies in real estate transactions navigate environmental issues, worked with municipalities on stormwater and sewage issues and has assisted companies and other entities in addressing DEP and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency enforcement actions. He’s also worked with out-of-state gas pipeline owners and contractors to help them comply with Pennsylvania environmental requirements and defended them in DEP enforcement actions. Marty is also a trained mediator.

In addition to his time at the DEP, Marty has worked in federal government positions at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry in Atlanta and with the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest Laboratory in Washington state.

Marty is a prolific speaker at professional gatherings throughout Pennsylvania on environmental topics, including Pennsylvania’s Environmental Rights Amendment, Pennsylvania’s voluntary cleanup program, Chesapeake Bay and clean water issues, and municipal stormwater requirements. He also co-authored the chapter on Pennsylvania’s Land Recycling and Environmental Remediation Standards Act (Act 2) in Pennsylvania Environmental Law & Practice, 10th Edition.

His professional environmental experience has led him to leadership positions with a multitude of nonprofit organizations both in central Pennsylvania and throughout the Mid-Atlantic. He’s also a former member of the Board of School Directors for the Lower Dauphin School District.

RECOGNITION
  • The Best Lawyers in America©, Environmental Law (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)
MEMBERSHIPS
  • York County Bar Association
  • Environmental and Energy Law Section, Pennsylvania Bar Association
PUBLICATIONS
  • “Land Recycling and Environmental Remediation Standards Act” co-author, “Pennsylvania Environmental Law and Practice, 10th Edition (May 2021)
  • “Liability Costs Loom as DEP Seeks Greater Regulation of PFAS Chemicals”, “The Authority,” the magazine of the Pennsylvania Municipal Authorities Association (August 2019)
  • “Land Recycling and Environmental Remediation Standards Act”, Pennsylvania Environmental Law and Practice, 9th edition
  • “What is the Risk of Personal Liability for Environmental Violations?”, York Legal Record (March 2019)
  • “PA Environmental Constitutional Law: It’s a New Ballgame”, The Legal Intelligencer (July 2018)
  • “Pipeline Construction, Environmental Compliance Can Co-Exist”, Pipeline & Gas Journal (May 2018)
  • “Creating the Right Environment for an Environmental Mediation”, Pennsylvania Bar Association Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee (November 2017)
  • “Mediating Environmental Disputes: A Necessity in Today’s Political Climate”, The Legal Intelligencer (January 2017)
  • “It’s Time to Get DEP Off of Its Subsistence Diet”, PennLive (December 2016)
PRESENTATIONS
  • “What’s New with PFAS? Federal and State Developments”, Pennsylvania Bar Institute webinar (December 2022)
  • “COVID-19 Vaccines: The Impact on the Logistics Industry”, webinar (January 2021)
  • “COVID-19 Vaccines: The Impact on Higher Education”, webinar (January 2021)
  • “COVID-19 Vaccines: The Impact on the Hospitality Industry”, webinar (January 2021)
  • “COVID-19 Vaccine: The Impact on the Food & Agribusiness Industry”, webinar (December 2020)
  • “COVID-19 Vaccine: The Impact on Health Care and Long Term Care”, webinar (December 2020)
  • “COVID-19 Vaccine: The Impact on Health Care and Long Term Care”, webinar (December 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 Webinar”, Barley Snyder Webinar Series (May 2020)
  • “Getting Your Business Back to Business Webinar Part 1”, Barley Snyder Webinar Series (April 2020)
  • “State Constitutions and the Environment: A Watershed Comparison”, Chesapeake Bay Commission meeting (January 2020)
  • “PFAS – Regulation, Liabilities and Potential Cost Recovery”, Pennsylvania Bar Institute (July 2019)
  • “PA’s Right to Know Law: What You Need to Know”, Society of Women Environmental Professionals (April 2019)
  • “State and Local Regulatory Obstacles to Composting: How to Manage the Regulators”, Compost2019, U.S. Composting Council (January 2019)
  • “Managing Regulatory Obstacles: Getting What You Need from DEP”, Appalachian Pipelines Association (December 2018)
  • “Managing Regulatory Obstacles: Getting What You Need from DEP”, Pennsylvania Municipal Authorities Association 76th Annual Conference and Trade Show (September 2018)
  • “Environmental Ethics (According to the Lorax and the Runaway Bunny)”, Society of Women Environmental Professionals (May 2018)
  • “The Impact of PA’s Rejuvenated Environmental Rights Amendment on Environmental Protection”, Keystone Coldwater Conference (February 2018)
  • “The Rejuvenated Environmental Rights Amendment: What It Means for Pennsylvania Businesses and Municipalities”, York County Bar Association (January 2018)
  • “How to get What You Want from DEP (Or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Department)”, PA Chamber of Business and Industry Fall Environmental Conferences (Fall 2017)
  • “Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems”, Municipal Law Colloquium, Pennsylvania Bar Institute (June 2017)
  • “The Chesapeake Bay: What Ails It and What is Being Done About It”, Lancaster County Bar Association (July 2016)
OTHER PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
  • U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  • Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
  • Battelle Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
  • Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection

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