HORN WILLIAMSON - Key Persons
Barbara S. Magers is a seasoned attorney who has a deep understanding of the construction industry from the inside out. With wide-ranging expertise in counsel and litigation, she provides clients with comprehensive and efficient legal solutions to achieve their goals.
With extensive knowledge of real estate financing documentation and laws, Barbara brings a wealth of insight and experience in litigating construction industry claims, negotiating commercial contracts, managing real estate acquisitions and sales, and providing counsel on risk management.
She is highly experienced in litigating all aspects of complex commercial contract actions in construction, including products liability, breach of warranty, and tort claims on behalf of a construction equipment distributor and an international paint manufacturer.
In addition, Barbara has litigated and tried cases in federal and state courts involving commercial contracts, professional liability, and employment law. Barbara litigated a construction products class action on behalf of a national building materials manufacturer, multi-district products liability cases on behalf of an international pharmaceutical company, and a multi-district Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) action on behalf of a medical benefits insurer.
Barbara received her Juris Doctorate from Dickinson School of Law, where she served as the Notes Editor for the Law Review. She was awarded the Abel Klaw Advocacy Prize for her outstanding performance in a mock trial competition.
Ben Gordon is Senior Counsel, and a member of Horn Williamson's Construction Defect and Commercial Construction Practice Groups. Ben is a seasoned commercial litigator, with significant first- and second-chair trial experience in state and federal courts across the country, as well as in private forums. Ben maintains a diverse practice, which cuts across various sectors, but he has a particular focus on construction litigation. Ben also has significant experience in consumer finance litigation, insurance coverage and defense litigation, toxic tort and products liability litigation, and alternative dispute resolution.
Ben maintains an active pro bono practice, and is the Board Secretary of Philadelphia VIP, an organization that, every year, pairs hundreds of pro bono clients with volunteer lawyers. Ben regularly sits as a sworn arbitrator in both private (the American Arbitration Association) and public/compulsory (the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas) forums, and has presided over dozens of hearings on a wide variety of issues.
While attending law school, Ben tried cases for the Defender Association of Philadelphia and the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office. He received numerous awards for his trial advocacy, oral advocacy and negotiation skills. Ben served as a staff member on the Temple International & Comparative Law Journal and was a fellow in the Rubin Public Interest Law Honor Society. He also clerked for a Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Judge. Ben lives in Philadelphia with his wife and two young daughters.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Member of the Pennsylvania
Brian R. Zappala, Jr. is an associate who shares his time between Horn Williamson's Community Association Practice Group and the Construction Practice Group. Brian helps community associations throughout Pennsylvania navigate difficult situations and resolve disputes in a cost-effective manner. He assists the Community Association Practice Group with: governing document interpretation and enforcement; contract negotiation and drafting; guidance through the transition process; construction defect litigation; collections; and director liability claims. As part of the Construction Practice Group, Brian works with a variety of general contractors, subcontractors and suppliers, assisting them through commercial disputes related to breach of contract, tortious interference, construction defects, surety bonds, recovery and indemnity claims.
Brian has experience representing both plaintiffs and defendants, which helps him to see both sides of a legal dispute and ultimately reach cost-effective resolutions. Prior to joining Horn Williamson, Brian represented corporate entities in a variety of general liability matters, ranging from personal injury and premise liability matters to construction defect and Wrongful Death claims. He has a background navigating all aspects of the discovery process, as well as negotiating favorable settlements for his clients.
Brian is a member of the Pennsylvania and New Jersey Bar, as well as being admitted in the Middle District of Pennsylvania.
Brian is a graduate of the Temple University Beasley School of Law, where he attended on a three-year merit scholarship and earned a Business Law Certificate. Prior to law school, Brian earned a degree in finance and legal studies from the University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School of Business.
Outside of the office, Brian enjoys long-distance running and exploring Philadelphia with his wife and dog.
Carmela is the firm's Director of Operations and brings 30 plus years of experience as a law firm administrator to Horn Williamson. She has experience as a leader of a defense firm, a plaintiffs' firm, as well as a class action litigation firm. Her areas of expertise include, but are not limited to, accounting, human resources, benefits, facilities, systems and marketing.
Carmela is and has been an active member of the Association of Legal Administrators for 25 plus years and has served on the Board of the Philadelphia Chapter in several positions. She is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management and the Delaware Valley Law Firm Marketing Group.
