Bruin Estate Planning Lawyers

Attorney Jeffrey Weinberg is a native Pittsburgher who has successfully defended clients in front of judges and juries in multiple counties across Western Pennsylvania and in Federal Court. He attended law school at Duquesne University where upon graduation he was admitted to practice in Pennsylvania as well as all Federal Courts and the U.S. Supreme Court.

He has been in practice for 37 years.

Areas of Practice
Criminal Law
Civil Ligitation
Personal Injury
Workman's Compensation
Immigration Law
Estates/Contracts Law

Bar Admissions
Pennsylvania
U.S. District Court Western District of Pennsylvania

Education
Washington and Jefferson College
B.A. 1977?
Duquesne University School of Law, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
J.D. 1980

Professional Associations and Memberships
Allegheny County Bar Association, Member

John B. Payne, Attorney, established his practice in 1983, becoming a full-service general practice and litigation firm in 1988, when John received his LL.M. in Taxation. John lectures on estate planning and other topics to groups interested in legal issues. He is the author of Michigan Probate and Counseling the Elderly Client in Michigan, plus numerous articles and seminar manuals. Experienced in appellate matters John has appealed many criminal, civil rights and tax cases in state and federal courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court.

Erin is a member of the Indiana County Bar Association and the Pennsylvania Bar Association, including the Business Law and Environmental and Energy Law sections of the Pennsylvania Bar Association. Education & Experience Erin graduated from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law and the Katz Graduate School of Business in 2008 with a J.D. and M.B.A. While in law school, Erin served as an associate editor of The Journal of Law and Commerce. During her time at Katz, Erin concentrated her studies in finance, specifically the areas of corporate finance and valuation. Erin graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from...

I help people take care of their families. I have extensive experience with all types of estate planning including wills, trusts, financial and medical powers of attorney. I also engage in digital asset estate planning because so many of our assets are online or in the cloud these days. I help my clients protect their assets from nursing home costs. The best time to plan for nursing home costs is in advance. I also engage in crisis Medicaid planning. If you have a loved one who is facing a long stay in a nursing home, I...

Third Generation Attorney.

Dean Phillips is an attorney that focuses his practice in corporate and business representation, real estate, and civil litigation. Dean prides himself on his responsiveness and attention to detail. Dean is a 2019 graduate of Allegheny College where he received a bachelor's degree in History, with honors. In 2022, Dean graduated from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law and was admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar later that year. Dean is admitted to practice law in Pennsylvania and the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania.

Attorney Merwin grew up in New Bethlehem Pennsylvania. He received his high school diploma from Redbank Valley High School, his Bachelor's degree in Political Science from Clarion University of Pennsylvania, and his Doctorate of Juris Prudence from the Massachusetts School of Law. Attorney Merwin's areas of practice include, but are not limited to, Divorce, Bankruptcy, Estates/Probate, Criminal Defense, DUI, Family Law, Landlord/Tenant and Civil Litigation. Attorney Merwin is admitted to the bar of: Pennsylvania Massachusetts Federal District of Massachusetts Federal Western District of Pennsylvania

Practice includes all phases of estate planning and estate administration.

Michael P. Thomas is a Partner with MacDonald, Illig, Jones & Britton LLP. He assists individuals, closely held companies, and larger entities on a wide variety of estate planning, estate and trust administration, wealth transfer, succession planning, tax, and business matters.

Mike routinely assists clients with the design and implementation of both basic and complex estate plans that focus on accomplishing the client's individual objectives and minimizing the related tax consequences. He works closely with individual and corporate fiduciaries throughout estate and trust administrations. Mike has experience advising clients on a wide variety of sophisticated business transactions, employee benefit plan matters,...

Jay Alberstadt is a senior partner with MacDonald Illig. He concentrates his practice in the areas of real estate, commercial and economic development ,and conventional and tax-exempt financing. He provides legal services to individuals, business entities, lending institutions, municipal authorities and development agencies. Mr. Alberstadt handles matters ranging from residential real estate transactions to detailed title and development issues. He also provides representation in commercial financings and tax-exempt municipal, industrial development and 501(c)(3) bond issues. He is co-chair of the Firm's real estate practice group and chair of the firm's marketing committee.

Attorney Benjamin F. Goodwin, Esquire was born, raised, and educated in Southwestern Pennsylvania. For nearly a decade, Attorney Goodwin has strived to practice law with the same virtues that Southwestern Pennsylvania and its people have come to embody- integrity, tenacity, and above all things hard work. Attorney Goodwin has represented countless individuals and has a proven track record of excellence successfully trying numerous cases to a jury verdict. He is a partner of Goodwin Como, P.C.

Nate is a lifelong resident of the Erie area. After graduating from Girard High School, Nate attended Cornell University where he earned his undergraduate degree in Industrial & Labor Relations. Afterward, he attended the Pennsylvania State University, Dickinson School of Law, where he earned his Juris Doctor degree. While at Penn State Law, Nate was a senior editor of the Yearbook on Arbitration and Mediation. Since joining Bernard Stuczynski Barnett & Lager, Nate has focused his practice on Car Accidents, Personal Injury, Estate Administration, and Workers’ Compensation.

David T. Leake is the owner of the Law Office of David T. Leake, Esq. located in downtown Somerset. Attorney Leake opened his office after working for Joseph B. Policicchio, an attorney with 40 years of experience in Somerset, who transferred his law practice to Attorney Leake. His office occupies an entire building on Center Street and he has a full time paralegal/secretary/public notary on staff with over twenty years of experience to assist him as well as an assistant paralegal. Attorney Leake has extensive courtroom experience as his practice focuses mainly on courtroom litigation. He has presented countless cases before...

Attorney Toohey's practice is concentrated in the areas of business and real estate law, and estate planning and administration. He was involved with the formation and initial operation of Spectrum Control, Inc., Lake Erie Institute of Rehabilitation and Growing Places, Inc. He has represented clients and been personally involved in the development of condominium projects and other real estate developments. He has also represented several municipalities and authorities. Attorney Toohey is deeply committed to civic causes and has served on the boards of several civic, educational, and religious institutions.

Mr. Shamburg is a partner with MacDonald Illig where he is a member of the Business Transactions, Trusts & Estate and Tax Practice groups. His practice comprises a vast array of personal and business transactions, that can be broken into five general practice areas: estate and trust planning and administration; tax compliance and planning matters; Orphans' Court litigation; nonprofit formation; and corporate formation and transactions.

Mr. Shamburg received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting from the Pennsylvania State University, University Park Campus in 2005. In 2009, he graduated cum laude from the University of Dayton School of Law, where...

Mr. Spoden is a senior partner at MacDonald Illig. He concentrates his practice in the area of corporate, commercial and business law, with a special emphasis on taxation and estate planning for small business owners. He is also active in the area of business formation, mergers, acquisitions and divestitures.

Mr. Spoden is experienced in small business counseling including industrial, professional and service corporations.

Mr. Spoden is a Certified Public Accountant and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

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.