Catawissa Lawyers

Melinda Ghilardi brought years of experience as a trial lawyer to her position at Munley Law. She began her career as an Assistant District Attorney in Lackawanna County. She then spent almost three decades serving as a First Assistant Federal Public Defender for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.

Richard E. Freeburn has received an AV rating, the highest possible rating from Martindale-Hubbell, which means that he is deemed to possess pre-eminent legal ability and very high professional ethics.

Martindale-Hubbell ratings were created in 1887 as an objective method of assessing a lawyer’s ability and professional ethics based on confidential opinions of other lawyers and judge. It has remained the most prestigious and widely respected lawyer rating system in the world for the past 119 years. Martindale-Hubbell’s evaluation process is based on confidential questionnaires sent to lawyers and judges in the geographical area of the lawyer under evaluation. Legal ability...

Peter Patton is a Senior Partner in the law firm of Galfand Berger. With decades of trial experience, Peter has won some of Galfand Berger’s largest jury verdicts. His trial experience across Pennsylvania has helped achieve multi-million settlements in products liability and construction accident cases. Although Peter has a busy trial practice, he strives to provide personal attention to each of his clients. Peter received a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Harvard College and a Juris Doctor from University of California, Berkeley, where he was awarded the American Jurisprudence Award for Professional Responsibility. After graduating, Peter served as Staff...

Ryan McAllister is a founding partner of Ebner, Nevins & McAllister, LLC. He practices primarily in the areas of criminal defense and Driving Under The Influence Defense (DUI). He has successfully represented clients in all types of criminal matters, ranging from traffic offenses at the district justice level to jury trials involving serious felonies. Additionally, Attorney McAllister handles family law matters, including divorce, custody, and support. He also handles landlord / tenant matters in the magisterial district courts and the court of common pleas.

Mr. McAllister is a graduate of the Villanova University School of Law in Villanova, Pennsylvania,...

Tracy L. Updike practices bankruptcy law, with an emphasis on both debtor and creditor rights, which she believes gives her well-rounded perspective, and an advantage over her opposition. She is highly active within the legal community, shaping the future of the law as practiced, as a member of the Court's Advisory Committee, Local Bankruptcy Rules Committee Chair, and annual lecturer at the Middle District Bankruptcy Bar Association Conference and Pennsylvania Bar Institute Bankruptcy Institute.

Born and raised in Harrisburg, PA, Gregg S. Freeburn, Esq. graduated from Dickinson College in 2009. He was a four-year member of the Dickinson College Men’s Soccer team and a member of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity.

In 2012, he graduated from the University Of Pittsburgh School of Law, Cum Laude. At the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, Mr. Freeburn was a recipient of the CALI Excellence for the Future Award for Media Law.

Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Freeburn was a legal intern in New York City for iQor, US.. He was also a certified legal intern for Neighborhood...

Criminal Defense practice since 2005. Not Guilty verdicts in multiple homicide cases, sexual assault, felony drug and violent crime cases. Experienced DUI attorney with thousands of successful cases resolved.

Hilary Peery Vesell is a trial attorney focusing in family law matters and civil litigation. She has a BA in psychology and MA in clinical psychology both from Columbia University. Hilary received her law degree from the University of Miami School of Law. Hilary has written several articles that were published in the Pennsylvania Lawyer and Pennsylvania Bar Association Quarterly along with other legal publications. These articles are on the topics of mental illness in the legal system, co-parenting in custody cases, prenuptial agreements, parental alienation, and child sexual abuse allegations in custody cases. They can be found in their entirety...

Attorney Miller has been practicing in Berks County and Lehigh County since 2011. She primarily practices family law which includes divorce, custody, support, adoptions, name changes and pre and post nuptial agreements. She also assists clients in estate planning and probate matters.
Attorney Miller proudly participates in the Berks County Pro Bono Representation Program, the Modest Means Program and volunteers with Wills for Heroes.

I am a business, real estate and litigation attorney in Northeastern Pennsylvania. I serve clients mainly in Luzerne and Lackawanna Counties.

The focus of my law practice is Bankruptcy Law, representing individuals, businesses, and creditors in Chapters 7, 11, and 13 cases. Our firm represent clients in the Middle District of Pennsylvania, primarily those assigned to the Wilkes-Barre and Williamsport court locations. In addition to client representation, I have served on the Attorney Advisory Panel for the Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania; Board of Directors of the Middle District Bankruptcy Bar Association; Local Rules Committee for the Bankruptcy Court; and Judicial search committees, as both Chair and member; and volunteered for the Luzerne County, PA consumer debt and...

Practicing law for more than two decades, William Vinsko has built up an impressive portfolio of successful cases. He has a wide-ranging legal background, handling cases involving real estate law and litigation, government law, business litigation, estate planning and probate, divorce and child custody issues. His dedication to his clients, and getting them positive results in their legal cases, has not gone unnoticed. Attorney William Vinsko has been selected for inclusion on the Super Lawyers' Rising Stars list every year from 2005 through 2018, and a Super Lawyer in 2019. No more than 2.5 percent of lawyers in Pennsylvania ever...

