Family Law

• Divorce
  In some cases, spouses can work together to agree on a settlement agreement. At Jones Gregg Creehan & Gerace, we frequently help clients negotiate a settlement agreement out of court, saving both parties time, money, and stress. Working with a third party, neutral medical can help move forward on issues that are difficult to resolve. When the parties agree on how their assets and debts should be divided, they can pursue an uncontested divorce.
• Child Support
  Under Pennsylvania law, spousal support, often referred to as alimony, is a monthly payment from one spouse to another. Generally, the spouse with higher earnings will be required to pay the other spouse with fewer assets and earnings monthly child support.
• Child Custody and Visitation
  Jones, Gregg, Creehan & Gerace provides advice and guidance to families in transition throughout Pittsburgh. Our practice is dedicated to helping clients resolve challenging issues such as divorce, child custody, paternity, and related family law matters.
• Adoption
• Paternity
  When disputes between family members cannot be resolved in the home, that’s the time to contact an experienced family law attorney. Our practice is dedicated to helping our clients resolve their most personal and pressing issues with dignity and respect. Whether you are considering divorce, are involved in a child custody dispute, need assistance establishing paternity or any other family law matter, our attorneys will provide you with knowledge and compassion as you navigate this difficult challenge.
• Premarital Agreement
  Couples don’t wed with the intention of divorcing, but marital breakups are sometimes unavoidable. One way to avoid disputes about the division of marital property is to create a well-conceived prenuptial agreement.
• Guardianship
  What happens when a person cannot care for himself or herself anymore? Under Pennsylvania law, the court can appoint a guardian to make decisions for the incapacitated person or minor. Guardians have a legal responsibility to make decisions in the best interest of the child or the incapacitated adult. If you are interested in obtaining legal guardianship of a minor or an incapacitated adult, you will need to petition the court to appoint you and complete the evaluation process.
• Spousal Support
  Going through a divorce can be one of the most challenging events in a person’s life. Spousal support is one of many legal issues involved in the divorce process. If you are going through a divorce, you are probably concerned about your financial stability and future after the divorce. Working with an attorney is important whether you want to pursue spousal support or are concerned about being required to pay too much for the support.

Criminal Law

• Criminal Defense
  If you’ve been charged with a criminal offense in Pittsburgh, you’re probably concerned about the consequences it will have on your life. Unfortunately, innocent people are accused of crimes every day. People from all walks of life may have to deal with the Pennsylvania criminal justice system at some point. If you’re convicted of a criminal offense, you could lose your freedom and have to serve a jail sentence. You may need to pay severe fines and deal with a criminal record, affecting your employment and housing options. Finding the right criminal defense lawyer in Pittsburgh is essential to protecting your freedom.
• DUI/DWI
• Wrongful Death
  No two injury cases are alike, however, you may be entitled to compensation that includes economic and noneconomic damages. Economic damages cover your actual financial losses (e.g medical expenses, lost wages) while noneconomic damages are designed to compensate you for pain and suffering, disability, emotional harm, and other intangible losses.
• Sex Crimes
• Fraud
• Robbery
• Burglary
• White Collar Crimes
• Theft
• Misdemeanors
  Typically felony charges carry a prison sentence of at least one year. Felony charges also have a more significant offense gravity score and prior record score than a misdemeanor charge. When you’re convicted of a felony, it’s more likely to affect your ability to find work or obtain a security clearance. Having a felony on your record could also prevent you from holding specific professional licenses, such as an attorney, doctor, or insurance agent. If you’ve been charged with a felony, it’s crucial that you discuss your case with a lawyer. Your lawyer may be able to negotiate a plea bargain and get your charges reduced to a misdemeanor.
• Drug Crimes
• Assault
• Murder
  As a former Special Assistant United States Attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia, he served as the federal prosecutor for five military installations. In that role, Mr. Corcoran charged and tried over 200 cases in federal bench and jury trials, and was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for exemplary service. At the JAG Corps, Mr. Corcoran aggressively tried to conclusion over 60 bench and jury trials, including such felonies as first-degree murder and narcotics distribution at the U.S. Naval Academy.  He retired from the Navy Reserve as a Lieutenant Commander in 2010. Prior to joining Jones, Gregg  in 1999, Mr. Corcoran was an associate at Sable, Makaroff & Gusky, where he worked in commercial litigation, construction, employment, and land use law.
• Probation Violation
• Identity Theft
• Homicide

