Position: Attorney

Raymond A. Durkin, Jr.

Ray is a member of the firm’s Business Practice Group with a wide range of experience and a steadfast dedication to his clients and his community.

In his business practice, Ray advises clients on all aspects of their business, ranging from entity selection and formation to succession planning and dissolution. He frequently assists clients with general business matters including contract drafting, review and negotiation. Ray also counsels clients on mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance and a variety of other transactional matters including commercial leases and real estate purchase agreements. He provides counsel on succession planning matters by reviewing and drafting internal governance documents. Furthermore, Ray is well-versed with handling formations for nonprofit organizations in addition to filing tax exemption applications.

Before joining Barley Snyder, Ray practiced at a law firm based in Central Pennsylvania where he gained a variety of experience handling business organizations and transactions, real estate transactions, estate planning matters, trademark matters and more.

During law school, Ray gained valuable experience as a student attorney at Villanova’s Clinic for Law and Entrepreneurship where he worked with start-up businesses and entrepreneurs. He also served as an in-house legal intern for a multinational company based out of Reading where he counseled clients and gained a unique perspective into the corporate world.

Ray holds a juris doctor degree from Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law and a master’s degree from the Villanova University School of Business. He completed his undergraduate studies at Dickinson College majoring in International Business & Management and Spanish.

Outside of the firm, Ray is an avid golfer and enjoys snowboarding among other outdoor activities. An active member of his community, Ray is a Leadership Lancaster graduate and serves on the board of two nonprofit organizations. In addition, he regularly volunteers at Wills for Heroes, preparing estate planning documents for local first responders. Ray currently lives in Phoenixville with his wife and growing family.

RECOGNITIONS
  • Pennsylvania Super Lawyers Rising Star (2024)
  • Daniel F. O’Dea Fellowship Award for Excellence and Professionalism in Legal Research
PUBLICATIONS/SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
  • Supreme Court May Consider Statute of Limitations for Fee Claims Under Individuals with Disabilities in Education (Feb. 2021)
  • Federal Court Narrows Scope of When Parents May Request Independent Educational Evaluation at Public Expense (Jan. 2021)
  • Pennsylvania Modernizes Digital Assets and Digital Disclosure Laws (Dec. 2020)
  • Pennsylvania Legislature Amends Contractor and Subcontractor Payment Act (Nov. 2018)
LANGUAGES
  • Spanish (proficient)

Brandon R. Griest

Brandon is a member of the firm’s Litigation Practice Group. He aggressively pursues the interest of his clients and counsels them in navigating the legal system from pre-complaint strategy through successful trial strategy. Brandon’s extensive experience has honed his skills as a prolific litigator. 

In his litigation practice, Brandon is dedicated to achieving the best outcome for every client, regardless of the size or complexity of the claim. He regularly appears in both state and federal trial courts as well as appellate courts, advocating zealously for his clients. Additionally, when appropriate, Brandon seeks to resolve matters prior to trial and regularly utilizes mediation and arbitration services to aid in resolution.  

Brandon has experience representing: 

  • Businesses (local and international) in contract disputes 
  • Shareholders and business owners in ownership disputes
  • Businesses in employment disputes 
  • Contractors, subcontractors and owners in construction litigation 
  • Property owners in real estate disputes including boundary line disputes, right-of-way and easement disputes, adverse possession, and oil and gas matters 
  • Landlords and tenants in eviction and ejectment matters 

Prior to joining Barley, Brandon worked at a law firm based in Williamsport, Pennsylvania where he represented clients in various matters with a primary focus on commercial litigation including contract disputes, wrongful termination, unemployment compensation, and uniform commercial code litigation, in addition to real estate litigation including easement disputes, boundary line disputes, landlord-tenant law (commercial and residential), oil and gas ownership and royalty disputes, and construction litigation. In this role, he guided his clients through all stages of the litigation process from initial conferences to trials and appeals in both state and federal courts. Brandon also has experience serving as solicitor for municipalities in addition to regional water and sewer authorities.

A Lancaster County native, Brandon is a graduate of Hempfield High School. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Dickinson College and obtained his juris doctor degree from the Dickinson School of Law. Outside of the firm, Brandon likes spending time outdoors where he enjoys activities including hiking, kayaking and playing softball. 

MEMBERSHIPS
  • American Bar Association
  • Pennsylvania Bar Association
RECOGNITIONS
  • Rotarian of the Year (2022/23) – Williamsport, PA Rotary Club

Nichole L. Eisenhart 

Nichole is a member of the firm’s Trusts & Estates and Litigation practice groups with nearly two decades of legal experience. Her time working in the public sector has provided her with a unique perspective of the law in addition to extensive trial experience.

