Position: Attorney

Gregory R. Young

Greg Young focuses his practice in commercial and corporate law, including mergers and acquisitions, finance, transactional and strategic counseling, real estate acquisitions, sales and leasing and estate and succession planning for closely-held businesses and their owners.

Greg has substantial experience in mergers and acquisitions, in particular with medical device, distribution, food processing and manufacturing companies and certified public accounting, medical and other professional practices. He regularly advises business clients on general matters, including contract review and preparation and entity formation.  He represents foreign companies in the establishment of subsidiaries and affiliates in the United States and counsels domestic and foreign businesses on distribution, supply, and similar arrangements. In the commercial real estate area, Greg’s experience includes representation of landlords and tenants in commercial leasing transactions and work on joint ventures, sale/lease-back transactions and the acquisition and sale of retail, office and industrial sites.

He is currently a member of the firm’s internal opinion review committee and the mergers and acquisitions second review committee.

MEMBERSHIP
  • Pennsylvania and Berks County Bar Associations
PRESENTATIONS
  • “Tax Issues That Can Impact Your Business,” Barley Snyder Business Seminar (October 2015)
  • “Buying a Company: How to Position Yourself as a Buyer,” Barley Snyder Business Seminar (October 2014)

David R. Confer

Dave is chair of Barley Snyder’s Transportation, Logistics & Trade Industry Group. He is also a member of the Business Practice Group and Alternative Dispute Resolution Service Team. He brings 40 years of experience in real-world problem solving to the firm in areas including transportation and logistics. Prior to joining the firm, Dave served as general counsel and chairman of the board of directors for York County mainstay, The Wolf Organization (currently Wolf Home Products), one of the premier names in home products in the United States.

Dave’s addition to Barley Snyder also signals a dedication to advance the firm’s Practice Excellence® legal process improvement initiative. His long-time experience with process improvement projects will be a key to unlock the potential of the firm’s extensive efforts to continually expand the shape and scope of the initiative.

For Dave to come to Barley represents a full circle in his career path. While in law school at the Dickinson School of Law, the York native clerked at Liverant, Senft and Cohen, which later merged with Barley Snyder to allow the firm to make one of its earliest expansions. Before working with the Wolf Organization, Dave was an assistant attorney general in Pennsylvania and the assistant city solicitor for York.

Dave has also been a strong advocate for York, serving both the city and its nonprofit community with a plethora of high-level volunteer work. He has served as the chair of the board of directors of the United Way of York County and has been a board member at York Habitat for Humanity and Children’s Home of York, to go along with numerous city improvement boards. 

MEMBERSHIPS
  • Pennsylvania Bar Association
  • York County Bar Association, board member, executive committee member, past president of board of directors
PUBLICATION
  • “Lockout Exception to the Labor Dispute Disqualification in PA”, Dickinson Law Review
PRESENTATIONS
  • “COVID-19 Vaccines: The Impact on the Logistics Industry”, webinar (January 2021)
  • “Getting Your Business Back to Business Webinar Part 2”, Barley Snyder Webinar Series (April 2020)
  • “Getting Your Business Back to Business Webinar Part 1”, Barley Snyder Webinar Series (April 2020)
OTHER PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
  • Former Business Law Instructor, Yorktowne Business Institute

George C. Werner

George serves as the firm’s General Counsel. In this role, George is responsible for protecting the firm’s legal interests, maintaining its operations within the scope established by law, and providing guidance on risk management and related liability issues. He also conducts firmwide professional liability training in addition to other tasks.

Prior to serving as General Counsel, George concentrated his practice in complex civil and commercial litigation and risk management for more than 40 years. He assisted clients from the earliest indications of dispute, through trial and appeals if necessary, and frequently consults with clients during transactional matters, in an effort to avoid litigation or to minimize possible damages from litigation. George has tried to verdict or award more than 80 matters in federal and state courts and before arbitration panels. George routinely appears in all Pennsylvania courts and has handled matters in Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Delaware, California, North Carolina and Illinois. Additionally, George frequently corporate investigations in response to allegations of wrongdoing by a company or its officers.

George’s previous substantive areas of practice include patent, trade secret, trademark and unfair competition disputes, contract and business disputes, construction disputes, business torts and fraud claims, lender liability disputes, insurance coverage/ benefits disputes, defamation and commercial disparagement disputes, professional liability claims and defense of catastrophic personal injury claims.

In addition, George regularly presented to business and legal professionals on the litigation-related topics of e-discovery, attorney-client privilege and the work product doctrine, professional conflicts in legal representation, communications with media in litigation matters, and internal investigations.