Carmela enjoys the diversity of wearing many hats and interacting with all levels of the firm's personnel.
Professional Affiliations
Association of Legal Administrators
Society of Human Resource Management
Delaware Valley Law Firm Association
Carter N. Williamson is a construction practice attorney who has represented construction industry clients including contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, and owners. He has a background in litigating and resolving legal construction matters from routine common disputes to complex, multi-party litigation.
He has resolved construction matters through litigation, arbitration and mediation in the five-county Philadelphia area, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, and New Jersey State and Federal courts.
Carter can efficiently analyze complex matters and synthesize information into strategy and action plans. He possesses a keen ability to identify problems and craft compelling arguments to successfully resolve issues. His excellent communication skills give him the ability to explain difficult concepts and prosecute or defend a position in any legal or non-legal forum.
Prior to Horn Williamson, LLC, Carter gained extensive experience performing as in-house counsel for general contractors. In that capacity he skillfully negotiated construction contracts with owners and subcontractors collectively valued in excess of $350M. In addition, he counseled contractors on daily operational and legal matters, including subcontractor pre-qualification, risk assessment, claims analysis, and mitigation of subcontractor defaults.
Job Titles:
- Director of Community Association Services for the Community Association Practice Group
Denise Adamic serves as Director of Community Association Services for the Community Association Practice Group. She has been a community management professional for 20+ years and knows firsthand the day-to-day needs and challenges of board members and their managers.
Denise's frontline experience makes her a valuable member of the Community Association Group of Horn Williamson, where she assists in providing practical, proactive, and cost-effective solutions to associations. She coordinates with other practice groups at the firm to ensure that clients receive timely and unparalleled support.
Denise maintains her community manager designations, which includes Professional Community Association Manager (PCAM), the highest designation in the community association industry. She stays current with industry best practices and key topics by participating in industry trade groups like the Community Associations Institute.
She has experience managing a variety of associations, including single family homeowner associations, garden style condominiums, townhomes, commercial condominiums, and high-rise condominiums. Each type of association comes with different sets of challenges. Her knowledge of these challenges enables her to better serve our clients and understand their needs.
Denise has her Bachelor of Arts from William Paterson University and studied at Middlesex University in London, England for a semester. She has lived and traveled abroad extensively and has been exposed to many diverse cultures. She feels that this has helped her to better understand the different cultures residing in this region and in many cases, their unique requirements. It has helped her to build strong professional relationships with the board members and owners that reside in the associations we represent.
Education
William Paterson University, Wayne, NJ- Bachelor of Arts
Middlesex University, London, England- Semester Abroad
Job Titles:
- Real Estate Business Development Coordinator
Heather is our Real Estate Business Development Coordinator and also an American Bar Association Certified Paralegal. Heather plays dual roles at the firm, supporting Horn Williamson's Construction Defect Team as a highly skilled para-professional with broad experience in the construction industry and playing a critical role in the firm's Real Estate and Title Closing practice group.
Heather works with the partners and senior attorneys of our Construction Defect Team drafting pleadings, motions, contracts, and various other legal documents. As a liaison for clients, courts, opposing counsel and various other parties, she is one of the primary public facing Horn Williamson team members. Homeowner clients usually get to know Heather through the client intake and document collection processes and home visits during destructive testing and remediation. With her intensive experience in all aspects of the construction and remediation processes, she works diligently on behalf of clients answering questions and moving cases from inception through conclusion.
Heather is also the primary public facing team member for the Horn Williamson Real Estate and Title Closing practice group for both commercial and residential transactions. She is the firm's liaison for lenders, agents, other party's counsel and title companies throughout the process, drafts and negotiates purchase and sale contracts, works with underwriters to clear any issues with title, and attends closing to ensure a smooth transaction. Heather is knowledgeable in all aspects of title process including abstracting title searches. She prepares all petitions, inheritance tax returns, and other required documents for all estate clients. Heather communicates with clients at every step of the representation and is attentive to details in order to streamline the real estate transaction process. She enjoys making the experience of purchasing or selling a property as simple as possible.
When not at work, you will find Heather spending time with her family, and volunteering her time to advocating for women and children and displaced families, both stateside and internationally. She fostered, and adopted, four sisters and is the mother of seven children total!
Education
Boston University - Post Baccalaureate Paralegal Certificate (ABA Approved)
Pennsylvania State University - B.A. Political Science
Professional Affiliations
National Federation of Paralegal Associations, Inc.
