Position: Attorney

Colleen S. Gallo

Colleen is a partner in Barley Snyder’s Real Estate, Trusts & Estates and Litigation Practice Groups. She brings over 25 years of legal experience to the firm.

In her real estate practice, Colleen assists clients with a wide variety of matters. She regularly prepares agreements of sale and handles land use and zoning matters and closings. Her real estate experience dovetails with her municipal practice where she has significant experience representing municipalities and authorities throughout Lebanon County including boroughs, townships and school districts.

Colleen is well-versed in estate administration and planning matters. She helps clients develop comprehensive estate plans which includes drafting important documents such as wills, powers of attorney and livings wills. Her estate planning work often takes her to Orphan’s Court where she frequently litigates guardianship cases.

Born and raised in Lebanon, Colleen is very active in the community and giving back is important to her. She serves on boards of many organizations, including currently serving as board president of Halcyon Activity Center as well as a board member for Hershey Federal Credit Union and YMCA Camp Rocky Creek in Cornwall. Colleen also serves as a committee member for Lebanon Valley Family YMCA’s Evening at the Manor and is the chair of the Lebanon County Bar Association Family Law Committee.

Colleen earned her bachelor’s degree in Government from Shippensburg University and received her juris doctor degree from Duquesne University School of Law. She started her legal career practicing in Allegheny County.

MEMBERSHIPS
  • Pennsylvania Bar Association
RECOGNITION
  • 2014 Lebanon County William H.G. Warner Pro Bono Attorney of the Year
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
  • Lebanon Bar Association Family Law Committee

Megan Ryland Tanner

Megan is a member of Barley Snyder’s Business and Real Estate practice groups, bringing over 20 years of experience to the firm. She is dedicated to serving her clients while making a difference in the community.

In her business practice, Megan assists clients with entity formations and agreements including liability, operations and indemnification. She has experience handling liquor license matters with the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) such as liquor license purchases, sales, transfers and related matters. In one instance, Megan represented a restaurant owner in a matter where PLCB would not approve a restaurant manager due to her criminal history. Megan advocated for her client and requested a hearing, and the manager was ultimately approved to act as manager. Furthermore, Megan frequently handles business sales, for both buyers and sellers, in the region. Megan’s business and liquor license experience ties in nicely with her real estate practice where she regularly handles real estate closings and sales agreements in addition to being a licensed title agent.

Megan started her law career in private practice where she gained a breadth of experience in real estate and title work, family law, criminal defense work and litigation. In addition to her years in private law firm practice, Megan previously served in the Lebanon County District Attorney’s Office as Senior Deputy District Attorney where she prosecuted felony and misdemeanor cases including child abuse, juvenile and adult sex crimes, domestic violence, homicides and robberies in both adult and juvenile criminal systems. Megan handled sensitive cases while working closely with the Sexual Assault Resource and Counseling Center (SARCC), conducting well over 100 jury trials. Additionally, she managed and handled all the Act 21 (civil commitments) for the office as well as developed and managed the child abuse response police advisories and multidisciplinary investigative team (MDIT). Megan was an active member of the Lebanon County Child Abuse Task Force and a board member representing Lebanon County for the Children’s Resource Center in Harrisburg. She was appointed by the Lebanon County Court of Common Pleas as a Custody Conciliator, a role which she served in from June 2003 to January 2023, resolving familial custody issues in lieu of litigation.

Megan has been recognized for many of her professional achievements. She was honored among the “Women Working for Justice” by the Lebanon County Commission for Women and received the “Children’s Hero Award” in 2014 from the Children’s Resource Center and again in 2015 from SARCC. Outside of the firm, Megan stays involved with Leadership Lebanon Valley’s Justice Day Program volunteering with its mock trial and providing a presentation about the criminal system.

A life-long resident of Lebanon County and mother of three, Megan earned her bachelor’s degree from Penn State University in Public Policy and her juris doctor degree from Widener University School of Law.

MEMBERSHIPS
  • Pennsylvania Bar Association
RECOGNITIONS/AWARDS
  • “Women Working for Justice” by the Lebanon County Commission for Women in 2013
  • “Children’s Hero Award” from Children’s Resource Center in 2014
  • “Children’s Hero Award” from Sexual Assault Resource and Counseling Center in 2015
OTHER PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
  • Lebanon County Court of Common Pleas, Custody Conciliator, June 2003 to January 2023
  • Lebanon County Child Abuse Task Force, Former Member
PRESENTATIONS
  • Mock Criminal Trial/Presentation on the Criminal Justice System, Leadership Lebanon Valley Justice Day Program (June 2023)

Paul C. Bametzreider

As a member of the firm’s Real Estate, Creditors’ Rights and Business practice groups, Paul concentrates his practice in the areas of real estate, land use, municipal, creditors’ rights and bankruptcy law. He brings over 30 years of experience to the firm, representing a vast number of businesses, banks, real estate and land developers, municipalities and government entities throughout the region. 

