Berks County Municipal Lawyers

Matthew M. Setley, Esq. joined the firm that would become Georgeadis||Setley in 2010. He focuses his practice on family law (divorce and custody) and civil litigation. Mr. Setley has extensive experience representing businesses and individuals in connection with a wide range of matters in Pennsylvania’s state and federal courts. He primarily focuses his practice in the legal fields of divorce, child custody, personal and business litigation matters, and select criminal defense work.

Mr. Setley earned his undergraduate degree in political science from The George Washington University (Washington, DC); thereafter, he earned his Juris Doctor, cum laude (with honors), from...

Charles D. Garner, Jr. was born on April 26, 1961. He graduated from Pottstown High School in 1979. Mr. Garner has been a lifelong resident of the Pottstown area. Mr. Garner graduated Cum Laude from Ursinus College in 1983 with a Bachelor of Arts. He received his Juris Doctor from Dickinson School of Law in 1983. He joined Reynier, Crocker, Allebach & Reber as an associate in 1986. He was promoted to partner in 1992 and remained at the firm until 1998. In 1998, he joined Paul Bauer to form Garner & Bauer. Mr. Garner developed...

Andrew Bellwoar has been practicing law for over 30 years; representing individuals, businesses, and public entities. His areas of practice consist of Wills/Trusts/Estate Administration, Business Contracts, Real Estate/Land Development/Zoning, and Municipal Law. In the beginning of his career, he served as an Assistant District Attorney at the Delaware County District Attorney's Office. After serving as an Assistant District Attorney, he went on to work in a law firm out of Delaware County. In 1998, Mr. Bellwoar then became a partner in a law firm, where he represented many clients. Andrew has won the Top Lawyer Award for many consecutive years,...

My name is Paul A. Bauer III, and I am the founding lawyer of Bauer and Associates. I focus my legal practice on providing the most aggressive criminal defense in the Pottstown area. I previously spent fourteen years as a founding partner of the Garner & Bauer Law Firm and four years in the Montgomery County district attorney’s office where I prosecuted more than 1,000 cases.

Scott MacNair is a graduate of the Villanova University School of Law. He began his legal career in 1998 with the Pennsylvania State Education Association where he specialized in labor and education law. In 1999, he obtained a judicial clerkship with a Court of Common Pleas Judge, the Honorable Linda K.M. Ludgate, in Berks County, Pennsylvania. In 2001, Scott obtained employment as an Assistant District Attorney with the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office. In 2004, he was promoted to Chief of Narcotics with the District Attorney’s Office. In 2005, he was promoted to Deputy District...

David J. Brooman has more than three decades experience in zoning and land use development, as well as environmental law. His background includes negotiating creative solutions in complex land use and environmental disputes, during project development and litigation. He has also counseled public and private companies, developers and lenders, and municipal governments on the business risks and economic impacts of federal, state and local land use and environmental regulations. Brooman is well-versed in crisis management and controversial land uses.

Brooman’s engagements include serving as special environmental and land use counsel to a Pennsylvania municipality in its acquisition and redevelopment of a...

Thomas E. Panzer’s practice areas focus on administrative litigation, including zoning and workers’ compensation. Mr. Panzer has represented multiple zoning hearing boards over the past 20 years. He also represents both claimants and defendants in workers’ compensation matters, which has made him a sought-after and frequent lecturer on Pennsylvania workers’ compensation topics.

Mr. Panzer joined High Swartz in 2016 as a result of a merger with McNamara, Bolla & Panzer, Attorneys at Law, a firm for which he served as Managing Partner. Mr. Panzer has been practicing law in southeastern Pennsylvania for nearly 25 years.

In addition to the practice of law,...

Todd Lasky is an experienced workers' compensation and personal injury attorney in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He has represented individuals who have been injured at work, in car accidents and as a result of slip and fall accidents throughout Philadelphia, Delaware, Montgomery, Bucks and Chester Counties. He has been recognized annually as a Pennsylvania Rising Star Super Lawyer, as well as one of the top 100 Trial Lawyers in Pennsylvania. His compassion for those injured lends to his passionate representation of his clients and willingness to take on insurance companies and employers alike. He is known throughout the...

