DICKIE MCCAMEY - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Shareholder
- Member of the Firm
- Shareholder of Dickie
Aaron M. Ponzo is a shareholder of Dickie, McCamey & Chilcote, P.C. He has extensive experience defending Class I and Short Line railroads in cases involving the Federal Employers' Liability Act (FELA), as well as third-party personal injury and property damage claims. Mr. Ponzo is a member of the firm's Railroad Law, Litigation and Regulatory Counsel Group.
Mr. Ponzo is also a member of the firm's Insurance Law and Litigation Group and Transportation Law Group. His practice includes the representation of commercial transportation companies in claims arising from motor vehicle accidents in addition to the representation of various clients in the areas of general liability and negligence with an emphasis on premises liability. Mr. Ponzo has defended clients in several industries including retail, construction, transportation, manufacturing, and healthcare. He has also been involved in the defense of toxic tort claims involving asbestos/silicosis.
Adam J. Warhola is a shareholder with Dickie, McCamey, & Chilcote, P.C. and Chair of the Real Estate Group. He concentrates his practice in the litigation of clients in toxic tort matters, particularly asbestos. Serving as both national coordinating counsel and local counsel, he represents various companies in lawsuits involving claims for asbestos exposure. He has been involved in all phases of mass tort litigation in thousands of cases in Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
Mr. Warhola also engages in the representation of various parties in both commercial and residential real estate transactions, including buyers, sellers, lenders, landlords, and tenants. He is a licensed Pennsylvania title insurance agent. Additionally, he has handled a wide variety of matters including real estate litigation, title insurance defense litigation, and title opinions for minerals, oil and gas.
Job Titles:
- Shareholder
- Shareholder of Dickie
Albert P. Veverka is a shareholder of Dickie, McCamey & Chilcote, P.C. and Co-Chair of the Criminal Defense Group. He concentrates his practice in the areas of criminal defense, insurance defense, and medical malpractice. With regard to his insurance defense litigation practice, Mr. Veverka handles insurance defense litigation matters, with a particular emphasis in insurance bad faith litigation, premises liability, professional malpractice, and insurance coverage issues. He is a member of the firm's Insurance Law and Litigation Group.
Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Veverka served as an Assistant District Attorney in Allegheny County. Additionally, he interned for United States Senator Barbara Boxer of California and the Honorable Max Baer, Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice, and clerked for the Honorable Katherine B. Emery of the Washington County Court of Common Pleas.
Job Titles:
- Shareholder
- Shareholder of Dickie, Mc
Anthony W. Jesko is a shareholder of Dickie, McCamey & Chilcote, P.C. and a member of the firm's Energy Group and Real Estate Group. He concentrates his practice in all areas of oil and gas law with a particular emphasis in oil and gas litigation, administrative, lead counsel in statutory unitizations and appeals, transaction work, and title.
Mr. Jesko was in-house corporate counsel for an independent exploration and production oil and gas company. As in-house counsel, he frequently advised the CEO, COO, General Counsel, CFO, Executive Vice Presidents, and top senior management on complex oil and gas related legal issues.
He has experience negotiating and drafting numerous legal documents including, without limitation to, leases, lease amendments, ratifications, lease assignments, credit facility agreements, right-of-ways, surface use agreements, water impoundment agreements, disposal agreements, road use agreements, lease swap agreements, agreements to lease, drill to earn and farm-out agreements, letters of intent, purchase sale agreements, confidentiality agreements, joint operating agreements, settlement agreements and various other litigation motions, disclaimers, releases, and license agreements.
Before attending law school, Mr. Jesko worked in corrections.
Job Titles:
- Shareholder
- Shareholder of Dickie
Barbara Y. Strnad is a shareholder of Dickie, McCamey & Chilcote, P.C. and Co-Chair of the firm's Diversity and Inclusion Committee. She concentrates her practice on real estate, energy/natural resources, business transactions, and employment law.
Ms. Strnad counsels various clients on transactional matters, including acquisitions and divestiture, private equity deals, and land and title issues, as well as employment-related agreements and policies. She focuses much of her time on the negotiation and drafting of documents for such engagements, ensuring that clients realize their business objectives. Additionally, she aids clients in estate planning and administration.
