Defiance Business Lawyers

Kurt R. Nilson focuses his practice on matters of real estate, business, wills, trusts, and probate.

Attorney Nilson and his unique legal work have been cited by nationwide financial and legal authorities and have been featured in some of the world's most respected publications, including Forbes, Kiplinger's Personal Finance, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and CNBC.

As a native of Western Pennsylvania and a current area resident, I am strongly invested in the community. Since founding my Somerset criminal defense and personal injury law firm in Somerset in 1997, I have worked hard to protect the rights and best interests of the individuals and businesses I represent. In addition to my legal practice, I serve on the Somerset County Bar Association Board of Directors.

Reported cases

Commonwealth v. Three Hundred Ten Thousand Twenty Dollars ($310,020.00) In United States Currency, Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania, 894 A.2d 154 (2006)
Gilmour Properties v. Board of Assessment Appeals of Somerset County, Commonwealth...

Phi Kappa Phi. Member: Willis Society; Ohio Northern University Law Review, 1986-1987.

Experience, skill, commitment. High quality legal representation at an affordable price.

Married; Father of six children. Avid outdoorsman, hunter and fisherman; member of sportsmen’s clubs, NRA and 4-H shooting sports instructor; local 4-H Club Leader 14 yrs; recipient of Boy Scouts of America Distinguished Citizen Award, 2013

Law Clerk, Honorable Murray H. Falk, Special Trial Judge, U.S. Tax Court, 1980-1981.

"Hope for the best, but plan for the worst." Every day brings us something: challenges, hopes, the mundane, things to celebrate and sometimes disaster and despair. While we cannot predict the future, we can help you prepare and thrive through all of it's surprises.

With my background in accounting as well as law, I can share my unique background and experience when working with individuals, families and small and mid-size businesses in the areas of estate planning, taxation, corporations and business planning, business acquisitions and sales, succession planning, business exit strategies and real estate.

Trent is a lawyer in Pittsburgh focusing on Personal Injury and Oil and Gas Law. Trent is known for being a versatile lawyer that goes to bat for his clients. His experience includes: whistleblower cases, class actions, labor & employment suits, estate litigation, and complex business disputes. Trent has extensive experience with personal injury cases, including numerous death lawsuits, brain injuries, death cases, burns, and industrial accidents. Trent has recovered tens of millions of dollars for his clients, with notable results including Washington v. EDMC ($95.5 Million whistleblower suit) and McLaughlin v. Phelan Hallinan & Schmieg...

Aurelius Robleto is an experienced bankruptcy lawyer, operating a law firm in downtown Pittsburgh. While bankruptcy law has always formed the core of his legal practice, Aure knows that bankruptcy is not always the ideal solution for all of his clients and will tailor a unique strategy for each of his clients. Often a debt workout or non-bankruptcy reorganization may offer more favorable results to certain clients. In other circumstances, a receivership, assignment for the benefit of creditors, deed-in-lieu of foreclosure, workout or settlement agreement or some other arrangement to address debts may generate superior results.

A particular...

Mr. Pappas handles many areas of civil litigation, business law and IP, primarily representing commercial and business clients. He represents corporations, limited liability companies, mortgage companies, financial institutions, title companies, real estate developers, manufacturing companies, restaurants, liquor licensees and individuals with a wide variety of commercial disputes including contract, real estate and shareholder disputes. Mr. Pappas handles matters at various stages of litigation, including pretrial and discovery proceedings, trials, mediation and arbitration, bankruptcy court, appeals and enforcement of judgments. His practice also includes representation of liquor licensees with regard to liquor license citations as well as transfer...

Attorney Robert Kost works for technology start-ups and growing small businesses in a wide variety of areas (see website for comprehensive list). Robert has decades of experience in corporate law and practice on both sides of the attorney-client relationship. He is adept in a broad range of law related to businesses, contracts, corporate formation, policy and intellectual property. See what my firm, General Counsel Online does for business people. https://generalcounsel.online. “My goal is to provide the kind of ongoing advice that will keep your business out of lawsuits and out of the courts.” - Robert Kost.

Ryan Mergl is a former prosecutor and respected trial attorney. He represents clients throughout Pennsylvania and in the United States Federal Courts.

Awards & Recognition
Super Lawyers selected Mergl to their list as a Rising Star, noting his high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement, he is a Top 100 Criminal Defense Attorney in Pennsylvania as named by the Association of American Trial Lawyers, and Pittsburgh Magazine named Mergl one of Western Pennsylvania’s "40 Under 40”.

Background
Mergl is admitted to practice before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, and the...