Philadelphia Association of Paralegals - Voting Member: Litigation Committee & Pro-Bono/Community Service Committee
Philadelphia Bar Association - Non-Voting Member
Chester County Paralegal Association - Voting Member: Pro-Bono Committee & Continuing Legal Education Committee
Lancaster County CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates)
Jennifer M. Horn is an accomplished attorney with comprehensive experience in client representation and litigation. She has built her practice representing owners, construction managers, contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, sureties, and homeowners in matters arising from public and private construction projects.
Jennifer leads the Horn Williamson Construction Practice Group. She has extensive skill representing clients with delay claims and routinely works with expert witnesses to prosecute claims for delay, inefficiency, disruption, out-of-sequence work and construction means and methods. She has frequently been called upon to analyze situations as they are developing and assist clients with documenting delays, proposed change orders, default, termination, and other typical issues that may result in a claim.
Jennifer's understanding of building envelope defects including defects to stucco, cultured stone, brick, siding and EIFS, has proved invaluable to the successful resolution of numerous negotiations with builders.
For the last ten years, Jennifer Horn has been named to the Pennsylvania "Super Lawyer" list in the area of Construction, appearing in Pennsylvania Super Lawyers Magazine. Each year, Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters business, recognizes the top 5% of attorneys in Pennsylvania, as chosen by their peers and through independent research. The list recognizes attorneys in more than 70 practice areas, and each year, more than 800,000 attorneys nationwide participate in the survey and selection process.
Judge Gene D. Cohen joined Horn Williamson after serving a second judicial term as a Judge in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas between 2016 and 2019 where he conducted trials and managed non-jury civil litigation. At Horn Williamson, Judge Cohen focuses his practice on all aspects of commercial litigation. He heads the firm's ADR practice, serving as arbitrator and mediator for fee disputes and intra-law firm disputes. Judge Cohen also is available for analysis in fee disputes and legal malpractice claims as an expert witness.
Judge Cohen served his first term as a Court of Common Pleas judge from 1988 until February 2005. He was the supervising judge of an investigating grand jury, a section leader in the Major Criminal Calendar Program, a civil motion court judge, a trial judge for the Civil Division and principal, civil, major non-jury judge. He was a team leader for the Commerce Court Program managing major commercial litigation. He returned to the bench to serve his second term in 2016 after practicing at several firms in Philadelphia.
Over the course of two terms on the bench, Judge Cohen issued significant opinions in several landmark cases. His first term was marked by decisions regarding the Act 111 appeal of the Fraternal Order of Police in the first Rendell administration and the suit by Title Insurance Companies to bring Philadelphia Department of Records into compliance.
In 2018, Judge Cohen issued the decision in the widely reported Wible v. School District of Philadelphia. In that matter, Judge Cohen ruled that under the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act, it is unlawful for a public school to deny a person any of the accommodations or privileges of a school based on gender. Judge Cohen further found the plaintiff in Wible was denied equal access to an education based on the defendants' deliberate indifference to her harassment. On July 17, 2019, in his final ruling on the bench, Judge Cohen found that the City of Philadelphia's 2018 reassessment of commercial properties was unconstitutional and ordered repayment to Center City commercial property owners in Duffield House Associates LP et al. v. City of Philadelphia et al.
Judge Cohen has served as a faculty member and presenter for many legal, educational, and professional organizations. He taught courses in judicial decision making and the history of law at the National Judicial College, where he served as a principal faculty member. He taught the French system of criminal investigations for the National Judicial College in Paris.
Prior to his first term on the bench, Judge Cohen spent nearly 18 years in private practice and served in the Armed Forces in the United States Army Military Police Corps as a captain. In between his two judicial terms, Judge Cohen was a Philadelphia law firm partner, practicing in all aspects of commercial litigation with an emphasis on real estate and railroad matters.
Job Titles:
- Coordinator of Community Association Services
Kimberly Ruch-Alegant is an experienced litigation attorney within the construction defect team at Horn Williamson. Kimberly brings many years of extensive litigation experience in personal injury law and insurance defense.
As a Philadelphia transplant originally from Virginia and then Allentown, Kimberly fell in love with everything about Philadelphia while attending Drexel University as a biology major. Kimberly began her academic studies with the intention of becoming a scientist. However, she soon found she would rather use her scientific knowledge helping people in the area of law.
