Position: Counsel

Silas M. Ruiz-Steele

Silas Ruiz-Steele chairs Barley Snyder’s Immigration group. She has focused her practice exclusively on immigration and nationality law for more than twelve years, regularly counseling and assisting employers and their employees as well as private individuals in their immigration needs, including those skilled and highly trained in:

  • The Sciences 
  • Engineering
  • Education
  • Health Care
  • Business
  • The Arts

As a corporate immigration law counselor, Silas assists employers in a variety of industries including agri-business, manufacturing, and gaming and hospitality, among others, in devising successful immigration programs to meet their needs. She represents employers in securing non-immigrant work visas for new hires and permanent residence for permanent personnel; multi-national companies in transferring their executives, managers or individuals with specialized knowledge; universities with foreign-born faculty, researchers, and graduates; and entrepreneurs forming start-up companies or re-locating to the U.S. in securing treaty-based visas.

A frequent speaker and author on business immigration topics, Silas regularly hosts seminars on visa-related topics, immigration compliance and strategic planning. She provides guidance and training to corporate clients of all sizes, human resources professionals, supervisors and managers on worksite enforcement issues, IRCA compliance, I-9 employment verification matters, Social Security mismatch issues, and developing and implementing system-wide immigration policies and protocols.

In addition to her employment-based immigration work, Silas provides assistance in naturalization and family-based immigration matters including both immigrant visas (green cards) and non-immigrant visas (K1 fiancé(e)).

Silas is able to represent immigration clients in every jurisdiction of the U.S., handling matters before the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, U.S. Department of Labor and consulates worldwide.

Prior to joining the firm, Silas maintained her own immigration law practice, where she represented clients in matters involving Immigrant Visas through Adjustment of Status or Consular Processing, Temporary Work Visas such as those involving Treaty Traders and Investors, business visas such as B’s, F’s, H’s, L’s, O’s, and P’s, and naturalization. In addition, she provided guidance and training on employment verification procedures and immigration-related discrimination practices.

Having immigrated to the United States herself, Silas has personal experience with the complexities of the immigration process. With this experience in mind, she obtained her Juris Doctorate degree from Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, DC. She frequently presents at seminars and has served as an invited guest speaker for professional associations and organizations on topics such as I-9 compliance and employer sanctions, immigration risk management for employers, and nonimmigrant and immigrant visa options and strategies for businesses and individuals. Silas is a member of the Florida State Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the American Immigration Lawyers Association, and the Society for Human Resources Management. Silas is fluent in Spanish and French.

MEMBERSHIPS
  • Florida State Bar Association
  • American Immigration Lawyers Association
  • American Bar Association
PRESENTATIONS
  • “Immigration Compliance in the COVID-19 Era,” 37th Annual Barley Snyder Employment Law Seminar (September 2020)
  • “Preventative I-9 Audits – Better To Be Safe Than Sorry,” Barley Snyder Employment Law Seminar (May 2019)
  • “Hot Topics in Employment, Labor & Immigration,” Food & Ag Summit (February 2019)
  • “Immigration Enforcement in the Trump Era,” 35th Annual Employment Law Seminar (May 2018)
  • “Immigration Under the New Administration,” 2017 Barley Snyder Employment Seminar (April 2017)
  • Employment Verification and the Form I-9, Barley Snyder Employment Law Seminar (May 2016)
  • “Workplace Enforcement – Avoiding I-9 Issues & Pitfalls,” Barley Snyder Employment Law Seminar (April 2015)
  • “Immigration Law: Where Things Stand and Where Things Might Be Going?” Barley Snyder Employment Seminar (May 2014)
  • “Immigration Update,” Barley Snyder Employment Seminar (May 2013)
  • “Worksite Enforcement of Immigration Laws,” Barley Snyder Employment Seminar (May 2012)

Jayne R. Katherman

Jayne is a dedicated member of the Barley Snyder Real Estate, Business and Hospitality groups, with a strong background in municipal law and estate planning.

