PEIRCE - Key Persons
At a young age, Adrian J. DeGori started telling everyone that she was going to be a lawyer-which surprised no one. Her family agreed that she had the personality, the ability to argue a case, and the drive to master the profession. After attending The Pennsylvania State University in State College, she went on to obtain her law degree at Ohio Northern University. She completed a summer internship in criminal defense, only to find that this area of law was not for her.
Wanting to stay close to her family in Sewickley, PA, Adrian always planned to live in Pittsburgh. So, right out of the gate, Adrian started as a contract attorney at Robert Peirce & Associates. When a job opened there in Social Security Disability, she accepted it and has never looked back. Her patience, empathy, and professionalism are the perfect combination for working in this area. As the firm's only attorney handling this department, she enjoys being in court every day and the significant amount of client contact. Social Security Disability is a very tough, complex process, and Adrian finds that keeping her clients informed from start to finish has made a difference. She takes care to be completely upfront with them to ensure they are fully aware of the challenges they may face, as well as the possible outcomes. Her clients feel comfortable and trust her in representing them in matters that can be life changing.
Adrian is a member of the National Association of Disability Representatives (NADR), National Organization of Social Security Claimants' Representatives (NOSSCR), Allegheny County Bar Association, Pennsylvania Bar Association, American Bar Association, American Association for Justice (AAJ), and Pennsylvania Association for Justice. In her free time, Adrian enjoys attending sporting events, trying new restaurants, and spending time with her family and her new baby girl, Vivia.
"My clients applying for social security disability benefits are usually sick, have nothing, and are not working. Some lose everything while waiting for a hearing. They depend on me to win, and I find so much joy in helping them."
A calling is defined as an inner urge to pursue an activity or perform a service, mission, or vocation. Attorney Adriana Frontino had a calling to become a lawyer so that she could help people. She knew it would take hard work and dedication, but she was up for the challenge.
After graduating high school, Adriana went to Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) prepared to ambitiously work towards her goal. In the summer of 2018, she was chosen to enter the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education for the Harrisburg Internship Semester. This highly regarded program offered Adriana an opportunity to work in the midst of Pennsylvania politics and policy while gaining hands-on, real-world experience in her field. She also had the opportunity to work with the PA Department of Environmental Protection conducting research, writing memorandums and press releases. This experience only strengthened her conviction to become a lawyer. She went on to make dean's list and graduated in the spring of 2019 with a BA in Political Science.
Adriana was accepted into Duquesne University School of Law and began laying the groundwork by increasing her experience for her future as an attorney. In June of 2020, she worked as a Law Clerk at a Pittsburgh based law firm where she had the opportunity to work within the court systems drafting arbitration briefs, pleadings, research and discovery questions. The overall experience offered Adriana a keen understanding of the courtroom procedures. She knew how invaluable the opportunity was to help build her credentials as a legal professional. She also was a member of the Women's Law Association; an organization associated with Duquesne University's School of Law that sponsors different programs that provide information on issues of social and legal concern to female law students.
Adriana graduated with a Juris Doctor from Duquesne in May of 2022. Shortly after, she joined Robert Peirce & Associates where she works as a full time associate on medical malpractice and nursing home abuse cases.
Adriana has successfully parlayed her education and experience into her pursuit of becoming a skilled attorney. She is an integral part of the Robert Peirce & Associates team.
It has been said that ‘some wake up for an alarm and others wake up for a calling'. It's a calling that Adriana wakes up for every morning as she is determined to help people get the justice they deserve. She resides in Pittsburgh's Mount Washington area and enjoys running there and the scenic view that our beautiful city has to offer.
Attorney Allison Greene sees her role as helping those whose voice cannot be heard find ground to speak out. Allison grew up in a small, rural town in Arkansas where opportunities were limited, particularly for women. However, Allison's mother instilled in her the drive, ambition, and work ethic to choose what she wanted in life. As a successful swimmer in high school, Allison received a scholarship to Washington & Jefferson College, where she graduated with a major in Religious Studies.
Allison then received a scholarship to attend Wake Forest University School of Law in Winston-Salem, NC. While in law school, Allison worked at the Innocence and Justice Clinic to investigate wrongful exonerations. Allison tested the waters at the Allegheny County District Attorney's Office before joining Robert Peirce & Associates in 2018, where she specializes in medical malpractice and nursing home abuse. Allison advocates for those injured, abused, and victimized in the healthcare system with the goal of reforming its inequities and making sure everyone's voice is heard.