Business and Corporate Law

• Corporate Law
  At Jones Gregg Creehan Gerace, we act as advisors and advocates for our business clients on commercial litigation, insurance, intellectual property, and regulatory enforcement issues. In some cases, we can help our clients avoid litigation through alternative dispute resolution or negotiation. When litigation becomes inevitable, our skilled lawyers provide our corporate litigation clients with advice for devising legal strategies. Contact us today to schedule your free initial consultation.
• Mergers and Acquisitions
  As part of our business transaction services, we will help you negotiate the best possible agreement. For example, we can help negotiate and prepare equity ownership, entity control, and governance agreements, including shareholder agreements. Our attorneys can help you with mergers and acquisitions and other commercial transactions. We can also provide you with assistance drafting...
• Business Formation
  For generations, Jones, Gregg, Creehan & Gerace have been helping startups and entrepreneurs throughout the Greater Pittsburgh Region set their businesses up for success. We deliver comprehensive legal services to clients through all stages of business formation and development.
• Business Disputes
  Using well-written and thorough legal contracts is a crucial aspect of succeeding in business. Well-written contracts can help you to protect your business investment and avoid future lawsuits and other legal issues from arising. Understanding your legal obligations and rights in contracts with vendors, suppliers, and other third parties is also important. If you are a business owner, you need a proven and experienced business law attorney on your side.
• Business Transactions
  The business transaction attorneys at Jones Gregg Creehan & Gerace can assist you with every aspect of starting and growing your business, including the implications of different strategic business decisions. We offer clients business transaction services for everyday business transactions and legal assistance in extraordinary circumstances and crises. Our attorneys find innovative approaches to help you achieve your financial and business goals. Our Pittsburgh area clients rely on us for cost-effective legal advice in the following types of transactional matters...
• Trade Secrets
• Intellectual Property
  Disputes between businesses arise in all types of professional relationships, including those with strategic partners, vene likely when there is no formal agreement in place, business-to-business disputes can involve a variety of situations: enforcement of contracts, business interference, intellectual property infringement, and violation of nondisclosure and noncompete agreements. When inter-business disputes cannot be resolved through negotiations, our business dispute attorneys are fully prepared to litigate.
• Unfair Competition
  Many commercial litigation disputes involve a breach of contract claims. When a vendor or customer fails to pay or deliver on promised services, you can pursue compensation through commercial litigation. For example, when employees breach a non-disclosure or non-compete agreement, the employer has a right to bring a lawsuit against the employee for breach of contract. Other disputes involve one business suing another business for payment and delivery disputes, theft, unfair competition, or proprietary information.
• Antitrust

Employment Law

• Wrongful Termination
  Although the contemporary workplace is governed by a variety of state and federal employment laws, when the employment relationship breaks down, it is crucial to have proper legal representation. We represent both employers and employees in connection with claims arising from discrimination and harassment, wage and hour violations, wrongful termination, and other employment-related disputes.
• Employment Discrimination
  In sum, state and federal laws prohibit employers from discriminating in any employment decision (e.g. hiring, firing, compensating, promoting). Whether you believe you have been the victim of employment discrimination or your business is facing a discrimination claim, it is crucial to have the informed representation we provide.
• Employment Contract
  Managing a business is challenging enough without having to worry about writing business contracts. It is possible for anyone, including non-lawyers, to write business contracts. However, if you’re dealing with important business matters, such as employment contracts and licensing agreements, it’s wise to consult with an experienced contract lawyer. Business owners benefit from working with an experienced business contract lawyer who will carefully listen to all of the facts involved. After understanding the agreement between the two parties, a contract lawyer will carefully write a contract that protects the business owner’s assets.
• Employment Litigation
  “Uberrimae Fidei and All Risk Policies: Revival of a Historic Defense”, Journal of International Association of Defense Counsel, 1986.  He has conducted numerous seminars on a variety of topics, including labor and employment issues and banking regulations.
• Non-compete Agreement
  Noncompete agreements to prevent departing employees (typically executives, salespeople, and other key personnel) from taking positions with competitors or starting a competing business.
• Severance Agreement
  Employment agreements covering the rights and responsibilities of both parties and clarifying terms, such as employee’s duties and responsibilities, salary and hours, terms of employment, vacation pay, family leave, employment benefits, grounds for termination, and severance pay.
• Sexual Harassment
  All employees in Pennsylvania have a right to a workplace free from sexual harassment, regardless of their sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Regardless of whether a supervisor, coworker, or third party (e.g. vendor, client customer) engages in harassment, it is considered an unlawful form of discrimination under state and federal laws.

