Warren Lawyers

I represent individuals and families in Erie, Crawford and Warren counties in Pennsylvania. I focused on civil litigation helping victims navigate the legal process.

I have over 20 years-experience handling personal injury cases. I have personally been lead trial counsel in over 50 personal injury trials. I have been selected as a Top 10 Attorney for Client Satisfaction by the American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys awarded to attorneys demonstrating exceptional and outstanding client service. I have been selected by Super Lawyers on several occasions and have been rated as “excellent” by Avvo a lawyer rating service.

BOARD APPOINTMENTS
In addition,...

Attorney Dana Jo-Ann Richardson has been a proactive advocate for her clients since entering the Bar in 2007. Her ambitions in the pursuit of law began at Duquesne University School of Law, where Dana was a class representative in the Student Bar Association, and where she became a finalist in the prestigious Carol Los Mansmann Appellate Advocacy Competition. Upon graduating from Duquesne University and receiving her Juris Doctorate in 2007, she sat for the bar examination and was admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar that year. While a law student at Duquesne, Dana was hired by the law firm...

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.

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.

Russell S. Warner is the Managing Partner of the law firm of MacDonald, Illig, Jones & Britton LLP in Erie, Pennsylvania. He is the founder and past Chairman of the firm's Environmental Group. He concentrates his practice in the areas of business and environmental law, including matters involving the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, as well as matters before the USEPA Environmental Appeals Board and the Pennsylvania Environmental Hearing Board.

Mr. Warner's practice includes representation of businesses, financial institutions, economic development organizations and municipal entities regarding business and environmental matters, as well as acquisitions, capital...

Dallas Hartman of Dallas W. Hartman P.C., Attorneys at Law serves clients from six office locations throughout Northwestern Pennsylvania and Ohio in injury matters. He has been named one of the Top Lawyers in Pennsylvania by Super Lawyers for the five years in a row.

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,...

Attorney Martinucci's practice is concentrated on providing public and private sector employers with legal advice and representation in various employment and civil rights matters in both union and non-union settings. He represents clients before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission and the Erie County Human Relations Commission against allegations of employment-related discrimination and harassment, and he has had favorable results. Attorney Martinucci has also successfully litigated wrongful discharge and employment discrimination cases before various state and federal courts in western Pennsylvania and conducts collective bargaining negotiations for public and private sector clients. His clients include private...

Patrick Delaney is a Senior Partner at MacDonald Illig. He concentrates his practice in the area of Commercial Litigation. During the course of his career, Mr. Delaney has litigated disputes in the federal and state courts throughout Pennsylvania and in various other jurisdictions. He has also handled numerous complex commercial disputes before arbitration tribunals, including panels convened through the American Arbitration Association and the International Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Delaney has years of experience handling contract disputes, including those involving professional services, the sale of goods, real estate sales, stock purchase agreements, commercial and industrial construction, and executive employment. He...

A zealous attorney dedicated to persuasively advocating on behalf of his clients.

Attorney Jennifer J. Riley, Esquire focuses her practice on Family Law, including Divorce, Child Custody, Child Support, Alimony, Protection from Abuse, Prenuptial Agreements, Postnuptial Agreements, Spousal Support, Adoption, and Grandparents' Rights. ? Ms. Riley is an experienced negotiator and a tireless litigator who will work hard to secure stability for you and your family. She is a strong, zealous advocate for her clients inside and outside the courtroom. ? Ms. Riley is a graduate of Temple University Beasley School of Law, where she focused her studies on Trial Advocacy. She was a member of the...

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...

Born and raised in the Pittsburgh area, Mark has practiced law in Pittsburgh as counsel to businesses of all sizes for over 30 years. He represents business clients in transactions because the work focuses on the achievement of a future event—and all parties to the transaction work towards a common goal. His practice is fast-paced and provides him with experience in a number of industries.

Mark provides general corporate legal services primarily to owner-managed businesses, including family-owned businesses. His practice includes securities law, acquisitions, various forms of debt and equity financing, including investment crowdfunding and private placements; real estate transactions, including...

Attorney Kroto's law practice is concentrated in litigation, with emphasis in the areas of civil, construction, insurance and domestic litigation. His practice involves litigation in all courts under the purview of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, as well as the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. Mr. Kroto is AV Preeminent peer-review rated through Martindale-Hubbell.

An owner/partner at Tibbott & Richardson, P.C., Attorney Tibbott dedicates her practice to DUI Defense, Criminal Defense, and Family Law.