Gilbert P. High, Jr. has devoted his career primarily to the practice of Municipal, Real Estate and Land Use Law and Estates & Trusts. He has extensive experience in legislative drafting, subdivision and land development, zoning litigation, public employment issues, local taxation, public contracting, and the law of easements and rights of way. He regularly speaks on issues pertaining to municipal liability, particularly regarding the maintenance of the Urban Forest, a subject on which he has lectured nationally.

Mr. High also practices in the area of estate planning, particularly in the administration of complex estates, will drafting, the creation and...

Rich Sokorai is a Partner at High Swartz LLP. Rich concentrates his practice in trials, appeals and related advice on behalf of business entities, municipalities and individuals in municipal, commercial, and tort matters. Significant cases that Rich has handled include disputes over control of closely held corporations, franchise disputes, claims for breach of fiduciary duty for both non-profit and for profit corporations, construction disputes, ordinance validity challenges, and large tort cases.

Rich has tried cases in state courts, federal courts and boards of view, as well as administrative courts such as the Environmental Hearing Board and the Public Utility Commission. He...

Michael is an experienced, well-respected litigator and trial attorney. He concentrates his practice in litigation, specifically personal injury matters including wrongful death and catastrophic injury, as well as a wide range of complex municipal matters. He also currently serves as the Solicitor to the Montgomery County Controller. Born in lower Bucks County, Bristol, Pa, Michael learned to value both hard work and education from his mother, who taught at Pennsbury for 40 years and his father who was a laborer and roofer. Michael’s father immigrated here from Calabria, Italy, where most of his relatives still live in a small southern...

Mr. Smith's practice focuses on commercial and real estate litigation, business disputes and municipal litigation. Mr. Smith is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania and practices in the five-county Philadelphia metropolitan area.

Through his commercial litigation practice, he represents clients in contract and warranty disputes, as well as construction conflicts, mechanics’ liens, contractor and subcontractor payment act claims, and unfair trade practice claims. As part of his real estate and title litigation practice, Mr. Smith handles matters concerning adverse possession, easements...

Joshua L. Grimes, Esq. is principal attorney at Grimes Law Offices, LLC based in Philadelphia. Mr. Grimes has a national practice focused on business and real estate law, as well as the association, nonprofit, meeting, and hospitality industries. He has particular expertise in legal matters relating meetings and conventions, including contracting and dispute resolution. Mr. Grimes also has extensive experience with zoning matters.

Mr. Grimes is a sought-after speaker on legal issues relating to meetings, conventions, and hotel law. He has appeared at over 100 programs sponsored by Meeting Professionals International (MPI), Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA), the American Society of...

As one of the firm’s two founding attorneys, Jeff Drake practices in the areas of real estate, tax assessment appeals, zoning, municipal law, estate administration, family law, and personal injury law. He also represents non-profit corporations such as churches, Christian schools and mission boards, in addition to handling cases involving the preservation of religious liberties.

Jeff received his law degree in 1980 from Capital University Law School and his undergraduate degree from Gordon College in 1977. He has been an adjunct professor at Philadelphia Biblical University (now Cairn University).

Kathleen M. Thomas concentrates her practice in the areas of municipal law, small business, non-profit law, and civil litigation. Kathleen is also experienced in other areas of municipal law, including Right to Know, land development, zoning, code enforcement and litigation.

Recognized as an expert in the areas of Pennsylvania Act 511 taxation, Kathleen serves as Special Act 511 Tax Counsel to the Townships of Lower Merion and Abington, among others. She also serves as the Act 511 Hearing Officer to multiple municipalities in Montgomery and Delaware Counties. She also serves as Special Tax Consultant for ordinance and Regulation Revision and litigation...

