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, 2024)

 

Scott L. Kelley

Scott Kelley is a member of Barley Snyder’s BusinessReal 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 municipalreal 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)
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

Thomas A. French

Thomas is recognized as a leading business and commercial litigation attorney, having tried numerous cases to verdict and appeal over his decades-long career as a courtroom lawyer. He is a “go-to” litigator when banks, insurance companies, businesses and professionals are faced with their most crucial legal conflicts. Thomas routinely defends other attorneys, accountants and fiduciaries against malpractice lawsuits, and represents insurers when opposing coverage and bad faith claims. He also has been called upon to protect banking institutions confronted with shareholder and other disputes. He is known for guiding his clients through internal and external investigations as well.

As a young attorney, following graduation at the top of his law school class, he represented a wholesale consumer products distributor in a case against computer giant Unisys Corp. In that case, he obtained a verdict in excess of $1 million, at the time believed to be one of the largest verdicts ever returned by a Harrisburg jury. Later, he represented the owners of the historic Bedford Springs Hotel, who had deadlocked on plans to redevelop the resort. He mounted a successful jury trial defense of a bank against a claim by a corporate minority shareholder that the bank had caused $84 million in damages resulting from the plaintiff’s alleged loss of control of a leading concrete and aggregate supply company. In 2014, he led a trial team that successfully litigated an ownership and control dispute among owners of a major northeastern Marcellus Shale energy industry service company.

More recently, Thomas has litigated complex federal antitrust lawsuits filed in U.S. district courts throughout the country. He has appeared many times before the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation.

He has also defended clients in multi-million dollar intellectual property litigations. He served as local trial counsel on behalf of SmithKline Beecham in a case involving the validity of patents covering some of the world’s most commonly used vaccines. He also was a member of a litigation team that defended Samsung in a patent infringement action involving light emitting diode technology used in its smart phones, which resulted in a dismissal with prejudice. In 2011, he represented a Pennsylvania inventor and manufacturer, obtaining a defense jury verdict in a case tried under the Pennsylvania Uniform Trade Secrets Act. He has successfully litigated trademark and copyright infringement cases as well.

Thomas has represented the owner of the “Zero Restriction”® and “ZR”® brand golf apparel company in litigation arising from the sale of the company; sued Kmart Corp. on behalf of a Pennsylvania grocery store chain for damages from a botched shopping mall development project; represented the seller of a drug store chain against the purchaser who consolidated the company into its own operations and then refused to pay the agreed upon purchase price; represented government and institutional investors in numerous cases against financial advisors who illegally invested and managed millions of dollars in public funds, and many other prominent businesses and institutions in their most important disputes.

In this regard, Thomas has also represented governmental entities, business organizations, financial institutions and individuals in regulatory, criminal and internal investigations of alleged misconduct. Matters under investigation in those cases ranged from alleged securities and bank fraud, medical reimbursement fraud, and government ethics violations and other forms of employee misconduct.

Counted among Thomas’s clients are a number of Pennsylvania’s regional banks and insurance companies.  He handles litigation involving insurance coverage, bad faith insurance practices, and regulatory issues. He frequently defends banks and other fiduciaries in trust and estate litigation where parties claim negligent investment and mismanagement of trust funds have occurred. He has tried cases involving the validity of wills, and numerous fiduciary surcharge actions.

Other attorneys and accountants have asked Thomas to represent them when they have been sued in professional malpractice cases. After one particularly contentious case was finally resolved, opposing counsel retained Thomas to defend him personally when he was named as a defendant in a suit by a former client. In fact, many of his litigation cases are referred to him by other attorneys who trust him to represent their own clients with their most important litigation matters.

As an experienced appellate attorney,  he has successfully handled appeals before the Pennsylvania Supreme, Superior and Commonwealth courts, and the U.S. courts of appeals for the Third and Eleventh circuits. He also served as lead counsel on petition for certiorari before the U.S. Supreme Court.

In addition to his private practice experience, Thomas served as a military attorney in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General Corps and the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. In 2005, he was called to active duty and deployed to Afghanistan, where he advised commanders on rules of engagement and other military law issues.

In 2012, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett appointed Thomas as a Commissioner to the Board of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws. He was also appointed by U. S. Sen. Patrick Toomey to serve on his U.S. Military Academy selection committee. Thomas is active in the community, serving on boards of non-profit organizations, including the YMCA. He is a frequent speaker before various business and professional associations and is a former member of the adjunct faculties of the law schools at Widener and Penn State Universities.

