Charles Keller moderated an ethics program on "Civility" at the Washington County Bar Association Summer Bench Bar meeting at Nemacolin Woodlands.

Rick Amrhein spoke at the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants Annual Marcellus Shale Conference held at State College, Pennsylvania. His topic was Trust and Estate Planning for Marcellus Gas leases.

Wes Cramer delivered a presentation to CONSOL Energy Land professionals on "Private Land Owner Deed Coal Leases" at the CONSOL Super School II.

Based on her experience as a hearing officer for the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania’s Disciplinary Board, Susan Key, presented at an ethics course titled “How Lawyers Get in Trouble with the Disciplinary Board.”  

Please Meet Our Newest Partner

Stephen P. Curry became Peacock Keller’s newest partner January 1, 2012.  He joined the firm in 2004 and after seven years became out 12th partner.

Steve specializes in energy and mineral law matters, representing property owners in the leasing of oil and gas and advising them in matters of easement and rights-of-way proposals.  Additionally, Steve reviews and certifies mineral titles for energy developers.  He has thus developed a unique perspective in this lively field of the law.

Steve came to Peacock Keller after an earlier career in the restaurant franchise business on the West Coast.  His education led him to California University of PA (magna cum laude in 2001) and Duquesne University School of Law (juris doctor in 2004)

With his wife, Melanie, and three daughters (Kera, 15, Karlee, 13, and Kacie, 4), Steve also has a busy home life in their South Strabane Township home.  The children are both musical and artistic.  Steve’s two oldest children, Ian, 27, and Megan, 24, have made him a grandfather twice and in May 2012, a third is expected.  In his spare time Steve is a coin collector.

We welcome Steve Curry to the partnership at Peacock Keller.  His excellent work with our clients earned him this promotion and we believe our clients will continue to enjoy his skills, maturity and dedication.

The Washington County Chamber of Commerce, an organization that promotes and advances the interests of the Washington County business community, publicly recognized and expressed gratitude toward Peacock Keller partner and attorney Susan Mondik Key for her many years of valuable leadership and service.

All told, Ms. Key supported the civic organization in a leadership capacity for six years. From 2006 to 2007, she served on the Chamber's board of directors and during 2008 and 2009, Ms. Key served as member-at-large of the organization’s executive committee. In 2010, she acted as chairperson for the group – serving as the second female chairperson in the history of the Chamber, originally founded in 1911 as the Washington Board of Trade. Ms. Key was also the past chairperson on the executive board in 2011 and 2012.

“Susan has played a significant and impactful role in growing our organization during her tenure on the board of directors and as chairperson,” said Washington County Chamber of Commerce President Jeff Kotula. “She was especially instrumental in creating the Washington County Council of Economic Development, Inc., a nonprofit that serves as the host organization for the Mylan Classic – a PGA event that has attracted more than 66,000 visitors to the county in three years and created more than $24 million in economic impact. The nonprofit has also become one of Washington County's largest philanthropic organizations awarding more than $1.2 million to local organizations over its three years of existence. This success has driven the Chamber to more than 1,000 members – making it the second largest chamber in Southwestern Pennsylvania."

Ms. Key has served as a partner at the full-service Washington, Pa. law firm Peacock Keller since 2003. She focuses her practice on estate planning and administration, estate litigation and elder law. Ms. Key has also had extensive litigation experience in representing the firm's numerous school districts in tax assessment litigation.

“Susan is a consummate professional and admirable community leader. Her drive and passion for positively impacting our Washington County community is remarkable,” said Peacock Keller Managing Partner Douglas R. Nolin. “Susan’s commitment to serving our local community is in direct correlation with our law firm’s culture of providing exemplary leadership and legal service to our Southwestern Pennsylvania counties.”

Outside of her far-reaching community work with the Chamber, Ms. Key is an active member of the Washington County Bar Foundation and Pennsylvania Bar Association, for which she has held many leadership positions. In September 2005, Ms. Key was appointed a hearing officer for the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.  Ms. Key also participates in numerous community activities, serving on the boards of the Washington Hospital Foundation and several nonprofit organizations. Ms. Key is a member of the Church of the Covenant, Washington, Pa., where she serves as an Elder and on its Ministry Team.

Ms. Key graduated from Washington & Jefferson College with a B.A. in English and Economics, and from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. She also completed the Economic Policy Seminar at American University, Washington, D.C.       