Jayne primarily focuses her practice on municipal development, representing clients in zoning and land development matters. She handles complex land use issues such as variances, special exceptions, conditional uses, zoning appeals, and other land use matters for municipal and development clients. Jayne also has experience serving as Solicitor for several municipalities and general authorities in York County. In the realm of real estate, Jayne is well-versed in planned community representation, serving both developers and homeowner association boards. She further provides comprehensive legal support to individuals, guiding them through every phase of real estate acquisition, financing, operations, development and sales.

Jayne also maintains a small practice in estate planning and estate administration. She frequently assists clients with the preparation of basic estate planning documents including wills, powers of attorney and medical directives in addition to the administration of estates.

In her hospitality practice, Jayne has experience with the sales and acquisitions of hotels and guiding clients through the process of liquor license transfers. Furthermore, Jayne holds broad experience in general business law which consists of entity formations, review and negotiations of contracts and contract drafting.

Outside of the firm, Jayne serves on the Junior Board of the YWCA of Greater Harrisburg, a dynamic group of young women who raise awareness and funds in support of the organization’s mission and operations. In addition, Jayne was previously involved with volunteering for the Pennsylvania Immigration Resource Center in York to help provide “Know Your Rights” educational programs to immigration-related detainees in the York County Prison.

In her free time, Jayne enjoys playing the part of “Auntie Jay” to her five nieces and nephews, reading, spending time outdoors, traveling and cooking.

MEMBERSHIPS
  • York County Bar Association
  • Lancaster Bar Association
  • Pennsylvania Bar Association
  • York Young Professionals
  • Pennsylvania State Association of Township Solicitors
  • Herbert B. Cohen Chapter of the American Inns of Court
RECOGNITIONS
  • Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America, Municipal Law (2024, 2025)
PRESENTATIONS
  • “Real Estate Investments and LLC’s: An Introduction”, Real Estate Hackers Pottstown Meetup Group (September 2023)

Stanley A. Smith

Stan’s decades of experience have not only earned him a statewide reputation in the field of personal planning, but for nearly 15 years, it has also earned him the distinction of being named to the prestigious “Best Lawyers in America” list that U.S. News and World Report publishes annually to recognize the cream of the attorney crop throughout the country.

In his practice, Stan develops individualized estate plans that preserve and protect clients’ assets not only during their lifetime but also makes sure those assets ultimately pass to the clients’ heirs in a tax-efficient fashion. He seeks to understand each client’s unique goals, and crafts and implements practical estate plans to accomplish those goals.

Stan routinely advises individual and corporate fiduciaries in the structuring and administration of:

  • Wills
  • Revocable trusts
  • Irrevocable trusts
  • Buy-sell shareholder agreements
  • Charitable and non-charitable transfers

He assists with the preparation and presentation of fiduciary accountings, the negotiation and drafting of non-judicial settlement agreements among fiduciaries and heirs and petitions to the Orphans’ Court where appropriate.

Succession planning is an important piece of Stan’s practice, as he has worked with business owners to craft plans for the smooth transfer of ownership to younger generations through buy-sell agreements and partnerships, LLC and limited partnership agreements.

In addition to his work with individual and corporate clients, Stan has helped enrich his community by serving as counsel to various non-profit organizations. Charitable organizations such as colleges, universities and hospitals, as well as numerous private foundations, have benefited from Stan’s legal advice. 

Outside of his legal work for charitable organizations, Stan has used his experience to serve on the boards or committees of various charitable, educational and religious organizations throughout Pennsylvania. 

RECOGNITIONS
  • Best Lawyers, 2015 Harrisburg Trust & Estates “Lawyer of the Year”
  • The Best Lawyers in America©, Trusts & Estates (2006-2025), Non-Profit/Charities Law (2006-2025)
PUBLICATIONS
  • Income Tax Deduction for Gift of Right to Develop Real Estate
  • Does a Family Foundation Fit in Your Planning?
  • Governor Corbett Signs House Bill 1950 into Law
PRESENTATION
  • “Estate Planning After the 2010 Tax Act”, McKonley & Asbury webinar

Stephen R. Lazun

Steve Lazun has extensive experience representing banks, closely-held companies and nonprofit corporations in a broad range of corporate and banking matters. He serves as general counsel to medium-sized companies operating in the manufacturing, agribusiness, packaging, construction and service industries.