Allison volunteers at Tree Pittsburgh, a nonprofit environmental organization that plants and protects trees throughout Pittsburgh. Allison and her husband enjoy Pittsburgh sports, hiking, and travelling.
Job Titles:
- Registered Nurse
- Support Staff Member
- Nurse Paralegal
Amanda Andrus has been a registered nurse since 2009. She has always had a passion for helping others and her position as a nurse paralegal gives her the opportunity to continue advocating for patients who were wronged. In her role, she helps to support clients and their families, helping to get justice for themselves or a loved one.
With previous roles in pediatric critical care and home-based nursing services, she has the capacity to assess cases with a critical mind, helping to navigate and determine when care was delivered below a standard. She is skilled at thoroughly assessing the pertinent records, taking care to always consider the family's perspective and concerns. She applies her experience and knowledge in helping the legal team to determine the extent of injustices.
Amanda grew up in Erie, Pennsylvania. She completed a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree at the University of Pittsburgh, graduating Summa cum laude. She ensures her continuing education is maintained, always staying up to date with the current standards of care.
She looks forward to helping those who unfortunately find themselves going through a difficult time and need someone to listen, advocate, and fight for what is right. She enjoys the team-based approach that Robert Peirce and Associates offers to their clients and takes pride in being a part of it.
Her and her husband, Ryan, have 3 daughters and reside in Cranberry Township, PA. In her free time, you can find her on a soccer field, cheering for her girls and even coaching her youngest. She enjoys spending time with family, cuddling up with a good book, and traveling.
Job Titles:
- Support Staff Member
- Accredited Disability Representative
Barbara S. Manna, B.S., EDPNA, ADR has been employed at Robert Peirce & Associates since 1989, working in the Social Security Disability and Railroad Retirement Disability Department for more than 30 years. She first appeared as a representative before an Administrative Law Judge in August of 1995, passed the first test offered by the Social Security Administration allowing her to be Eligible for Direct Payment of Fees (EDPNA) in 2005 and fulfilled the requirements of a Professional Accredited Disability Representative in 2009.
She has successfully represented thousands of clients in the Pittsburgh area and in other locations up and down the east coast. She has also prepared Appeals Council Briefs and drafted District Court medical and appeal summaries.
Ms. Manna has made a number of appearances before various advocacy groups regarding Social Security Disability and offered training seminars and presentations at a number of National Association of Disability Representative (NADR) Conferences since 2011. She served two years as the Director at Large; 2 years as secretary, 6 years on the legislative committee at NADR, and has made trips a year to Capitol Hill and to the Social Security Administration in Baltimore. She has been a Member of NADR since 2007 and a sustaining member of National Organization of Social Security Claimant's Representatives (NOSSCR) since 2001.
Job Titles:
- Case Manager
- Support Staff Member
Ever since Aaron Rihn saw Gregory Peck as Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird, he knew he wanted to be an attorney. He takes the time to get to know his clients to understand their needs and learn their expectations to best strategize an approach to their case. Aaron is passionate about the law and dedicated to treating each and every one of his clients with the respect they deserve.
As a Partner at Robert Peirce & Associates, Aaron leads the firm in complex litigation matters, including class actions, wage and hour collection actions, pharmaceutical cases, civil rights cases, and other product liability cases, as well as appellate matters. He infuses his passion for the law into every case, allowing him to strongly resonate with a jury.
Over the course of his career, Aaron has helped his clients recover in excess of $50 million in verdicts and settlements. He has tried cases to verdict in both Pennsylvania and West Virginia and has argued before a number of the highest appellate courts, including both the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals and 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Aaron is a consummate leader in his field and was appointed to the Plaintiffs' Steering Committee in the Federal Prempro MDL. He has been selected as a Top 100 Trial Lawyer and to the Top 40 Lawyers Under 40 by the National Trial Lawyers Association, as well as named a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer Rising Star. He is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, the Multimillion Dollar Advocates Forum, the American Bar Association, Pennsylvania Bar Association, American Association for Justice, Western Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association and Allegheny County Bar Association.
