Category Archives: News

Burns White Attorney Stephen Stallings (second from left) participated in a Dec. 8 panel discussion sponsored by the ABA Criminal Justice Section titled: Offers and Proffers: Negotiating Agreements for Cooperating Witnesses and Defendants. Other panelists included (from left) Ken Gormley, Dean and Professor of Law Duquesne University School of Law; Lourdes Sanchez Ridge, Attorney at Thorp Reed & Armstrong, LLP; and Steve Kaufman, Chief, Criminal Division Office of the U.S. Attorney Western District of Pennsylvania. James W. Kraus (furthest to right), Attorney at Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick & Raspanti, LLP, moderated.

On Dec. 13, 2011, Members T.H. Lyda and Chad Wissinger led a webinar on how to survive a Department of Environmental Protection/U.S. Environmental Protection Agency inspection and notice of violation for members of the National Association of Chemical Distributors (NACD).

To watch the recording, visit https://burnswhite.com/videos/20111213_Inspector.wmv.

The Dec. 2 issue of the Allegheny County Bar Association Lawyers Journal features an article with Member Ira Podheiser discussing the firm’s diversity initiative.

PITTSBURGH, November 21, 2011 — Burns White LLC announced the promotion of six attorneys to member status today: Benjamin Basista, Theresa Cignetti and Lyle Washowich of the Pittsburgh office, Maria Granaudo Gesty of the Wilmington, Del. office, and Valerie Lieberman and John Skrocki of the Philadelphia office.

Mr. Basista’s area of focus is in addressing Medicare compliance issues in workers’ compensation, general liability and Federal Employer Liability Act claims. Well versed in Medicare Secondary Payer Statute compliance, Mr. Basista is retained as National Medicare Counsel and Advisory Medicare Counsel by numerous insurance carriers, third party administrators and self-insured entities.

Since 2004 Ms. Cignetti has specialized in workers’ compensation issues and litigation, representing both self-insured companies and insurance carriers before workers’ compensation judges, as well as the Workers’ Compensation Appeal Board. In addition to litigation-related matters, she advises employers on a wide variety of risk management issues related to workers’ compensation, as well as Medicare compliance.

Serving the Wilmington and Philadelphia offices of Burns White, Ms. Granaudo Gesty focuses her practice in nursing home, assisted living and medical malpractice defense matters, identifying potential liabilities associated with medical record documentation and ways to improve the standard of care.

Ms. Lieberman, a manager of the firm’s Workers’ Compensation team in the Philadelphia and Cherry Hill, N.J. offices, has been practicing in this area of the law for more than 17 years, representing insurance companies, as well as self-insured and uninsured employers from a variety of industries. An active member of the Philadelphia Bar Association, she held the position of Defense Chair of the Workers’ Compensation Section in 2006.

With an interest in long-term care, Mr. Skrocki specializes in insurance defense, including nursing home, medical malpractice, premises liability and general liability, with extensive jury trial experience in medical professional liability cases.

As Co-Chair of the Banking and Financial Services Litigation Practice Group, Mr. Washowich represents a diverse clientele from the financial services, business and manufacturing sectors, handling civil, commercial and complex litigation matters.

PITTSBURGH, November 16, 2011 — Burns White LLC earned a national first-tier ranking in railroad law for the second year running and six metropolitan first-tier rankings in healthcare law, medical malpractice defense, personal injury litigation defense and railroad law in the 2011-2012 U.S. News Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” survey.

Rankings are based on a rigorous evaluation process that includes the collection of client and lawyer evaluations and peer review from leading attorneys in their fields nationwide. Those surveyed provided feedback on the individual practice group’s expertise, responsiveness, understanding of business needs, cost-effectiveness, civility, integrity and likelihood of referral.

“At Burns White, we strive to excel in representing our clients and our firm in the communities where we practice,” said Dave White, a founding member of Burns White. “It’s exceptionally gratifying to hear from them, as well as our colleagues, that we are successful in these efforts.”

Conducted by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers for the second consecutive year, the “Best Law Firms” report includes rankings in 75 national practice areas and in as many as 119 practice areas throughout 177 metropolitan locations or states. A complete listing of rankings is available online: http://bestlawfirms.usnews.com/.

For more information on Burns White and its 17 practice areas, including Banking and Financial Services Litigation, Business Practices, Healthcare and Long-Term Care, Medicare Compliance, Transportation, Litigation and White Collar and Government Enforcement, visit the firm’s website at www.burnswhite.com.

PITTSBURGH, November 9, 2011 — Burns White LLC recently added four new associates to the firm’s Pittsburgh location: Katlin L. Connelly of Monroeville, Laura E. Pontzer of Squirrel Hill, Nicholas D. Varischetti of Brockway, Pa. and Katherine M. Wrenshall of Ingomar, Pa.

Ms. Connelly focuses her practice in the areas of healthcare and long-term care, litigation and products liability. A 2011 cum laude graduate of Duquesne School of Law, she served as the Executive Editor of the Duquesne Law Review, Volume 49 and was the recipient of university’s 2011 John J. Sciullo Peer Excellency Award for her outstanding contributions to the school.

Ms. Pontzer works in the firm’s White Collar and Government Enforcement Group. Prior to joining Burns White full time as an attorney, she worked as a law clerk at the firm. Ms. Pontzer graduated cum laude from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law in 2011, where she was Senior Articles Editor of the Pittsburgh Journal of Environment and Public Health Law.

A 2011 graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, Mr. Varischetti’s area of concentration is construction law and business law. In addition to his work at the firm, he serves as a partner of Varischetti Holdings, LP, a family-owned and operated conglomerate, a member of Varischetti Sports, LLC which owns a minority interest in the Pittsburgh Steelers, and a shareholder and director of Guardian Elder Care Holdings, Inc., a healthcare provider.

Ms. Wrenshall practices in the Litigation Group. Prior to joining the firm as an attorney, she worked as a law clerk at Burns White, as well as at the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office and the office of the United States District Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania. She graduated from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law in 2011, serving as the associate editor of the Pittsburgh Tax Journal and earning a Dean Scholarship Award for academic merit.

September 28, 2011 – Jack Bowman, Special Ethics Counsel of Burns White, was awarded the WVU Alumni Association’s 2011 Outstanding Alumnus Award. He was honored at the WVU Homecoming Parade on September 30th.

Please click here to read the article.

September 21, 2011 – Congratulations to Nick Foley, winner of the Boys & Girls Club National Youth of the Year Award. Earlier this month, Burns White partnered with the Sarah Heinz House A Boys & Girls Club, in Pittsburgh, PA for the firm’s Third Annual Wine Tasting Event. Nick Foley was a guest speaker at the event sharing his tremendous story of overcoming adversity in his life.

Read the article here