Steve concentrates his practice in the finance, banking, creditors’ rights, real estate and general corporate areas. He routinely represents lenders, borrowers and other parties in complex commercial loan and municipal finance transactions, including asset-based loans, construction loans, letter of credit enhanced financings and tax-exempt and taxable bond financings. Steve’s creditors’ rights practice involves the representation of banks, landlords and other creditors in connection with non-judicial restructurings and workouts, confessed judgment actions, foreclosures, collections, Article 9 asset sales, mechanics’ liens and municipal claims.

Steve devotes a substantial portion of his practice to representing business clients in corporate, partnership and general business matters, including business formation and governance, shareholder and partner relations, contract review, preparation and negotiation, mergers and acquisitions and commercial real estate transactions. In addition, he advises clients with respect to debt and equity public and private offerings and securities law compliance issues. When litigation becomes unavoidable, Steve provides a business attorney’s insight and perspective to the civil litigation process.

Steve is listed in The Best Lawyers in America (2013-Present) for the practice area of Corporate Law.

Representative Matters

  • Representation of troubled development project in connection with $40,000,000 letter of credit enhanced refinancing transaction.
  • Representation of regional bank in connection with complex litigation resulting in judgments and recoveries totaling more than $5,000,000.
  • Representation of numerous issuers, banks and other parties in connection with financing transactions totaling hundreds of millions of dollars.
  • Representation of banks and other creditors in connection with collection efforts resulting in loan recoveries totaling tens of millions of dollars.
  • Representation of several privately-held companies in connection with the formation of a holding company structure through a tax-free reorganization.
  • Representation of several nonprofit corporations in connection with multi-state public offerings of debt securities used to fund loan pool programs totaling several hundred million dollars.
  • Representation of creditors in connection with defending against bankruptcy preference claims and obtaining relief from the automatic stay.
  • Representation of business owners in connection with business succession, product distribution, intellectual property and general business matters.
RECOGNITIONS
  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Corporate Law (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021) Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships) (2024, 2025), Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law (2025)

  • Select Lawyer, Polk-Lepson Research Group

  • Central Pennsylvania’s Top Lawyer

MEMBERSHIPS
  • Admitted to practice in Pennsylvania

  • Pennsylvania, Lancaster and York Bar Associations

Steven J. Link

Steve brings a unique perspective to his work as a patent and intellectual property attorney since he’s been on the inventor side of the table. He contributed to patents from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office during more than five years of work as a research and development scientist in the pharmaceutical and biotechnological fields. While working in the pharmaceutical industry, he took night and weekend classes to secure his law degree and begin his career as an attorney, spending more than 15 years as an in-house counsel, serving as a patent attorney and intellectual property manager for a DSM Biomedical in southeastern Pennsylvania.

The Wilmington, Del., native spent his time as in-house counsel drafting and negotiating commercial agreements such as license and distribution, development, supply, nondisclosure and consulting. He developed and implemented the company’s IP strategy and managed the IP portfolio of the company’s multiple business units in diverse medical fields. He’s also worked as a contract attorney providing litigation support while analyzing complex legal documents.

Steve’s first professional experience after graduating with a biology degree from the University of Richmond gave him a first-hand look at the patenting process from the inventor’s side as a research and development scientist in the pharmaceutical and biotechnological industries.

Steve lives near historic Valley Forge, Pa., with his wife Cathy, their two children and a dog. 

MEMBERSHIP
  • American Intellectual Property Association
PUBLICATION
  • “Selective Inhibition of Bacterial Dihydroorotate Dehydrogenases by Thiadiazolidinediones”, Biochemical Pharmacology (2000)
PRESENTATIONS
  • “Comparison of Assays in a Low Volume 384 Well Plate and a 1536 Well Plate”, SBS Conference (September 2001)
  • “Discovery of Novel, Robust Biocatalysts from Microbial Diversity”, Third Annual Hyperthermophile Symposium (April 1996)
OTHER PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
  • Eight professional years of research and development work, in both pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries

J. Robert Katherman

Bob is a member of the Barley Snyder Business Practice Group. As a life-long resident of York County, he was able to grow his practice, in part, by establishing and maintaining strong relationships with almost every municipal office in the county.

