Position: Counsel

Sarah Rubright McCahon

When most people think of estate planning, they immediately think about a will. But Sarah, a member of the firm’s Trusts & Estates Practice Group, understands the complexity of a complete estate plan to ensure that a person’s wishes are carried out, which goes much further than a will.

While she has helped many clients draft their wills, she is also qualified at developing comprehensive estate plans and has a broad array of experience with estate and trust administration. This area of her practice includes:

– Drafting of wills
– Drafting of power of attorney documents
– Drafting health care power of attorney documents and living wills
– Trust creation
– Trust administration
– Special needs trust establishment

    Clients working with Sarah can expect a thoughtful, inclusive approach that encompasses the full picture of their needs – paired with open communication and timely, reliable responses.

    Her work often takes her to Orphans’ Court, where she assists clients regarding the intricacies of special needs trust administration and guardianships of the person and of the estate. Those are legal tools that allow a person or entity to make decisions for another person of any age who is incapacitated or has certain special needs. Sarah’s elder law and special needs planning practice is focused on preserving dignity and autonomy for vulnerable individuals and their families. She offers guidance on long-term care planning, Medicaid eligibility, guardianships, and planning strategies tailored to individuals with disabilities, with compassion and deep knowledge of the legal landscape.

    Sarah is also a member of the firm’s Business Practice Group. In her business practice, Sarah deals primarily with the needs of nonprofit corporations, including religious entities and youth sports organizations. Her work advising nonprofit corporations includes:

    – Entity formation
    – Compliance
    – Bylaw review
    – Real estate transactions
    – Asset acquisitions
    – Dissolutions

      Sarah and her husband Brian live in Birdsboro with their daughters Maggie and Gracie. Her family can often be found enjoying the outdoors while camping in central Pennsylvania or spending time at the Jersey shore.

      MEMBERSHIPS
      • Berks Estate Planning Council, Board member
      • Dauphin County Bar Association
      • Schuylkill County Bar Association
      • Berks County Bar Association
      • Pennsylvania Bar Association
      • Pennsylvania Association of Elder Law Attorneys
      PRESENTATIONS
      • “Financial Planning, Assigning Beneficiaries and Becoming Knowledgeable on Important Forms” – Panelist, Greater Reading Chamber Alliance Women2Women Event (June 2023)
      • “Attorneys’ Duties to Protect Client Data”, Lancaster Bar Association Webinar (June 2020)
      • “COVID-19 Estate Planning Opportunities”, Herbein + Company Webinar (May 2020)
      • “Board Governance” Leadership Berks County (November 2012-18)
      • Transactional Law; Berks County Bar Association Law Explorer Post (January 2012)
      • “Entity Selection” Greater Reading Chamber of Commerce Small Business Summit (April 2011)
      • The Struggle of Punitive Damages in Arbitration: How to Get What you Want Out of an Arbitration; The Journal of American Arbitration
      OTHER PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
      • Legal intern for the Honorable John E. Jones III of the U.S. District Court, Middle District of Pennsylvania, 2004.
      RECOGNITIONS
      • The Best Lawyers in America®, Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships) (2024)
      • Lehigh Valley Business “Women of Influence” Honoree (2023)

      Larry C. Heim

      Larry brings decades of experience in helping businesses in the hospitality industry with one of their most valuable assets – their liquor license. He has represented clients on issues before the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board with appeals to the Court of Common Pleas and Commonwealth Court, defended liquor liability (“dram shop”) cases in state courts, and defended violations brought by the Pennsylvania Bureau of Liquor Code Enforcement, a division of the Pennsylvania State Police. He was the first attorney in Pennsylvania to obtain a limited winery license for a winery located in Europe with a satellite location in Pennsylvania coupled with a Restaurant License. He has also completed projects in South America to obtain PA manufacturing liquor licenses with satellite locations in Pennsylvania.

      Larry is also a seasoned litigator in both state and federal courts with more than four decades of courtroom experience. While his practice deals mainly with cases in York County and in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, he also has experience in courts outside of Pennsylvania, having been admitted pro hac vice in the federal courts of Maryland, New Jersey and Florida as well as the state courts of Montana, Texas and West Virginia. In addition, he has represented clients before many Pennsylvania administrative agencies such as:

      • Liquor Control Board
      • Real Estate Commission
      • Board of Finance & Review
      • Human Relations Commission
      • Consumer Protection Bureau
      • Environmental Hearing Board

      On the federal level, Larry has had cases before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission (OSHA). With OSHA, he successfully defended a charge that resulted in a decision of industry-wide significance to the benefit of security agencies.