Aaron attended Grove City College, where he received his Bachelor of Arts in Literature, and then graduated from the University of Richmond T.C. Williams School of Law. He grew up in Tarentum, PA, a mill town just north of Pittsburgh. Like many other working parents, his free time is spent hopping from extracurricular activity to extracurricular activity with his three children, and he loves every second of it.
Elizabeth (Liz) Chiappetta takes great pride in being the firm's first female partner, handling cases in multiple areas, but particularly nursing home abuse and personal injury. When dealing with families who have lost a loved one, or with someone who has undergone a life-changing accident, Liz takes care to be candid while balancing how the truth may be hurtful or upsetting. She believes that women bring a unique perspective to the table and that, particularly in the recent resurrection of women's rights, clients sometimes look for female representation because of the innate connection.
Growing up in Buffalo, NY, Liz developed an interest in advocating for pro civil justice organizations and political candidates through her parents. Now, she has assumed a high-profile position on the Board of Governors and Executive Committee of the Pennsylvania Association for Justice and is slated to become President for 2022-2023. She is Co-Coordinator of the Long Term Care Clinic, Pittsburgh Pro Bono Partnership. She served as President of the Western Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association (WPTLA), a service-oriented group that supports the rights of injured people. Liz has been a Super Lawyer Rising Star since 2013 and was inducted into the Academy of Trial Lawyers of Allegheny County in 2017. She is a member of the American Association for Justice (AAJ), Allegheny County Bar Association, Pennsylvania Bar Association, and American Bar Association.
Liz attended Boston College and Duquesne University School of Law, where she met her husband Timothy, who also is a lawyer. They now reside in his hometown of Mt. Lebanon with their sons Beau and Matthew (Mac). Her family supports the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation, Children's Trust as members and are members of St. Michael the Archangel Parish. She also is an Alumnae Advisory Board member of Nardin Academy, where she attended high school in Buffalo, NY.
"I'm a mom. I'm a wife. I'm a friend of lifelong friends. I'm a sibling, a child, and a grandchild. It is my experience in these roles that helps me relate to my clients."
Education
Duquesne University School of Law, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
J.D. - 2007
Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts
B.A. cum laude - 2004
Honors and Awards
Super Lawyers Rising Stars, 2013 - 2021
Job Titles:
- Registered Nurse
- Support Staff Member
- Nurse Paralegal
Erin Martin has been a registered nurse for over 30 years and was drawn to legal nurse consulting because of her desire to act as an advocate for the countless patients she encountered over the years who came to the hospital as victims of nursing home neglect and abuse.
A critical care nurse, Erin has the knowledge and resources to understand complex medical issues and can quickly identify when a client's loved one receives substandard care in a nursing home or a hospital.
As a nursing educator for twenty years, she taught up-and-coming nurses how to be better advocates for patients, serving as their voice when they were unable to speak for themselves.
Erin grew up in Wheeling, WV and graduated from the West Virginia University School of Nursing. She went on to receive a Master's degree in Nursing Education from Waynesburg University. She received her paralegal certification from Duquesne University, and she graduated from Capital University's Life Care Planning program. In 2020, Erin graduated from Duquesne University with a Post-Master's Certificate in Forensic Nursing. She learned a great deal about sexual assault during her training to be a forensic nurse, and this provides her with great insight into sexual assault cases. She plays an integral part in these cases. Additionally, she is a certified critical care registered nurse and a certified life care planner.
Erin and her husband, Rex, have four sons and enjoy time spent with their family. They are proud to be a military family.
When it came to deciding on a career path, Attorney Jacob Landau was not short on choices. Both sides of Jacob's family offered him exposure and opportunity to two very different paths. For over 130 years, Jacob's father's side of the family has owned Landau Building Company, one of Western Pennsylvania's premier commercial construction and contracting firms. By contrast, his mother's side of the family is represented by a long history of successful attorneys. The choice ended up being an easy one when Jacob realized that he was not a very good carpenter and that his true interest was to pursue a career in law.
Jacob graduated magna cum laude with a BA in History from Allegheny College in Meadville, PA. He was recognized as a Distinguished Alden Scholar and was a member of several academic honor societies including Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Sigma Iota, and Phi Alpha Theta. Jacob then went on to attend the University of Pittsburgh School of Law where he was an Executive Editor for the Journal of Technology, Law and Policy. He received the CALI Award Spanish for Lawyers, the Dean's Scholarship, and the Trial Advocacy Award. Over his college career, Jacob had the opportunity to garner experience working as a law clerk at area law firms, including, Ogg, Murphy & Perkosky, PC where his uncle is a partner. Afterword, Jacob worked as a clerk at Robert Peirce & Associates, PC.