Workers' Compensation and Social Security Disability Lawyer

Attorney Nanda Palissery earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering at Texas A&M University in 1989. After and during a career as an engineer and associate professor of engineering technology at the Luzerne County Community College, he earned his Juris Doctor at the Temple University Beasley School of Law in Philadelphia in 1994.

Returning to his native home in Northeast Pennsylvania to raise his family, Mr. Palissery opened his private practice in 1994, focusing on criminal defense litigation. Mr. Palissery is admitted to the United States Supreme Court, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, the Middle District of Pennsylvania, and the...

Jason M. Rapa, Esquire is the founder of Rapa Law Office, P.C. Jason practices together with his brother Matthew J. Rapa. Together they provide services not only in the Poconos and the Lehigh Valley but throughout the State of Pennsylvania. Jason focuses his practice in the areas of Bankruptcy, Consumer Protection and Civil Litigation, while Matthew focuses on Criminal Defense and Consumer Protection. Together Jason & Matthew have handled hundreds of cases against abusive debt collectors and Jason routinely speaks at national, state and local legal events regarding debt collection harassment.Jason has recently be names a Rising...

Longo founded Longo Law, P.C. in order to protect the rights of the accused as a zealous advocate, no matter what the charge. When the prosecution is putting your life, liberty, and future at risk, it is essential to have an experienced litigator to aggressively defend your freedom and work hard to get you the best possible outcome.

Attorney Longo is an experienced trial attorney with a demonstrated success in the courtroom. She is able to skillfully defend her clients because she has represented the government as well as the public. Longo has prevailed in...

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.

I have dedicated my practice to helping clients in the areas of workers' compensation, personal injury, family law and divorce, social security disability, and general civil litigation. As the son of a coal miner from a small town, I understand the unique challenges facing many blue collar working families. I have extensive litigation experience, including argument before the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court. I have handled hundreds of workers' compensation cases to a favorable outcome, including successfully arguing employee status of a truck driver fatally injured on the job. I have successfully handled hundreds of simple and complex...

Douglas K. Marsico is a graduate of West Chester University and the Widener University School of Law. Mr. Marsico's practice concentration is in criminal defense, DUI defense, traffic violations, driver's licensing matters, real estate and insurance defense. He is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania and the United State District Court, Middle District of Pennsylvania. Mr. Marsico began his law career as law clerk to the Honorable Richard A. Lewis, Court of Common Pleas, Dauphin County, and later served as a prosecutor in the Dauphin County District Attorney's office. Mr. Marsico has taught seminars on...

Sean P. McDonough is a 1983 graduate (cum laude) of the University of Scranton and a 1986 graduate of the Dickinson School of Law. Upon graduation from law school, he entered the private practice of law with the firm of Dougherty, Leventhal & Price, a regional litigation law firm. He has been a partner with the firm since 1993. Over the years, Mr. McDonough has concentrated his practice in the areas of personal injury litigation; he has also represented governmental entities and officials in federal civil rights and employment lawsuits throughout Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania. Mr. McDonough has appeared in front...

Christopher A. Dreisbach concentrates his practice on criminal defense and civil litigation in both state and federal courts. Since entering private practice, he has defended individuals facing the most serious of criminal charges including rape and homicide. In civil actions, he has successfully represented individuals and corporations in cases involving federal civil conspiracy allegations, regulatory violations, and complex personal injury matters. Prior to entering private practice, Mr. Dreisbach served for four years as a Deputy District Attorney in the Dauphin County District Attorney’s Office. During his time as a Deputy District Attorney, Mr. Dreisbach successfully prosecuted a vast...

Areas of Practice
After focusing on appeals and post-conviction remedies for years, Attorney Clarkson found that the best way to save someone from ineffective assistance of counsel is to be effective trial counsel. Switching now to focus more heavily on trials, she fights for your rights and makes sure every angle is utilized to get you the best possible outcome.

Attorney Clarkson will still handle appeals, post-conviction remedies, and mental health expungements.

Attorney Clarkson will continue to make sure the law is complied with and uphold constitutional rights so our citizenry does not lose them.

She handles everything from summary speeding tickets to murder.

Philosophy
Attorney...

Bruce L. Baldwin was born June 6, 1959 in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Souderton Area High School in 1977. Mr. Baldwin attended West Chester University, graduating in 1981 with a Bachelor of Arts in Literature, Summa Cum Laude. Following his undergraduate work, Mr. Baldwin studied at Villanova University School of Law, where he was active in the Moot Court Board, and earned his Juris Doctor in 1984. Mr. Baldwin began his practice of law in Collegeville before coming to Pottstown in 1987, where he has practiced law with firm founder Jack Wolf ever since. Mr. Baldwin...