Kimberly started her legal career as a clerk in a patent law firm. She realized, rather than filling out paperwork, she wanted to help people in other ways. Therefore, she moved from patent work to litigation work in both insurance defense and personal injury. She found helping people on the plaintiff's side of personal injury law and other areas of law brought her the greatest satisfaction.
Kimberly now enjoys combining her knowledge of science and the law to help people dealing with construction defect issues with their home. She believes people need an advocate who will fight against the big developers to repair any issues their negligence may have caused.
Laura Garber brings experience from multiple clerkships in the Superior Court of Pennsylvania working with intermediate appeals court judges to her litigation practice. She focuses on Horn Williamson's appellate practice and shares time with the Construction Defect Group and Community Association Practice Group. Laura brings a practical sensibility to all legal disputes and serves her clients with effective and well-reasoned strategies.
Prior to joining Horn Williamson, Laura represented plaintiffs in matters ranging in size from large scale, multi-district antitrust disputes to condominium associations seeking to recoup relatively small amounts owed for past-due association fees. During her career, Laura has had the privilege of clerking for the Honorable William J. Martin, President Judge of Indiana County, the Honorable Ellen Ceisler, when she served in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, and the Honorable Anne E. Lazarus and the Honorable Carolyn H. Nichols of the Superior Court of Pennsylvania.
Laura is a graduate of the University of Michigan Law School, where she attended on a partial scholarship. Laura graduated magna cum laude from Grove City College with a Bachelor's degree in English and a minor in Business. Laura was raised by an entire family of avid entrepreneurs, giving her an excellent background to develop creative ideas to serve her clients.
Outside of the office, Laura enjoys cooking, playing a variety of musical instruments, and spoiling her cats, who do not care.
Lily is an Associate at Horn Williamson. Lily's practice is focused on a variety of litigation matters including residential construction defects and commercial litigation. Prior to joining the firm, Lily served as a Judicial Law Clerk to the Hon. Bradley V. Manning and the Hon. Monica A. Horton in the Delaware Court of Common Pleas, where she gained significant exposure to civil litigation matters, including those involving construction defect.
Lindsey McElhatten joined the firm after a clerkship in the Superior Court of New Jersey with the Hon. Stacey D. Adams wherein she gained valuable experience in civil litigation, mediation, and case management.
Lindsey grew up in a small, rural, farming town in south Louisiana. She is from a family of tradespeople and farmers who taught her the merits of hard work and taking pride in everything she does. She attended Louisiana State University, and graduated magna cum laude with a degree in history while simultaneously working full time in restaurants to support herself.
After graduating from LSU, Lindsey moved to the southeastern Pennsylvania area. Law school was the natural choice for her to put her writing and research skills, as well as years of customer service experience, to use. She attended Drexel's Thomas R. Kline School of Law in Philadelphia where she was an active member of the School's Moot Court Board, the OUTLAW organization, and the Women's Law Society.
Lindsey has helped clients in many different areas of law. While in school at Drexel Thomas R. Kline School of Law, she assisted clients in complex criminal and immigration matters during her internship with the Federal Litigation and Appeals Clinic. Her clinic work included successfully representing clients in immigration detention hearings, drafting appellate briefs, and working on pardons. She also worked as an intern with the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General and the City of Philadelphia's Law Department where she assisted both entities' child welfare units.
After nearly thirty (30) years of distinguished full-time practice in the area of Construction Law, Margaret Underwood is now Of Counsel to Horn Williamson. During her full-time practice of law, Ms. Underwood provided high-level legal services to local, national, and international owners, contractors, and subcontractors on many of the largest and most prestigious construction projects located in and around the Philadelphia Area and as far away as Europe and the Marshall Islands.
Her extensive experience includes: drafting and negotiating construction contracts for large, complex projects; OSHA regulations and violations; and construction claims/disputes of every kind. Ms. Underwood continues to provide legal counsel and advice to the clients and attorneys of Horn Williamson in connection with all matters related to construction, construction disputes, construction contracts, and construction projects.
Ms. Underwood has been named as one of the Best Lawyers of America® from 2016 through 2023 in the field of Construction Law. For the last 15 years, she has also received a rating of "AV® Preeminent" by Martindale-Hubbell®. In 2010, she was selected for the inaugural edition of the Martindale-Hubbell Bar Register of Preeminent Women Lawyers™.