In 2005, Nichole began her legal journey working as a law clerk for the Honorable Robert J. Eby in the Lebanon County Court of Common Pleas. In 2006, she embarked on a successful career with the Lebanon County District Attorney’s Office spanning over 17 years where she prosecuted many criminal offenders.

At the District Attorney’s Office, Nichole prosecuted a wide array of criminal offenses, ranging from misdemeanors to felony cases including homicides. She spent 15 years with the Drug Task Force where she advised law enforcement in drug-related investigations and prosecuted individuals charged with drug trafficking offenses. Based on her considerable prosecution experience, Nichole received an appointment as a Special Assistant United States Attorney in 2012, allowing her to assist in the prosecution of Lebanon County offenders facing federal charges. She spent more than 11 years as the First Assistant District Attorney at the District Attorney’s Office. During her tenure, Nichole’s leadership and legal acumen were highly regarded, receiving the 2016 Outstanding Prosecutor Award from the Pennsylvania Narcotic Officers’ Association and the 2018 Award for Outstanding Trial Advocacy from the Department of Justice.

Nichole earned her Juris Doctor degree from the Pennsylvania State University Dickinson School of Law and her bachelor’s degree from the Edinboro University of Pennsylvania where she majored in criminal justice and minored in psychology. While she originally hails from Northampton County, Nichole has proudly called Lebanon County her home for 18 years.

MEMBERSHIPS
  • Pennsylvania Bar Association
RECOGNITIONS
  • Pennsylvania Narcotic Officers’ Association 2016 Outstanding Prosecutor Award
  • Department of Justice 2018 Award for Outstanding Trial Advocacy

Julia M. Parrish

Julia is a member of the firm’s Trusts & Estates Practice Group with two decades of experience, focusing her practice in the areas of estate planning and trust and estate administration.

Julia is passionate about her chosen field because of how it enables her clients to achieve their goals and effectively plan for the future. Helping her clients through difficult times, whether death or incapacity, and finding creative solutions to problems is important to her. Julia’s practice includes: preparing documents such as last will and testaments, powers of attorney, healthcare powers of attorney, living wills, trusts and non-judicial settlement agreements for trusts; aspects of business succession planning and tax planning; in addition to representing clients in guardianship matters and more.

During the estate planning process, Julia works closely with her clients to identify their priorities. From there, she educates her clients on various aspects of property ownership, taxation, and estate and trust planning, enabling them to make an educated choice for their future. Julia also recognizes the value in collaborating with a client’s team – whether their accountant, financial advisor, children, preferred charitable organization or business partner – to ensure the best results. This combined approach allows Julia to create a comprehensive estate plan that meets her clients’ needs and desires.

Julia started her legal career in York County as an intern for the Prothonotary’s office during college. She then gained experiencing working as a law clerk throughout the York and Harrisburg areas. After that, Julia served as a law clerk for the Honorable James M. Blaney of the Superior Court in Ocean County, New Jersey, before returning to York County to practice as an attorney in a small general practice law firm. More recently, Julia served as counsel for a firm in Dauphin County working in estate planning and trust and estate administration.

Outside of the firm, Julia enjoys spending time with her husband and three children. She and her family are active members of Saint Leo the Great Catholic Church in Lancaster.

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
  • Estate Planning Council of Central PA, Member
  • York County Estate Planning Council, Member
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
  • Pennsylvania Society of Tax & Accounting Professionals, South Central Chapter, “Estates, Trusts, and Planning for Tomorrow; Assisting Your Clients to Assess Need and Prepare an Effective Estate Plan” (November 2022, September 2023)
MEMBERSHIPS
  • Dauphin County Bar Association
  • York County Bar Association
  • Pennsylvania Bar Association

Caitlin M. Long

Caitlin is a member of Barley Snyder’s Business and Creditors’ Rights practice groups with strong analytical skills, a keen attention to detail, and the ability to find creative solutions to problems. A significant portion of Caitlin’s practice is helping clients with mergers and acquisitions. In this role, she conducts due diligence, structures transactions, negotiates and drafts letters of intent, negotiates and drafts acquisition agreements, assists with the coordination of financing sources and brings the transaction to a successful close.