RECOGNITIONS
  • Rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell
  • Central Penn Business Journal “Legal Excellence Awards” — Leaders in Law
  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Commercial Litigation (2013, 2014 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025) Litigation – Insurance (2024, 2025) Litigation – Municipal (2024, 2025)
  • “Simply the Best,” Business Attorney, Harrisburg Magazine (2007-2010)
  • Pennsylvania Super Lawyers (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025)
  • Board of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws, commissioner, representing the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (2012-2015)
  • United States Military Academy Selection Committee of U.S. Senator Patrick Toomey
MEMBERSHIPS
  • Defense Research Institute
  • Pennsylvania Defense Institute

Timothy G. Dietrich

Tim Dietrich provides strategic advice for businesses, financial institutions and governments in a number of areas, including organization and governance and the structuring, negotiation, and closing of corporate and commercial financial transactions. Tim continues to advise financial institutions and businesses in situations involving financial distress and to provide a wide array of advice to governments, including utilities matters.

Tim leads Barley’s Food & Agribusiness Industry Group, and he is also actively involved with the firm’s Senior Living Industry Group. During the years 2008 through 2013, Tim served as Barley Snyder’s managing partner and initiated Barley’s process improvement program called Practice Excellence®. This firm-wide program focuses on quality, knowledge and service. The program also emphasizes efficiency and standardization by applying lean principles to our practice. The program began in 2008 and is being led by Practice Excellence® “Champions” of each of our practice groups.

Food & Agribusiness
Tim is utilizing his knowledge of FDA, USDA and other regulatory requirements to assist clients in the food and agriculture areas with their transactional needs and compliance with the more rigorous requirements of the Food Safety Modernization Act.

Some of Tim’s representative food and agribusiness successes:

  • Represented buyer in multi-state, $140 million acquisition of agricultural production and processing facilities.
  • Represented food processor in development of $330 million processing facility, including resolution of sewage treatment expansion permitting and construction issues.
  • Represented food processor in development of $40 million processing facility, including resolution of sewage treatment expansion permitting and construction issues.
  • Represented food processors in facility expansions and modernizations.
  • Represented food processor in addressing USDA – Food Safety and Inspection Service concerns regarding Salmonella and potential recall.
  • Counsel to food processor with respect to FDA testing, recall request and warning letter regarding Salmonella.
  • Advising various food processing clients on food co-packing contracts.
  • Counsel to lender in $40 million secured revolving facility and $45 million unsecured revolving facility for food processors.
  • Counsel to borrower in $83 million secured facilities for working capital and construction for food processor.
  • Counsel to food and agribusiness client for long-term, joint venture organic animal feed supply agreement.
  • Negotiation of contractual issues in food processing supply chain, including for organic and GRAS (generally recognized as safe) ingredients.
  • Negotiation of agreements involving product development, licensing, and distribution.
  • Counsel in FDA and USDA inspection settings and in connection with product recalls and insurance claims.

Business Law
Tim’s practice involves general corporate counseling and representation in acquisitions and other transactions for both privately and publicly held businesses. In some instances, he serves clients in a “general counsel” role, providing representation on general business, corporate and financial matters, while also assisting in the coordination of litigation, regulatory compliance and other matters. He has devoted a significant portion of his practice to counseling businesses involved in the development, manufacturing and marketing of medical devices.

Some of Tim’s representative transactions in his business practice:

  • Representation of manufacturers in the formation and termination of product distribution relationships, both domestic and international.
  • Negotiation of agreements involving various combinations of research and development, product development, purchasing and strategic sourcing, licensing and distribution for medical and other technologies and food and agribusiness firms.
  • Representation of purchasers and sellers in corporate acquisitions, particularly asset purchases of early-stage technology firms.
  • Assisting clients with critical regulatory and quality assurance matters including government inspections and recalls.
  • As a member of the Senior Living Industry Group, he has advised senior living organizations on a number of matters, including complex organizational affiliations, as outlined in the Senior Living section below.

Senior Living
Tim has represented senior living facilities in various matters, including:

  • Represented multiple parties in negotiation, due diligence and document drafting for multi-party affiliation of senior living facilities, including addressing Hart-Scott-Rodino clearance with the Federal Trade Commission.
  • Creation of holding company structure for senior living community to facilitate innovation and services expansion, as well as acquisitions.
  • Representation of a large senior living community in acquisition of control of another non-profit CCRC and its long-term care facilities.
  • Representation of multiple senior living organizations in development and construction projects, including land use approvals, design and construction contract negotiations (and disputes), and financing.
  • Representation of charitable foundations affiliated with senior living communities in various regards, including establishment of scholarship fund for employees.
  • Borrower counsel in approximately $70 million financing which refinanced existing indebtedness and also financed payment for acquisition of control for previous nonprofit controlling member.