From 2006 to 2022, Ms. Underwood was named to the Pennsylvania "Super Lawyer" list in the area of Construction Law, appearing in Pennsylvania Super Lawyers Magazine. Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters business, recognizes the top 5% of attorneys in Pennsylvania, as chosen by their peers and through independent research. In 2016, Ms. Underwood was selected as an inaugural Fellow of the Construction Lawyers Association of America.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Chairman of the Community Association Practice Group
Matthew C. Collins serves as the Chair of the Community Association Practice Group at Horn Williamson. He represents community associations throughout Pennsylvania, providing his clients with expert advice so they can navigate difficult situations and resolve issues in a practical and cost-effective manner.
Community associations routinely engage Matthew for assistance with governing document interpretation and enforcement; contract negotiation and drafting; guidance through the transition process; construction defect litigation; collections; and director liability claims. He is also sought after by individuals and businesses for his strategic guidance and innovative solutions on matters involving contracts, real estate, and commercial disputes.
Through effective risk management and creative problem-solving, Matthew regularly helps his clients avoid litigation. When litigation is necessary and unavoidable, Matthew's clients seek his commonsense perspective and pragmatic approach to resolving serious disputes. No stranger to the courtroom, he is an effective advocate with considerable experience in state and federal courts.
Matthew is a frequent lecturer and panelist, participating in seminars in community association law throughout Pennsylvania for management and real estate professionals. Matthew is an active contributor and participant in the Community Associations Institute, where he has worked hard to advance the interests of community associations by serving on the Legislative Action Committee and the Political Action Committee for several years. Matthew is frequently invited by management companies to speak to community managers and board members.
Matthew is a Partner in Horn Williamson's Commercial Construction Group. An experienced litigator and transactional attorney, he provides legal counsel to construction companies/contractors, commercial property owners/commercial property managers in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. He handles a wide array of issues including contract drafting and negotiations, change orders, delays, mechanics' liens and payment disputes.
Megan Shannon is a litigator with diverse experience in public records litigation, insurance coverage, and commercial litigation.
In her public records practice, Megan represents businesses and individuals seeking information from government agencies. She advises a range of clients, including contractors looking for insight into the government bidding process. Megan has helped clients navigate state public records laws as well as the Federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). She has represented clients at every stage under Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law, from administrative appeals before the Office of Open Records through arguing before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
Megan also has extensive experience in both insurance coverage and general commercial litigation. She has represented policyholders in disputes with their insurers in the context of the duty to defend, business interruption coverage, D&O, E&O, EPLI, and bad faith claims. She has assisted large companies with internal investigations and defended municipalities against multimillion-dollar lawsuits stemming from personal injuries.
Horn Williamson Litigation Chair Mike Hayes has been practicing in Philadelphia for more than 20 years. Prior to joining Horn Williamson, Mr. Hayes' experience focused on complex commercial litigation in Federal and Pennsylvania state courts, government investigations involving pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers, internal investigations, electronic discovery, data privacy, and attorney ethics matters. Mr. Hayes also served as the founding chair of his prior firm's eDiscovery Group and as the chair of its Pro Bono Committee.
There his practice focused on complex commercial litigation in Federal and Pennsylvania state courts, government investigations involving pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers, internal investigations, electronic discovery, data privacy, and attorney ethics matters. Mr. Hayes also served as the founding chair of the firm's eDiscovery Group and as the chair of its Pro Bono Committee.
Mr. Hayes serves his country as a Major in the Judge Advocate General Corps of the United States Army Reserve, and he is an active leader in the local community. Mr. Hayes is a board member (and former president of the board of directors) for the Homeless Advocacy Project. He also serves as an appointed member of the Cheltenham Township Planning Commission, as an alternate member of the Cheltenham Township Zoning Hearing Board, and as the Scoutmaster for his son's Boy Scout troop.
Mr. Hayes also has been an active member of the Philadelphia Bar Association, where he previously served as the Chair of the Young Lawyers Division, then as an elected member of the Association's Board of Governors, and then as its Parliamentarian.
Mr. Hayes strives to provide Horn Williamson's clients with the best and most cost-effective legal representation, advocacy and counsel possible, whatever the circumstances. He strives to consistently exceed our clients' expectations, because they deserve no less.