His hard work and experience paid off and Jacob graduated from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law cum laude in May 2021. Upon passing the Pennsylvania Law Bar, Jacob joined Robert Peirce & Associates, PC in August of 2021.
Jacob acted as a primary point of contact for the firm's clients in COVID 19 litigation, has assisted in mass tort litigation and is currently working on nursing home and medical malpractice cases. Being able to help people that have suffered because of the negligence of another is incredibly rewarding for Jacob.
Jacob resides in the North Hills area of Pittsburgh with his beloved cat, Saladin, and is a history buff that enjoys blacksmithing as a hobby and has made bottle openers, knives, broaches and various other unique knickknacks.
"It is so rewording to be able to help our clients navigate through the legal process and receive the justice they deserve. That makes it all worth it," said Jacob Murphy Landau.
Education
Allegheny College, 2012 - 2016
University of Pittsburgh School of Law, 2019 - 2021
Job Titles:
- Controller
- Support Staff Member
Job Titles:
- Senior Associate
- Member of the Multimillion Dollar
Katelyn Dornburg Edwards never had a doubt about the career path she wanted to follow. Beginning in high school, she clearly saw her future as an advocate, thanks to some time spent helping her mother and aunts care for her grandmother. Kate saw firsthand the emotional and physical toll some families in this situation experience and the importance of having an advocate. She knew she wanted to focus on law and nursing home abuse cases. Her goal is to take the burden of substandard care and legal claims off the family's plate so they can focus on their loved one.
"Society will be judged by how it treats its weakest members." For more than 100 years this quote has been stated in various ways by leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi and Winston Churchill. Attorney Kirstin Kennedy was inspired by the sentiment from the moment she first heard it.
Kirstin graduated cum laude from the University of Pittsburgh in 2012 with a dual degree in English Literature and Non-Fiction Writing. Upon graduation, she was hired by the Beaver County Times and spent six years as a reporter responsible for covering breaking news and investigative journalism. During her time as a reporter, Kirstin published stories about healthcare systems, business, public health, crime, and the local courts. She enjoyed the accolades that came with being an accomplished journalist and was the recipient of recognition by the Associated Press Media Editors, the Pennsylvania News Media Association's Keystone Awards, and the Pittsburgh Press Club's Golden Quill Awards.
Her work required her to research criminal cases, interview victims of crimes, and observe our system of justice. It was a difficult decision to leave journalism, but she was ready for a challenge and decided to apply to law school.
During her first year at Duquesne University School of Law, Kirstin worked as a Certified Legal Intern and gained valuable hands-on experience. Throughout law school, she focused on broadening her knowledge and became a member of the Duquesne Unemployment Compensation Clinic, which involved helping clients navigate the unemployment compensation system. In addition, she became a member of the Duquesne Trial Advocacy Team, a member of the faculty-student Mentorship Program, a staff Member of ‘Joule' the Energy & Environmental Law Journal, and a writer for the Juris Magazine.
Kirstin graduated from Duquesne University School of Law in May 2021 with an impressive list of honors. She was the Recipient of the 2021 Edward Ohlbaum Trial Advocacy Award for "Best Advocate" in the National Trial Competition, the Lynette Norton Memorial Award, the 2020 Cali Excellence for the Future Award in Election Law, the 2021 Cali Excellence for the Future Award in Expert Evidence and she was inducted into The Order of Barristers.
After passing the Pennsylvania bar exam, Kirstin joined Robert Peirce & Associates. She hit the ground running to help give direction and be there to support clients while playing an active role in their quest for justice. Kirstin combines her interest of writing and researching the law to help people. She primarily works on medical malpractice and nursing home negligence cases.
Mark D. Troyan always knew law would be a good career choice, as his strengths not only lie in skilled communication and advocacy, but also with a keen sense of business. Balancing the two has served his clients well in his position as a Partner with Robert Peirce & Associates.