Paul has extensive experience in handling real estate and land development matters. He guides clients through all aspects of their real estate transactions – both commercial and residential – from the initial planning process to closing. He works frequently with developers, helping them navigate a myriad of land use and zoning issues such as zoning applications, easements and variances. As a licensed title agent, he handles real estate closings, including purchases and refinancing for individuals and businesses. Paul’s real estate experience dovetails with his municipal practice, serving as solicitor for several townships and authorities. He has also presented on legal topics for the Pennsylvania Municipal Authorities Association.

In his creditors’ rights practice, Paul helps creditors in a wide variety of matters relating to mortgage foreclosures and civil actions for the collection and enforcement of debt obligations. He represents creditors in all stages of bankruptcy from filing motions of relief from stay and objections to plans of reorganization. Outside of his work in creditors’ rights, Paul is well-versed in the banking industry. He frequently advises banks on regulatory and compliance matters pertaining to the Uniform Commercial Code (specifically Articles 9, 3, 4 & 5), the state banking code and various federal regulations governing banks (such as Regulation Z or the “Truth in Lending Law” and Regulation P relating to privacy). He also provides counsel on bank secrecy and security laws. Furthermore, Paul has experience with auto-lending matters related to the Motor Vehicle Sales Finance Act and lending agreements between banks and auto-dealers. He has served as an instructor for the Pennsylvania Bankers Institute in areas relating to law and banking.

As a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association, Paul participates in the Corporation, Banking and Business Law and Municipal Law Sections in addition to Committees for Legal Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Civil and Equal Rights. He is also a member of the Lebanon County Bar Association and its Committee for Legal Services to the Public.

An active member of the Lebanon County community, Paul serves as Chairman of the Lebanon County Agricultural Land Preservation’s Board of Directors. Paul earned his bachelor’s degree from West Virginia University, a master’s degree in Theology and Religious Studies from Villanova University and his juris doctor degree from Duquesne University Kline School of Law.

MEMBERSHIPS
  • Pennsylvania Bar Association – Corporation, Banking and Business Law Section, Municipal Law Section, Disability Services Committee, Civil and Equal Rights Committee
  • Lebanon County Bar Association – Committee for Legal Services to the Public
OTHER PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Pennsylvania Bankers Institute, Instructor

PUBLICATIONS/SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
  • Pennsylvania Municipal Authorities Association, Past presenter for various legal topics

Michelle R. Calvert

Michelle is a partner in the firm’s Business and Real Estate practice groups with over three decades of experience handling a wide variety of corporate and real estate matters. She concentrates her practice in the areas of business, finance, mergers and acquisitions and real estate law.

In her business practice, Michelle advises clients on all aspects of their businesses, ranging from entity selection and formation to corporate governance to mergers and acquisitions and succession planning. Michelle regularly helps clients with transactional matters such as buying and selling businesses. She has experience working with a wide range of business types, including car dealerships, firearms retailers, construction contractors, campgrounds, hospitals/medical practices, restaurants, farms and family-owned businesses. Michelle frequently assists small business start-ups with the purchase of their assets and real estate by preparing documents for their financing transactions. She provides general contract review and drafting as well as advice on regulatory compliance matters. Furthermore, she is well-versed in helping restaurant owners obtain retail liquor licenses.

In her real estate practice, Michelle guides her clients through the purchase and sale process from beginning to end. She handles a variety of transactional matters such as agreements of sale, lease negotiation and easements/rights of way. As a licensed title agent, she handles both residential and commercial real estate closings.

Michelle also has substantial experience working with banks, credit unions, economic development agencies and private lenders to document commercial loan transactions, as well as in providing guidance in lender contracting, corporate compliance and other general business matters. 

Aside from her business and real estate work, Michelle has experience with estate planning and administration needs, particularly with representing clients in guardianship cases.  This aspect of her practice stems from her familiarity and work with the health care and senior living sectors. She currently serves on the board of trustees of Cornwall Manor, a renowned senior living community in Lebanon County. Michelle served for many years as general counsel for Good Samaritan Hospital, assisting with physician contracting, insurance company contracts, regulatory, governance and real estate matters. Michelle is also a past member of the board of directors of the WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital Foundation.