In her business practice, Caitlin also helps clients with general business matters including entity formation and selection, contract drafting and review as well as internal corporate governance including shareholder agreements, operating agreements and ownership interest transfers. She also has experience with handling the sale and purchase of both commercial real estate and liquor licenses. In her creditors’ rights practice, Caitlin assists with commercial financing including loan document preparation. 

Caitlin is a member of Barley Snyder’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee and has strong ties to firm. She previously worked as a law clerk at the firm as she completed her final year of law school and is a former summer associate. Before joining Barley Snyder, Caitlin clerked for the Office of Maryland Attorney General’s Antitrust Division where she conducted legal research and interviews, assisted with litigation claims and handled other tasks. 

A Pennsylvania native who graduated from Lancaster Catholic High School, Caitlin currently lives in Montgomery County with her wife. Outside the office, she enjoys cooking and spending time at Longwood Gardens where they are members. 

OTHER PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
  • Barley Snyder Summer Associate, June 2022 – July 2022
  • Office of Maryland Attorney General, Antitrust Division, Law Clerk – May 2021-December 2021
  • Dorman Products, Corporate Development Intern – May 2019-August 2020
  • Wipfli LLP, Tax Intern – January 2019-April 2019
  • Comcast Spectacor, Payroll Intern – August 2018-December 2018
  • Sungard Availability Services, Human Resources Management Intern – May 2018-August 2018
  • Sungard Availability Services, Legal Intern – October 2017-May 2018
CERTIFICATIONS
  • Westlaw; LexisNexis

Elizabeth G. Vanasse

Elizabeth is a member of the firm’s Real Estate and Business practice groups. She continues a longstanding Barley Snyder tradition of summer associates returning to the firm.

Before joining Barley Snyder, Elizabeth worked as an intern with the University of Richmond’s Children’s Defense Clinic and dedicated most of her time to juvenile justice initiatives. Passionate about criminal justice reform, Elizabeth worked with Virginia’s Parole Board to revamp its parole guidelines for those incarcerated as juveniles. She worked to make the guidelines more indicative of recent U.S. Supreme Court cases about youth as a mitigating factor in sentencing. As a result, Elizabeth received the Orell-Brown Award for Clinical Excellence in the Children’s Law Center upon graduating from law school. In law school, Elizabeth was a member of the Phi Delta Phi Legal Honor Society and served as Copy Editor for the Richmond Public Interest Law Review. She also worked as a research assistant on trusts, estates and taxation issues for upcoming publications.

Elizabeth also has extensive legal internship experience. During law school, she interned with a small firm in Richmond, Virginia, working on adoption and surrogacy legal matters along with employment and personal injury cases. She worked directly with clients and discovered a zeal for cultivating strong attorney-client relationships. During the summers of her undergraduate years, Elizabeth interned at her family’s Lancaster-based workers’ compensation law firm. Her passion for the law stemmed from a young age as Elizabeth’s father, mother and brother are all attorneys.

A Lancaster native, Elizabeth enjoys exploring the restaurant scene in the Red Rose City, watching Premier League soccer, and riding horses. She currently lives in downtown Lancaster with her fiancé.

MEMBERSHIPS
  • Lancaster Bar Association
  • Lancaster Young Professionals
AWARDS/RECOGNITION
  • CALI Awards for Excellence in: Contracts (Fall 2020), Children and the Law (Fall 2021), and Advanced Clinical Placement in the Children’s Defense Clinic (Spring 2023)
  • Dean’s Scholar
OTHER PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
  • Advanced to fluent in written and spoken French

Hannah M. Schroer

Hannah is a member of Barley Snyder’s Employment Practice Group. She brings a unique perspective to the legal industry stemming from her wide variety of career experiences. She comes to Barley Snyder after working as a Judicial Clerk at the Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas for the Honorable Leonard G. Brown III. In this role, Hannah researched and drafted civil opinions from commercial contract disputes to restrictive covenants. She also assisted during hearings, providing legal analysis and insight into case facts while supporting multiple judicial chambers. She is a cum laude graduate of both Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law and Rutgers University.

During law school, Hannah was the Managing Editor of Villanova Law Review Online: Tolle Lege and was the Site Chair for Christian Legal Clinics of Philadelphia. She also practiced as a Certified Legal Intern with Villanova’s Interdisciplinary Mental & Physical Health Clinic where she represented clients appealing healthcare coverage denials at fair hearings and conducted client intake interviews. In addition, Hannah served as a Judicial Intern for the Honorable Juan R. Sánchez where she gained first-hand experience drafting orders, opinions and research memoranda on labor and employment disputes and civil rights challenges in federal court.