Mark received his undergraduate degree in Economics at Duquesne University and briefly considered pursuing an MBA, but his interest in law ultimately won out. He earned his J.D. cum laude from Duquesne University School of Law and then became a clerk at Robert Peirce. Now, Mark mainly handles personal injury and asbestos litigation, in addition to medical malpractice cases. A self-described "people person," Mark enjoys carefully working through a case with his clients, taking in their stories so he can thoroughly understand what they and their families are going through and help them to determine the best path forward. Balancing this personal communication with the tougher task of negotiation is something he handles easily, and his dedication to helping people provides a solid foundation to his work. Mark strongly believes that the firm's team-oriented approach and family-centered environment allow everyone to work well together, which ultimately benefits their clients.
Mark has been named to the Top 40 Lawyers Under 40 by The National Trial Lawyers. He is a member of the Western Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association and American Association for Justice. He belongs to the Pennsylvania Bar Association and Allegheny County Bar Association.
Growing up in Ford City, PA, a small town, helped mold Mark and led him to Duquesne University, where he served as placekicker on their football team for four years. Still following local sports and playing golf when he can, Mark now enjoys spending most of his free time with his wife, son and daughter.
Education
Duquesne University School of Law, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
J.D. cum laude - 2012
Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
B.S.B.A. - 2009
Officer Michael Rosfeld to be named in lawsuit involving 2017 Oakland bar incident
Robert F. Daley takes a simple approach to the practice of law-always put each client's interest first. He believes in treating every client with respect and dignity and in working hard to see that justice is done. Bob's 20 years of experience have given him a unique ability to see the big picture in any case and to anticipate outcomes before they occur. He has produced groundbreaking changes to national health care law and asbestos law through more than 20 appellate arguments before the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, the Supreme Court of West Virginia, the Superior Court of Pennsylvania, and the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania. In daily practice, Bob manages and litigates nursing home cases, asbestos cases, complex litigation, and class actions and has recovered more than $100 million dollars for his clients through negotiating settlements and winning verdicts.
Thankfully for the firm's clients, Bob pivoted his career after working as a chemical engineer for eight years, following his graduation from the University of Dayton. In 1995, he switched gears and headed to Duquesne University School of Law to begin a career where he could work with real people who have real problems, one on one. Bob served as a senior staff member on the Duquesne University Law Review and graduated cum laude in 1998. He then joined Robert Peirce & Associates and has been there ever since.
Fighting for the rights of others was a natural path for Bob. He was born in Duquesne, a small steel town in Western Pennsylvania, and his father, both of his grandfathers, and countless uncles and cousins made their livings, at least for a time, working in the steel mills. This allowed Bob to witness firsthand the value of hard work, but also caused heartache when he saw the town's devastation after the mills closed and further when two of his uncles died as a result of asbestos-caused cancers. He applies those values and lessons to his practice every day.
Bob contributes to educating future lawyers as an adjunct professor at Duquesne teaching Trial Advocacy and is a Trial Moot Court Coach. He is a member of the American Bar Association, Allegheny County Bar Association, Pennsylvania Bar Association, Western Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association, and Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association. He is an elected member of the Academy of Trial Lawyers of Allegheny County. He serves on the Board of Governors of the Pennsylvania Association for Justice, was formerly the Chair of the American Association for Justice (AAJ) Nursing Home Litigation Group, where he also previously served as its parliamentarian and treasurer. Bob has been both a Regional and National Coordinator of the AAJ Student Trial Advocacy Competition, coordinating regional competition for seven years and the National Competition on one occasion.
Bob is also an invited member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum and has been named a Rising Star and Top Pennsylvania Lawyer by Super Lawyers. He received the National Appellate Advocacy Award from The Pound Civil Justice Institute in 2016 for his work in Tooley v. AK Steel, and has received an AAJ Appreciation Award for his work with the Law Student Moot Court Competition.
Job Titles:
- Founding Partner
- Managing Partner
- Founder of Robert Peirce & Associates
The founder of Robert Peirce & Associates, Robert N. Peirce Jr. (Bob) knew early on that he wanted to pursue a career in law. What he did not know at the time, was just how extraordinary his career path would be.
As the son of missionaries, financing his education was a challenge and he was fortunate to receive a scholarship to attend Geneva College in Beaver Falls. Bob's participation on the debate team solidified his goal to become an attorney and to attend his school of choice, Duquesne University Law School. Duquesne was generous enough to offer Bob an interest free loan and part time work on campus. Upon graduating from law school, Bob was filled with gratitude for the opportunity that was afforded to him. Over the years, Bob has shown his appreciation by repaying both Duquesne University and Geneva College with acts of kindness through donations and the establishment of an interest-free grant-loan program. He went on to also write a piece for The Duquesne Lawyer titled "A Debt to the Law School I've Never Forgotten."