Intellectual Property/Unfair Competition

George has worked with clients on matters involving Intellectual Property disputes including issues with patent, copyright, trademark, trade dress, trade secrets, confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements, and licensing agreements. Sample representations include:

  • Successfully represented a manufacturer/supplier in the marine construction industry in pursuing a claim of patent infringement in U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, obtaining both preliminary and permanent injunctions.
  • Successfully represented a high-tech company in pursuing a claim of misappropriation of trade secrets and breach of confidentiality against a former employee.
  • Successfully represented an entrepreneur against claims that he misappropriated trade secrets from a national manufacturer of building products (Jury verdict following two-week trial).
  • Successfully represented a manufacturer/supplier in the automotive aftermarket products industry in pursuing and defending claims of trademark infringement.
  • Successfully represented an assembler/supplier in the equine industry against a claim of patent infringement.

Lender Liability

George has represented lending institutions and banks in situations involving complex commercial financing, consumer loans, sales, leases, and other transactions. Such matters pose unique risks and require a thorough analysis and understanding of the transaction, the bank’s customer and the relevant industry. Sample representations include:

  • Successfully defended financial institution in a five-week trial involving claims of breach of fiduciary duty.
  • Successfully defended banking institution against claim of conversion and unjust enrichment in a non-jury trial.
  • Successfully defended banking institution against claim of fraudulent transfer and improvident lending brought as an adversary action in the bankruptcy proceeding of corporate customer.
  • Successfully resolved lender liability claims against a banking institution following a four-week trial involving claims of bad faith brought by bank customer in connection with a floor plan line of credit.

General Business Litigation

George has represented companies in all facets of commercial litigation and complex business disputes which sometimes includes “bet the company” litigation. Sample representations include:

  • Successfully represented a publicly traded company in connection with a merger/buy-out of minority shareholders, which included claims of breach of fiduciary duty and a statutory appraisal proceeding.
  • Successfully represented a large retail chain in a dispute over premiums and coverage with its health insurer.
  • Successfully represented an international retailer in a contract dispute arising out of the sale of certain operations and facilities.
  • Successfully represented a parts distributor against its insurer in a multi-million dollar fire loss claim.
  • Successfully represented the purchaser of a retail food company in disputes with the previous owner.
  • Successfully represented feed supplier in a dispute with a customer involving claims of substantial damages resulting from allegedly tainted feed.
  • Successfully represented a professional in a dispute by a previous employer attempting to enforce a restrictive covenant.
  • Successfully resolved environmental cost claims brought by current owner of manufacturing facility against former owners, following three weeks of trial. 

Construction Law

George has represented owners, design professionals and contractors in cases involving contract interpretation and disputes, payment/collection actions, bid challenges, change order and liquidated damages claims, construction defects, and construction insurance, indemnification and arbitration contract provisions. Sample representations include:

  • Represented owner in multi-million dollar dispute with contractor and subcontractors arising out of construction of a concrete tank.
  • Represented tenant in multi-million dollar dispute with landlord/owner arising out of construction of building for tenant.
  • Represented architect in multiple claims between owner and various prime contractors arising out of construction of a school.
  • Represented owner in disputes between architect and contractor arising out of construction of a retirement home.

Media Law

George has extensive experience working with and representing communications companies, both print and television media, in libel and privacy matters. He has handled cases involving defamation, public officials, invasion of privacy, intent to inflict emotional distress, right to know, and subpoenas of the press room. George has successfully tried cases involving:

  • Successfully obtained summary judgment for a newspaper in connection with claims brought by two public officials arising out of the reporting of a murder investigation.
  • Successfully obtained summary judgment for a newspaper in connection with claims brought by a public official arising out of the reporting of the official’s actions while in office.
  • Successfully defended a newspaper in a two-week trial against a claim brought by an attorney/private citizen.
  • Represented a newspaper in claims brought by private citizens arising out of the newspaper’s reporting of criminal proceedings against private citizens.
RECOGNITIONS
  • Rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell
  • Best Lawyers® “Lawyer of the Year” in Harrisburg – Litigation/Construction (2016, 2019, 2023)
  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Banking and Finance, Litigation – Construction, Litigation – First Amendment (2010-2024)
  • Pennsylvania Super Lawyers (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020)
PRESENTATIONS
  • “Non-Compete Litigation and the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act”, 2018 Barley Snyder Employment Seminar (May 2018)
  • “Doing Business in the Digital World (and Cloud): An Overview of Risk, Applicable Laws and Policies Relating to Information Security”, Barley Snyder Business Seminar (October 2015)
  • “Jolley v. Chase Home Finance – Are Lenders Facing New Threats in Lender Liability Claims?”, Barley Snyder LendiCon Seminar (March 2015)
  • “Ethical Issues Perplexing In-House Counsel”, ACC Seminar: What Keeps You up at Night? (September 2014)
  • “In-House Counsel and the Attorney/Client Privilege – Confusion in the Role of In-House Counsel”, Association of Corporate Counsel (September 2013)
  • “Legal Ethics in Crisis Management”, Association of Corporate Counsel (September 2012)
  • “Ethics Matters and Internal Investigations” The Association of Corporate Counsel Central Pennsylvania Chapter Seminar (October 2011)
  • “Conducting Internal Investigations and Preserving Attorney-Client Privilege” The Association of Corporate Counsel Central Pennsylvania Chapter Seminar (November 2010)
  • “Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law” HACC Foundation (September 2010)
  • “Ethical and Practical Considerations of Social Networking Technology: Blogging, MySpace, Facebook and Twitter.” Lancaster Bar Association (2009)
  • “A Business’ Guide to Intellectual Property Enforcement.” Barley Snyder Business Law Seminar (Spring 2008)
  • “Managing Risk, E-Discovery and Litigation Disasters” The Hershey Company (December 2008)
  • “Managing Risk Through Effective Electronic Information Management.” Chester County Bar Association (September 2005)
CLERKSHIPS
  • Honorable Daniel J. Snyder, Jr. and Honorable Maurice B. Cohill of the U.S. District Court, Western District of Pennsylvania, September, 1978-1980.