In addition to maintaining a private practice, at the beginning of his career he also worked for 12 years as the City of York solicitor. Throughout that time, one of his areas of responsibility was enforcement of zoning, building and housing codes. Bob built upon this work in zoning and building codes to develop an extensive practice in land use approval and apartment complex acquisition, financing and management.

Bob’s commitment to his hometown also has translated into a career of public service within the York County community. He has helped enhance the quality of life, developed York’s professionals, and protected the community’s most vulnerable citizens with leadership positions on the board of directors at a number of the county’s most important organizations.

OTHER PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
  • Former owner and former president of Dominion Abstracting Inc. title insurance agency

Thomas A. French

Thomas is recognized as a leading business and commercial litigation attorney, having tried numerous cases to verdict and appeal over his decades-long career as a courtroom lawyer. He is a “go-to” litigator when banks, insurance companies, businesses and professionals are faced with their most crucial legal conflicts. Thomas routinely defends other attorneys, accountants and fiduciaries against malpractice lawsuits, and represents insurers when opposing coverage and bad faith claims. He also has been called upon to protect banking institutions confronted with shareholder and other disputes. He is known for guiding his clients through internal and external investigations as well.

As a young attorney, following graduation at the top of his law school class, he represented a wholesale consumer products distributor in a case against computer giant Unisys Corp. In that case, he obtained a verdict in excess of $1 million, at the time believed to be one of the largest verdicts ever returned by a Harrisburg jury. Later, he represented the owners of the historic Bedford Springs Hotel, who had deadlocked on plans to redevelop the resort. He mounted a successful jury trial defense of a bank against a claim by a corporate minority shareholder that the bank had caused $84 million in damages resulting from the plaintiff’s alleged loss of control of a leading concrete and aggregate supply company. In 2014, he led a trial team that successfully litigated an ownership and control dispute among owners of a major northeastern Marcellus Shale energy industry service company.

More recently, Thomas has litigated complex federal antitrust lawsuits filed in U.S. district courts throughout the country. He has appeared many times before the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation.

He has also defended clients in multi-million dollar intellectual property litigations. He served as local trial counsel on behalf of SmithKline Beecham in a case involving the validity of patents covering some of the world’s most commonly used vaccines. He also was a member of a litigation team that defended Samsung in a patent infringement action involving light emitting diode technology used in its smart phones, which resulted in a dismissal with prejudice. In 2011, he represented a Pennsylvania inventor and manufacturer, obtaining a defense jury verdict in a case tried under the Pennsylvania Uniform Trade Secrets Act. He has successfully litigated trademark and copyright infringement cases as well.

Thomas has represented the owner of the “Zero Restriction”® and “ZR”® brand golf apparel company in litigation arising from the sale of the company; sued Kmart Corp. on behalf of a Pennsylvania grocery store chain for damages from a botched shopping mall development project; represented the seller of a drug store chain against the purchaser who consolidated the company into its own operations and then refused to pay the agreed upon purchase price; represented government and institutional investors in numerous cases against financial advisors who illegally invested and managed millions of dollars in public funds, and many other prominent businesses and institutions in their most important disputes.

In this regard, Thomas has also represented governmental entities, business organizations, financial institutions and individuals in regulatory, criminal and internal investigations of alleged misconduct. Matters under investigation in those cases ranged from alleged securities and bank fraud, medical reimbursement fraud, and government ethics violations and other forms of employee misconduct.

Counted among Thomas’s clients are a number of Pennsylvania’s regional banks and insurance companies.  He handles litigation involving insurance coverage, bad faith insurance practices, and regulatory issues. He frequently defends banks and other fiduciaries in trust and estate litigation where parties claim negligent investment and mismanagement of trust funds have occurred. He has tried cases involving the validity of wills, and numerous fiduciary surcharge actions.

Other attorneys and accountants have asked Thomas to represent them when they have been sued in professional malpractice cases. After one particularly contentious case was finally resolved, opposing counsel retained Thomas to defend him personally when he was named as a defendant in a suit by a former client. In fact, many of his litigation cases are referred to him by other attorneys who trust him to represent their own clients with their most important litigation matters.

As an experienced appellate attorney,  he has successfully handled appeals before the Pennsylvania Supreme, Superior and Commonwealth courts, and the U.S. courts of appeals for the Third and Eleventh circuits. He also served as lead counsel on petition for certiorari before the U.S. Supreme Court.