      In his career, Larry has been a name partner at two different York County law firms. He has volunteered and held leadership positions at different organizations throughout that time, including national and local organizations that fight diabetes, help people overcome disabilities, and aid the overall community. He has also served in leadership positions for a number of professional and fraternal organizations in York County, throughout central Pennsylvania and across the state.

      MEMBERSHIP
      • Herbert B. Cohen Inns of Court
      PRESENTATION
      • “Reopening the Hospitality Industry: Current Guidelines, Possible Risks and Future Scenarios”, Barley Snyder Webinar Series (June 2020)
      RECOGNITION
      • The Best Lawyers in America®, Litigation – Real Estate (2024, 2025, 2026)

      Sarah Yocum Rider

      Sarah concentrates her practice in Real Estate law and Business law. Her Real Estate law practice includes the purchase, sale, leasing and financing of residential and commercial real estate. A significant portion of her practice involves land use law, working on zoning, commercial land development and related land use matters. She frequently represents individual and business clients in obtaining variances and special exceptions. Sarah’s real estate clients include medical facilities, educational institutions, financial institutions, property managers, professional organizations, development companies, non-profit corporations, and individuals.

      In addition, Sarah frequently handles real estate assessment appeals and tax exemption requests. She also handles various agricultural real estate matters, which include review of agricultural conservation easements and issues related to the Clean and Green Program, Act 319. She also has experience in construction law representing owners and contractors in reviewing and negotiating architect agreements and construction contracts.

      Sarah counsels business clients on matters including entity formation and selection. She also has particular expertise in liquor licensing matters, including the sale and transfer of liquor licenses and the completion and submission of liquor license applications.

      MEMBERSHIPS
      • Lancaster Bar Association
      • Pennsylvania Bar Association
      PRESENTATION
      • “Mechanic’s Lien, Leases and Landlord Tenant Law”, Wake up with Barley: A Morning on Real Estate (September 2017)

      Kevin M. Scott

      Kevin concentrates his practice in federal tax planning and tax litigation for corporations, pass-through entities, individuals and tax-exempt organizations for the firm’s Business and Trusts & Estates practice groups.

      In addition to his federal tax focus, Kevin has represented numerous multi-state and Pennsylvania entities before the state’s administrative tax boards and courts in tax controversies regarding various taxes including:

      – Corporate net income tax

      – Capital stock/franchise tax

      – Insurance premiums tax

      – Gross receipts tax

      – Motor carrier and liquid fuels taxes

      – Sales and use tax

      – Realty transfer tax

      – Public utility realty tax

      – Local business privilege, amusement and real estate tax

      – Escheat matters

      In addition to his tax planning and controversy work, Kevin practices in the areas of estate planning and administration. He also serves as counsel to several family-held businesses and provides advice regarding transactional matters.

      MEMBERSHIPS
      • Pennsylvania Bar Association, Tax Section
      • York Estate Planning Council, member
      • Estate Planning Council of Central Pennsylvania, past president and former board member
      PUBLICATION
      • Governor Corbett Signs House Bill 1950 into Law
      RECOGNITION
      • The Best Lawyers in America®, Tax Law (2024, 2025, 2026)

       

      Scott L. Kelley

      Scott Kelley is a member of Barley Snyder’s Business, Real Estate and Trusts & Estates groups. He is a member of the American Bar Association, the Pennsylvania Bar Association, and the York County Bar Association. He is a past president of Adams-Hanover Counseling Services, Inc.; a past board member of the Visiting Nurse Association; a past board member of St. Matthew Lutheran Church; a benefactor life member of the National Rifle Association; a life member of the National Skeet Shooting Association; and a past board member of the Pennsylvania State Shooting Foundation.

      Scott has been an instructor for the Pennsylvania State University in economics and business entrepreneurship for twenty years.

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

      Keith Mooney

      Keith concentrates his practice in municipal, real estate and labor and employment law. He relies on his 30+ years of legal experience in both the private and public sector to provide clients with strategic and insightful guidance. 