Creditors’ Rights and Bankruptcy
Tim began his career as a bankruptcy lawyer and continues to give strategic advice and representation to clients facing various aspects of distressed financial situations. His creditors’ rights and bankruptcy practice is currently focused on secured and unsecured creditor representation, including in bankruptcy proceedings, loan workouts and forbearance negotiation. He has represented businesses as debtors in bankruptcy and collection proceedings, including debtor representation in workouts and distressed settings, including Chapter 11 reorganization cases resulting in plan confirmations. Outside of bankruptcy, he has represented creditors in foreclosure, confession of judgment, execution, debt sale and assignment matters. He has lectured for the Pennsylvania Bar Institute and the Eastern District of Pennsylvania Bankruptcy Conference on Chapter 11 issues.

Recent representative matters:

  • Defense of pre-bankruptcy purchaser of industrial facility in a Section 548 fraudulent conveyance action brought by liquidating trustee in bankruptcy, seeking over $6 million, which was settled for litigation costs.
  • Representation of secured lender in Chapter 11 case of firm engaged in publishing, including liquidation of intellectual property rights.
  • Representation and defense of secured creditor in Chapter 11 proceeding and related lender liability cases regarding failed vehicle floor plan borrower.
  • Representation of secured creditors in a number of workout and Chapter 12 bankruptcy cases for agricultural operations.
  • Representation of secured lender /letter of credit issuer for revenue bonds in Chapter 11 case of printer.
OTHER PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
  • Clerk of Court, Estate Administrator, U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of West Virginia (1982-1984)
MEMBERSHIPS
  • American Bankruptcy Institute
  • Commercial Law League of America
  • American, Pennsylvania and Berks Bar Association
  • The Pennsylvania Society
RECOGNITIONS
  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Banking and Finance Law, Corporate Law (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025)
  • Pennsylvania Super Lawyers (2005)
  • United Way of Berks County; 2004 Doran Award, 1999 June A. Roedel Legacy of Commitment Award
PRESENTATIONS
  • Artificial Intelligence: A Brave New World, Kairos Senior Living Conference & Exhibit, Co-presented with Christopher Churchill, Michael Crocenzi, and Yenma Herb of RKL (September 2024)
  • Inspections: What to Do if the Government Shows Up at Your Door (FDA/USDA Inspections for Food & Ag Businesses), American Conference Institute – Co-presented with Ashish Talati of Talati Law Firm (July 2024)
  • Gearing Up for Enhanced Traceability: Building Your Roadmap for Compliance with the FDAs New Final Food Traceability Rule, American Conference Institute, Co-presented with Elizabeth Fawell of Hogan Lovells and Brandon Neuschafer of Arnold & Porter (April 2024)
  • Don’t Take Our Word For It, Checklists and Audits Help Firms Avoid Malpractice Claims (Practice Excellence), American Bar Association – Co-presented with George Werner of Barley Snyder, Nina Tulloch of Hogan Lovells, and John Lecci of Markel Specialty Insurance (April 2024)
  • M&A vs. Organic Growth – Governance, Financing and Other Implications, Kairos Education Conference & Exhibit (September 2023)
  • Breaking Eggs, Not Businesses: A Solutions-Focused Discussion on Dealing with the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Outbreak, webinar (June 2022)
  • Supply Chain Management: A Study in Sustainability, Traceability, Economic, and Environmental Impact, Fifth Advanced Summit on Food Law – Regulation, Compliance and Litigation (May 2021)
  • Selling Your Products: 2021 Challenges, Opportunities, Virtual Food, Ag Summit (March 2021)
  • COVID-19 Vaccine: The Impact on the Food, Agribusiness Industry, webinar (December 2020)
  • Allergens: The Liability Implications of Voluntary Disclosures and Recall, 4th Advanced Summit on Food Law – Regulation, Compliance and Litigation (July 2020)
  • Panelist: Embracing Change, Preparing for the Future 2019 Reading Business Seminar (October 2019)
  • Organic Supply Chain: Protecting Your Brand, Food; Ag Summit (February 2019)
  • The Special Assets Environment, Lendicon 2018 (March 2018)
  • Inspections in the Age of FSMA: What To Do If the Government Shows Up at Your Door , American Conference Institute Food Law and Regulation Boot Camp (November 2017)
  • Exploring Individual Liability Through the Invocation of a Corporate Office Doctrine and Yates Memo as they Apply in the Food Industry, Food Law and Regulation Forum (May 2017) 
  • Current Issues in Agri-Business and Food Processing Lending, Barley Snyder LendiCon Seminar (March 2016)
  • Bankruptcy Update, Barley Snyder LendiCon Seminar (March 2015)
  • Consumer Preferences and Federal Responses – The Impact of Upcoming FDA and USDA Regulations on Food and Agribusiness, FEI Central Pennsylvania Chapter (May 2015)
  • Protecting Yourself from the CFPB, Barley Snyder LendiCon Seminar (November 2013)

Get in Touch

Our attorneys, paralegals and staff look forward to hearing from you. Please reach out to let us know how we can help.

Get In Touch
RECOGNIZED IN
Super Lawyers
Best Law Firms US News
Best Lawyers