Ms. Strnad is experienced in managing due diligence transactions, including commercial buy-sell agreements and energy-related sales and trades. She also handles contract litigation disputes pertaining to employment and real estate. Her energy and natural resources experience extends to matters involving complex leaseholds, fractionalized heirships, dormant oil and gas issues, and abandoned railroad, steel, and industrial properties.
Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Strnad worked in the energy and natural resources group at a regional law firm. She also has experience working in marketing and market research.
Job Titles:
- Managing Attorney
- Principal
Job Titles:
- Shareholder
- Shareholder of Dickie
Bridget K. Sasson is a shareholder of Dickie, McCamey & Chilcote, P.C. Ms. Sasson primarily focuses her practice on curative issues connected to the ownership, lease, purchase, and development of oil, gas, and other minerals throughout the region but also handles construction and insurance defense claims. Her experience is in both transactional and litigation matters, as well as any problem related to real estate.
Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Sasson worked as a title abstractor with a national land management corporation. While in law school, she was a legal extern to former District Chief Administrative Law Judge Thomas M. Burke of the Department of Labor and a legal extern to Judge Dwayne D. Woodruff of the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas Family Division.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
Job Titles:
- Managing Attorney
- Shareholder
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
- Shareholder
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
- Shareholder
Job Titles:
- Managing Attorney
- Member of the Executive Committee
- Shareholder
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Associate of Dickie
David C. Fox is an associate of Dickie, McCamey & Chilcote, P.C. He concentrates his practice in the areas of energy law, mineral law, and real estate, with a particular emphasis in oil and gas.
Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Fox was an associate at a local law firm specializing in oil and gas, where he was tasked with drafting and reviewing certified title opinions. He also assisted clients in certain litigation and transactional matters pertaining to certain real estate title. Mr. Fox is licensed to practice law in Ohio and Pennsylvania and has extensive experience abstracting title in various counties throughout those states.
Job Titles:
- Managing Attorney
- Shareholder
Job Titles:
- Managing Attorney
- Shareholder
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
- Shareholder
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Associate of Dickie
Gabrielle M. Carbonara is an associate of Dickie, McCamey & Chilcote, P.C. and is a member of the firm's Energy Group and Real Estate Group in addition to being an active member of the firm's Pro Bono Committee.
Ms. Carbonara's energy practice is comprised of handling transactional oil and gas matters, including title review and curative work; reviewing complex heirship and leaseholds; preparing certified mineral title opinions, purchase and sales agreements, assignments, deeds, and rights of way; mineral due diligence projects; and contract drafting and negotiation.
With regard to her real estate practice, she handles a wide variety of real estate litigation matters, as well as representing various parties in both commercial and residential real estate transactions, including buyers, sellers, lenders, landlords, and tenants; preparing legal instruments involving land transfer and use; counseling clients in corporate formation, financing, commercial and residential acquisitions and dispositions, purchase agreement disputes, land use, planning and zoning issues, and real estate tax assessment issues. Ms. Carbonara also serves as title counsel and settlement agent for Emissary Settlements, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Dickie, McCamey & Chilcote, P.C. Emissary Settlements offers clients comprehensive real estate settlement and escrow services throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Please visit Emissary Settlements for more information.
Additionally, Ms. Carbonara handles family law matters, with a particular focus in administering step-parent and second-parent or same-sex parent adoptions in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.
Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Carbonara practiced as a lead review attorney for a local mineral-focused land company, as well as an associate attorney with a small local firm specializing in family law, criminal defense, and appeals. While in law school, she was a certified legal intern for KidsVoice and served as an intern to the Honorable Kathleen A. Mulligan of the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas and the Honorable Mary Jane Bowes of the Superior Court of Pennsylvania.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
- Shareholder
Job Titles:
- Shareholder
- Shareholder of Dickie
J. David Ziegler is a shareholder of Dickie, McCamey & Chilcote, P.C. He concentrates his practice in real estate matters and insurance defense litigation. With regard to his real estate practice, he has handled a wide variety of matters including real estate litigation; title insurance defense litigation; title opinions for minerals, oil and gas; title insurance; and title agency E&O defense. With regard to his insurance defense litigation practice, Mr. Ziegler handles insurance defense litigation matters, with a particular emphasis in insurance bad faith litigation, professional malpractice, and insurance coverage issues. He is a member of the firm's Energy Group, Insurance Law and Litigation Group, and Real Estate Group.