      Real Estate and Land Use
      Keith represents both municipal and development clients in matters involving requests for variances, special exceptions, conditional uses, zoning appeals and other land use issues. He has drafted amendments to zoning ordinances and guided municipalities through the amendment process mandated by the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, and assists municipalities and developers in guiding real estate development projects through the subdivision and land development process. Keith regularly works with residential housing and retail/commercial developers, convenience store/gas station chains, fast-food franchises (on both the franchisee and franchisor side), and big-box warehouse operators.

      Municipal
      As a municipal law counselor, Keith advises and represents local municipal governments and municipal authorities in matters involving the Sunshine Law and Open Records Act, condemnations, administrative matters, labor and workforce issues, civil service issues, zoning and land planning matters, public bidding and contract negotiations. Keith has also represented municipalities before the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection regarding alleged violations of the Clean Water Act and the Pennsylvania Clean Streams Law.

      Keith currently serves as solicitor for the Boroughs of Kutztown and Shoemakersville, Bern Township and has served as special counsel for Spring Township involving land use issues. Keith previously served as solicitor and legal counsel for the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Reading and has assisted the Redevelopment Authority in such areas as redevelopment projects, brownfields issues and condemnations. Projects in which Keith has assisted the Redevelopment Authority with include the Goggleworks Center for the Arts, the City of Reading Sovereign Center and the R/C Theatres project, which involved the development of an eleven-screen multiplex including an IMAX theatre. 

      Labor & Employment
      As a labor and employment counselor, Keith represents employers in grievance arbitration and in the resolution, settlement and/or adjudication of unfair labor practice complaints before the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board. Keith has negotiated public sector collective bargaining agreements between municipalities and AFSCME, the FOP, the Teamsters and the IAFF. In negotiating public sector collective bargaining agreements, Keith has participated in fact finding mediation.

      Creditors’ Rights
      Keith is a member of the firm’s Finance & Creditors’ Rights Practice Group, where his practice includes residential mortgage foreclosure.

      Prior to joining the firm, Keith served as solicitor for the City of Reading, Pennsylvania.

      MEMBERSHIPS
      • Former Member of Pennsylvania Bar Association Constitutional Review Commission
      • Former Member of DMC Reduction Steering Committee
      • Berks County Bar Association
      • Pennsylvania Bar Association
      PRESENTATIONS
      • “Zoning Applications and Municipal Strategies”, Wake up with Barley: A Morning on Real Estate (October 2024)
      • “What Will the Neighbors Think? Public Input on Developments of Regional Significance”, Berks County Bar Association Bar Conference CLE Presentation (April 2024)
      • “Condos in the City”, Wake up with Barley: A Morning on Real Estate (June 2019)
      • “Consumer Credit: Foreclosure and Bankruptcy Update”, Barley Snyder LendiCon Seminar (May 2014)
      • “Residential Foreclosure Issues”, Barley Snyder LendiCon Seminar (November 2012)
      OTHER PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
      • Former City Solicitor, City of Reading, PA

      Silas M. Ruiz-Steele

      Silas Ruiz-Steele chairs Barley Snyder’s Immigration practice group. She has focused her practice exclusively on immigration and nationality law for more than 25 years, regularly counseling and assisting employers and their employees as well as private individuals in their immigration needs, including those skilled and highly trained in:

      • The Sciences 
      • Engineering
      • Education
      • Health Care
      • Business
      • The Arts

      As a corporate immigration law counselor, Silas assists employers in a variety of industries including health care, agribusiness, manufacturing, and gaming and hospitality, among others, in devising successful immigration programs to meet their needs. She represents employers in securing non-immigrant work visas for new hires and permanent residence for permanent personnel; multi-national companies in transferring their executives, managers or individuals with specialized knowledge; universities with foreign-born faculty, researchers, and graduates; and entrepreneurs forming start-up companies or re-locating to the U.S. in securing treaty-based visas.

      Silas has extensive experience speaking and writing about business immigration matters, including visa-related topics, immigration compliance and strategic planning. She has provided guidance and training to corporate clients of all sizes, human resources professionals, supervisors and managers on worksite enforcement issues, IRCA compliance, I-9 employment verification matters, Social Security mismatch issues, and developed and implemented system-wide immigration policies and protocols.

