AWARDS AND HONORS

• LeROY L. METZ was recognized as a FIVE STAR Best in Client Satisfaction Wealth Manager by Pittsburgh Magazine
• JOHN R. O’KEEFE has been named by Philadelphia Magazine as one of Pennsylvania's 2009 Super Lawyers. John also received this distinction in 2008.
• KENNETH S. KORNACKI has been selected by Philadelphia Magazine as a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer Rising Star for 2008.
  
• JOHN W. LEWIS, II was named by Worth magazine as one of its Top 100 Attorneys for 2007.
• STEPHEN F. (Rick) BAN, JOHN B. BECHTOL, LARRY S. BLAIR, J. MURRAY EGAN, GREGORY A. GROSS, DAVID S. HORVITZ, JOHN W. LEWIS, II, LeROY L. METZ, II, BRIAN T. MUST, JOHN R. O’KEEFE, JR., STEVEN PETRIKIS, DONALD W. SHAFFER and GERRI L. SPERLING have been recognized as AV® rated attorneys by Martindale-Hubbell peer review, which identifies lawyers with very high to preeminent legal ability and very high general ethical standards.
• JOHN W. LEWIS, II was named by Philadelphia Magazine as one of Pennsylvania’s 2005 Super Lawyers.
• LeROY L. METZ, II was named by Philadelphia Magazine as one of Pennsylvania’s 2004 Super Lawyers.
  
  

NEWS AND EVENTS

• On December 3, 2009, GERRI L. SPERLING was a featured speaker at Pennsylvania Bar Institute's seminar on "The Nuts & Bolts of Adoption Practice in Pennsylvania" held in Pittsburgh.
• JOHN B. BECHTOL was interviewed by Anya Litvak, reporter for the Pittsburgh Business Times, for an article entitled, "Union Enlists Homeless to Picket Rivers Casino," which spoke to the campaign tactics of the Casino's security workers' union.
• METZ LEWIS LLC was Event Sponsor for the American Cancer Society's Tribute of Light Ceremony and Plaza Tree Lighting at PPG Place on November 20, 2009, held during the city's Light-Up Night festivities.
• GERRI L. SPERLING spoke to attendees of the OrphanCare Expo on the topic of "Legal Issues in Adoption." The Expo was held at North Way Community in Wexford on November 14, 2009.
• On October 29, 2009, LARRY S. BLAIR spoke before the Pittsburgh Chapter of the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants regarding "Individual Income Tax Update and Estate/Insurance Planning."
• JOHN B. BECHTOL has accepted a position on the Finance Committee of the Allegheny County Bar Association.
• On January 8, 2009, Employment and Labor Group attorneys, JOHN B. BECHTOL, KENNETH S. KORNACKI, MICHAEL P. ROBIC II and GERRI L. SPERLING hosted over 100 attendees for a seminar entitled “New Year, New Administration, New Developments in Employment and Labor Law” at the Hilton Hotel in Pittsburgh, PA.
• BARRY I. FRIEDMAN’s article entitled, Federal Circuit Refines Patentability of Method Patents, was published by the Allegheny County Bar Association in its December 19, 2008 issue of the Lawyers Journal.
  
• METZ LEWIS LLC was a proud sponsor of Pointe in Time, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre's Annual Ball and Auction, held November 15, 2008.
  
• BRIAN T. MUST and STEVEN PETRIKIS were interviewed by Roger Wahl of WQZS radio in Meyersdale, PA, on October 3, 2008, regarding litigation to invalidate certain oil and gas leases under Pennsylvania’s Guaranteed Minimum Royalty statute. As explained by Brian and Steve, the Marcellus Shale, perhaps one of the largest natural gas formations in North America, runs throughout Pennsylvania and has prompted a boom in natural gas exploration and development. The litigation is designed to hopefully assist landowners who leased their gas rights before the potential of the Marcellus Shale was understood. The case presents an issue of first impression in contending that these leases fail to provide a one-eighth royalty to such landowners as required by Pennsylvania law because they allow for certain specified and unspecified deductions from the royalty provided.
  
• On September 18, 2008, BRIAN T. MUST served as the moderator for a Continuing Legal Education seminar on Appellate Advocacy.
  
• BRIAN T. MUST appeared on PCN-TV as commentator for the Superior Court En Banc arguments which were televised on September 17, 2008.
  