In addition to his private practice experience, Thomas served as a military attorney in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General Corps and the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. In 2005, he was called to active duty and deployed to Afghanistan, where he advised commanders on rules of engagement and other military law issues.

In 2012, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett appointed Thomas as a Commissioner to the Board of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws. He was also appointed by U. S. Sen. Patrick Toomey to serve on his U.S. Military Academy selection committee. Thomas is active in the community, serving on boards of non-profit organizations, including the YMCA. He is a frequent speaker before various business and professional associations and is a former member of the adjunct faculties of the law schools at Widener and Penn State Universities.

RECOGNITIONS
  • Rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell
  • Central Penn Business Journal “Legal Excellence Awards” — Leaders in Law
  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Commercial Litigation (2013, 2014 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025) Litigation – Insurance (2024, 2025) Litigation – Municipal (2024, 2025)
  • “Simply the Best,” Business Attorney, Harrisburg Magazine (2007-2010)
  • Pennsylvania Super Lawyers (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023)
  • Board of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws, commissioner, representing the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (2012-2015)
  • United States Military Academy Selection Committee of U.S. Senator Patrick Toomey
MEMBERSHIPS
  • Defense Research Institute
  • Pennsylvania Defense Institute

Hon. Stephen P. Linebaugh (Ret.)

Judge Stephen Linebaugh has been a staple of the York County legal community for more than 40 years, carrying with him a rich family history in the county dating back to before the Revolutionary War. Judge Linebaugh is a retired judge in the York County Court of Common Pleas, serving two 10-year terms on the bench from 1997 to 2017 and presiding over more than 200 civil trials. In 2010, his fellow judges in York County elected him the county’s president judge for a five-year term.

At Barley Snyder, Judge Linebaugh is part of the firm’s Litigation Practice Group in the area of civil mediation and arbitration, providing alternative dispute resolution throughout the state. He works in broad litigation as well as specialty practices such as medical negligence, personal injury, environmental, employment and real estate. After his retirement from the bench in 2017, he worked across the state as an alternative dispute resolution specialist with a Pittsburgh-based firm. Judge Linebaugh is one of the few attorneys in Central Pennsylvania to be admitted as a panel member of the American Arbitration Association (AAA) – a not-for-profit organization and world’s largest provider of arbitration, mediation and other ADR services – and he is the chair of Barley Snyder’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Service Team. Judge Linebaugh has also worked as a former mediator and arbitrator for the York County Court of Common Pleas, and is a former mediator for the York County Board of Realtors.

He started his career as a law clerk and assistant district attorney in York County, and went into private practice in 1973, where he served as a solicitor for more than a dozen municipalities and authorities throughout the county. His private practice also included emphasis on estate administration and planning, business law, real estate law and mental health law before he took over his judge position in 1998. During his time in private practice, he served as York County’s first mental health review officer, a position he held for more than 20 years.

His work in the courtroom as an attorney and as a judge have made him a sought-after speaker around the state and nationally, as he’s been a guest speaker for organizations such as the National District Attorneys Association, the National Business Institute and the Pennsylvania Bar Institute. In 2015, the Pennsylvania Bar Association awarded him the Chief Justice Ronald D. Castille Award for his contributions to improving civil legal aid in the state.

Judge Linebaugh is a fixture in the York community. He has volunteered his time with leadership positions to beneficial area nonprofit organizations such as the Bob Hoffman YMCA, York County Crimestoppers, the Margaret Moul Foundation, the Boy Scouts of America, YouthBuild and the York County March of Dimes. He was the secretary of the Episcopal Diocese of Central Pennsylvania, and is a former assistant chancellor of the diocese.

He is a lifelong resident of Dover Township, the same area his ancestors settled in the 1760s. He and his wife Jane have been married for more than 50 years and have two daughters, both of whom work in the legal profession.