      In addition to her employment-based immigration work, Silas provides assistance in naturalization and family-based immigration matters including both immigrant visas (green cards) and non-immigrant visas (K1 fiancé(e)).

      Silas is able to represent immigration clients in every jurisdiction of the U.S., handling matters before the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, U.S. Department of Labor and consulates worldwide.

      Prior to joining the firm, Silas maintained her own immigration law practice, where she represented clients in matters involving Immigrant Visas through Adjustment of Status or Consular Processing, Temporary Work Visas such as those involving Treaty Traders and Investors, business visas such as B’s, F’s, H’s, L’s, O’s, and P’s, and naturalization. In addition, she provided guidance and training on employment verification procedures and immigration-related discrimination practices.

      Having immigrated to the United States herself, Silas has personal experience with the complexities of the immigration process. With this experience in mind, she obtained her Juris Doctorate degree from Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, DC. She frequently presents at seminars and has served as an invited guest speaker for professional associations and organizations on topics such as I-9 compliance and employer sanctions, immigration risk management for employers, and nonimmigrant and immigrant visa options and strategies for businesses and individuals. Silas is a member of the Florida State Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the American Immigration Lawyers Association, and the Society for Human Resources Management. Silas is fluent in Spanish and French.

      MEMBERSHIPS
      • Florida State Bar Association
      • American Immigration Lawyers Association
      • American Bar Association
      PRESENTATIONS
      • “Immigration Compliance in the COVID-19 Era,” 37th Annual Barley Snyder Employment Law Seminar (September 2020)
      • “Preventative I-9 Audits – Better To Be Safe Than Sorry,” Barley Snyder Employment Law Seminar (May 2019)
      • “Hot Topics in Employment, Labor & Immigration,” Food & Ag Summit (February 2019)
      • “Immigration Enforcement in the Trump Era,” 35th Annual Employment Law Seminar (May 2018)
      • “Immigration Under the New Administration,” 2017 Barley Snyder Employment Seminar (April 2017)
      • Employment Verification and the Form I-9, Barley Snyder Employment Law Seminar (May 2016)
      • “Workplace Enforcement – Avoiding I-9 Issues & Pitfalls,” Barley Snyder Employment Law Seminar (April 2015)
      • “Immigration Law: Where Things Stand and Where Things Might Be Going?” Barley Snyder Employment Seminar (May 2014)
      • “Immigration Update,” Barley Snyder Employment Seminar (May 2013)
      • “Worksite Enforcement of Immigration Laws,” Barley Snyder Employment Seminar (May 2012)

      Jayne R. Katherman

      Jayne is a dedicated member of the Barley Snyder Real Estate, Business and Hospitality groups, with a strong background in municipal law and estate planning.

      Jayne primarily focuses her practice on municipal development, representing clients in zoning and land development matters. She handles complex land use issues such as variances, special exceptions, conditional uses, zoning appeals, and other land use matters for municipal and development clients. Jayne also has experience serving as Solicitor for several municipalities and general authorities in York County. In the realm of real estate, Jayne is well-versed in planned community representation, serving both developers and homeowner association boards. She further provides comprehensive legal support to individuals, guiding them through every phase of real estate acquisition, financing, operations, development and sales.

      Jayne also maintains a small practice in estate planning and estate administration. She frequently assists clients with the preparation of basic estate planning documents including wills, powers of attorney and medical directives in addition to the administration of estates.

      In her hospitality practice, Jayne has experience with the sales and acquisitions of hotels and guiding clients through the process of liquor license transfers. Furthermore, Jayne holds broad experience in general business law which consists of entity formations, review and negotiations of contracts and contract drafting.

      Outside of the firm, Jayne serves on the Junior Board of the YWCA of Greater Harrisburg, a dynamic group of young women who raise awareness and funds in support of the organization’s mission and operations. In addition, Jayne was previously involved with volunteering for the Pennsylvania Immigration Resource Center in York to help provide “Know Your Rights” educational programs to immigration-related detainees in the York County Prison.

      In her free time, Jayne enjoys playing the part of “Auntie Jay” to her five nieces and nephews, reading, spending time outdoors, traveling and cooking.