David J. Freedman

David Freedman is a partner in the firm’s Employment Practice Group, concentrating his practice in the areas of employment litigation and counseling, higher education law, and business immigration. He also chairs Barley Snyder’s Higher Education Industry Group.

Employment Litigation

David represents public and private employers of all types and sizes – including employers in the health care, higher education, and hospitality industries – in litigation before state and federal courts and administrative agencies. David has represented employers in claims brought under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the Combined Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA), the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act (PHRA), the Pennsylvania Wage Payment Collection Law, the Pennsylvania Minimum Wage Law, the Pennsylvania Whistleblower Law, and the Pennsylvania Unemployment Compensation Law, among others. As a litigator, David has:

  • Defended an FLSA collective/class action involving a multimillion dollar claim with over 2,000 plaintiffs against hospitality industry client
  • Obtained summary judgment in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania for a hospital-employer in case alleging violation of Title VII based on refusal to accommodate geriatric nurse’s claimed religious objections to influenza vaccination requirement
  • Served as lead counsel before the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunities Commission defending a health care system against approximately 30 claims of failure to accommodate religious objections to COVID-19 vaccination requirement 
  • Obtained a trial verdict in favor of an employer in a suit brought by a terminated long-term employee alleging worker’s compensation retaliation in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
  • Obtained trial verdict in the Adams County Court of Common Pleas in favor of a health care system against claims by a terminated physician for alleged violation of Pennsylvania Whistleblower Act 
  • Obtained a preliminary and final injunction from the Adams County Court of Common Pleas in favor of a health care system preventing a former employee-physician from establishing a competing medical practice
  • Successfully defended a health care system against declaratory judgment and preliminary injunction action in York County Court of Common Pleas seeking to invalidate a neurosurgeon’s non-competition agreement  
  • Obtained summary judgment in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania for an employer in an age discrimination case in which the plaintiff sought more than $2 million in lost wages and liquidated damages
  • Obtained dismissal from the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania of case against a health care system alleging violations of the Employee Retirement and Income Security Act (ERISA), the ADEA, the False Claims Act and various state law tort claims
  • Convinced the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court to reverse an administrative ruling permitting an employee terminated for falsifying documents to obtain unemployment compensation benefits
  • Obtained summary judgment for an employer in a case involving allegations of race and age discrimination brought by a 30-year employee in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
  • Obtained summary judgment for an employer in a case involving allegations of race discrimination in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
  • Obtained early dismissal of a sexual harassment claim brought against a local government in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
  • Successfully argued before the United States Court of Appeals for complete reversal of a $23 million remedial order entered against a local government under Title II of the ADA
  • Obtained a trial verdict in favor of a property owner in a breach of contract action arising out of the restoration of a landmark
  • Handled more than 70 unemployment compensation referee hearings and 40 appeals before the Pennsylvania Unemployment Compensation Board of Review 
Labor and Employment Counseling

David also counsels employers on issues related to employee discipline, termination, workplace harassment, wage and hour compliance, and compliance with federal and state laws such as the Fair Labor Standards Act, the FMLA, Title VII, the ADA, the Fair Credit Reporting Act and numerous other employment laws. He has experience counseling employers from a wide variety of industries including the hospitality industry. Some examples of David’s counseling experiences are:

  • Providing training in the labor and employment laws in both English and Spanish
  • Assisting employers in conducting confidential internal investigations into allegations of workplace sexual harassment
  • Conducting internal sexual harassment investigations in Spanish
  • Performing audits to ensure proper classification of employees’ exempt/non-exempt status under the FLSA and the Pennsylvania Minimum Wage Law. (He has also conducted audits of workers’ status as an independent contractor/employee under several laws including the Pennsylvania Unemployment Compensation Law.)
  • Assisting employers in responding to investigations by government agencies, such as the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the United States Department of Labor, the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, and the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry
  • Assisting employers in evaluating their pre-employment screening procedures for compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Pennsylvania Criminal History Information Act, the ADA and Title VII
  • Assisting restaurants in complying with the intricacies of the “tip credit” under federal and state wage and hour laws
  • Drafting complete employee handbooks and reviewing specific policies to ensure compliance with state and federal laws, such as Title VII, the ADA, the ADEA, the FMLA, the PHRA and the Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act (GINA). (He has drafted some of these policies in Spanish for employers with large Spanish-speaking employee populations.)
Higher Education Litigation and Counseling