With a mission to gain a client-focused experience while giving back to her community, Hannah volunteered for the Military Assistance Project, appealing clients’ unfavorable discharge statuses to seek VA benefits, and assisted attorneys with drafting end-of-life documents at Wills for Heroes clinics. She also spent a summer volunteering at the Face-to-Face Legal Center, helping indigent clients apply for birth certificates and ensuring applications were reviewed.

Hannah also has experience working alongside in-house counsel as a Legal Services Intern at Allied Universal Services, an international private security and staffing corporation based in Conshohocken. She reviewed governance documents, advised human resources on licensing compliance, and conducted extensive research into ongoing legal developments affecting interstate and international compliance.

Before pursuing a career in law, Hannah worked as a Freelance Web Reporter for WFMZ/69 News in Allentown. She reported on various implications of government decisions throughout nine municipalities and analyzed legislation on budgetary and policy decisions. Her background in journalism and online communication taught her a straightforward communication style which she has carried into her legal career. While balancing her municipal beat as a freelancer, Hannah worked in the construction industry as a Product Manager with a national distributor of trench drain and accessories originally based in Easton, Pennsylvania. In this role, she designed drainage systems, compiled case studies and effectively negotiated sales with clients.

Active in her community, Hannah volunteers with the Lancaster Conservancy’s Water Quality Volunteer Coalition and serves on the Pastoral Council at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church. Outside of the firm, she enjoys gardening, baking cookies, reading speculative fiction and following Kansas City sports. Hannah hails from the Midwest, but calls Easton, Pennsylvania her hometown.

MEMBERSHIPS
  • St. Thomas More Society of Central Pennsylvania, Board of Directors
  • Lancaster Bar Association, Member
  • Pennsylvania Bar Association, Member
PUBLICATIONS
  • Comment, When Going Green Means Going into the Red: Pennsylvania’s Struggle Funding Stormwater Regulations Creates Water Woes for MS4s, 65 VILL. L. Rev. 223 (2020).

Natalie Alexander

Natalie is a member of the firm’s Business and Real Estate practice groups. She comes to the firm with considerable experience stemming from her vast educational background, internships and previous job history.

During law school, Natalie spent time as a summer and fall associate for a firm in South Central Pennsylvania where she drafted filings for corporate, estate, family and property law matters. She performed legal research and advised attorneys of appropriate courses of action pertaining to cases. Natalie also gained experience as a Certified Legal Intern for the Dickinson Community Law Clinic where she drafted and filed legal documents relating to various family and disability law matters in addition to advocating for clients at administrative hearings.

As an editor for the Dickinson Law Review, Natalie gained a unique perspective in the legal field, editing and preparing book reviews received for publication. She also solicited book reviews from legal professionals for writing and publication. In addition, Natalie worked as a Judicial Intern for the Honorable Martin C. Carlson at the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. In this role, she conducted legal research and drafted memorandum opinions and recommendations.

Outside of the firm, Natalie enjoys playing tennis and reading. She is a native of Hagerstown, Maryland, and is fluent in Spanish. Natalie volunteers with Micah’s Backpack, a program in Hagerstown designed to feed hungry students over the weekend by providing them healthy meals and snacks to take home.

RECOGNITIONS
  • Dean’s Fellow, Dickinson Law
  • Academic Excellence Award, University of Maryland
  • Honors in English, University of Maryland
  • University Honors, University of Maryland
PUBLICATIONS
  • Law Review Comment, Meaningless DNA: Moore’s Inadequate Protection of Genetic Material, 127 Dick. L. Rev. 399 (2022).
OTHER PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
  • Judicial Intern, U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
  • Certified Legal Intern, Community Law Clinic at Dickinson Law
  • Summer Associate, Black and Davison, P.C.
  • Executive Book Review Editor, Dickinson Law Review

Brandon D. Pack

Brandon is an attorney in the firm’s Creditors’ Rights Practice Group with more than a decade of experience. He focuses his practice in the areas of financial services litigation, banking litigation, and residential and commercial mortgage foreclosure. His practice involves multistate representation of financial institutions and secured and unsecured creditors in both federal and state courts at the trial and appellate levels. Brandon frequently handles matters related to bankruptcy, contracts, ejectment, eviction, foreclosure, general collections, surplus funds, tax sales, title curative, and consumer and banking regulatory compliance. He is well-versed with the Consumer Fraud Act (CFA), Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) and Truth in Lending Act (TILA).