Among his early successes, Bob tried dozens of criminal cases earning great recognition. Two years out of law school, he won a 1st degree murder case. While building his career as an attorney, Bob also developed a strong interest in politics. In 1971, he was elected Clerk of Courts of Allegheny County and was elected to the Office of County Commissioner of Allegheny County in 1975.
In 1980, Bob founded his own firm, Robert Peirce & Associates, laying the building blocks for what would become one of the area's premier law firms. Since then, Bob has built a team of legal professionals that have counseled, advised, represented, and litigated on behalf of clients nationally in all 50 states.
A profoundly respected attorney, Bob is a member of the Allegheny County Bar Association, Pennsylvania Bar Association, National Panel of Arbitrators, American Arbitrators Association, American Association for Justice, Academy of Rail Labor Attorneys, Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association, Million Dollar Advocates Forum. He was one of seven attorneys selected by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to be a member of the Elder Law Task Force Committee. He serves on the Board of Directors of Heinz History Center and Manchester Bidwell Corporation and has received numerous awards for both professional and personal accomplishments throughout his life.
Under Bob's leadership, Robert Peirce & Associates has become one of the country's major law firms in handling mass tort cases. The firm has represented over 21,000 railroad employees and more than 4,000 steel workers who suffered from asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma. Personally, Bob has handled over 10,000 real estate tax assessment cases. Early in his practice, Bob was one of the first attorneys to handle Social Security Disability cases. Having represented over 30,000 cases, Robert Peirce & Associates is one of the largest Social Security Disability law firms in Western Pennsylvania.
Building a family business anchored by generational values of trust and integrity remains the foundation of Robert Peirce & Associates. Today, Bob's son, Rob serves as the Managing Partner of the firm. He has achieved a substantial amount of success both in and out of the courtroom and is largely responsible for the firm doubling in size.
For Robert N. Peirce III (Rob) being an integral part of the family business is an honor. As Owner and Managing Partner of the firm, Rob works closely with his father Robert N. Peirce Jr. (Bob) the founder of Robert Peirce & Associates. Together, they have built one of the areas most respected and dominant law firms.
Rob earned a degree in Communications from Michigan State University, at Michigan State he played Lacrosse and was a 4 year letter winner. Following in his father's footsteps, Rob graduated from Duquesne University School of Law.
Upon joining the firm, Rob litigated hundreds of personal injury and accident cases and began making a significant impact by pursuing lead paint poisoning cases and representing children across the nation who were exposed to lead based paint in government housing. This experience resulted in the firm increasing a growing number of pharmaceutical, and product liability cases and helping thousands of clients who have suffered due to corporate negligence. Rob Peirce is recognized as a seasoned litigator who has built a remarkable reputation in skillfully navigating clients through these complex cases.
A respected leader in his field, Rob was a former member of the Western Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association Board of Governors, as well as the Allegheny County Bar Foundation. He is a member of the Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association, West Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, American Association for Justice and most notably, is admitted in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Kentucky, and Ohio to practice law in all four states. Keeping abreast of legal issues and trends are all part of Rob's ongoing commitment to the legal profession. He is a member of the Million Dollar and Multi -Million Dollar Advocates Forum, Lawyers of Distinction 2020, 2021 and 2022 and National Trial Lawyers top 100 Civil Plaintiffs.
Media outlets, both local and national, rely on Rob Peirce as an expert source. Rob has been invited to lend his expert opinion, regarding particular legal issues that arise as part of a news story. NBC News, People Magazine, USA Today, Fox News, ABC News and CBS News are just a few of the prominent media outlets that have featured Rob as an expert. In Pittsburgh, Rob regularly appears as a source for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Tribune Review, Washington Observer-Reporter, KDKA TV, WPXI TV, WTAE TV, multiple radio stations and has a recurring interview role on KDKA Radio's Marty Griffith Show.
Robert Peirce & Associates is a law firm built on generational values of trust and integrity that were passed down in the Peirce family and are the fundamental principles that resonate within the firm today. Hiring likeminded attorneys who share a similar work ethic is of utmost importance. He considers staff to be family and affords them the flexibility and creativity to determine how to best move their own cases forward and encourages collaboration and support among the greater team. The attorneys consider the firm as a home away from home-a great testament to excellent leadership.