Peacock Keller Expands with Civil Litigation Attorney Eric D. Harbison

Peacock Keller Partner Richard J. Amrhein on Aug. 27, 2012, was a co-presenter of“Trusts, Estate Planning, and Insurance Applications” at the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) Marcellus Shale Conference, held at the Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel in State College, Pa. Mr. Amrhein, who concentrates his practice in estate planning and administration specializing in planning for minerals, oil and gas, addressed the application of family limited partnerships, general partnerships, trusts, corporations, limited liability companies and outright transfers of Marcellus Shale interests.

Within the context of estate planning principles and Pennsylvania oil and gas law, Mr. Amrhein encouraged tax professionals to consider each client’s needs, intentions, ownership interests, family members and charitable giving options in order to build sound financial plans. He also emphasized the timing of gifting, and methods of transference as crucial considerations.

Mr. Amrhein has been a lawyer with Peacock Keller since 1984. He became a partner of the Washington, Pa. full-service law firm in 1991. In addition to estate planning and administration and in particular for minerals, oil and gas, Mr. Amrhein provides counsel and representation in guardianship matters, contracts, business organizations and real property. He is admitted to practice throughout the courts of Pennsylvania and before the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. He is a member of the Pennsylvania, Washington County and Allegheny County bar associations.

Peacock Keller’s coal, oil, gas, shale gas, mineral and energy law clients include some of the largest producers of fossil fuels in the nation. The firm’s attorneys have worked extensively with clients on issues pertaining to asset acquisition, mineral title examination and analysis, asset disposition, property taxes, subsidence, zoning and land use and numerous related matters.

Peacock Keller, a full-service law firm in Washington, Pa., is pleased to announce that Eva P. Hershey has joined the firm as an associate. Ms. Hershey concentrates her practice in estate planning and estate administration. Her previous experience includes general civil law, juvenile dependency, family law and criminal law.

Ms. Hershey’s practice encompasses a variety of estate planning and estate administration matters, including wills, trusts, deeds, powers of attorney, advance directives, medical consent forms for minors, buy-sell agreements, antenuptial agreements and asset disposition through lifetime giving, charitable bequests and other vehicles. Prior to joining Peacock Keller, Ms. Hershey worked as a trust officer with PNC Bank, N.A. She previously served as a law clerk for the late Honorable Mark Mascara, Judge of the Washington County, Pa., Court of Common Pleas.

“We are delighted to add Ms. Hershey to our talented group of estate administration and estate planning lawyers,” said Peacock Keller Partner Douglas R. Nolin. “The addition of capable practitioners such as Ms. Hershey ensures that our clients will continue to receive unparalleled legal counsel and representation.”

Ms. Hershey is a 2008 graduate of Duquesne University School of Law. She is admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania and the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. She is a member of the Pennsylvania and Washington County Bar Associations. Ms. Hershey earned her undergraduate degree from Lehigh University in 2005, where she studied earth and environmental science and economics.

Peacock Keller, a full-service law firm in Washington, Pa., will sponsor its 5th Annual “Off the Shelf…A Celebration of Books” charity event on Sept. 19, 2012, to support libraries in Pennsylvania’s Washington, Greene and Fayette counties. The fundraiser will feature a presentation by Anthony DeCurtis, Rolling Stone Magazine music critic and contributing editor, and will take place from 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn Pittsburgh/Southpointe in Canonsburg, Pa.

This year’s “Off the Shelf” theme is music, which with the written word, fills the shelves of public libraries and resonates throughout history, defining people and cultures. Each table at the fundraiser will choose a book about music and decorate their table accordingly – as part of a larger contest. Table decorating will be held from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. on the day of the event, with an impartial panel of judges evaluating each table thereafter. Cocktail hour will begin at 6 p.m., providing attendees an opportunity to inspect Chinese auction items. Participants will also be able to support their favorite tables by donating to the “People’s Choice Award."  In addition to the Chinese auction, a live auction will be held during the event. Dinner will follow at 7 p.m., with DeCurtis taking the podium at 8 p.m.

“Each year the attorneys and staff of Peacock Keller look forward to supporting local libraries through our Off the Shelf celebration,” said Doug Nolin, Peacock Keller Managing Partner. “Off the Shelf is an evening of good food and fun that enables us to support literacy and say thank you to the communities in which our attorneys and staff live and work.”