David provides extensive counseling and training for administrators, faculty and staff regarding student rights and discipline issues arising under a host of federal and state laws including the Pennsylvania Fair Educational Opportunities Act, the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, Title IX of the Educational Amendments Act, the Clery Act, and the Violence Against Women Act. David has assisted colleges and universities in drafting and implementing Title IX-compliant sexual misconduct policies and grievance procedures. David has also served as a part-time Title IX coordinator at a private college in Pennsylvania, giving him a unique “insider’s” perspective regarding the complex nature of Title IX compliance. He has conducted extensive, comprehensive internal Title IX investigations. David also provides institutions with counseling regarding faculty hiring, promotions and tenure removal issues. David has also represented public and private colleges and universities in a diverse array of litigation matters. Some of David’s more notable litigation matters for colleges and universities include the following: 

  • In a matter of first impression, David convinced the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court that students cannot assert claims against institutions of higher education for disability discrimination under the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act for failure to accommodate students’ use of marijuana, even when such use is authorized under the Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Act.
  • Obtained summary judgment in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania in suit brought by former nursing student who alleged that she was removed from the nursing program based on her race
  • Obtained summary judgment on damages claim brought by a suspended student alleging that a private college violated Pennsylvania common law by failing to follow internal discipline procedures
  • Successfully settled Title IX claim against a college based on a terminated professor’s allegedly non-consensual sexual contact with student 
  • Successfully defended dozens of claims before the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, the U.S. EEOC, and the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights by former administrators, faculty, staff and students.
Immigration

David counsels employers and individuals regarding their immigration needs. He has assisted employers in securing non-immigrant work visas and legal permanent residency for new hires and transferring employees within multi-national companies. David also counsels individuals and businesses regarding various immigrant investor programs. His current business immigration work includes:

  • Representing individuals seeking EB-1 immigrant visas, including foreign nationals of outstanding ability, outstanding researchers and executives of multinational corporations
  • Assisting individuals in obtaining a wide variety of employment-based temporary visas, the H-1B specialty occupation visa, the L visa for intercompany transferees, the E visa for treaty traders or investors and the O visa for individuals with extraordinary abilities in the areas of science, art, education, business or athletics
  • Assisting food and agribusiness clients in employment law, specifically with I-9 compliance
  • Assisting employers addressing the nuances of the optional practical training program for employment of F-1 student visa holders
  • Filing lawsuits against USCIS in federal district court challenging unreasonable delays in visa processing and arbitrary and capricious denials of employment-based visa applications under the Administrative Procedure Act
Pro Bono

David also maintains a robust pro bono immigration practice, representing victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and LGBT persecution. He has handled asylum, U-Visa cases, and has represented a habeas corpus petitioner. David currently serves as the lead attorney in the U Visa Litigation Project, which has involved filing federal lawsuits against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for failure to timely decide U visa petitions filed by victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. The Project is a joint effort among the Pennsylvania Immigration Resource Center, volunteer law students from the University of Pennsylvania Carey School of Law, and volunteer attorneys from the Lancaster County Bar Association, the York County Bar Association, the Dauphin County Bar Association, and the Federal Bar Association for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. The Project is a “first of its kind effort” and its efforts have been chronicled in a number of media outlets including The Associated Press, The Philadelphia Inquirer, and CBS-21 News. David is in the processing of assisting the creation of a similar project in the Richmond, Va. area. David also previously volunteered for the Pennsylvania Innocence Project, investigating inmates’ claims of wrongful conviction.

Prior Experience

Prior to joining Barley Snyder, David served as an assistant city attorney for Richmond, Va., representing the city in police liability and other civil rights matters under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, the Voting Rights Act, Title VII, the ADA, as well as cases involving construction law, automobile accident liability and other miscellaneous tort and criminal matters. 

Earlier, David was an associate with McGuire Woods, LLP, in that firm’s Richmond, Va., office. David started his legal career as a law clerk for the Honorable Sylvia H. Rambo, U.S. District Judge for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.

