Family Law

• Guardianship

Criminal Law

• Wrongful Death
  In wrongful death action pending in state court in Texas, obtained defense summary judgment for client by successfully arguing that client did not have successor liability for events arising before client purchased predecessor’s assets.
• Fraud
  Obtained summary judgment in the Western District of Virginia on behalf of an international insurance company in a multimillion dollar class action lawsuit alleging consumer fraud and RICO violations.
• Theft
• Restraining Order
  Successfully defended steel company and two sales employees in defeating two motions for temporary restraining order to enforce non-competition restrictive covenants brought by competitor.

Business and Corporate Law

• Corporate Law
  Joel G. Shapiro is a partner in the firm’s Corporate, Finance and Tax Practice Groups. Joel represents clients in a variety of businesses and industries in tax, corporate and securities […]
• Mergers and Acquisitions
  David J. Schwartz is a partner in the firm’s Business and Finance Practice Groups. As a member of the firm’s Corporate Group, Dave represents businesses in a variety of business and commercial matters, including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, business start-ups and financing transactions. In addition, as part of the firm’s Corporate Group, he serves as “outside” general counsel to several start-up and middle market businesses, advising them on a variety of legal and business matters.
• Business Disputes
  In the costly, risky, and often chaotic world of litigation, the optimal litigation strategy for one problem may be unsuitable for another. That’s why our Litigation Practice Group approaches business disputes by working closely with clients to gain an early understanding of the specific controversy. From there, we’re able to devise an effective case management strategy, propose the most economical approach, and execute it efficiently. And by appropriately staffing, we ensure that we’re working within our clients’ expectations – without sacrificing superior results.  And by consulting with our other practice groups, the Litigation Practice Group has the full resources to aggressively pursue and promote our clients’ interests.
• Business Transactions
  We advise companies, governing boards, officers, owners, and entrepreneurs with numerous business and commercial matters. We can help you get your business started, build your organization’s legal infrastructure, successfully complete business transactions, comply with regulations, and plan for the future.
• Limited Liability Companies
  PFS provides superior legal services at a level of sophistication unparalleled for a firm of our size. Our attorneys have represented and continue to represent corporations, partnerships, and limited liability companies, real estate investment trusts, financial institutions, venture capital and private equity firms, entrepreneurs and others in connection with a myriad of complex and demanding projects as well as day-to-day business matters.
• Construction Contracts
• Trade Secrets
• Intellectual Property
  Scott Smilie is a partner in the firm’s Intellectual Property Practice Group. Scott’s practice includes all aspects of intellectual property law, including the prosecution, licensing and litigation of patents, trademarks and copyrights. As a member of the Patent Bar, Scott has prepared and prosecuted patents before the Patent and Trademark Office concerning diverse technologies including GPS-related systems, spinal fusion, business methods, electrical connectors, coupler members for heavy-duty machinery, neutron-transmuters, mechanical tools and medical devices. Scott has also successfully assisted clients in domain name disputes and in opposition and cancellation proceedings before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board.

Employment Law

• Wrongful Termination
  Nonetheless, despite our collective best efforts, we can never entirely eliminate workplace conflict. And, sometimes, conflict results in administrative charges, litigation or other proceedings. Fortunately, our team has extensive experience litigating on behalf of our clients in all types of employment disputes, including discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, wage and hour, accommodation and leave disputes, and restrictive covenants. We approach those proceedings responsibly, weighing the value of your capital and reputation against the danger of setting adverse precedent.  It is the same as we do for ourselves.
• Employment Contract
  Nora Kersten Walsh is a partner in the firm’s Employment Practice Group. As a management employment law “generalist” Nora counsels businesses on the gamut of issues spanning the employment relationship. Background checks, hiring practices, I-9, employment agreements, policies and handbooks, leave, accommodations, wage and hour issues, employee reductions and separations, restrictive covenants, public contractor obligations – whatever the issue, Nora has helped a company achieve compliance. Nora loves to drill down into the depths of the myriad of laws impacting employers, but is even more passionate about emerging with practical and concrete takeaways for her clients.
• Employment Litigation
  Elizabeth L. Archerd is an associate in the firm’s Litigation Practice Group. Liz has assisted in partnership disputes, employment litigation, landlord-tenant disputes, and commercial class actions, among other areas. Every […]

Property Law

• Real Estate Litigation
  Real estate law has come a long way from the days of exchanging bundles of sticks to signify the transfer of title.  You need to be aware of the rules, regulations, ordinances, variances, easements, etc., that any real estate project may encounter.  Even the smallest molehill may become a mountain when pressed with an impending closing or loan maturity.  We will help you remove these boulders so that your path to success is clear.
• Premises Liability
  Jonathan Goodman has been a partner in the firm’s Litigation Practice Group. Jonathan has more than two decades of experience litigating complex commercial cases for his clients in state and federal courts throughout the United States, including in bench and jury trials, appeals and in private commercial arbitrations. He has been regularly called upon to handle a variety of matters such as breach of commercial contracts; business disputes involving misappropriation of trade secrets, trademark infringement and other violations of intellectual property rights; disputes involving the enforcement or removal of non-competition provisions and other restrictive covenants; litigation among partners, shareholders and members; claims alleging legal and accounting malpractice; real estate-related claims concerning construction disputes, commercial foreclosure or commercial lease disputes; and product and premises liability claims. Jonathan assists his clients in all aspects of the litigation process, from devising business strategies to minimize litigation exposure, to aggressive representation once litigation has come to fruition—and ultimately, obtaining positive results for the client, whether in the courtroom or at the negotiation table.
• Construction Litigation
• Real Estate Transactions
  Real estate transactions (including acquisition, disposition and leasing transactions, syndications, tax-deferred exchanges, tenancy-in-common arrangements, and REIT and UPREIT transactions)
• Landlord-Tenant Disputes

Trusts and Estates

• Estate Planning
  Estate planning means navigating the complex and changing tax implications. We can help tame the complexity by taking a holistic approach that addresses both your business and personal needs. We start by listening to your needs, values, objectives, and dynamics, and then build a strategy that hits the sweet spot.
• Wills
• Trusts
• Probate

Finance Law

• Foreclosure
  We use an interdisciplinary approach to represent clients in restructuring, workout, foreclosure and litigation matters involving distressed or nonperforming commercial and real estate loans. The attorneys in our Finance and Real Estate Practice Groups have significant experience in commercial and real estate financing transactions and, together with seasoned attorneys from our Litigation Practice Group, work with clients to reach negotiated resolutions of troubled credit situations where possible and in litigation if necessary.
• Tax Law
  We help clients with all aspects of personal tax planning, including income, estate and gift taxes, and charitable giving.