Chris is a founding member of Haberl, Buell & Rice, PLLC, where he focuses on oil and gas, real estate, corporate, litigation, and estate matters. Chris represents oil and gas operators in land issues, litigation, regulatory appeals, and general commercial matters. He also regularly represents businesses and individuals in civil litigation, real estate transactions, corporate formations and counseling, and estate planning and administration. Chris has been named a Rising Star by Pennsylvania Super Lawyers® from 2012 through 2020.

Bryan W. Shook is the principal the internationally recognized trial litigation firm of Shook Legal, Ltd. Although Bryan Shook's office is headquartered in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania area he has an office in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and his practice regularly takes him across the country with clients continents away. During his career, Mr. Shook has not only become a powerful advocate for his clients but also one of the principal collector, antique, and automotive attorneys in the world. For nearly a decade, Bryan Shook worked to carve out and create the market that is Vintage Car Law®. It is through...

Frank Walker is one of the most sought-after criminal defense attorneys in Western Pennsylvania. He stands by his motto of delivering real talk, real experience, and real results. Fearless in the courtroom and tenacious when fighting for his clients, Attorney Walker is highly regarded in criminal defense circles. He has handled many high-profile crimes and serious offenses, developing a proven track record of victories. In addition to criminal defense, Attorney Walker also focuses his practice on civil litigation. Attorney Walker is active in the community and frequently gives talks on education, leadership, and legal matters.

Mr. Sneath is a Shareholder and Director at Pittsburgh's Houston Harbaugh, P.C. law firm. He is a business litigation, IP and tort trial lawyer who has tried over 95 cases to verdict and specializes in business and commercial litigation, intellectual property, patent, trademark and copyright infringement, cybersecurity and data breach, employment litigation, products liability, industrial accidents, toxic torts and insurance coverage bad faith litigation. He is a Certified Mediator and Arbitrator and is currently serving as a Federal Court Special Master in patent infringement and complex matters. He received his J.D. degree in 1983 from Duquesne University School of Law...

Attorney S. Wade Parker, is a native Arkansan. He grew up in a small rural community in the Delta Region. He is a graduate of Hendrix College in Conway, AR. He attended the University of Arkansas at Little Rock School of Law, where he graduated in 1994. Attorney Parker began practicing bankruptcy law in 1999 as an associate attorney at Arkansas’ leading bankruptcy law firm and ultimately managed the firm for a number of years. In 2010, Attorney Parker joined one of Arkansas’ prominent personal injury firms and successfully launched their bankruptcy practice. In 2014 Attorney Parker and his wife...

I am a dedicated critical thinker who enjoys working on difficult legal issues. My commitment to serving my community has produced stellar results in client interactions and maintaining professional relations. Clients tell me I am dependable, professional, and personable, but I credit those traits to my endearment towards helping people while working in a field I enjoy.

I grew up in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania where I was heavily involved in various projects. My degrees earned were a BA in Communication from Robert Morris University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where I was called to the honors organization of Lambda Pi Eta and sat...

I am the owner of The Lacy Employment Law firm, LLC, which specializes in worker's rights as well as civil rights. Prior to opening my law firm, I worked for one of the largest international law firms in the world.

I also took a sabbatical from large law firm life to complete a clerkship with the Honorable Cathy Bissoon in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania.

I tried my first federal jury trial to verdict at age 26. With that victory, I became one of the youngest lawyers to win a federal civil...

Bryan focuses his practice in the areas of Oil & Gas Law, Estate Planning & Administration and Real Estate Law. Bryan has 15 years experience in private practice and working as in-house counsel for oil and gas-related companies. In the last 5 years, Bryan has acquired approximately 30,000 acres of oil and gas properties, divested some 10,000 acres of oil and gas rights and placed a 100-mile potential pipeline right-of-way for divestiture. Additionally, he has completed the transfer of more than 1,000 properties and been responsible for the performance of due diligence and title analysis on more than...

I am the Managing Attorney at Rosario Law in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I am currently licensed with the D.C., Oregon, Pennsylvania and Utah bars.

For six years I worked for Reza Athari & Associates, an immigration and general practice firm in Las Vegas, Nevada where I gained a vast amount of experience in writing briefs, motions and letters. I was promoted to supervising attorney and gained responsibility of five paralegals and a legal assistant. At this position, reviewed their work product, mentored and trained these six individuals as well as new attorneys that joined the firm.

From February of 2015 to July...

Intellectual property and regulatory compliance have been central to my career, both as an engineer and an attorney. I am passionate about protecting the ideas, concepts and inventions of others and I am always looking to bring my skills, education and experience to unique situations.