Octavio Pineda is the I.T. Director at Horn Williamson with over 20 years of experience in the technology field, specifically law firms. He oversees all technology operations and evaluates them according to established goals the firm seeks to meet.
Octavio devises and establishes IT policies and systems to support the implementation of strategies. He also analyzes the business requirements of all departments to determine their technology needs. Octavio strives to keep Horn Williamson at the cutting edge of technology while making the firm's infrastructure and security a top priority.
While not at work, you can find Octavio at his boxing gym "Lets Be Elite" in Northeast Philadelphia. He has competed as a USA amateur boxer, trained professional boxers and MMA fighters.
Octavio attended St. Joseph's University and possesses various technology certifications.
Education
St. Joseph's University- Associates Degree
Certifications
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Associate in the Community Association Practice Group
Paige L. Baldwin is an associate in the Community Association Practice Group at Horn Williamson. She represents community associations throughout Pennsylvania and provides clients with the advice and research to navigate difficult situations in a cost-effective manner. Paige assists the Community Association Practice Group with: contract interpretation, negotiation, and drafting as well as construction defect litigation. Paige also works with clients in areas related to breach of contract, tortious interference, real estate, and commercial disputes.
Paige has experience representing both plaintiffs and defendants, which enables her to have a comprehensive understanding of the legal process and anticipate legal arguments and strategies employed by both sides of a dispute. Prior to joining Horn Williamson, Paige represented corporate entities in a variety of general liability matters, ranging from personal injury and premises liability matters to products liability and Wrongful Death claims. She has experience navigating all aspects of the discovery process, negotiating favorable settlements for her clients, and has obtained favorable verdicts at arbitrations.
Paige is a graduate of the Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law, where she founded a student organization, worked as a research assistant in Immigration Law and volunteered as a student mentor to first-year law students. As the first in her family to attend law school, Paige was sympathetic to the struggles of first year students and was eager to share her experiences to ease the transition to the new academic environment.
Prior to law school, Paige earned a degree in Environmental Policy with a focus on Environmental Business and Economics from the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences at Rutgers University. Paige had the unique experience of joining a study abroad program at the School of Energy in Reykjavik, Iceland where she studied aspects of environmental engineering and renewable energy production.
When she is not advocating for her clients, Paige enjoys attending hot yoga classes, riding her bike along the Schuylkill River trail, and is training for her first half marathon.
Ryan M. Lockman is the Managing Partner of Horn Williamson, responsible for managing day-to-day operations of the firm. He is also a member of the Construction Defect Team with primary responsibility for all aspects of litigation in state court, federal court, and arbitration.
Ryan is a strategic thinker who works hard to outmaneuver the other side and devises creative ways to favorably resolve his matters.
Some of Ryan's successes include:
Obtained a 3.2-million-dollar jury verdict on behalf of four homeowners in a construction defect trial brought in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas.
Obtained seven figures in arbitration awards on behalf of new-construction homeowners, including over three million dollars against one developer.
Led briefing on successful dispositive motion opposition involving over $10MM in homeowner defect claims
Served as co-counsel in a case before the United States Supreme Court, Heffernan v. City of Paterson (2016), where he drafted the District Court and Third Circuit briefs, assisted in the preparation of the Supreme Court brief, and coordinated strategy with amici at the Supreme Court stage. Ultimately, his client prevailed in a 6-2 ruling, vindicating the First Amendment rights of public employees nationwide.
Negotiated over ten million dollars in favorable settlements for clients in construction defect, employment discrimination, and retaliation cases.
Represented clients in winning appeals before the PA Superior Court, PA Supreme Court, and Third Circuit Court of Appeals.
Ryan was also tapped by WNYC's "The Takeaway" to provide analysis of Los Angeles V. Mendez (2017).
When he is not in the office, you might find Ryan cooking or cycling around the City. He also loves spending time with his son, Noah, and his wife, Lauren.
Sandra Reed is an asset to the Construction Defect Group at Horn Williamson. She joined the firm following a clerkship in the distinctive Commerce Program, part of the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, Civil Trial Division.
During her clerkship, Sandra gained wide-ranging experience working on complex, commercial civil litigation cases involving business enterprises, class actions, and sophisticated matters that require extensive case management.
Growing up in a working-class family, Sandra was exposed to the difference between caring and quality contractors and those who cut corners to make a few extra dollars. Her family upbringing also taught her to always be the hardest-working person in the room.