All “Off the Shelf” proceeds will benefit the libraries of Washington, Greene and Fayette counties, most specifically helping to fund the creation and maintenance of a Regional “One-Card” Network. The “One-Card” Network will ensure that every resident may go to any library in the three-county region and use one library card, thus increasing convenience and accessibility for library customers while simultaneously facilitating cost savings and efficiencies for the library system.

Sponsorship opportunities are available and live and Chinese auction items are being collected. Individual tickets can be purchased for $75 or tables of eight can be purchased for $600.  Corporate tables can also be purchased for $1,000. To support literacy in Washington, Greene and Fayette counties or to learn more about the Off the Shelf event, contact a local library, call 724-222-4520 or visit offtheshelf.info

Rachel K. Lozosky, a school and employment law attorney with Washington, Pa.law firm Peacock Keller, recently served as a faculty member at the National Business Institute’s “Pennsylvania Special Education Law” seminar for educators and attorneys. The special education law course addressed a wide range of topics to aid education law attorneys and other professionals in guiding clients through the maze of laws governing special education, such as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The program covered IDEA requirements, disciplinary actions, due process, protecting the rights of children with special needs, ethics in special education law and related matters.

A dedicated supporter of community organizations, Ms. Lozosky served as Mistress of Ceremonies at the Washington County Chapter of Zonta International’s annual Rose Day Celebration in May. The Rose Day Celebration honored Washington County women for their outstanding achievements, among them Washington County Court of Common Pleas President Judge Debbie O’Dell Seneca. The immediate past president of the Washington County Zonta Chapter, Ms. Lozosky is a member of the service club’s board of directors.

“My family always emphasized the importance of academic achievement and service to others,” said Ms. Lozosky. “As an attorney specializing in education law, I am always pleased to advance the interests of children and educators. I also count myself fortunate to be of service to my community through the Zonta Club of Washington County, which assists a wide range of local and global organizations benefitting women.”

Ms. Lozosky joined Peacock Keller in 2008. She concentrates her practice in school law, counseling and representing school districts throughout Western Pennsylvania on all legal matters relating to public education. Ms. Lozosky also counsels and represents Peacock Keller clients in a wide range of employment issues, including employment discrimination, non-compete agreements and wrongful discharge.

A frequent lecturer, Ms. Lozosky presented “Attorney-Client Privilege and Its Application under Pennsylvania’s Right-to-Know Law and Sunshine Act: Ethical Considerations for School District Solicitors” at the 2011 Pennsylvania School Board Solicitors Association Summer Symposium. She has presented to public school administrators and teachers on issues including special education, student confidentiality and professional responsibility. She also regularly presents to Washington County high school students on various legal topics through an outreach program of the Washington County Bar Association.

Ms. Lozosky has served as Director of Community Service for The Rotary Club of Washington, Pa., and is a certified catechist (CCD instructor). She has served as a CCD instructor for kindergarten and first grade students and is a lector at her church. She has mentored a Washington & Jefferson College undergraduate student through the College’s Office of Alumni Relations Alumni Mentor Program, and serves on the College's Alumni Executive Council.

Ms. Lozosky is a cum laude graduate of Washington & Jefferson College. She earned her juris doctor degree from the University of Pittsburgh, where she was a Phi Alpha Delta international legal fraternity member and participated in moot court competition

Jonathan G. Higie, managing partner of Washington County, Pa. law firm Peacock Keller, was a presenter at the "Mechanics of Starting a Small Business" seminar offered by the Peters Township Public Library, the Peters Township Chamber of Commerce and the University of Pittsburgh Small Business Development Center. Held in March at the Peters Township Public Library, the free educational program covered small business financing and structuring, the forms required to establish a business and helpful resources for entrepreneurs. 

"Given today's lagging economy, starting a small business is a particularly challenging undertaking for would-be entrepreneurs," said Mr. Higie. "I was pleased to be a panel member at the small business seminar, and hope that area professionals will feel more confident in bolstering the local economy by launching their own businesses." 

Mr. Higie concentrates his legal practice in real property, commercial and residential lending, corporate, business, mineral law, oil and gas, environmental law and selected municipal and zoning law matters. A past president of Group Home, Inc. of Washington, Pa., Mr. Higie is a member of the American, Pennsylvania, Washington County, and Allegheny County Bar Associations. He has been a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association House of Delegates since 2002. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Washington Industrial Development Corporation, is a member of the Washington County Chamber of Commerce, and is a previous board member of the Allegheny County Special Olympics. 