Active in the community of Lebanon where she and her family live, Michelle serves on the Lebanon Valley Chamber Foundation Board of Directors. She also serves as legal counsel and a member of the Loan Committee for the Lebanon Valley Economic Development Authority and represents the Emergency Health Services Federation, a non-profit regional EMS council serving eight counties in South Central Pennsylvania. Prior to its dissolution, she also served as the solicitor for the Annville Economic Development Authority. Michelle received her undergraduate degree from University of Pennsylvania and earned her juris doctor degree from Washington and Lee University School of Law. Before moving to Lebanon in 1998, she practiced law in Cumberland and Franklin Counties.

MEMBERSHIPS
  • Pennsylvania Bar Association
  • Lebanon County Bar Association
PUBLICATIONS

Loren A. Schrum

As an attorney in the firm’s Real Estate, Trusts & Estates and Business practice groups, Loren concentrates his practice in the areas of estate planning and administration, real estate and land use, and general business law. He brings over four decades of experience to the firm.

Loren has significant experience in handling a breadth of real estate matters. Primarily, he handles residential and commercial real estate transfers in addition to refinancing transactions for individuals and businesses. In his land use practice, Loren helps clients navigate rights of way and boundary issues and has extensive experience representing clients in court if needed. As a licensed title agent, he guarantees proper ownership of a clean title and secures title insurance for his clients.

In his business practice, Loren provides counsel on a wide variety of corporate matters pertaining to business formations, governance and succession planning. He frequently represents family owned businesses and closely held corporations throughout the region, helping them with their unique needs. Helping business owners and management teams with their succession planning often coincides with Loren’s estate planning and administration work.

Loren’s previous work in personal injury, DUI victim and wrongful death cases (frequently involving motor vehicle accidents) led him to being named to Philadelphia Magazine’s Pennsylvania Super Lawyers, the Ultimate Guide to the Best Attorneys in Pennsylvania issued in 2004 and 2006. He was the first lawyer in Lebanon County to be admitted to the Million Dollar Advocates Forum. Loren has practiced law since 1978 when he began his legal career serving as Law Clerk to the Honorable G. Thomas Gates, President Judge, in the Lebanon County Court of Common Pleas.

A Lebanon native, Loren is active and well-known in his community. He currently serves on the board of directors of E&E Metal Fab and Royer’s Flowers & Gifts shops. He formerly served on the board of directors of the Lebanon Valley Family YMCA for 15 years and as a basketball and softball coach for a Catholic youth organization for 20 years where he coached girls from second to eighth grade. Loren earned his bachelor’s degree in history from Brown University and his juris doctor degree from Villanova University School of Law.

RECOGNITIONS
  • Million Dollar Advocates Forum
  • Philadelphia Magazine’s Pennsylvania Super lawyers, the Ultimate Guide to the Best Attorneys in Pennsylvania (2004 and 2006)
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
  • Pennsylvania Association for Justice’s Motor Vehicle Collision, Highway and Premises Liability section and the Auto ListServ, Former Member
  • Central Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association, Former Member
  • Pennsylvania Bar, Family Law Sub-section, Civil Litigation Sub-section, Former Member
MEMBERSHIPS
  • Lebanon County Bar Association
  • Pennsylvania Bar Association

Timothy D. Sheffey

Tim is an attorney at Barley Snyder with more than 45 years of experience concentrating his practice in Trusts & Estates and Real Estate law. 

In his estate planning and administration practice, Tim enjoys helping clients by working with compassion and building trusted relationships. He regularly guides clients through the estate planning process, preparing fiduciary documents, preparing and maintaining updated wills as well as creating powers of attorney and trusts including special needs trusts for families. His detailed approach helps him create comprehensive plans for clients and their unique needs. Serving his ultimate vocation, Tim understands the importance of thoughtfully helping his clients navigate the estate planning/administration process during what can be a very difficult time of their lives. He also works closely with attorneys in Barley Snyder’s Business Practice Group to help business owners develop transition and succession plans.

In his real estate practice, Tim guides clients through refinancing transactions, the purchase and sale of real estate, and setting up business structures. As a licensed title agent, he actively searches for liens to ensure good title. In addition, Tim has substantial experience representing municipalities. He has represented municipalities and school districts in Lebanon and acted as labor solicitor for the county for 38 years. Furthermore, Tim has experience handling labor and employment matters in the public sector, representing schools, municipalities and unions on both union and management sides. 

Born and raised in Lebanon, Tim has strong community ties. He is the original member and chair of Lebanon County Agricultural Land Preservation Board. He is an active volunteer with Cornwall Manor, previously serving as chair of its board of trustees and its foundation committee. Tim received his undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania and earned his juris doctor degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.

