Position: Counsel

Joseph E. Erb Jr.

Joseph Erb is part of Barley Snyder’s Real Estate and Litigation practice groups. He is a member of the American Bar Association, the Pennsylvania Bar Association, and the York County Bar Association. He clerked for the Honorable John T. Miller of the York County Court of Common Pleas. Attorney Erb is member of St. Matthew Lutheran Church of Hanover; a past board member of the Hanover Red Cross; a past board member of the Battlefield Preservation Society of Gettysburg, and a past board member of the York County S.P.C.A. 

Prior to law school and the practice of law, Joseph worked as a mixed gas tender/diver offshore throughout the oilfields of the Gulf of Mexico. He still continues nautical pursuits enjoying recreational scuba diving and sailing with friends. 

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

Robert J. Tribeck

Rob is counsel at the firm and serves as Chief Legal Officer of PAM Heath, a central Pennsylvania-based health care system that owns and operates more than 80 hospitals throughout the United States. He is responsible for all legal operations associated with PAM Health including compliance and regulatory, litigation, business development and contracting, and employment issues.

Rob has served as lead counsel in business litigation of all types, from small corporate claims to “bet-the-company” litigation. He regularly represented clients in complex litigation, including employment, intellectual property and corporate governance disputes.  In addition, he has represented business and governmental entities in all aspects of employment law, from day-to-day human resource issues to drafting handbooks and employment agreements to litigating all aspects of employment discrimination, wage and hour, and FMLA claims.

RECOGNITIONS
  • Best Lawyers “Lawyer of the Year” in Harrisburg, 2020, Litigation – Intellectual Property
  • Federal Bar Association, Middle District of Pennsylvania, president (2017-2018)
  • The Best Lawyers in America©, Litigation – Intellectual Property (2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026)
  • Pennsylvania Super Lawyers, Rising Star
  • Central Penn Business Journal, “40 Under 40” (2008)
MEMBERSHIPS
  • Pennsylvania Bar Association
  • Dauphin County Bar Association
  • Federal Bar Association, Middle District Chapter, board of directors
  • American Health Lawyers Association
PUBLICATIONS
  • “The Impact of Cyberculture on Administrative Litigation,” 6th Annual Administrative Law Symposium for the Pennsylvania Bar Institute (2001)
  • “The Practitioner’s Guide to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure,” co-author, Recent Developments in Federal Practice (1995, 1998)
  • “Rule 68: Awakening a Sleeping Giant,” co-author, 65 Geo. Wash. L. Rev. 379 (1997)
  • “Practice Tips for Litigating in Federal Court,” co-author, 68 Pennsylvania Bar Association Q.1 (January 1997)
  • “Rule 11: Focus on Sanctions,” co-author, Vol. 2, No. 3, The Middle District Reporter 6 (Fall 1996)
  • “The Nuances of Rule 26,” co-author, Vol. 2, No.3, The Middle District Reporter 5 (Summer 1996)
  • “Cracking the Doctrinal Wall of Chapman v. Barney: A New Diversity Test for Limited Partnerships and Limited Liability Companies,” 5 Widener J. Pub. L. 89 (1995)
  • “Franklin v. Gwinnett County Public Schools: Bursting the Bubble of Sexual Discrimination in Education,” 19 Ohio No. U.L. Rev. 817 (1993)

Robert M. Frankhouser

Bob Frankhouser is a member of the firm’s Education, Employment and Labor Law practice groups. He provides advice and representation to educational entities both as a general solicitor and as special counsel. In addition, Bob counsels employers on employment issues with special emphasis on labor union matters.

Bob’s legal career has been fueled by a dedication to creating innovative solutions for the unique challenges his clients encounter. During his nearly 50 years in practice, he has represented school districts in many employment and construction matters. In addition, Bob serves as the solicitor of record for a variety of educational entities, providing guidance on governance, general business issues and labor relations matters.

He also has years of experience in labor/management relations, negotiating for and providing counsel to the firm’s public school district clients on collective bargaining agreements. Furthermore, he has litigated a wide variety of labor disputes for both the public and private employers he has represented.

MEMBERSHIPS
  • Lancaster Bar Association
  • Pennsylvania Bar Association
RECOGNITIONS
  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Construction Law (2024, 2025, 2026)

Lori McElroy

Government tax regulations are constantly changing, and Lori McElroy’s experience as a member of Barley Snyder’s Tax Practice Group has given her an intimate understanding of the financial restrictions that can slow a business down, and how to rectify them. She works to solve complex governmental regulations and restrictions for qualified retirement plans from both an implementation and operation standpoint, and has experience with corporate and individual tax issues surrounding business formations and reorganizations. Lori also has experience in working with the Internal Revenue Service in defense of qualified plans as well as for individual clients and entities in tax controversies.

Lori has helped the firm carve out the niche of working with companies in converting to the very popular but also very complex employee stock ownership plans (ESOP). She also works in the areas of employees benefits when it comes to nonqualified deferred compensation, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), executive compensation, qualified plan audits from the U.S. Department of Labor as well as charitable giving.

Lori is also fundamentally involved in various aspects of estate planning and wealth management, as well as the implementation and operation of a variety of charitable trusts, as well as helping individuals in other areas of charitable giving. She also regularly advises public charities and private foundations on corporate and tax matters.

MEMBERSHIPS
  • Estate Planning Council of Central Pennsylvania
  • Dauphin County Bar Association
RECOGNITIONS
  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships) (2024, 2026), Nonprofit / Charities Law, Tax Law (2025, 2026)

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

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