RECOGNITIONS
  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Arbitration (2025)
  • Central Penn Business Journal “Legal Excellence Awards” — Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
  • Pennsylvania Bar Association, Everyday Leader Award (2006)
  • Pennsylvania Bar Association Chief Justice Ronald D. Castille Judge’s Award (2015)
  • American Inns of Court (Herbert B. Cohen Chapter), Civility and Ethics Award (2019)
EXPERTISE & CERTIFICATION
  • American Arbitration Association (AAA), Panel Member
  • National Judicial College, civil mediator training, May 2008 and May 2017
MEMBERSHIPS
  • York County Bar Association, membership committee, York County Bar Building Committee (former chairman), former member of Chamber Liaison Committee, Legislative Liaison Committee, Real Estate Committee, Estate Planning and Probate Section, Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee (former chairman), Local Rules of Court Committee (former chairman), Nominating Committee
  • Pennsylvania Bar Association
PRESENTATION
  • “Religious Accommodations in the Post-COVID Era,” 40th Annual Barley Snyder Employment Law Seminar (May 2023)
  • “The Ultimate Guide to Non-compete and Non-solicitation Agreements”, 37th Annual Barley Snyder Employment Law Seminar (September 2020)
OTHER PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
  • President Judge, York County Court of Pleas (2011-2016)
  • Judge, York County Court of Common Pleas (1998-2017)

Timothy G. Dietrich

Tim Dietrich provides strategic advice for businesses, financial institutions and governments in a number of areas, including organization and governance and the structuring, negotiation, and closing of corporate and commercial financial transactions. Tim continues to advise financial institutions and businesses in situations involving financial distress and to provide a wide array of advice to governments, including utilities matters.

Tim leads Barley’s Food & Agribusiness Industry Group, and he is also actively involved with the firm’s Senior Living Industry Group. During the years 2008 through 2013, Tim served as Barley Snyder’s managing partner and initiated Barley’s process improvement program called Practice Excellence®. This firm-wide program focuses on quality, knowledge and service. The program also emphasizes efficiency and standardization by applying lean principles to our practice. The program began in 2008 and is being led by Practice Excellence® “Champions” of each of our practice groups.

Food & Agribusiness
Tim is utilizing his knowledge of FDA, USDA and other regulatory requirements to assist clients in the food and agriculture areas with their transactional needs and compliance with the more rigorous requirements of the Food Safety Modernization Act.

Some of Tim’s representative food and agribusiness successes:

  • Represented buyer in multi-state, $140 million acquisition of agricultural production and processing facilities.
  • Represented food processor in development of $330 million processing facility, including resolution of sewage treatment expansion permitting and construction issues.
  • Represented food processor in development of $40 million processing facility, including resolution of sewage treatment expansion permitting and construction issues.
  • Represented food processors in facility expansions and modernizations.
  • Represented food processor in addressing USDA – Food Safety and Inspection Service concerns regarding Salmonella and potential recall.
  • Counsel to food processor with respect to FDA testing, recall request and warning letter regarding Salmonella.
  • Advising various food processing clients on food co-packing contracts.
  • Counsel to lender in $40 million secured revolving facility and $45 million unsecured revolving facility for food processors.
  • Counsel to borrower in $83 million secured facilities for working capital and construction for food processor.
  • Counsel to food and agribusiness client for long-term, joint venture organic animal feed supply agreement.
  • Negotiation of contractual issues in food processing supply chain, including for organic and GRAS (generally recognized as safe) ingredients.
  • Negotiation of agreements involving product development, licensing, and distribution.
  • Counsel in FDA and USDA inspection settings and in connection with product recalls and insurance claims.

Business Law
Tim’s practice involves general corporate counseling and representation in acquisitions and other transactions for both privately and publicly held businesses. In some instances, he serves clients in a “general counsel” role, providing representation on general business, corporate and financial matters, while also assisting in the coordination of litigation, regulatory compliance and other matters. He has devoted a significant portion of his practice to counseling businesses involved in the development, manufacturing and marketing of medical devices.

Some of Tim’s representative transactions in his business practice:

  • Representation of manufacturers in the formation and termination of product distribution relationships, both domestic and international.
  • Negotiation of agreements involving various combinations of research and development, product development, purchasing and strategic sourcing, licensing and distribution for medical and other technologies and food and agribusiness firms.
  • Representation of purchasers and sellers in corporate acquisitions, particularly asset purchases of early-stage technology firms.
  • Assisting clients with critical regulatory and quality assurance matters including government inspections and recalls.
  • As a member of the Senior Living Industry Group, he has advised senior living organizations on a number of matters, including complex organizational affiliations, as outlined in the Senior Living section below.

