Family Law

• Adoption
• Guardianship

Criminal Law

• Wrongful Death
  Many of those that suffer serious injuries in workplace accidents can experience trauma-induced injuries such as brain injuries (also called traumatic brain injury or TBI), amputation, third-degree burns, back injuries, and sometimes sadly, wrongful death. Others can suffer from being exposed in the workplace to harmful chemicals such as asbestos, lead, and other hazardous building materials.
• Traffic Violations
• Theft
• Assault
  In civil court, assault and battery are intentional torts, and can be the basis of a personal injury lawsuit against the person who commits them. Assault and battery are different from other personal injury claims in that the person accused of assault or battery must have acted with the intent to cause a certain result — either fear in the victim or physical contact to the victim's person.
• Murder
  Gillespie served as an Assistant Attorney General, Assistant District Attorney, First Assistant District Attorney and District Attorney of Luzerne County. He drew national fame in his prosecution of George Banks, the most prolific single day killer in the history of Pennsylvania, who was sentenced to death in 12 of the 13 counts of murder for which he was charged.

Business and Corporate Law

• Corporate Law
• Mergers and Acquisitions
• Business Formation
  Attorney Joe Ferdinand is an area native and has practiced law since 1977, helping hundreds of start-up enterprises build a foundation for success. He has assisted clients with business formation in a wide range of industries: hotels and restaurants, retail, construction, manufacturing, trucking, and professional associations. He counsels business start-ups on the most advantageous entity, based on the goals and type of business, and working with clients' accountants, including...
• Business Disputes
  Contact Bob Gillespie today to discuss your best options for defending or initiating legal action. Gillespie, Miscavige & Ferdinand, LLC also provides business law consulting services to help your business avoid these types of disputes.
• Business Transactions
  Mr. Ferdinand's considerable business acumen helps clients negotiate, review, and structure transactions to assure a smooth deal and avoid future entanglements. He conducts due diligence to ensure clients are not "buying a problem" and protects sellers from legal exposure. He can advise on all transactional and contractual matters, including...
• Limited Liability Companies
• Trade Secrets
• Small Business Law

Employment Law

• Workers Compensation
  Our Hazleton, Pennsylvania firm represents injured workers and disabled individuals throughout northeast Pennsylvania and the Coal Region. Your claim may be time-sensitive. Contact our experienced attorneys today to discuss your worker's compensation or SSDI claim in a free consultation.
• Employment Contract
  He is an approved attorney for the Pennsylvania School Administrators Association, representing principals and administrators in employment contract disputes, disciplinary issues, and other professional matters.
• Employment Litigation
  In addition to representing the catastrophically injured, Gillespie has been involved in commercial litigation, including the representation of a Swedish company in the dissolution of a limited liability company in Northeastern Pennsylvania, the representation of a Northeastern Pennsylvania corporation that resulted in a favorable settlement in a trademark litigation, and the representation of several doctors in employment disputes. Gillespie also has an active practice representing corporations in business dealings in Northeastern Pennsylvania.
• Non-compete Agreement
  Gillespie, Miscavige & Ferdinand, LLC advises small businesses in an ongoing capacity, from contracts with vendors to general contractor disputes, to employment law issues such as restrictive covenants (i.e., non-compete agreements). If disputes arise—among company shareholders or with clients— trial lawyer Bob Gillespie has more than 30 years of commercial litigation experience and can help your business resolve the dispute efficiently.