• METZ LEWIS LLC is proud to announce that six of its clients were included on the Pittsburgh Business Times The Pittsburgh 100 list of fastest growing companies for 2008.
  
• LeROY L. METZ, II was recently interviewed by Dan Fitzpatrick, reporter for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, for an article entitled, “Estate Tax Takes Toll on Family Businesses.”
  
• JOHN B. BECHTOL has been named labor counsel for the Sharon (PA) Sanitary Authority.
  
• LARRY S. BLAIR has been named as a member of the Professional Advisors Committee of the Pittsburgh Foundation.
  
• LeROY L. METZ, II was recently re-elected to the Executive Committee of the Pittsburgh Tax Club.
  
• Following completion of an intensive 40 hour mediation training program sponsored by the Federal Bar Association, STEVEN PETRIKIS was appointed as a mediator, early neutral evaluator, and arbitrator in the Alternative Dispute Resolution Program for the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania.
  
• CRONO, a technology company represented by METZ LEWIS LLC, was one of six start-ups selected from a field of more that 60 applicants to participate in AlphaLab, a South Side business incubator created to accelerate the creation and growth of software, Internet and interactive gaming companies.
  
• METZ LEWIS LLC was a Silver Sponsor of the 13th Annual Tea & Green Golf Event, held June 16, 2008, benefiting Hearth, a non-profit organization that provides transitional housing for homeless mothers and their children in the greater Pittsburgh area.
  
• BRIAN T. MUST was moderator of the June 12, 2008 Appellate Advocacy Practicum CLE, sponsored by the Pennsylvania Bar Institute, which included six Superior Court judges.
  
• METZ LEWIS LLC client ELLIANCE, INC. was awarded “Best in Class” by the Interactive Media Awards for website design in the manufacturing category. The honor recognizes a project that has met and surpassed the basic standards of excellence that comprise the Web’s most professional work.
  
• METZ LEWIS LLC was pleased to provide a donation to the employees of its client, PMG Indiana Corp., who were displaced from their homes due to severe flooding in central Indiana in early June 2008.
  
• METZ LEWIS LLC was a sponsor of the 15th Annual Commission on Women in the Profession Conference held by the Pennsylvania Bar Association on June 5, 2008, in Hershey, PA.
• METZ LEWIS LLC is a member of the Master Builders' Association of Western Pennsylvania.
  
• METZ LEWIS LLC was a proud sponsor of Monongahela Valley Hospital’s “Pirates of the Mon” Gala held May 17, 2008.
  
• METZ LEWIS LLC was a proud sponsor of the 2008 Kites for Kids fundraiser held April 26 & 27 by KidsVoice, a Downtown agency that serves abused and neglected children.
  
• STEVEN PETRIKIS was appointed to the Board of Neutrals of the American Arbitration Associate following his completion of a two-day practicum in Chicago, Illinois, entitled “Arbitration Fundamentals and Best Practices for New AAA Arbitrators.” All members of the Board of Neutrals are selected by application only and must complete the required training prior to appointment to the Board.
  
• METZ LEWIS LLC was proud to participate as a Silver Sponsor of the 2008 Red Tie Affair held on April 26 by the American Red Cross of Southwestern Pennsylvania.
  
• METZ LEWIS LLC is proud to support the efforts of VOSH-PA, a non-profit organization made up of eye care specialists who donate their time, talent, and money to help those in need receive professional eye care.
  
• METZ LEWIS LLC was a proud sponsor of the 2008 Rainbow Gala held on March 29, benefitting the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation of Western Pennsylvania.
  
• METZ LEWIS LLC is a proud advocate of the Children’s Miracle Network.
  
• METZ LEWIS LLC is a proud supporter of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre.
  
• METZ LEWIS LLC is proud to support the Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium through its sponsorship of the Snow Leopard Exhibit.
  

FAVORABLE VERDICTS

• For a client in the metals industry, JOHN B. BECHTOL prevailed in a major labor arbitration in which the Steelworkers union had sought to require the client to reopen a manufacturing line of business which had been shuttered. The consequence of a loss in this case would have been substantial.
• JOHN B. BECHTOL successfully negotiated a new, first-time labor agreement for the recently constituted City of Sharon Sanitary Authority with AFSCME, the Union representing the Authority's operational personnel.
• GERRI L. SPERLING and MICHAEL P. ROBIC II recently obtained summary judgment in favor of their client in a multi-million dollar case where the plaintiff had asserted breach of contract, bad faith, and violations of the Pennsylvania consumer protection law claims.
  