Mr. Higie is a 1989 graduate of the Dickinson School of Law. As a law student, he participated on the 1988 Irving R. Kaufman National Securities Moot Court Team and was a law clerk for a U.S. Claims Court judge in Washington, D.C. Prior to joining Peacock Keller in 1991, Mr. Higie practiced with a Pittsburgh law firm. He resides in Cecil Township, Pa., with his wife and their two children.

Peacock Keller, a full-service law firm in Washington, Pa., recently supported several community organizations in Southwestern Pennsylvania through acts of corporate citizenship, volunteerism and philanthropy. In particular, the firm helped the Washington County Big Brothers Big Sisters organization and Rotary Club with fundraising efforts. The law firm is also in the process of planning its 5th Annual "Off the Shelf...A Celebration of Books" charity event which supports libraries in Pennsylvania's Washington, Greene and Fayette counties.

On Mar. 9, 2012, Peacock Keller sent a trivia team to the Washington Rotary Club's 10th annual Rotary Charity Trivia Contest. The law firm's team was one of 32 teams that put their trivia knowledge to good use in support of the Rotary Foundation, which funds international projects that provide health care, clean water, food, education, and other essential needs in the developing world. The trivia contest raised approximately $6,500 which will benefit a variety charities affiliated with the Rotary. Also in March, the firm gathered three teams of attorneys and staff to participate in the Big Brothers Big Sisters Washington County 2012 Bowl for Kids' Sake event. Through the event, the firm and its bowling teams helped to raise more than $2,200 for the nonprofit organization which assists boys and girls in Washington County, Pa. in reaching their full potential through one-to-one mentoring relationships with volunteer adults. 

The firm is also pleased to announce that its 5th Annual Off the Shelf charity event will be held on Sept. 19, 2012 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Southpointe, Canonsburg, Pa. The theme for this year's event is music and it will feature keynote speaker Anthony DeCurtis, who is a music critic and contributing editor at Rolling Stone Magazine. He is also an esteemed author and lecturer in the creative writing program at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. All proceeds raised by the event will help fund the creation and maintenance costs of a Regional 'One-Card' Network with the vision of ensuring that every resident may go to any library in the three-county region and use one library card. 

"The attorneys and staff of Peacock Keller look forward to serving the community in various ways. Supporting Big Brothers Big Sisters, Washington Rotary and library goers are just a few ways that we give back," said Jonathan G. Higie, Peacock Keller Managing Partner. "Across the board, our firm is dedicated to helping others and saying thank you to the communities where our attorneys and staff live and work.

Donald B. Formoso, an associate with the Washington, Pa., law firm Peacock Keller, has been elected President of the Washington County Bar Association Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section, as well as Treasurer of the Greater Monongahela Alumni Chapter of the Phi Sigma Pi National Honor Fraternity. Formoso, a 2009 graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, concentrates his practice in the areas of estate planning, estate administration and business law.

While in law school, Formoso served as a legal extern to the Honorable Robert J. Colville of the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas and later as a law clerk to the General Counsel of American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. Formoso also competed in both Trial and Appellate Moot Courts and served as the graduate student representative for the University of Pittsburgh Board of Trustees Committee for Academic Affairs and Libraries.

Formoso earned his Bachelor of Arts in Politics and Philosophy from the University of Pittsburgh in 2005, graduating magna cum laude from the University Honors College. As an undergraduate, Formoso was named a Brackenridge Research Fellow and was elected to several honor societies, including Phi Sigma Pi, the Golden Key International Honor Society and the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. Phi Sigma Pi awarded Formoso its Service Key in 2005.

Formoso is a member of the Board of Directors of the Olivia Scott Foundation and Treasurer of the Knights of Columbus Council #3530. He is a member of the Pennsylvania and Allegheny County Bar Associations, as well as the University of Pittsburgh Alumni Association. Formoso is admitted to practice throughout Pennsylvania and before the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. He resides in Pittsburgh with his wife, Amanda.

With nearly 400 members, the Washington County Bar Association is a professional organization dedicated to serving the legal community in Washington County, Pa. The organization is committed to maintaining the honor and dignity of the profession of law and enjoys a local and national reputation for leadership and excellence. Phi Sigma Pi National Honor Fraternity is a co-educational fraternity, open to undergraduate students of four-year colleges and universities throughout the United States. The fraternity’s purpose is to unite bright and motivated students to work together in a spirit of excellence. The fraternity encourages the ideals of scholarship, leadership and fellowship.