RECOGNITIONS
  • George Mason University Alumni Association’s “Distinguished Alumnus of the Year Award” (2022)
  • Central Pennsylvania Business Journal’s “Power 30 Award,” Top 30 Most Influential Legal Professionals in Central Pennsylvania (2021 & 2022)
  • George Mason University College of Humanities and Social Sciences, “Community & Catalysts Award” (2021)
  • Central Penn Business Journal’s “Legal Excellence Awards” for Pro Bono Excellence (2021)
  • Pennsylvania Immigration Resource Center’s “Light of Liberty Award” as Pro Bono Attorney of the Year (2015, 2018, and 2021)
  • Select Lawyer, Polk-Lepson Research Group; Labor and Employment Law (2016)
  • Pennsylvania Rising Stars (2015)
  • Central Penn Business Journal’s Forty Under 40 list (2013)
  • University of Richmond’s McNeill Law Society Legal Writing Contest: First Prize (2001)
MEMBERSHIPS
  • Lancaster Bar Association
  • York Bar Association
  • National Association of College and University Attorneys
  • American Immigration Lawyers Association
PRESENTATIONS
  • “Religious Accommodations in the Post-COVID Era,” 40th Annual Barley Snyder Employment Law Seminar (May 2023)
  • “Anatomy of an Employment Discrimination Lawsuit,”40th Annual Barley Snyder Employment Law Seminar (May 2023)
  • “Getting in the Weeds of Medical Marijuana,”40th Annual Barley Snyder Employment Law Seminar (May 2023)
  • “Religious Accommodations in the Workplace,” 39th Annual Barley Snyder Employment Law Seminar (May 2022)
  • “2021 Immigration Update for Employers”, 38th Annual Barley Snyder Employment Law Seminar (May 2021)
  • “COVID-19 Vaccines: The Impact on Higher Education”, Barley Snyder webinar (January 2021)
  • “2019 and 2020 Federal Update”, 37th Annual Barley Snyder Employment Law Seminar (September 2020)
  • “Expanding the Scope of Employer Responsibilities & Employee Protections”, 37th Annual Barley Snyder Employment Law Seminar (September 2020)
  • “Immigration Compliance in the COVID-19 Era”, 37th Annual Barley Snyder Employment Law Seminar (September 2020)
  • “Employee Handbook Must Haves”, 36th Annual Barley Snyder Employment Law Seminar (May 2019)
  • “Immigration and Employment Law Update”, Pennsylvania Bankers’ Association Agriculture Lending Summit (April 2019)
  • “Employee Handbook Must Haves”, Lancaster Chamber (March 2019)
  • “Worksite Enforcement for the Hospitality Industry”, Pennsylvania Restaurant and Lodging Association (March 2019)
  • “Hot Topics in Employment, Labor & Immigration”, Barley Snyder Food & Ag Summit (February 2019)
  • “Workplace Investigations in the Era of the #MeToo Movement,” 35th Annual Barley Snyder Employment Law Seminar (May 2018)
  • “Immigration Issues for Businesses”, Gettysburg Adams Chamber of Commerce seminar (March 2018)
  • “Immigration Issues for Businesses”, Lancaster SHRM Fall Legal Update 2017 (September 2017)
  • “Enforcement Priorities in the Trump Era”, Workforce Forum (June 2017)
  • “The Human Side – Employment and Immigration Compliance Issues”, The Summit for Food & Agribusiness (May 2017)
  • “Key Policies and Trends for Employee Handbooks and Policies”, 34th Annual Barley Snyder Employment Law Seminar (April 2017)
  • “Key Issues in Drafting Personnel Policies”, County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania Annual Conference (May 2017)
  • “Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity”, 33rd Annual Barley Snyder Employment Law Seminar (May 2016)
  • “Workplace Investigations”, 33rd Annual Barley Snyder Employment Law Seminar (May 2016)
  • “Anatomy of a Lawsuit: Strategies for Defending Employment Litigation in State and Federal Courts”, Barley Snyder Employment Law Seminar (April 2015)
  • “Workplace Enforcement – Avoiding I-9 Issues & Pitfalls”, 32nd Annual Barley Snyder Employment Law Seminar (April 2015)
  • “Key Policies and Trends With Respect to Employee Handbooks”, Lancaster Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Professional Development Friday (May 2015)
  • “Social Media in the Workplace”, Pennsylvania Bar Institute (August 2014)
  • “Be Careful What You Test For… It Might Land You in Court: The Legal Pitfalls of Pre-Employment Screening and Testing”, 31st Annual Barley Snyder Employment Seminar (May 2014)
  • “Immigration Law: Where Things Stand and Where Things Might Be Going?”, 31st Annual Barley Snyder Employment Seminar (May 2014)
  • “Hot Topics in Employment Law”, ACC Seminar: What Keeps You up at Night? (September 2013)
  • “Navigating the Minefield: Advanced Strategies for Managing ADA, FMLA, and Workers’ Compensation Leave”, 30th Annual Barley Snyder Employment Seminar (May 2013)
  • “Be Careful What You Test For; It Might Land You in Court: The Legal Pitfalls of Pre-Employment Screening and Testing “, 29th Annual Barley Snyder Employment Seminar (May 2012)
LANGUAGE
  • Spanish
CLERKSHIPS
  • Law Clerk to Hon. Sylvia H. Rambo, U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania (2001-2003)

Frederick S. Spangler

Fred Spangler concentrates his practice in tax and estate planning and estate administration, and lectures on these subjects to accountants, trust officers and business owners.

MEMBERSHIP
  • York County Bar Association

David H. Rattigan

In addition to more than three decades of experience as an attorney, David matches that with business experience few other lawyers can match as a certified public accountant. That rare duality allows him to work as a partner with individuals, families and businesses to help them achieve their goals as a member of Barley Snyder’s Business, Real Estate and Trusts & Estates practice groups.

