John T. Vogel

John T. Vogel’s practice includes municipal and education law in connection with the representation of townships, school districts and other public entities in southwestern Pennsylvania.

Co-Chair of the firm's Municipal and School Group, John has served as solicitor for school districts, vocational-technical schools and other municipal entities in Western Pennsylvania.  He has counseled clients on public sector labor matters from collective bargaining negotiations and grievances to employee disciplinary matters to personnel policy formation and administration.

In the education area, John has prosecuted and served as hearing officer on student disciplinary matters, and has successfully resolved student special education and first amendment (free speech/religion) issues.  For public sector clients, John has negotiated service agreements with outside vendors, and has coordinated client real estate and construction projects.  He has appeared before and served as counsel for zoning hearing boards and planning commissions, and has represented municipalities before local courts on numerous land use appeals.

John possesses particular experience in tax assessment and exemption matters.  He has represented school districts and municipalities in hundreds of tax appeals before county assessment boards, boards of viewers and trial courts.

John has counseled public employers in the employee benefits area and has established or provided advice on employment agreements, early retirement plans, Section 457 deferred compensation plans and Section 403 (b) annuities.

John received his B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania in 1983 and his J.D. from the Vanderbilt University School of Law in 1989 where he was Authorities Editor for the Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law.  He is a member of the Allegheny County, Pennsylvania and American Bar Associations and is a Director of the Allegheny County Bar Association Municipal & School Solicitors Section. A member of the Pennsylvania and New Jersey bars, John is admitted to practice before the United States District Courts for the Western District of Pennsylvania, the District of New Jersey, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. John also serves as a member of the Municipality of Mt. Lebanon Parks Advisory Board.

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