Rob and his wife, Stephanie, have two sons, Neill, who is attending Duquesne University School of Law, and Chris, who is a Calvary Scout in the US Army. Outside of work, Rob enjoys spending time with his family and visiting the family hunting camp.
"At our firm, it's never about image or advancement. It's about valuing people, working hard and helping them through a crisis. It's not a coincidence that each and every person who works here is innately empathetic and pursued a legal career because it would allow them to help others." Rob Peirce
Sara Watkins was initially drawn to the field of plaintiff litigation to pursue her passion of helping people in times of need. Her empathetic approach to client interaction allows her to better connect with clients, which, in turn, improves her abilities to represent them both in and out of court. Sara's compassionate style is well balanced by her keen eye for intricate details and complex caselaw, which she uses to advocate for clients in areas including class actions, pharmaceutical and device cases, civil rights matters, personal injury lawsuits, and nursing home litigation.
Growing up in Shaler Township, Pennsylvania, Sara would eventually go to college at Washington & Jefferson College. There, she double majored in Political Science and Studio Art-two topics that represent her out-of-work interests. She then attended Duquesne University School of Law, where she earned a spot on the Duquesne University Law Review and acted as the President of the Jewish Law Student Association.
Over the course of her career, Sara has settled several cases in excess of a million dollars and tried cases to verdict in Pennsylvania. Sara's achievements have been recognized in MDL 3021, In Re: SoClean, Inc., Marketing, Sales Practices & Products Liability Litigation with a formal appointment to the Leadership & Development Committee, which is a committee of junior attorneys who were carefully selected to provide fresh, valuable insight for the MDL.
Sara has been selected as a "Top 40 Under 40" by The National Trial Lawyers. She is a member of the Allegheny County Bar Association, Pennsylvania Bar Association, American Bar Association, and American Association for Justice (AAJ), Pennsylvania Association for Justice, and Western Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association.
In addition to her litigation work, Sara volunteers her legal services to transgender members of the LGBTQ+ community seeking name change petitions through the Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund's "Name Change Project."
Outside of work, Sara is an artist, working on several paintings each year. She considers this a passionate hobby and creative outlet that flows into her practice.
Scott Simon always knew he wanted to help people, and as an attorney in the Healthcare Liability Department at Robert Peirce & Associates, that is exactly what he does every day. Scott represents clients, who, in his own words, are facing one of the worst situations of their lives. While Scott's areas of practice are diverse, all the cases he handles involve protecting and advocating for the rights of individuals that are harmed by the negligence of another. He takes a vested and personal interest in each client and family, and his goal is to help them get answers and justice for the unfortunate, unacceptable situations or treatment they have experienced and endured. This personalized approach has enabled Scott to successfully litigate hundreds of claims on behalf of families who had a loved one injured in a health care facility. Additionally, Scott is a trusted and respected leader within the firm, overseeing the lien resolution of all active litigation for the entire office.
Scott received his law degree from Duquesne University School of Law and his undergraduate degree in political science magna cum laude from California University of Pennsylvania. A college athlete, he played baseball, first in Panama City, FL as a freshman and then at California University of Pennsylvania.
Scott joined Robert Peirce & Associates in 2010 and became partner in 2018. A respected professional in his field, Scott was named to the prestigious Academy of Trial Lawyers in 2020, as well as a Top 40 Under 40, National Trial Lawyers, from 2012-2016 and a Super Lawyers Rising Star from 2013-2022. He is a member of the Allegheny County Bar Association, Pennsylvania Bar Association, American Bar Association, Western Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association, American Association for Justice (AAJ), U.S. District Court Western District of Pennsylvania, and U.S. District Court Middle District of Pennsylvania.
Scott and his wife, Brooke, reside in Cranberry Township. They have three children and enjoy spending time with their family and friends who also live in the area.
"In order to effectively advocate for and represent my clients, I need to understand what my client is looking to accomplish with their particular case. With that, I try to take a personal and individual approach with each case so that the client and I can work as a team to accomplish their goals of the litigation."
Education
Duquesne University School of Law, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
J.D. - 2009
California University of Pennsylvania, California, Pennsylvania
B.A. magna cum laude - 2005