David works with individuals and family-owned businesses in the areas of estate, business and tax planning, business and corporation law matters, real estate development, acquisitions and business financing. He represents family-owned manufacturers, construction contractors, breweries, real estate developers, physicians and other professional practice groups and retail and service companies, working closely with clients, their accountants, engineers, financial planners, brokers and other advisers as a team to guide clients into the future. David assists clients with the formation and operations of limited liability companies (LLCs) and S Corporations.

David has represented some of the region’s most productive families in connection with estate, tax and business succession planning, estate and trust administration and related needs. These services include the development, implementation and administration of comprehensive estate plans, including:

  • Marital trusts
  • Prenuptial agreements
  • Revocable trusts
  • Irrevocable life insurance trusts
  • GST Exempt Trusts
  • Family limited partnerships
  • LLCs
  • Annual gift planning
  • Use of disclaimers
  • Simple wills
  • Powers of attorney

David represents families, individuals, physicians, small business owners, retirees and other professionals with the same degree of enthusiasm and detail regardless of financial position. David’s real estate practice includes commercial lending, title insurance for commercial real estate, real estate development and leasing. David has also represented hospital authorities, industrial development corporations, PIDA loans, townships and municipal zoning and sewer authorities.

EXPERTISE & CERTIFICATION
  • Certified public accountant
OTHER PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
  • Licensed Title Agent

Troy B. Rider

Troy’s practice is centered around Business, Finance, Real Estate and Food & Agribusiness law. In his practice, he counsels clients on all facets of business transactions, including succession planning for closely held businesses and the structuring, negotiation and closing of commercial and financial transactions. In addition, Troy regularly advises business clients on proper corporate governance and best practices in a variety of situations. Troy has experience working with family businesses in industries ranging from medical practices, dental practices and other professional service firms, as well as food processing facilities, manufacturers and construction companies.

Business 
Troy handles a range of business transactions for his clients including entity selection, formation and structuring, and mergers and acquisitions. He regularly represents clients buying or selling businesses, which can include very complicated transactions involving mergers of entities, multi-level financing and equity arrangements, earn-out provisions, and floating purchase prices. In connection with such work, Troy also advises clients on the proper acquisition entity, guides the due diligence process, negotiates and secures financing, analyzes financing options, determines value, leads the team of advisers in the negotiation and closing of the transaction, and negotiates and drafts letters of intent, term sheets and definitive agreements. He further advises business clients on general matters, including contract drafting and review, regulatory compliance, governance issues, strategic positioning and succession planning.

Finance 
Troy represents lenders in commercial loan matters, including document drafting and review, counseling lender representatives and reviewing lender-prepared documents, title insurance and other finance-related documents and agreements. Troy works extensively with lenders in various facets of secured and unsecured transactions, including participated loans and commercial real estate ventures. He also advises lenders and other creditors in loan and credit recoveries for situations involving collections, foreclosures, repossessions, levies, garnishments, mechanics liens, municipal claims and other commercial litigation.

Real Estate 
Troy counsels his clients in various aspects of real estate law, including the acquisition, sale and development of retail, industrial, office and residential sites, as well as drafting, reviewing and negotiating commercial leases. Troy has experience in the preparation and negotiation of sale/lease-back transactions, real estate sales agreements, due diligence, review of title commitments and resolution of title matters, review and negotiation of real estate secured loan documents and the preparation of settlement related documents.

Food and Agribusiness
Troy represents a number of businesses in the food and agribusiness industry and counsels such clients in a variety of areas such as regulatory and compliance concerns, real estate, contracts and transactional issues.

RECOGNITIONS
  • The Best Lawyers in America©, Business Organizations, including LLCs and Partnerships (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)
  • Reading Eagle’s “40 under 40” (2018)
MEMBERSHIPS
  • Leadership Berks, 2009 graduate
  • Berks County Bar Association
PRESENTATIONS
  • Moderator: 2023 Reading Business Seminar (October 2023)
  • Moderator: “Embracing Change & Preparing for the Future,” 2019 Reading Business Seminar (October 2019)
  • “Consumer Preferences and Federal Responses – The Impact of Upcoming FDA and USDA Regulations on Food and Agribusiness,” FEI Central Pennsylvania Chapter (May 2015)
  • “Hot Topics in Commercial Lending,” Barley Snyder LendiCon Seminar (November 2012)
  • “Board Governance,” Leadership Berks County (November 2012)

Erica R. Townes

Erica is an associate attorney in the Real Estate and Business practice groups. In her real estate practice, Erica assists clients in residential and commercial development, property acquisition, commercial lease negotiations, zoning, and land use concerns. Erica also devotes a substantial portion of her practice to representing businesses of all sizes and sophistication across a variety of industries. Erica’s practice ranges from assisting start-up companies with entity formation and governing documents, to working with more seasoned companies on complex mergers and acquisitions and succession planning. In both facets, Erica focuses on the structure, negotiation, strategic planning, and execution of business and real estate transactions.