Attorney Tim Burns has been operating his regional general law practice in historic Ebensburg, Cambria County for nearly a decade. His office, located an hour and a half east of Pittsburgh, is conveniently located just steps from the Cambria County Courthouse. A Johnstown native, he received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science and Secondary Education from St. Vincent College in Latrobe, and his Juris Doctorate from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh where he served as Editor-in-Chief of Juris, the school’s award winning legal newsmagazine. Prior to opening his law office, Attorney Burns was an Associate in the...

Scott Wallen is a partner at MacDonald Illig where he concentrates his practice in the areas of estate planning and administration, corporate mergers and acquisitions, corporate formation, business succession planning, elder law, nonprofit corporations law and healthcare law. Mr. Wallen is also a Certified Public Accountant and routinely handles matters involving federal and state taxation issues including corporate and individual taxation and sales tax issues. He is a member of the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) and the American Academy of Attorney-CPAs (AAA-CPA). Mr. Wallen is affiliated with the Trusts & Estates and Business Transactions Practice Groups at...

Roger H. Taft is a trial lawyer at MacDonald Illig whose primary areas of practice are employment litigation, including employment discrimination and wrongful discharge cases, and complex commercial litigation.

In his litigation practice, Mr. Taft represents clients in federal and state courts throughout Pennsylvania, New York, and Ohio, as well as in federal courts throughout the United States.

Mr. Taft enjoys travel, golf, and Harley-Davidson motorcycles.

Since he started his law practice in 1997, Attorney Melaragno has worked with individuals who were injured, through no fault of their own, in car accidents, motorcycle accidents, tractor trailer accidents, slips and falls and a variety of other circumstances. Attorney Melaragno and his partners have tried or settled cases with a success rate of over 99%, recovering more than $3.2 Million for their injured clients in the last 4 years alone.


Attorney Melaragno was selected to serve on the Panel for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Trustees for the Western District of Pennsylvania on February 6, 2004 and from that...

Stephanie has over 14 years legal, fiduciary, corporate and banking experience, with the majority of her practice involving handling matters for high net worth clients. She has assisted clients with a variety of matters, including estate and financial planning, estate administration, the establishment and administration of family foundations, and succession planning for closely held businesses. She has represented businesses, non-profit organizations, and municipalities, in a variety of corporate matters.

Stephanie’s estate practice focuses on highly sophisticated planning and tax savings techniques for individuals, families and businesses. In her corporate practice, she counsels businesses in a variety of industries. She assists businesses...

William R. Brown concentrates his practice in the areas of Business Transactions, Commercial Real Estate and Creditor Rights.

In the area of Business Transactions, Mr. Brown advises businesses and individuals with respect to formation and governance of business entities, commercial transactions, contract formation and interpretation, real estate acquisition, disposition and development and structuring of financial relationships.

Mr. Brown also represents commercial and institutional lenders with respect to secured lending, construction financing, syndicated loans and participations, letters of credit and tax-exempt financings. As counsel to major commercial banks, Mr. Brown is regularly involved in the negotiation, structure, documentation and closing of major real...

During his years as a public defender in York County and private practice in Centre County, Matt McClenahen tried a wide range of cases from third degree misdemeanors to serious felonies before both judges and juries and developed a reputation as a formidable courtroom lawyer and zealous advocate for his criminal defense clients. Although the vast majority of criminal cases are resolved through negotiations resulting in non-trial dispositions, sometimes it is simply in a client's best interests to proceed to trial. Attorney McClenahen will evaluate your case and advise you on your best course of action.

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.

Jeffrey Veitch, Esquire named a Super Lawyer by Law & Politics magazine 2016-2021. Jeff has previously been honored with the distinction of being named a "Rising Star" by Law & Politics magazine on several occasions and has also been recognized by Law & Politics magazine in its "Who's Who in Criminal Defense & DUI/DWI Law" edition every year since 2007. Jeff has also achieved a 10/10 Superb rating from AVVO.COM, an independent attorney rating service and was also Selected as a "Top 100" Trial Lawyers by the National Trial Lawyers. Jeff has been the author of "Defending DUI's-A Defense Perspective",...

Mr. Joseph has practiced as a school solicitor for more than 35 years, providing a full range of education law services. In addition to serving as general solicitor for three area school districts, the local Intermediate Unit and numerous nonpublic school systems, he has experience in handling special education matters including mediation and litigation of special education and Section 504 due process hearings. He has also, over time, provided representation on behalf of every public school district in Erie, Crawford and Warren counties as special counsel for a variety of specific assignments.

Mr. Joseph has extensive experience in policy drafting, Family...