Brandon’s experience and pragmatic approach allow him to identify and minimize risks for his clients in matters involving lender liability, enforcement of creditors’ rights, consumer lending, title defects and consumer protection claims. His extensive knowledge and diligent approach enable him to make important decisions and provide guidance to his clients concerning compliance, regulations and liability.

Prior to joining Barley Snyder, Brandon worked as a litigation attorney at a law firm primarily focused on creditors’ rights and real estate matters. He regularly handled trials relating to foreclosure, eviction and title matters throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey, oversaw appeals in state and federal court as well as advised clients regarding compliance and regulatory matters. Brandon also has experience working as a public defender in Berks County where he handled all aspects of criminal defense at every stage of the judicial process. 

A graduate of Temple University, Brandon earned his juris doctor degree from Widener University School of Law. 

Andrew J. Mahon

Andy Mahon is an attorney in Barley Snyder’s Immigration and Employment practice groups with over a decade of experience. He concentrates his practice on immigration law, representing businesses and families seeking immigration benefits as well as defending individuals placed in removal proceedings. 

Andy manages a complex caseload of immigration matters for the firm, counseling a diverse range of businesses across industries including healthcare, dental, engineering, architecture, construction, manufacturing, technology, nonprofit and higher education. He works closely with his clients to address their full range of immigration needs. Andy guides clients through issues related to the Form I-9 process, assisting with the evaluation of employees’ authorization to work and the implementation of self-audits to ensure clients develop and maintain sound HR policies to promote consistency and compliance. He conducts comprehensive evaluations of foreign nationals’ eligibility for both temporary and permanent immigration statuses, developing tailored immigration strategies and overseeing the exchange of information and progress among the legal team to ensure seamless execution of these plans. Additionally, Andy prepares and submits petitions and applications for a wide range of immigration statuses, including temporary statuses, such as E-2, H-1B, J, L-1, O-1, R-1, and TN, as well as permanent resident status through EB-1, EB-2, EB-3, and EB-4 classifications, navigating various paths such as PERM and National Interest Waivers (NIW). His business immigration practice also includes representing international medical graduates in applications for immigration status and securing 212(e) waivers through the Conrad 30 and HHS programs. 

Andy has represented hundreds of clients before various agencies that are responsible for administering U.S. immigration laws, including the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of State. He also litigates immigration cases in federal court, filing petitions for review and submitting oral arguments before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, and preparing mandamus and habeas petitions before the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. He routinely advises attorneys from other areas of practice on immigration matters affecting their clients, often working with criminal defense counsel to structure guilty pleas to avoid future immigration consequences. Additionally, Andy has presented on immigration topics at several training courses for lawyers, paralegals and community members.

Before joining Barley Snyder, Andy worked at a Lancaster law firm focused exclusively on the practice of immigration law, becoming a partner in 2019. Prior to that, he was a staff attorney for the Pennsylvania Immigration Resource Center where he defended individuals in removal proceedings who were most in need due to mental illness, poverty or persecution in their country of origin. He started his legal career as a law clerk for the Honorable Penny L. Blackwell in the York County Court of Common Pleas. 

Andy graduated from Fordham University with a bachelor’s degree in history and French. He then spent two years living in France and working as an English teacher. He earned his juris doctor from Widener University School of Law, graduating with honors. He was a member of the Moot Court Honor Society and Widener Law Journal.

MEMBERSHIPS
  • American Immigration Lawyers Association
AWARDS/RECOGNITION
  • Light of Liberty Award, Pro Bono Attorney of the Year (2014)
PUBLICATIONS/SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
  • “H-1B Status Overview,” Widener University Commonwealth Law School (September 2024)
  • “Immigration HR 101,” LSHRM (July 2024)
  • “Form I-9: Best Practices, Updates, and Immigration Statuses,” Barley Snyder Employment Law Seminar (May 2024)
  • “Immigration Forum,” ABC Keystone Peer Group Presentation (April 2024)
  • “Immigration Forum,” ABC Keystone Peer Group Presentation (February 2024)
  • “Human Resource Hot Topics,” PennAg (October 2023)
  • “Intro to Business Immigration and I-9 Compliance,” Lancaster Area Paralegal Association 8th Annual Civil Conference (September 2023)
  • “Immigration Law Training,” Mennonite Central Committee, Presenter (2013-2017)
  • “Model Hearing Program:  Withholding-Only Proceedings,” PIRC and York Immigration Court, Presenter (May 2014)
  • “Immigration 101,” LAPA General Business Meeting (January 2013)
OTHER PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
  • Former teaching assistant, Bordeaux, France

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