More importantly, her background gives her the ability to relate to her clients. She understands the importance of clearly explaining issues to clients without legalese. She uses her communication style to relate to her clients and their concerns.
Sandra has helped many clients in various areas of law. While working with the Rutgers Law School Civil Practice Clinic, she successfully represented clients in administrative hearings regarding the denial of Social Security benefits. She also advised clients and drafted estate planning documents, such as wills, trusts, living wills, durable and healthcare powers of attorney, and guardianship designation documents.
She has worked with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Pennsylvania, where she contributed to cases in which the ACLU represented individuals whose civil rights were violated, including First Amendment free speech and free exercise of religion violations.
Finally, during her internship at the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations, she drafted enforcement guidelines and internal training materials for staff investigators for the Philadelphia "Ban the Box" Ordinance, prohibiting employment discrimination on the basis of criminal and arrest records. In addition, she has contributed to the closing of cases in which the PCHR investigated allegations of discrimination in employment, public accommodations, and housing discrimination on the basis of protected classes, such as race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, disability, domestic violence status, age, religion, familial status, and income.
Sandra's notable legal contributions include:
As an intern with Rutgers Law School Civil Practice Clinic, she successfully represented clients in administrative hearings regarding the denial of Social Security benefits, securing favorable rulings for her clients.
When working with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Pennsylvania, she contributed to cases in which the ACLU represented individuals whose civil rights were violated, including infringements on First Amendment free speech and religious freedoms.
During her internship at the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations, she drafted enforcement guidelines and internal training materials for staff investigators for the Philadelphia "Ban the Box" Ordinance, prohibiting employment discrimination on the basis of criminal and arrest records.
When not helping to solve legal problems, Sandra loves being outside as much as possible. She loves hiking, camping, hunting, and snowboarding in her free time. Sandra began her life in Washington State and was raised in rural northern New Jersey. She now lives in the Philadelphia area and loves all that the area has to offer.
Scott Hofer has concentrated on construction law and commercial litigation through most of his career.
Scott's construction law experience includes representation of general contractors, sub-contractors, design professionals and insureds of national insurance companies. He regularly handles all types of construction law matters including contract disputes, change order issues, construction defects, surety claims, OSHA, DBE, FCA and government contract litigation. In addition, he also has significant experience counseling clients on issues related to contract formation and administration.
Scott's commercial experience includes a wide variety of business disputes involving contracts, directors and officers (D&O), TCPA, FDCPA, payment and collections, unfair business practices, non-competition matters, and other business liability claims.
Scott is admitted in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, and District of Columbia. He has tried all manner of cases to verdict including jury, bench, arbitration, and administrative cases. Mr. Hofer attended The University of Iowa for his B.A. and The George Washington University Law School for his J.D.
Job Titles:
- Discovery Data Operations Manager Senior Paralegal
- E - Discovery Data Operations Manager Senior Paralegal
Scott VanZant is a gifted paralegal who has earned his reputation as an astute, detail-driven, and steadfast case manager in the litigation world. His unique blend of professional and academic excellence provide for a client confidence and experience few others can deliver at his young age. For his clients' success, Scott values teamwork, collaboration, and an unwavering commitment to quality work.
Scott comes with extensive experience in litigation work.During his tenure at the Office of Attorney General in Philadelphia, he worked in both torts and civil rights litigation defending Commonwealth agencies for claims filed against them. He has ample experience in pre-litigation investigations,all things discovery, and engaging in fact-finding missions. He was often the principal paralegal in drafting discovery responses and organizing production sets to advance litigation. His most common clients, for example, were the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, the Department of Corrections, and the Department of Human Services.
Scott's specific expertise is his ability to assist clients in large-scale document review in complex litigation matters. Scott has training in multiple e-discovery platforms that provide clients with cost-effective document management. Scott was also the principal paralegal responsible for multiple e-discovery projects involving litigation of a highly confidential nature. He has been trusted with the most sensitive of matters.
As a fun fact, Scott is also a published author! During his graduate studies, Scott co-authored two studies in peer-reviewed, refereed journals. He had the privilege to present his work across the country, and once at the University of Oxford.
Education
Temple University - Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice
Temple University - Master of Arts in Criminal Justice
2 Penn Center Suite 1700 + 1500 JFK Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19102
Thomas P. Stevens has represented businesses and their owners as a trusted advisor for more than 30 years, and, when the need calls for it, he has represented his clients in court.