Brian is a member of both the Litigation and Estates & Trusts departments. Brian’s litigation practice focuses on commercial and general litigation, both prosecuting and defending lawsuits. Brian’s Estate practice focuses on assisting clients with Estate and Trust planning and administration. Brian is also a member of the firm’s Investment Management and Fiduciary Services practice group.
BUSINESS, INSURANCE, AND LITIGATION
Brian has a varied litigation practice representing business entities and individuals alike in complex litigation matters. Brian has successfully litigated a wide range of actions in both State and Federal courts across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Prior to joining the firm, Brian worked as a litigator for one of the largest insurance defense firms in the United States, handling a wide array of complex litigation, including bad faith claims against insurers, insurance coverage issues, personal injury disputes, and litigation involving municipalities and other public entities. In this capacity, Brian represented both nationwide clients, and local clients spread throughout the South Central Pennsylvania region. Brian’s litigation experience helps him to identify potential issues, and develop effective litigation strategies to facilitate the resourceful and consistent advancement of his client’s interests.
Brian’s professional work ethic and advocacy on behalf of his clients has also earned him the distinction of being nominated by his peers to the prestigious “Best Lawyers in America” inaugural Ones to Watch publication in the field of Commercial Litigation. Best Lawyers compiles its lists of outstanding attorneys at the conclusion of a months-long peer review process, during which their researchers ask leading attorneys from specific practice areas about the professional abilities of their colleagues.
WILLS, TRUSTS, AND ESTATE PLANNING AND ADMINISTRATION
In his Estate practice, Brian prepares individualized estate plans designed not only to preserve and protect his clients’ assets during their lifetime, but also designed to ensure his clients’ assets pass to the appropriate beneficiaries in a tax-efficient manner in fulfillment of his clients’ intentions. To assist his clients in achieving their individualized family and financial goals, Brian crafts and implements tax-efficient strategies, such as drafting foundational estate planning documents, coordinating charitable gifts or other bequests, and implementing trusts and trust modifications. Brian endeavors to understand each individual client’s distinct needs and goals for purposes of implementing the most practical and cost-efficient estate plan. Prior to becoming an attorney, Brian worked as a paralegal dealing with the administration of Estates and Trusts with complex Federal and State tax implications while also handling a high volume of litigation-related estates. During his time in law school, he earned the Edward N. Polisher Award for excellence in the fields of Estate Planning and Administration.
FIDUCIARY SERVICES AND ORPHANS COURT LITIGATION
Brian’s experience as a litigator and knowledge of Pennsylvania law relating to Wills, Trusts and Estates provides him unique insight to successfully represent clients in a wide array of Estate administration, Trust administration and other Orphans Court Litigation. Brian has experience handling matters involving the administration of trusts, the administration of decedents’ estates, Guardianship proceedings and administration, the custodianship and property of minors, the interpretation of estate planning documents, and the actions of agents operating under powers of attorney.
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Brian is an active member in both the Dauphin County and Cumberland County Bar Associations, and currently serves on the Dauphin County Bar Association Young Lawyers Division Board of Directors as Secretary. He frequently performs pro bono services through the Association’s Homeless Outreach Projects and serves as a Pro Bono Guardian Monitor for the Dauphin County Courts. Brian is also an active member of the Estate Planning Council of Central Pennsylvania and serves on the Council’s Board of Directors. Brian is a member of the United Cerebral Palsy of Central Pennsylvania and serves on the organization’s Operations and Finance Committee. Brian is an active member of the Saint Thomas More Society of South Central Pennsylvania, and currently serves as a board member to the organization.
Presentations & Publications
"Practical Applications of Social Media in and Out of the Courtroom", Pennsylvania Bar Association Quarterly, April 2017.
"Mobile Devices: Don't Let Good Reception be Game Over", presented to the Cumberland County Inn of Court, December 2017.