MEMBERSHIPS
  • Pennsylvania Bar Association
  • Lebanon County Bar Association

Jacob H. Kiessling

Jake is an attorney in the firm’s Business, Real Estate and Trusts & Estates practice groups with significant experience in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, business formation and succession planning, solar leasing and other real estate transactions, and estate and trust matters.

In his business practice, Jake represents clients across many industries ranging from health care, professional services and institutional businesses to family farms and real estate investors. His representation includes a wide array of legal matters including mergers and acquisitions, business formations and succession planning, and general business advisement. He has successfully negotiated numerous small to mid-market M&A transactions on behalf of buyers and sellers alike. 

Jake also represents clients in various real estate transactions, including commercial real estate acquisitions, financing and leases. Most notably, Jake has extensive experience successfully negotiating leases for solar energy and battery storage facilities on behalf of landowners throughout Pennsylvania, as well as in other states in the Mid-Atlantic region, and is widely regarded as an expert on landowner considerations in the leasing and development processes of the solar energy industry. As a lecturer and panelist, he has presented on numerous occasions regarding solar development and ground leasing for organizations such as Pennsylvania State University, Cornell University and the Pennsylvania Bar Institute, and has had the honor of testifying as an invited panelist before the Pennsylvania Senate Agricultural and Rural Affairs Committee with respect to solar industry leasing practices and the impact of solar development on prime agricultural land. 

As an estates and trusts practitioner, Jake assists clients with all of their estate planning needs, whether simple or complex, and has represented financial institutions with respect to their estate, trust and fiduciary account management and services.

Prior to joining Barley Snyder, Jake was a partner in a mid-sized Harrisburg law firm.  Jake is a graduate of Lycoming College where he was President of his fraternity, Kappa Delta Rho, and a member of the varsity wrestling team. He currently serves on the Congregation Council of Zion Lutheran Church in Hummelstown, the Lycoming College Alumni Association Executive Board and the LutheranHANDS Foundation Board of Directors. In his spare time, Jake enjoys fly fishing and fly tying, playing guitar, Penn State wrestling, Philadelphia sports, and spending time camping or at his family cabin in Lycoming County with his wife and their two children.

PUBLICATIONS & PRESENTATIONS
MEMBERSHIPS
  • Pennsylvania Bar Association
  • Dauphin County Bar Association

Beth M. Kohl

Beth is a member of Barley Snyder’s Real Estate, Construction and Land Use groups. She regularly represents private and public clients in land use and zoning matters, municipal law, and real estate transactions. In addition to her years of experience in private law firm practice, Beth has unique knowledge and perspective from her years working for an engineering firm as a land development consultant and working in the real estate/right-of-way department of a pipeline company. 

In her land use/zoning practice, Beth represents clients in the submissions of and hearings for text amendment, rezoning, variance, special exception, conditional use, subdivision and land development and condition modification applications. She understands the intricacies of the Municipalities Planning Code and the requirements that municipalities and developers must adhere to during the land development process in Pennsylvania. Beth also has experience assisting with the development of mixed-use, commercial/industrial buildings and complexes as well as residential neighborhoods. Furthermore, she prepares homeowners’ association and condominium documents for a variety of development projects including building conversions, shopping centers, residential planned communities, master-planned developments and site condominiums. 

Beth is a member of the Pennsylvania and Berks County Bar Associations. She frequently lectures on municipal law and zoning matters. Beth earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the Schreyer Honors College at Penn State University, and earned her law degree from the Thomas R. Kline School of Law at Drexel University in Philadelphia. 

A Berks County native, Beth is grateful to be working with residents, businesses, and municipalities in and around southcentral Pennsylvania. Beth is an active member of her community, and serves on the boards of directors of the Berks County Bar Association, Berks Nature, and the Friends of the Reading Hospital. She is a past chair of the Berks County Bar Association’s Municipal/Real Estate Law Section, and previously served on the board of directors of the Pagoda Pacers Athletic Club. 

