On Wendesday, December 9th Andrew Chumney presented at the National Business Institute's continuing education seminar "Mineral Rights: What You Need to Know NOW!" The presentation took place at the Hilton Garden Inn Pittsburgh University Place in Pittsburgh, PA from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  Andrew's sessions covered the following topics: 

MINERAL TITLE EXAMINATION

Commonly Encountered Types of Lands

How Surveys Play In

Curing Title in Mineral Cases

Non Record Title Issues

MINERAL LEASES 101 

Basic Provisions of an Oil and Gas Lease

Other Mineral Interest Leases

Contract Drafting

Duration and Termination

Effect on Future Sales of Property

Surface Property Inheritance Issues

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ANDREW S. CHUMNEY is a partner with Peacock Keller & Ecker, LLP, where he focuses his practice on the representation of coal, oil, and natural gas producers and other energy related businesses. After joining Peacock Keller in 2003, Mr. Chumney rotated among various sections within the firm gaining experience in all facets of the law ranging from litigation to employment law to estates and trusts. He now utilizes that experience by representing some of the county's largest energy producers in a broad array of energy and real estate related matters, including without limitation, mineral title issues, land and mineral acquisitions and leasing, lease negotiations, asset sales and transactions, and permitting and regulatory issues associated with coalbed methane and natural gas wells. Mr. Chumney earned his B.A. degree, cum laude, from Washington and Jefferson College and his J.D. degree from Duquesne University School of Law, serving as Executive Articles Editor for the Duquesne Law Review. He is a member of the Washington County and Pennsylvania bar associations, and the Energy and Mineral Law Foundation and regularly presents on energy related topics to various organizations.

Mr. Steele served as a Sergeant in the United States Army for four years and was honorably discharged in 1992 before attending Indiana University of Pennsylvania.  After graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Safety Sciences in 1996, Mr. Steele worked as a Construction Safety Manager until he opened his own construction company in 1998.  

In 2011, Mr. Steele entered the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.  During law school, he interned with Southwestern Pennsylvania Legal Aid Services as well as the Allegheny County District Attorney's office where he prosecuted several non-jury trials.   Mr. Steele was also employed as a Law Clerk for a Pittsburgh law firm during his second and third years at Pitt Law and won the Moot Court competition along with the Best Brief award in 2013.  Following law school, Steele worked as an associate for a Pittsburgh law firm before joining Peacock Keller at the end of August 2015.

Mr. Steele is admitted to the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania and the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania.  He is a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association as well as the Allegheny and Washington County Bar Associations.

Peacock Keller, a full-service law firm headquartered in Washington, Pa., expands its estates & trusts practice with the addition of a new associate, Daniel P. Gustine. Mr. Gustine will focus his practice in estate planning and administration.  

Mr. Gustine graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 2011, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Writing.  He went on to earn his Juris Doctorate from the University of Dayton, School of Law and graduated in 2014.  

During law school, Mr. Gustine interned in the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office, working in their Investigations Unit.  He also worked as a legal extern in Dayton at Holzfaster, Cecil, McKnight & Mues, LPA, for which he received a CALI award for achieving the top grade in his externship course

Mr. Gustine is licensed in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and is a member of both the Allegheny County and Washington County Bar Associations.  

Rachel K. Lozosky recently presented a seminar entitled “Time to Leave the Past Behind:  The Impact of Prior Criminal Convictions on Employment, and Other Basic Employment Law Issues” to employees and residents of the Washington City Mission.

Rachel Lozosky presented to the Washington Presbyterian Church in America regarding the obligations of volunteers, employees and other individuals to comply with recently updated provisions of the Child Protective Services Law.

Hall of Fame honorees are individuals who are currently making or have made a significant impact in their field of work or service during their lifetime. Whether making history in business innovation, communications, arts and heritage, or service in their communities, these honorees are the best that Southwestern Pennsylvania has to offer.

Don Formoso presented a continuing legal education program at the Washington County Bench Bar Conference on the recent changes to the Pennsylvania Power of Attorney Law brought about by Act 95 of 2014.

It all started in 1925 when Ralph W. Peacock began practicing law in Washington County, offering a full range of trial and office practice. And now, in 2015, Peacock Keller & Ecker, LLP begins its 90th year, continuing the tradition of service established by Ralph Peacock in the legal field.

Peacock Keller owes its uncommon longevity to many practices common to successful endeavors, such as careful selection of personnel, flexibility in operations and progressive business practices. What sets Peacock Keller apart, however, is the unwavering commitment of our attorneys who have joined together to serve their clients, the community and the legal field itself.

The 1950’s saw the addition of Charles Keller, first as an associate and then a partner. The 1960’s and 1970’s saw the additions of Roger Ecker, Ken Baker and Wes Cramer, all of whom progressed from associate to partner in due course. Over the decades, the firm identified and developed many more talented lawyers who have proven worthy of being elected partner, including Rick Amrhein, Barb Graham, Doug Nolin, Jon Higie, John Rodgers, Susan Roberts, Sue Key, Andy Chumney and Steve Curry. In addition, the firm has five associates on staff: Frank Adams, Rachel Lozosky, Don Formoso, Eva Ahern and Eric Harbison.

Peacock Keller has been enriched by the contributions of highly capable attorneys who are no longer with the firm, such as Davis Yohe, Reed Day, Bob Crothers, Mary Gail Korsmeyer and Mary Pruss. Despite the departure of talented lawyers, Peacock Keller has continually risen to that challenge by retaining long-time clients and developing a broader client base while constantly moving forward.

For instance, in the 1930's, Ralph Peacock began the firm’s long relationship with the energy industry by assisting a major coal company with its mineral title needs. This work has been continued by Wes Cramer, together with Andy Chumney and Steve Curry, and continues to expand into other energy fields such as oil and gas. Similarly, Barb Graham continues the work of Reed Day and Bob Crothers in representing many local school districts. Charles Keller, now senior counsel for the firm, has seen the firm’s litigation practice continue to grow under Roger Ecker, Doug Nolin and Susan Roberts. Davis Yohe’s work has been continued in our estate department by Ken Baker, Rick Amrhein, John Rodgers and Sue Key. And Bob Crothers’ work in the business area has been continued by Jon Higie, John Rodgers and others.

Peacock Keller lawyers serve in a variety of leadership roles in the community. Various Peacock Keller lawyers have served as leaders in local, national and global organizations, such as the Washington County Chamber of Commerce, the Washington County Community Foundation, Rotary, Kiwanis, Zonta, the Boy Scouts of America and others. In 2008, Peacock Keller initiated a benefit event for area libraries known as “Off-the-Shelf,” which has raised tens of thousands of dollars for the Washington and Greene County library systems.

Peacock Keller lawyers have also provided leadership in various legal organizations, boasting one past president of the Pennsylvania Bar Association, seven past presidents of the Washington County Bar Association (including the first female president), three past presidents of the Pennsylvania School Board Solicitors Association, three past presidents of the Pennsylvania Academy of Trial Lawyers, members of the illustrious American College of Trial Lawyers and the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, as well as members of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court Lawyer Disciplinary System Committee.

As the firm celebrates its 90th anniversary, we look back with pride on our history. With such reflection, the partners, associates and staff remain confident that with unwavering focus on our clients, our community and the law itself, the firm will be around for another 90 years.

Charles Keller presents the Charles C. Keller Excellence Award for Corporate Philanthropy at the Washington County Community Foundation’s Annual Philanthropy Banquet.