      MEMBERSHIPS
      • York County Bar Association
      • Lancaster Bar Association
      • Pennsylvania Bar Association
      • York Young Professionals
      • Pennsylvania State Association of Township Solicitors
      • Herbert B. Cohen Chapter of the American Inns of Court
      RECOGNITIONS
      • Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America, Municipal Law (2024, 2025, 2026), Real Estate Law (2026)
      PRESENTATIONS
      • “Navigating the Agreement of Sale: Key Contingencies, Timelines, and Lessons from the Field”, Wake Up With Barley: A Morning on Real Estate Seminar (June 2025)
      • “Real Estate Investments and LLC’s: An Introduction”, Real Estate Hackers Pottstown Meetup Group (September 2023)

      Steven J. Link

      Steve Link brings a unique and well-rounded perspective to his work as a patent and intellectual property attorney, having experienced the patenting process firsthand as an inventor. Before entering the legal field, he spent over five years as a research and development scientist in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, where he contributed to several patents issued by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

      While working full-time in the pharmaceutical sector, Steve earned his law degree through evening and weekend coursework. He then spent more than 15 years as in-house counsel at DSM Biomedical in southeastern Pennsylvania, serving as a patent attorney and intellectual property manager. In this role, he drafted and negotiated a broad range of commercial agreements – including license, distribution, development, supply, nondisclosure, and consulting contracts – and was instrumental in developing and executing the company’s intellectual property strategy. He also managed a diverse IP portfolio supporting multiple business units in the medical field.

      As a member of Barley Snyder’s Intellectual Property Practice Group, Steve focuses on patent prosecution and drafting, reexamination matters, and IP litigation support. He brings a strong attention to detail at the outset of a matter, helping clients avoid costly issues down the road. Conversely, he is adept at identifying lapses in competitors’ filings – insights that can provide a strategic advantage for his clients.

      Steve’s particularized skills include patent analysis and reexamination – unique areas of practice that are procedurally formal, time-sensitive, and demand exceptional attention to detail. He is highly familiar with the nuances of these matters and handles them with efficiency and precision. His deep technical knowledge – gained through years of experience in biotechnology, pharmaceutical research and development, and the medical device and biomaterials industries – further enhances his ability to deliver strategic, scientifically grounded counsel throughout the patent lifecycle.

      Earlier in his legal career, Steve worked as a contract attorney providing litigation support and document analysis. A native of Wilmington, Delaware, Steve holds a biology degree from the University of Richmond. He lives near historic Valley Forge, Pa., with his wife Cathy, their two children, and a dog.

      MEMBERSHIP
      • American Intellectual Property Association
      PUBLICATION
      • “Selective Inhibition of Bacterial Dihydroorotate Dehydrogenases by Thiadiazolidinediones”, Biochemical Pharmacology (2000)
      PRESENTATIONS
      • “Comparison of Assays in a Low Volume 384 Well Plate and a 1536 Well Plate”, SBS Conference (September 2001)
      • “Discovery of Novel, Robust Biocatalysts from Microbial Diversity”, Third Annual Hyperthermophile Symposium (April 1996)
      OTHER PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
      • Eight professional years of research and development work, in both pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries

      J. Robert Katherman

      Bob is a member of the Barley Snyder Business and Real Estate practice groups. As a life-long resident of York County, he was able to grow his practice, in part, by establishing and maintaining strong relationships with almost every municipal office in the county. Bob brings a traditional approach to practicing law, prioritizing close, personal relationships with his clients. His commitment to maintaining long-standing connections ensures that each client not only receives exceptional legal service but also a level of trust and commitment that lasts for years.

      In addition to maintaining a private practice at the beginning of his career, he also worked for 12 years as the City of York solicitor. Throughout that time, one of his areas of responsibility was enforcement of zoning, building and housing codes. Bob built upon this work in zoning and building codes to develop an extensive practice in land use approval and apartment complex acquisition, financing and management.

      Bob’s commitment to his hometown also has translated into a career of public service within the York County community. He has helped enhance the quality of life, developed York’s professionals, and protected the community’s most vulnerable citizens with leadership positions on the board of directors at a number of the county’s most important organizations.

      OTHER PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
      • Former owner and former president of Dominion Abstracting Inc. title insurance agency

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