MEMBERSHIPS
  • Pennsylvania Bar Association
  • Berks County Bar Association
PRESENTATIONS
  • Newly Elected Officials Training, Albright College Center for Excellence in Local Government (CELG), Dec. 2, 2021
  • Post-Pandemic Municipal Practice, Berks County Bar Association Bench-Bar Conference, August 25, 2021
  • COVID-19 and Human Resources, CELG, May 15, 2021
  • Recent Land Use Court Decisions, CELG, March 4, 2021
  • Recent Land Use Court Decisions and Pending Legislation, CELG, March 7, 2020
  • Recent Land Use Court Decisions and Pending Legislation, CELG, March 2, 2019
  • Navigating Local Agencies – Questions and Answers, BCTV Ask-a-Lawyer Program, December 18, 2018
  • Introduction to Zoning Basics, Berks County Bar Association, July 19, 2018

Albert T. Keyack

Albert Keyack is a member of Barley Snyder’s Intellectual Property Practice Group, bringing expansive experience in IP law to the firm. In addition to practicing with law firms and as in-house counsel, Albert represented the European Patent Office (EPO) as the first Attaché to the United States, a role of both advocating for European patents and acting in a liaison role with U.S. based applicants to the EPO. He also represented the U.S. as the Intellectual Property Attaché to Latin America, advocating both for stronger intellectual property laws, judicial reforms and better trade practices, as well as representing the interests of U.S. industry with regard to intellectual property and related issues, such as pharmaceutical regulation. He has spoken extensively on a wide range of intellectual property topics in the U.S., Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Germany and the Netherlands.

He began his career in Philadelphia, at a prominent law firm where he represented clients in matters involving patent and trademark prosecution, numerous types of intellectual property litigation and was also involved in a variety of transactional matters such as licensing, financing and acquisitions. He has also held positions as Chief Patent Counsel and as General Counsel at medical device companies and other technology companies both public and privately held, and was the in-house advisor on IP to a venture capital fund and their portfolio companies.

After earning a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Villanova University, Albert worked designing radar systems while simultaneously obtaining a law degree from the Rutgers University School of Law.

MEMBERSHIPS
  • Pennsylvania Bar Association
  • American Intellectual Property Law Association
  • Intellectual Property Owners Association
OTHER PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
  • Additional Languages: Portuguese, Spanish, German

Charmaine E. Nyman

Charmaine is a member of Barley Snyder’s Business and Real Estate practice groups. She is also a member of the firm’s Food & Agribusiness Industry Group, the Liquor Law and Land Use practices, and the Corporate Transparency Act and PA Annual Report response teams. 

Charmaine focuses her practice on business law, with a particular emphasis on mergers and acquisitions. As an M&A attorney, she helps clients navigate the complexities of buying, selling, and merging businesses, ensuring that every transaction is structured to protect their interests and achieve their financial and operational goals. She works with clients across various industries to handle all aspects of a deal from due diligence and contract negotiation to post-deal integration. Charmaine also assists clients with general corporate matters, ranging from entity formation and dissolution to drafting and negotiating shareholder agreements, operating agreements, and other essential corporate documents. She is dedicated to helping businesses move forward, ensuring legal and operational success as they grow, evolve, and adapt. 

In addition to her work in corporate law, Charmaine has a strong foundation in real estate law. She assists clients with buying, selling, and leasing both residential and commercial properties, as well as handling land development and entitlement matters. 

With a passion for the food and agriculture sector, Charmaine has contributed to grant research and would like to expand her practice to focus on the business side of the industry, particularly contracts and supply chain management. She is eager to help clients in this space streamline their operations and secure robust, effective agreements that drive growth and innovation.

Beyond her legal work, Charmaine is committed to continuous professional growth. She is a member of Barley Snyder’s Practice Excellence Champions group, a team dedicated to ensuring the firm delivers exceptional service, quality, and value to clients. Charmaine holds a Yellow Belt in Lean Six Sigma, which enables her to implement process improvements and enhance efficiency in her practice. 

Charmaine is a magna cum laude graduate of the University of Richmond School of Law and a summa cum laude graduate from Kutztown University. Before law school, she worked as a paralegal, drafting estate planning documents and assisting with real estate transactions. As a Clinton County native, Charmaine spent her childhood on a small family farm. During this time, she showed livestock in 4-H and was named 2015 Clinton County Fair Queen. She now resides in York County and enjoys spending her time away from the office reading, traveling, and spending time outdoors.

RECOGNITIONS
  • Nominated for VA State Bar Oliver White Hill Award for Pro Bono Service (2022)
  • Harry L. Carrico Center for Pro Bono Service Certification Award (2022)
  • CALI Awards for Excellence in Military Law and in the Legal Business Design Challenge (2021)
MEMBERSHIPS
  • York County Bar Association
  • Pennsylvania Bar Association
  • American Bar Association
  • Corporate Legal Operations Consortium (CLOC)

Get in Touch

Our attorneys, paralegals and staff look forward to hearing from you. Please reach out to let us know how we can help.

Get In Touch
RECOGNIZED IN
Super Lawyers
Best Law Firms US News
Best Lawyers