To complement her corporate law practice, Erica has also worked with companies to obtain certification as a Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE). Businesses that are at least 51 percent owned, managed and controlled by a woman or women are eligible to apply for the certification awarded by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC). As a WBENC-Certified WBE, business owners have access to exclusive programs and resources designed to help their business grow and thrive, which includes access to supplier, and diversity and procurement executives at corporations, federal, state, and local government entities that accept WBENC Certification.

When not practicing law, Erica’s firm responsibilities include serving as a member of the firm’s Hiring Committee, where she is involved in recruiting for the firm’s Summer Associate Program, and serving on the firm’s Diversity Committee. Erica is also actively involved in the community and currently serves on the board of and is involved with a number of local nonprofit and professional organizations, including the York County Bar Foundation Board of Directors, the DreamWrights Center for Community Arts Board of Directors, the Community Progress Council Board of Directors, and the Family First Health Human Resources Committee.

Prior to joining Barley Snyder, Erica represented public and private employers in a variety of labor and employment law matters. As a law student, Erica also externed for the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania and Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania for the Hon. P. Kevin Brobson.

While not a performer herself, Erica is a musical theatre enthusiast and frequently patronizes New York City and central Pennsylvania theatre productions. Her favorite show running on Broadway is “Hamilton.”

View some of Erica’s representative matters:

  • Seller counsel in the stock sale of a restaurant business
  • Seller counsel in the asset sale of a printing company
  • Seller counsel in the asset sale of an insurance agency
  • Seller counsel in the stock sale of a metalworking design and manufacturer
  • Buyer counsel in the acquisition of electric company
  • Buyer counsel in the acquisition of auto core contractor
  • Buyer counsel in the purchase of restaurant and underlying real estate
  • Represented landlord in the commercial lease of a York County restaurant and bar
  • Represented landlord in the commercial lease of a pizza restaurant in York County 
  • Represented tenant in the commercial lease of a downtown Harrisburg restaurant
  • Represented applicants in a request for variance and special exception in York City
RECOGNITIONS
  • Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America, Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships) (2024) Mergers and Acquisitions Law (2024)
  • Central Penn Business Journal “Legal Excellence Awards” — Up and Coming Lawyers
  • Order of the Barrister
MEMBERSHIPS
  • Herbert B. Cohen Chapter of the American Inns of Court
  • York County Bar Association
  • Dauphin County Bar Association
PUBLICATIONS
  • “Clarifying the Administration of Substance Abuse Policies”, Widener University Law Journal
  • “DOL’s Change of Course on Unpaid Interns”, Corporate Counsel Business Journal
PRESENTATIONS
  • “Remote Work Is Here to Stay… And Wage & Hour Update Too!” 40th Annual Employment Law Seminar
  • Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Real Property Annual Retreat — Annual Update on Pennsylvania Real Estate Case Law (August 2022)
  • Pennsylvania Assocation of Sewage Enforcement Officers Conference — Overview of the Municipalities Planning Code and Right to Know Law (March 2022)
  • “Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Real Property Annual Retreat — Annual Update on Pennsylvania Real Estate Case Law” (August 2021)
  • Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry Human Resources Conference (November 2018)
  • 2017 Human Resource Association of Centre County Labor and Employment Seminar (October 2017)

William C. McCarty

Bill is a member of the firm’s Finance and Real Estate groups. Bill has devoted a substantial portion of his practice to municipal finance and is a long standing member of both the National Association of Bond Lawyers and the Pennsylvania Association of Bond Lawyers. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania Association of Bond Lawyers, and has also acted as a panelist on governmental obligations at the annual Bond Attorneys Workshop of the National Association of Bond Lawyers. In addition to serving as bond counsel in connection with governmental finance transactions, Bill also serves as solicitor for municipalities and authorities.

RECOGNITION
  • Select Lawyer, Polk-Lepson Research Group; Government/Cities/Municipalities Law

MEMBERSHIPS
  • Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania Association of Bond Lawyers, former member

  • National Association of Bond Lawyers, served as a Panelist on Government Obligations at the Annual Bond Attorneys Workshop, member

  • Pennsylvania Association of Bond Lawyers, member

  • Lancaster Bar Association

  • Pennsylvania Bar Association

PRESENTATIONS
  • Current Trends in Commercial Lending, Lendicon 2017 (March 2017)

  • Tax-Exempt Financing: and New Market Tax Credits, Barley Snyder LendiCon Seminar (March 2016, March 2017)

Daniel T. Desmond

Dan is a business, finance and municipal attorney experienced in mergers and acquisitions (M&A), general business law, corporate governance and other types of business and finance transactions. He serves as the vice chair of the firm’s Business Practice Group. Dan’s transaction experience ranges from entity selection and formation to general contract review and drafting, as well as conventional, tax-exempt, venture capital and private equity lending transactions, as well as regulatory compliance matters. His experience across those varied fields allow clients to deal directly with him on nearly every aspect of a deal.