Kenneth Gray is currently the Managing Partner at Alliance Law Firm International PLLC. His specialties include serving clients in tax matters, wealth management, estate planning, small and medium size business, venture capital, private equity, and natural resources (oil and gas). Ken previously worked for Nickel Capital LLC, a global small-cap equity fund, with responsibility for investments in communications technology, energy and basic materials companies as well as consulting on corporate finance and private equity transactions. Before Nickel, Ken spent over six years as Manager, Credit and Research with the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) in the Investment Funds Department....

I am an accomplished Business, Construction, Arbitration & Mediation attorney with experience in all areas of e-discovery. I am dedicated to exceptional representation for domestic and international clients in a vast array of litigation matters.

With years of experience, I am committed to providing knowledgeable and skilled counsel in an effective and efficient manner. Focused on meeting clients' goals and objectives, I bring unique and resourceful solutions to achieve the best possible outcomes.

I represent corporate and individual clients before the trial, administrative, and appellate courts of Pennsylvania, the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, and the United States Patent and Trademark Office. I also provide general counsel services to small businesses, municipalities, sole proprietors, artists, writers and musicians. I am an active member of the Lycoming Law Association, serve as solicitor for the City of Williamsport, and as an assistant solicitor for the County of Lycoming.

Attorney Chad M. Ostrosky represents investors, business owners, and financial professionals nationwide with extensive experience in FINRA arbitrations, investment loss recovery, financial services employment matters, and defending against SEC, FINRA, CFP, and state investigations. Attorney Ostrosky provides straight forward, simple advice ensuring that each of his clients fully understand all available options. He is a Life Member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum®, The Top Trial Lawyers in America®. Additionally, Attorney Ostrosky serves or has served as an arbitrator for the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), the National Futures Association (NFA), and the Westmoreland County Court of Common Pleas.

Mr. DiNardo joins Very Law from the highest court in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the Supreme Court, where he served as a Judicial Law Clerk. Before that, he clerked with the Superior Court, and before that, the Washington County Court of Common Pleas. He has experience helping to decide hundreds of cases across a wide-range of practice areas, as well as experience in private practice. A Latrobe native and an alumnus of the Pennsylvania State University and the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, Mr. DiNardo is a legal dynamo committed to assisting his fellow citizens in their most challenging...

I help businesses and individuals to solve challenging problems. Business Litigation An experienced trial lawyer, I represent businesses in all types of litigation. I work with clients on contract, environmental, product liability, and real estate disputes. I represent businesses in intellectual property disputes involving patents, trademarks, and trade secrets. When disputes arise between business owners, I help clients to understand and enforce their rights. I represent insurance companies in coverage disputes. I have researched and written many insurance coverage opinions. I have tried cases to juries with excellent results. To represent clients effectively, I enjoy learning about their businesses. For example, I completed...

Brenden Kelley, a seasoned litigator and dedicated attorney, is committed to delivering the highest caliber of legal representation to his clients, marked by honesty and affordability. Behind his boyish grin lies a remarkable journey that has shaped him into the lawyer he is today. Brenden’s legal lineage runs deep. Born into a family of legal professionals, he was groomed from a young age to follow in his parents’ footsteps. His father, Michael V. Kelley, was a distinguished trial lawyer known for championing the rights of Ohio Steelworkers. His mother, Lynn Arko Kelley, served as a former Cleveland Heights Municipal Court Judge...

Kurt is an attorney with significant litigation experience at all levels of the Court's of Pennsylvania, who has the skill, knowledge and experience to assist clients, but the demeanor to speak and communicate with his clients in a manner meant to insure that his client's understand and are educated

Attorney Jeremiah D. Runkle was born and raised in Snyder and Union Counties. Jeremiah graduated from Meadowbrook Christian School in Milton, PA and then completed his undergraduate degree in Business Administration at Messiah College. Following college, Jeremiah worked in business management for a group of small businesses near Harrisburg, PA. In that capacity, he gained wide exposure to financial, human resource and property management before deciding to attend law school at night at Widener University School of Law. Jeremiah graduated from Widener in 2008 and was admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar in October of 2008. After nearly 10 years in...

The law offices of W. Jeffrey Leonard boasts over 34 years of legal experience.

Daniel is an attorney at Elliott & Davis. Daniel's practice centers on trademark law, corporate law, nonprofit law, estate planning, and civil litigation. In particular, Daniel is capable of handling clients needs involving federal and state trademark registrations; incorporations and formation of various other business entities; applications for 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS); drafting wills, trusts, and health-care powers of attorney documents; and effective management of various aspects of civil litigation. Before coming to Elliott & Davis, Daniel interned with Lafkas Patent, LLC in Cincinnati, where he focused on trademark registration practice. He has also worked as...