Mr. Ziegler has successfully tried jury and non-jury cases to verdict in both Pennsylvania state and federal courts, including cases involving allegations of insurance bad faith.
Mr. Ziegler has also achieved the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest rank in Scouting and a rare honor received by less than five percent of all Scouts.
Job Titles:
- Managing Attorney
- Member of the Executive Committee
- Shareholder
Jeffrey T. Wiley - COO, Managing Director, Shareholder
Job Titles:
- Chief Operating Officer
- Managing Director
- Member of the Executive Committee
- Member of the Officers Team
- Shareholder
- Vice Chair of the Executive Committee
Job Titles:
- Shareholder
- Shareholder of Dickie
Jesse J. Zirillo is a shareholder of Dickie, McCamey & Chilcote, P.C. and serves as Chair of the firm's Energy Group. He is also a member of the Real Estate Group.
Mr. Zirillo has substantial experience handling a wide range of transactional matters for clients in the energy, natural resources, and real estate industries. His practice comprises certified mineral title opinions, title curative, and land and legal due diligence associated with mineral transactions. In addition, he is well versed in oil and gas asset acquisitions and divestitures, mineral leases, joint ventures, joint operating agreements, farm-out agreements, term assignments, acreage trade agreements, sales and marketing agreements, gathering, transportation, and processing agreements. He also has extensive knowledge in commercial and residential real estate transactions, business and commercial transactions, real estate and title litigation, and business and commercial litigation.
Additionally, Mr. Zirillo has experience working in-house with a large international oil and gas company and for a national law firm.
John C. Conti - CEO, President, Shareholder
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Executive Committee
- Chief Executive Officer
- Managing Attorney
- Member of the Officers Team
- President
- Shareholder
Job Titles:
- Memorial Foundation ( Board Member
Job Titles:
- Managing Attorney
- Shareholder
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
- Shareholder
Job Titles:
- Managing Attorney
- Shareholder
Job Titles:
- Managing Attorney
- Shareholder
Job Titles:
- Managing Attorney
- Shareholder
Job Titles:
- Managing Attorney
- Shareholder
Job Titles:
- Managing Attorney
- Shareholder
Job Titles:
- Managing Attorney
- Shareholder
Job Titles:
- Managing Attorney
- Shareholder
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
- Shareholder
Job Titles:
- Principal
- Principal of Dickie
Robert A. Watters is a principal of Dickie, McCamey & Chilcote, P.C. He concentrates his practice in the areas of commercial transactions and litigation, general corporate law, outside general counsel services, and real estate, with a particular emphasis in energy law. Mr. Watters' energy practice focuses in the areas of oil and gas and hydrogen energy.
Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Watters served as senior counsel with an independent exploration and production company in the Pittsburgh area.
Rodger L. Puz - Chief Legal Officer, Shareholder
Job Titles:
- General Counsel
- Member of the Executive Committee
- Shareholder
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Associate of Dickie
- Member of the Firm
Samantha R. Cavalier is an associate of Dickie, McCamey & Chilcote, P.C. She concentrates her practice in the areas of real estate, energy law, and mineral law as well as estate planning and administration.
Ms. Cavalier has extensive experience in the oil and gas industry and represents energy clients on a wide range of transactional matters, including title review, division order title opinions, due diligence, contract drafting and negotiation, and curative work. Additionally, she handles both simple and complex estate planning and administration matters. She counsels her clients on a variety of options, developing comprehensive plans to ensure their needs are met and their directions are carried out.
Ms. Cavalier is a member of the firm's Diversity and Inclusion Committee and Pro Bono Committee.
Prior to joining the firm, she practiced with a local firm in Pittsburgh where she led the estate planning and energy practice groups. During law school, Ms. Cavalier served as a legal intern to the Honorable Joy Flowers Conti of the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
- Shareholder
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
- Member of the Officers Team
- Secretary
- Shareholder
- Treasurer
Job Titles:
- Managing Attorney
- Shareholder
Job Titles:
- Marketing Director
- Member of the Executive Committee
- Shareholder
Job Titles:
- Managing Attorney
- Shareholder