Senior Living
Tim has represented senior living facilities in various matters, including:

  • Represented multiple parties in negotiation, due diligence and document drafting for multi-party affiliation of senior living facilities, including addressing Hart-Scott-Rodino clearance with the Federal Trade Commission.
  • Creation of holding company structure for senior living community to facilitate innovation and services expansion, as well as acquisitions.
  • Representation of a large senior living community in acquisition of control of another non-profit CCRC and its long-term care facilities.
  • Representation of multiple senior living organizations in development and construction projects, including land use approvals, design and construction contract negotiations (and disputes), and financing.
  • Representation of charitable foundations affiliated with senior living communities in various regards, including establishment of scholarship fund for employees.
  • Borrower counsel in approximately $70 million financing which refinanced existing indebtedness and also financed payment for acquisition of control for previous nonprofit controlling member.

Banking
Tim works extensively with lenders and borrowers in various aspects of secured and unsecured credit transactions, including syndicated and participated loans, real estate acquisition and construction financing, asset-based transactions, acquisition financing, loan work-outs and restructurings and tax-exempt financing. The focus of Tim’s lending practice is on middle market loan and small loan borrowers.

Representative transactions:

  • Counsel to agent bank in a $375 million unsecured revolving working capital credit facility for retail borrower.
  • Counsel to agent bank in total of $43 million of secured revolving facilities for working capital and land acquisition for a hardwood lumber firm.
  • Counsel to publicly traded corporate borrower in a $90 million multi-currency revolving credit facility.
  • Counsel to lender in a $25 million secured line of credit facility providing working capital for a clothing licensee/importer/manufacturer.
  • Counsel to lender in secured $40 million term debt and $4.5 million revolving debt financings for wholesale electric generation plants.
  • Represented lenders as letter of credit bank counsel in revenue bond transactions.
  • Represented lenders in financing the acquisition and development of numerous commercial and residential projects in Pennsylvania, including leasehold, site condominium and credit tenant projects.

Creditors’ Rights and Bankruptcy
Tim began his career as a bankruptcy lawyer and continues to give strategic advice and representation to clients facing various aspects of distressed financial situations. His creditors’ rights and bankruptcy practice currently is focused on secured and unsecured creditor representation in bankruptcy proceedings, as well as loan workouts and forbearance negotiation. He has represented businesses as debtors in bankruptcy and collection proceedings, including debtor representation in workouts and distressed settings, including Chapter 11 reorganization cases resulting in plan confirmations. Outside of bankruptcy, he has represented creditors in foreclosure, confession of judgment, execution, debt sale and assignment matters. He has lectured for the Pennsylvania Bar Institute and the Eastern District of Pennsylvania Bankruptcy Conference on Chapter 11 issues.

Recent representative matters:

  • Defense of pre-bankruptcy purchaser of industrial facility in a Section 548 fraudulent conveyance action brought by liquidating trustee in bankruptcy, seeking over $6 million, which was settled for litigation costs.
  • Representation of secured lender in Chapter 11 case of firm engaged in publishing, including liquidation of intellectual property rights.
  • Representation and defense of secured creditor in Chapter 11 proceeding and related lender liability cases regarding failed vehicle floor plan borrower.
  • Representation of secured creditors in a number of workout and Chapter 12 bankruptcy cases for agricultural operations.
  • Representation of secured lender /letter of credit issuer for revenue bonds in Chapter 11 case of printer.
OTHER PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
  • Clerk of Court, Estate Administrator, U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of West Virginia (1982-1984)
MEMBERSHIPS
  • American Bankruptcy Institute
  • Commercial Law League of America
  • American, Pennsylvania and Berks Bar Association
  • The Pennsylvania Society
RECOGNITIONS
  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Banking and Finance Law, Corporate Law (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025)
  • Pennsylvania Super Lawyers (2005)
  • United Way of Berks County; 2004 Doran Award, 1999 June A. Roedel Legacy of Commitment Award
PRESENTATIONS
  • Artificial Intelligence: A Brave New World, Kairos Senior Living Conference & Exhibit, Co-presented with Christopher Churchill, Michael Crocenzi, and Yenma Herb of RKL (September 2024)
  • Inspections: What to Do if the Government Shows Up at Your Door (FDA/USDA Inspections for Food & Ag Businesses), American Conference Institute – Co-presented with Ashish Talati of Talati Law Firm (July 2024)
  • Gearing Up for Enhanced Traceability: Building Your Roadmap for Compliance with the FDAs New Final Food Traceability Rule, American Conference Institute, Co-presented with Elizabeth Fawell of Hogan Lovells and Brandon Neuschafer of Arnold & Porter (April 2024)
  • Don’t Take Our Word For It, Checklists and Audits Help Firms Avoid Malpractice Claims (Practice Excellence), American Bar Association – Co-presented with George Werner of Barley Snyder, Nina Tulloch of Hogan Lovells, and John Lecci of Markel Specialty Insurance (April 2024)
  • M&A vs. Organic Growth – Governance, Financing and Other Implications, Kairos Education Conference & Exhibit (September 2023)
  • Breaking Eggs, Not Businesses: A Solutions-Focused Discussion on Dealing with the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Outbreak, webinar (June 2022)
  • Supply Chain Management: A Study in Sustainability, Traceability, Economic, and Environmental Impact, Fifth Advanced Summit on Food Law – Regulation, Compliance and Litigation (May 2021)
  • Selling Your Products: 2021 Challenges, Opportunities, Virtual Food, Ag Summit (March 2021)
  • COVID-19 Vaccine: The Impact on the Food, Agribusiness Industry, webinar (December 2020)
  • Allergens: The Liability Implications of Voluntary Disclosures and Recall, 4th Advanced Summit on Food Law – Regulation, Compliance and Litigation (July 2020)
  • Panelist: Embracing Change, Preparing for the Future 2019 Reading Business Seminar (October 2019)
  • Organic Supply Chain: Protecting Your Brand, Food; Ag Summit (February 2019)
  • The Special Assets Environment, Lendicon 2018 (March 2018)
  • Inspections in the Age of FSMA: What To Do If the Government Shows Up at Your Door , American Conference Institute Food Law and Regulation Boot Camp (November 2017)
  • Exploring Individual Liability Through the Invocation of a Corporate Office Doctrine and Yates Memo as they Apply in the Food Industry, Food Law and Regulation Forum (May 2017) 
  • Current Issues in Agri-Business and Food Processing Lending, Barley Snyder LendiCon Seminar (March 2016)
  • Bankruptcy Update, Barley Snyder LendiCon Seminar (March 2015)
  • Consumer Preferences and Federal Responses – The Impact of Upcoming FDA and USDA Regulations on Food and Agribusiness, FEI Central Pennsylvania Chapter (May 2015)
  • Protecting Yourself from the CFPB, Barley Snyder LendiCon Seminar (November 2013)

Harold A. Eastman Jr.

Harry Eastman has practiced law in the Gettysburg and Adams County area for his entire legal career of more than 30 years, concentrating his law practice in the areas of municipal law, zoning and land use, real estate, and trusts and estates.

As his practice has evolved, Harry has gained experience in a variety of practice areas. He has served as the municipal solicitor for the Borough of Gettysburg since 1999, and he has served as the solicitor for the Borough of New Oxford for more than 25 years. He has also served as the solicitor for several zoning hearing boards, helping him to develop a zoning and land use practice for the last 30 years.

In his real estate practice, Harry has represented clients in both residential and commercial transactions. He has developed a practice representing clients in the historic preservation and agricultural conservation of real estate. To complement his real estate acquisition practice, Harry is a licensed title agent with Commonwealth Land Title Insurance Company.

Originally from northern Vermont, Harry moved to Gettysburg in 1988 and joined a well-established Gettysburg law firm while raising a family with his wife, Janet, and immersing himself in the Adams County community. He has served and currently serves as a director on boards of nonprofits and community service organizations.

RECOGNITIONS
  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Trusts and Estates (2025)
MEMBERSHIPS
  • Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs
  • Pennsylvania Borough Solicitors Association
  • Pennsylvania Bar Association
  • Adams County Bar Association

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