Property Law

• Real Estate Litigation
  A commercial real estate attorney who is well-versed in real estate law makes it easier for you to complete the transaction safely while protecting your interest from litigation. Should a dispute arise, an attorney will advocate for you during the negotiation process and at court, if necessary.
• Premises Liability
  Businesses that provide goods and services to consumers in Pittsburgh are wise to address complaints about the quality of products or warranties in order to avoid litigation. When dangerous or defective products result in injuries to customers, however, businesses are at risk of product liability claims, often in the context of a class-action lawsuit. Brick and mortar businesses are also at risk of premises liability lawsuits when customers, vendors, and other visitors are injured in accidents on their property.
• Construction Litigation
  Today, Mr. Corcoran advocates for our clients in the areas of business litigation, construction law, labor and employment law, copyright law, and immigration.  He also serves as an Adjunct Professor of Law at Duquesne University School of Law, where he teaches Alternative Dispute Resolution and Military Justice.
• Real Estate Transactions
  The Pittsburgh real estate attorneys at Jones Gregg Creehan & Gerace have a history of successfully representing clients in commercial real estate transactions. Whether you are a buyer or seller, our experienced real estate attorneys will provide you with skilled legal representation. We can help with every stage of the process, from financing to closing. Contact our real estate attorneys at Jones Gregg Creehan & Gerace today to schedule your initial consultation.
• Eminent Domain
• Easement
• Land Use and Zoning
  We regularly help clients navigate the related zoning and land use, environmental, and title issues and work to arrange a variety of structured financings, including...
• Landlord-Tenant Disputes
• Property Damage
  If you are a homeowner, we can help you negotiate any disputes that arise, address property damage, mineral rights, zoning issues, and renting and leasing. For home buyers, we can assist you with issues involving escrow accounts, negotiations during the closing process, foreclosure, and help you ensure that the purchase is in your best interest.
• Condominium Law

Health Law

• Personal Injury
  Jones, Gregg, Creehan & Gerace regularly prosecutes and defends all types of civil and commercial litigation throughout the Greater Pittsburgh Region. Whether you are involved in a contract dispute, property dispute, business disagreement, or personal injury claim, you need the skilled representation we provide.
• Medical Malpractice
  He began his career as a prosecutor with the Allegheny County District  Attorney’s Office. Using the trial and courtroom experience he gained there, Giuffre moved on to private practice and began representing clients in a wide variety of criminal and civil litigation matters. As a partner in a Downtown Pittsburgh firm that focused on medical malpractice and personal injury cases, Paul both settled and tried to verdict six and seven figure case. Giuffre has been recognized as a Super Lawyer, a Top Attorney in Allegheny County, and a Best Attorney in Pennsylvania. Paul is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates and is an invited member of the Academy of Trial Lawyers of Allegheny County – an invitation based on an assessment of his skill,  professional standards, and ethics.

Trusts and Estates

• Estate Planning
  Jones, Gregg, Creehan & Gerace provides comprehensive estate planning services to individuals, families, and business owners throughout the Greater Pittsburgh Region. We know that no two estates are alike, and each client has unique needs and goals. When you consult with us, we will help you to design an estate plan that achieves your objectives.
• Wills
  Although we recommend clients work to resolve disputes through negotiated settlements, we are fully prepared to litigate will contests when necessary. We have a proven history of protecting the rights of estate planners, executors, and beneficiaries, both in and out of the courtroom. Contact our office today to speak with an experienced will contest attorney.
• Trusts
  When a loved one passes away and has created a trust, there will need to be a trust administration process. Administering a trust can seem overwhelming, especially if you have never undertaken that process before. If you’ve been named as a trust administrator by a friend or a loved one, you have a long road ahead of you. Even if the trust agreement is explicit and an experienced lawyer sets up the trust, every trust is different. You may encounter challenges to the trust agreement from beneficiaries.
• Power of Attorney
  If you are injured or experienced a medical emergency, who will make decisions on your behalf? One way to protect yourself is with a power of attorney (POA). A power of attorney is a legal document that allows you to appoint an agent to make decisions for you if you become unable to do so yourself. There are several different types of power of attorney, and each has a specific purpose, such as making healthcare or financial decisions.
• Probate
  It’s important to remember that wills must go through probate, the court-supervised process through which the estate assets are administered and distributed. While state probate law provides for an expedient process, there are a number of requirements that must be completed before the estate can be closed. Probate also exposes your will to public scrutiny. For this reason, many of our clients can benefit from establishing trusts in addition to having a will to ensure their assets are properly distributed.

Finance Law

• Foreclosure
  For those who are purchasing a property that has been foreclosed upon or is in the foreclosure process, we can help you understand your legal options while protecting your rights. Finally, if you are a renter, we can ensure that the rental agreement is legally valid and protects you. We can also help you address any potential issues you are having with your landlord.
• Tax Law
  While many are aware that a will provides for the management and distribution of their assets after they die, a well-conceived estate plan can help to achieve a number of lifetime objectives, such as providing for a loved one with special needs, incapacity planning, tax planning, and wealth preservation.