Dan’s clients range from small and family-owned businesses and start-ups and entrepreneurs to public companies, financial institutions, nonprofits and government clients. He also regularly represent doctors, medical practices, dentists, dental practices, orthodontists, orthodontist practices, optometrists, optometrist practices in addition to other healthcare professionals in strategic transactions and corporate governance matters, including MSO/DSO transactions. 

Dan also serves as the solicitor to municipal authorities, acting as their general counsel and handling a wide array of legal issues. As part of his finance practice, he also structures tax-exempt bonds and notes for public sector and nonprofit clients.

Dan helps to lead the firm’s Practice Excellence initiative, working collaboratively with other attorneys to come up with creative, effective and cost-efficient solutions to our clients’ ever-evolving challenges and needs.

A Lancaster native, Dan understands the needs of the community, and he’s put that knowledge to work, both in representing local institutions and serving on the boards of nonprofit and community organizations.

Dan’s commitment to client service has led to a wide array of recent transactional work in the fields of M&A, finance, municipal, regulatory and general business:

M&A

– Represented a group of shareholders in the $130 million sale of their family-owned, national pet food ingredients manufacturer

– Counsel to management and private equity groups in the $31 million sale of a thermal management solutions business

– Advised a regional municipal authority in its $30 million purchase of a sewer system, including a related tax-exempt bond financing

– Represented a multinational hospitality services business in its $5 million acquisition of a Mexican company

– Represented a regional municipal authority in its $8.5 million purchase of a sewer system, including a related tax-exempt bond financing

– Advised a multinational company in several acquisitions in the biotech industry, including the $4.5 million acquisition of a DNA design and gene synthesis business, $2 million purchase of an analytical testing laboratory and $1 million purchase of a stem cell transplant laboratory

– Represented a multinational company in several acquisitions in the engineering industry, including the $5 million purchase of a GIS, GPS and remote sensing business

– Counsel to a private equity buyer in its $3 million acquisition of a seasonal display business

– Advised a private equity investor in connection with its $3 million investment in a security services business

– Represented a buyer in its $2.5 million acquisition of a cybersecurity software business and intellectual property portfolio

– Counsel for a thermal management solutions business in multiple series of debt and equity offerings to private equity investors

– Represented both individual dentists and doctors and groups in the acquisitions and sales of several dental and medical practices

– Advised several regional banks in their acquisitions of community financial institutions

Finance

– Bond counsel in connection with a $65 million tax-exempt conduit bond financing for a nonprofit senior living facility

– Borrower’s counsel to a business in the live events industry in connection with a $60 million loan

– Bond counsel in connection with a $30 million tax-exempt bond financing for a municipal authority’s treatment plant upgrade

– Borrower’s counsel to the developers of a local downtown apartment project in connection with a $15 million financing

– Bond counsel in connection with two tax-exempt bond financings totaling $12 million for a borough’s construction projects

– Bond counsel in connection with two tax-exempt financings totaling $10 million for a water and sewer authority’s construction and capital growth needs

– Bank counsel in connection with a $10 million loan to a business in the live events industry

– Bond counsel in connection with a $3.4 million tax-exempt conduit bond financing for a nonprofit healthcare facility

– Bond counsel in connection with a $2 million tax-exempt conduit bond financing for a nonprofit educational institution

Municipal, Regulatory and General Business

– Advised two economic development nonprofits in a “first of its kind” agreement with a local government to obtain $33 million in CARES Act funding and distribute it to local businesses affected by COVID-19, an agreement that has become the model document for other similar matters

– Represented a local nonprofit in an agreement with a local government to obtain $1.3 million in CARES Act funding for tourism engagement

– Counsel to a Fortune 500 company with respect to Dodd-Frank, ESMA and other compliance regimes related to derivatives trading (swaps)

– Represented a publicly-traded financial institution in complying with the Bank Secrecy Act and Anti-Money Laundering regulations

– Advised an inventor in licensing of health and nutrition genetic analysis software

– Represented a solid waste authority in the negotiation of its independent plant operator agreement

– Provided general counsel services to several clients, including acting as solicitor to municipal clients and acting as in-house counsel in both a virtual and on-site capacity

– Represented a senior living nonprofit in the formation of a holding company to foster growth, affiliation and other opportunities

– Acted as antitrust counsel in connection with several transactions which required a Hart-Scott Rodino (HSR) filing

PRESENTATIONS
  • Featured speaker, Mayor Kim Bracey’s Diverse, Minority Business Forum (October 2017)

  • Swaps in Loan Transaction, Lendicon 2017 (March 2017)

  • From Soup to Nuts: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Acquiring a Sewer System, PMAA Annual Conference (August 2015)

CLERKSHIPS
  • Judicial Intern, Honorable Marjorie O. Rendell, Third Circuit Court of Appeals
  • Judicial Intern, Honorable Eric L. Frank, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District Of Pennsylvania

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