Mrs. Doleva-Lecher is a long time resident of Pennsylvania, and has practiced law in central PA the majority of her professional career. She has established a reputation for being a fair, honest and strong attorney. Mrs. Doleva-Lecher has resided in Berks County the majority of her life and is a 1993 graduate of Wyomissing Area High School. Mrs. Doleva-Lecher attended the University of Pittsburgh where she earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree (major in Political Science and dual minors in Psychology and English Literature) in 1997. During her time at the University of Pittsburgh, Mrs. Doleva-Lecher was a...

Marla Soffer is Of Counsel at Galfand Berger, LLP. Marla graduated cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania with a BA in Urban Studies and Spanish. She received her J.D. from Temple University Beasley School of Law and has been practicing for over 30 years. Marla concentrates her practice in the areas of workers’ rights, safety, compensation and general personal injury and disability law.

Fluent in Spanish, Marla is a frequent lecturer in community programs that focus on the rights and safety of workers, product liability claims and general personal injury matters. She is a consulting attorney to the Consulate of...

Have you been accused of a crime in Reading? Are you considering the option of filing for bankruptcy? Do you need help in a family law case? You should contact Attorney Curtis Barnes and his team to learn how he could help you. Curtis is a graduate of the Florida State University in Tallahassee where he studied Criminology. As a student, he worked at the Florida State Attorney General’s Office where he was able to gain experience in investigating criminal offenses. He then went on to attend the Delaware Law School of Widener University where he graduated with his law...

As a Berks County native, Daniel Emkey understands its citizens and truly cares for their well-being. He believes strongly in the legal system and pursued his career in defending the people’s rights. Daniel earned his Juris Doctor from Widener University School of Law where he was a member of the Harrisburg Civil Law Clinic and participated in the Intensive Trial Advocacy Program. He went on to work at the Berks County District Attorney’s office as the Assistant District attorney. His time as a prosecutor gave Daniel special insight that he uses to help his current clients. He now heads his...

My practice is primarily focused on business litigation. I hold the AV Preeminent Rating from Martindale-Hubbell, which is their highest distinction, awarded based on the confidential opinions of judges and members of the bar regarding legal ability and ethical standards. Previously, I served as a Hearing Committee Member for the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. I am also an Associate Member of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) and a Member of the American Bar Association (ABA). Additionally, I am part of the Pennsylvania Bar Association (PBA) and the Lackawanna County Bar Association (LBA). Throughout my career, my...

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...

Bernard Walter has been licensed to practice law since 1978 — over 40 years! He's an estate planning and estate administration attorney and a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum for attorneys who have won jury verdicts of more than $1 million. He's listed in Martindale-Hubbell's Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers AV with the highest possible peer review rating in legal ability and ethical standards.

The Pennsylvania Bar Foundation awarded attorney Walter its Pro Bono Publico Certificate of Achievement. He founded and is the co-chairman of the Elder Law Committee of the Luzerne County Bar Association. He also founded the...

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...

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,...

Since 1999 we've helped people who are having problems with debts or debt collectors. Some of our clients file bankruptcy. Others file suit against aggressive debt collectors. I am Board Certified in Consumer Bankruptcy law by the American Board of Certification.

Bob Gillespie is a second generation Plaintiff's lawyer +with a distinguished record of service to the public. He served eleven years in the Luzerne County District Attorneys Office, the last four as District Attorney. In 2007 and 2008, Pjiladelphia Magazine proclaimed him to be a "Super Lawyer"* an awrd only available to the top 5% of lawyers. He is also a "Million Dollar Advocate"* having obtained Million's of Dollars in Awards for his clients. Attorney Gillespie was recently named a Fellow in the Litigation Counsel of America, a society limited to 3,500 lawyers less then 1/2 % of those practicing...

I am a litigation attorney practicing primarily in the Reading area, and the editor of www.SCOPAreview.com, a website providing coverage of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. In my free time, I enjoy creating media, watching classic movies and everything about college football. During my law school career, I worked for Justice McClanahan of the Virginia Supreme Court, helped author an amicus brief to the Supreme Court of the United States, obtained Regent Law’s “Eagle Award” for the top class grade from a former US Attorney-General on the law of war, and graduated in the top 10 of my class....

Allan J. Ray was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania and continues to reside there to this day. Al Graduated from Phoenixville Area High School, and relocated to Idaho to attend the University of Idaho. After graduating with honors, Al returned back to Pennsylvania and attended law school at the Penn State Dickinson School of Law where he was a member of the editorial board of the Penn State Environmental Law Review. During law school, Al volunteered at Legal Aid of Southeast Pennsylvania in Pottstown where he helped indigent individuals through civil and family law matters including child custody and support.

Al...