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Mr. Tupitza has been an attorney since 1976. His practice is primarily in the area of real estate and business law. He is experienced in oil and gas leases, title insurance matters, commercial/industrial real estate, residential real estate and farm issues. He handles transactions and litigation. He teaches numerous CLE courses including courses on the following topics: Boundary Law, Litigating Failure to Disclose Issues, Lien Priority, Lien Divestiture, Tax and Sheriff's Sales, Deeds, Trial Tactics, Title Insurance, Tax Issues Impacting Real Estate and more.

Tim Brennan was raised in the coal region working in his family’s well known mom and pop restaurant. He began his legal career in the Lehigh Valley as a Bethlehem and Northampton County Solicitor. He currently lives in Doylestown and, in addition to his legal work, serves as a member of the Doylestown Borough Council.

Mr. Brennan graduated from Ursinus College in 2000, receiving his Bachelor of Arts with a double major in English and Politics and a double minor in International Relations and American Studies. During this period he served two United States Congressional Internships with Congressman Joe Hoeffel and...

Joel Wiener concentrates his practice in business matters, real estate and commercial litigation. He regularly represents real estate developers and commercial users in all aspects of residential and commercial development. His practice includes representation before all municipal boards for zoning, planning and land use as well as handling appeals to relevant Courts. His business clients include many companies involved in the construction industry. He has litigated civil matters in Pennsylvania's county courts and Federal Courts. His practice also includes extensive experience in bank and loan negotiation, documentation and workout.

My practice focuses on residential and commercial real estate transactions and litigation, including construction defect, seller's disclosure, zoning, land development, title matters, boundary disputes, brokerage law, association matters, builder disputes, landlord-tenant matters, etc.

Michael A. Luongo, Esq. is a Bucks County attorney in the firm's business litigation, personal injury, criminal defense, and municipal practices. Michael joined High Swartz after practicing in the litigation department at a prominent law firm in Blue Bell, PA. Michael defend depositions, drafts and argues various motions, and served as first and second chair at trials. He represents his clients in a variety of commercial and business litigation matters, including: Breach of Contract Business Divorces Construction Litigation Execution & Enforcement of Judgments Employment Litigation Estates and Trusts Litigation Will contest litigation Preliminary and Permanent Injunctions Breach of Warranties & Representations Temporarily Restraining Orders Uniform Trade Secrets Act Ejectment Land Use & Zoning Disputes Unfair...

Date of Birth - December 4, 1952 (Downingtown) Married - Wife: Beth E. Valocchi Children: Twin Daughters - May 26, 1989 Alexandra - American University Anastasia - St. Joseph's University Born and Raised in Downingtown One of Eleven Children Parents: Ben A. & Amina C. Valocchi Residence of E. Brandywine since 1985 Member of St. Joseph's Parish

Ms. Longer is a graduate of Villanova Law School and has been practicing in Lancaster County for over 15 years, after several years as a corporate attorney. Ms. Longer has significant appellate experience and welcomes referrals from other attorneys whose practice does not include appeals. Prior to joining the Bar in Lancaster County, Ms. Longer was the Vice President and General Counsel of Intelligent Electronics, Inc., a publicly-traded national franchisor and distributor of computer products.

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.

Beau A. Hoffman is an attorney with AxRunkle, P.C. and has been practicing law in central Pennsylvania since January 2015. Mr. Hoffman practices in the areas of business and estate planning, municipal law, contract review, estate administration, real estate and civil litigation. Mr. Hoffman has legal experience with the Union County District Attorney’s office in Lewisburg, PA under District Attorney Pete Johnson. Mr. Hoffman graduated Cum Laude from Shippensburg University in 2011 with a Bachelor of Sciences in Criminal Justice. At Shippensburg, Mr. Hoffman was a member of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee and the football program. In May 2014,...

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...

Jim was born in Binghamton, New York, but has lived in Cumberland County since age 3. He graduated from Trinity High School in 1973 and studied in the pre-law program at Indiana University of Pennsylvania for two years. After earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Humanities from Penn State University in 1977, Jim joined the work force at various large corporations, including ITT, Hershey Chocolate Company and Mellon Bank, working in the credit, collection and finance fields. While employed at Harsco Corporation,...