John A. Lauer is a Senior Partner with the law firm of MacDonald, Illig, Jones & Britton LLP, where he is Chairman of the firm's Trusts & Estates Group. He is also a member of the firm's Business and Tax Groups. John's practice consists primarily of Estate and Tax Planning, Estate and Trust Administration, Elder Law, and Business Law.

John received his Bachelor of Science in accounting from Gannon University in 1986 and his Juris Doctor from the Wake Forest University School of Law in 1996. He is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Prior to beginning...

My name is Samir Sarna, and I am a Partner at Worgul, Sarna & Ness, Criminal Defense Attorneys, LLC. I moved to Pittsburgh in 2007 to attend the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. While in Pittsburgh, I met my wife, fell in love with the city, and decided to settle down here and dedicate my legal career to defending the rights of those accused of committing crimes.

After graduating law school, I clerked at the Office of the Public Defender for Allegheny County and later became an Associate Counsel at the Allegheny County Office of Conflict Counsel. Serving at...

Tim McNair is an attorney admitted to practice in 1981. He concentrates his practice in the field of litigation, representing people who have been injured physically, as in car crashes, at work, or financially through unfair and discriminatory job termination or refusal to hire. He also closes real estate and handles estate settlements.

Attorney McNair is a member of the American Association for Justice (formerly, Association of Trial Lawyers of America), the Pennsylvania Association for Justice (formerly Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association), Pennsylvania and Erie County Bar Associations. He has served as the Chair of the PAAJ Workers Compensation Section, the Erie...

John Fessler has been a civil litigator for more than 25 years. His practice is concentrated primarily in the areas of insurance defense, commercial litigation and personal injury. John has represented insurance carriers in a variety of cases over the years, including those involving automobile policies, commercial general liability policies and homeowner policies.

Attorney Fessler also has an extensive real estate practice, providing counsel to buyers, sellers and lending institutions, as well as regularly participating in Sheriff Sales.

He is AV Preeminent peer-review rated,* the highest rating, through Martindale-Hubbell. Mr. Fessler was awarded the 2007 President's Award from the Erie County Bar...

Attorney Eric J. Purchase represents individuals and families suffering from injury or the death of a loved one. He was born and raised in Erie County, Pennsylvania. He is a 1988 graduate of Gannon University. In 1991, he received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Pittsburgh, graduating with honors. While at the University of Pittsburgh, Mr. Purchase served as editor of the University of Pittsburgh Law Review. In recognition of his class standing upon graduation, Mr. Purchase was inducted into the Pittsburgh Chapter of the Order of the Coif.

Before opening his Pennsylvania personal injury practice, Mr. Purchase was...

Attorney Neiderhiser is a Partner at Marcus & Mack who has always taken great pride in being a personal injury attorney because his profession allows him to fight for the rights of individuals against insurance companies, businesses, and hospitals. He believes that without trial lawyers, injury victims would not have a voice against these huge companies. He feels so strongly about the importance of this profession, that he has made “giving back” a priority which resulted in his having served as the President of the Western Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association. That organization is devoted to promoting the right to trial...

Marina began practicing law in 2007 after graduating from Loyola University Chicago and Valparaiso University School of Law. She also taught real estate and bankruptcy law at Harper College in Palatine, IL. Leonard began working for Colianni & Leonard LLC in 2015 and, in 2016, under her former name Marina Ricci, published Bankruptcy Basics: Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 (Parker Press Inc.). She currently specializes in personal injury litigation, mass torts and employment law at Colianni & Leonard LLC in the US Virgin Islands where she lives with her husband and daughter.

Attorney Snavely’s civil litigation practice includes the defense of healthcare providers in professional negligence and licensure actions; the representation of both defendants and plaintiffs in premises liability, auto accident, product liability, and construction actions; and the representation of plaintiffs and defendants in other civil litigation matters.

Attorney Snavely also represents and provides advice to healthcare providers on a variety of matters, including employment contracts, credentialing, peer review, end of life issues, medical records, risk management, controlled substances and nonprofit corporation law.

Attorney Snavely is admitted to all Pennsylvania courts, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, and the...

Jamie R. Schumacher is an Associate in the Litigation Department at MacDonald Illig where she concentrates her practice in the areas of commercial litigation, employment litigation, insurance defense, and municipal/ordinance enforcement. She is also a member of the firm's Commercial/General Litigation Practice Group, Labor & Employment Practice Group, Government Services Practice Group, Marketing Committee, and the Recruitment Committee. Ms. Schumacher is licensed to practice in all Pennsylvania state courts, the United States District Courts for the Western and Middle Districts of Pennsylvania and the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.

Ms. Schumacher is the former chair of the Young Lawyers Division...