Property Law

• Premises Liability
  Premises liability law involves the legal responsibilities of property owners and occupiers to prevent injuries to persons on their property. One of the most common causes of such injuries is a trip or slip and fall, such as on an icy sidewalk, a loose or uneven stair tread, or a piece of debris or spilled liquid on the floor. Property owner liability varies depending on the rules and principles adopted in the jurisdiction where the injury occurred.
• Construction Litigation
  Effective representation in commercial litigation requires business sense, negotiating skills, and knowledge of the law. Gillespie, Miscavige & Ferdinand, LLC. in Hazleton, Pennsylvania will protect your interests while seeking cost-efficient solutions to disputes.
• Real Estate Transactions
  The established law firm of Gillespie, Miscavige & Ferdinand, LLC. provides full-service representation for businesses, developers, and lenders in commercial real estate transactions. Based in Hazleton, Pennsylvania, we serve clients in Luzerne County, Carbon County, Schuylkill County, and throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania.
• Eminent Domain
• Easement
• Land Use and Zoning
  We help developers guide their projects through the approval process before local government entities. With nearly 30 years of experience each and extensive involvement in planning and zoning issues in their communities, our lawyers understand clients' needs and work closely with engineers in preparing plans for expedited approval.
• Property Damage
  The CPSC is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of property damage, serious personal injury, or death from consumer products such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard or can injure children. The CPSC's website includes recalls and product safety news, information on reporting an unsafe product, and more.

Health Law

• Personal Injury
  Once you contact our Luzerne County personal injury attorneys, we begin looking into your case. We hire experts to investigate the location of the accident to determine who or what was at fault; we look into witnesses, and construct a case that will show your need for compensation. Contacting us as soon as possible is crucial to ensure that all avenues are properly pursued, and that you receive the compensation you need to make a complete recovery.
• Medical Malpractice
  Personal injury lawsuits are filed by people (or their representatives) injured due to the negligence of someone else. The injury may be either physical or emotional, and it can arise from a variety of sources or types of conduct. Some of the most common types of personal injury cases include slip and fall, automobile accidents, assaults and battery, medical malpractice, and product liability. In general, the goal of a personal injury action is to determine who was responsible and to compel the responsible party to compensate the injured person for the losses sustained. If you or someone you know has been injured by the careless actions of another, call today to schedule a consultation with a personal injury attorney to learn more about your rights.
• Auto Accidents
• Social Security Disability
  If your legitimate claim for worker's compensation or social security disability benefits has been denied, or you believe you are getting short-changed, Gillespie, Miscavige & Ferdinand, LLC. can help you secure what you rightfully deserve.
• Medicaid Planning
• Dog Bites
  Although animal-attack claims most commonly involve dog bites, many other types of domesticated animals, such as ferrets, cats, and even birds, can also bite humans. Even nondomesticated animals, such as large cats ordinarily found in the wild, but owned by some people as pets have been known to attack children and adults. An animal owner's liability for injuries caused by his or her pet, if any, will vary greatly from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.

Trusts and Estates

• Estate Planning
  Elder law is the body of law relating to legal issues for people in their "golden years." It includes elements of estate planning and probate, nursing home care, and protection from fraud or abuse.
• Wills
  Our attorneys are residents of Luzerne and Carbon Counties with an established reputation for effective representation throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania.” Trial lawyer, Bob Gillespie has practiced since 1972 with a record of successful results in personal injury and commercial litigation. He has earned a Super Lawyer designation from Philadelphia Magazine for his work in the trial field. Attorneys Daniel Miscavige and Joseph Ferdinand have 30 years of practice in business law, wills and estate law, gift planning, real estate, land use, municipal law, and worker's compensation. Casey Gillespie has joined the firm after serving for two and one-half years with the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania as a clerk to Justice Correale F. Stevens. Ms. Gillespie is a third generation trial lawyer following both her father and grandfather in the practice of law.
• Trusts
  In practice for 30 years, attorney Joe Ferdinand has helped hundreds of couples and individuals prepare for the future. He helps clients identify goals, anticipate unfavorable scenarios, and dispel common myths. For example, it's not always good to avoid probate, and a living trust does not shield survivors from Pennsylvania inheritance taxes (only spouses are exempt).
• Power of Attorney
• Probate

Finance Law

• Tax Law
  Elder law — We advise clients on tax planning and the best way to allocate their assets to retain eligibility for government assistance. We also represent those who have been the victim of fraud or abuse.