• GERRI L. SPERLING and MICHAEL P. ROBIC II attained a favorable result for a client in a federal disability discrimination and retaliation case through mediation.
• JOHN B. BECHTOL recently obtained a very favorable labor arbitration result for a client where an employee had been terminated as a result of having violated policy as to work time and use of client vehicles. Although aggressively opposed by her union, the termination was upheld.
  
• MICHAEL P. ROBIC II successfully represented an adoption agency in proceedings to terminate the parental rights of an absentee parent.
  
• BRIAN T. MUST and KENNETH S. KORNACKI obtained a federal court judgment of over $200,000 for a client in a breach of brokerage agreement matter. The defendant denied all liability and denied that a contract even existed between the parties. The federal court jury found the parties agreed to an oral contract and awarded the plaintiff damages for the breach.
  
• MICHAEL P. ROBIC II was successful in enforcing a client’s arbitration provision in a construction contract in Ohio, where an Ohio statute was found to be preempted by the Federal Arbitration Act.
  
• MICHAEL P. ROBIC II obtained summary judgment for a client on a multi-count discrimination/wrongful termination case which was upheld by the Ohio Court of Appeals.
  

BOARD MEMBERSHIPS AND APPOINTMENTS

• LeROY L. METZ, II is a member of the Board of Directors of ACBA Services, Inc., a subsidiary of the Allegheny County Bar Association, which provides business and litigation support services.
  
• LeROY L. METZ, II is Chairman of the Board of Directors of Ductmate Industries, Inc., the largest heating, ventilation and air conditioning accessories manufacturer in North America.
  
• LeROY L. METZ, II is Chairman of the Board of Directors of Cellumen, Inc., a cellular systems biology (CSB™) company dedicated to helping researchers create greater numbers of efficacious, safe, and patient-targeted drugs.
  
• LeROY L. METZ, II is a member of the Board of Directors of Zippo Manufacturing Co., headquartered in Bradford, Pennsylvania.
  
• LeROY L. METZ, II is a member of the Board of Directors of Net Health Systems, Inc., a leading provider of clinical information systems in the rapidly growing field of chronic wound care.
  
• JOHN W. LEWIS, II is a member of the Board of Directors of PMG Sinter Global U.S. Companies.
  
• JOHN W. LEWIS, II is a member of the Board of Directors of Communifax Corporation, a company that provides marketing and promotional services to companies located throughout the United States.
  
• LARRY S. BLAIR is a member of the Board of Directors of the World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh. The Council’s mission is to promote, on a non-partisan basis, understanding of important international issues, throughout the community, with a special focus on the region's secondary schools.
  
• CHRISTOPHER A. BRODMAN is a member of the Advisory Board of Tsudis Chocolate Company, a contract manufacturer to national candy industry customers.
  
• CHRISTOPHER A. BRODMAN is a member of the Board of Directors of Starr Life Sciences, a company which develops and manufactures pulse oximeters and related products.
• CHRISTOPHER A. BRODMAN is a member of the Board of Directors of Lightfoot, Inc., an Ambridge-based company that develops robotics solutions for warehouse applications.
  
• LEILANI MEDINA COSTA is a member of the Board of Directors of Catholic Cemeteries Association of the Diocese of Pittsburgh.
  
• GREGORY A. GROSS is a member of the Board of Directors of the Society for Contemporary Craft. Located in Pittsburgh’s Strip District, SCC maintains a permanent collection of more than 300 objects, provides showcases for craft artists to exhibit and sell their work, and conducts workshops and ongoing classes for students of all ages.
• BRIAN T. MUST is a Board Member of Young Life South Hills, Pittsburgh.
  
• GERRI L. SPERLING is a member of the Board of Directors of the Pace School, a private, non-profit day school which serves children K-9 with emotional challenges or Autism.
  
• GERRI L. SPERLING is a member of the Board of Directors of School Facilities Management Corporation.
  
• GERRI L. SPERLING is a member of the Advisory Board of New Choices, a community education program sponsored by Carlow University for single parents and displaced homemakers who are attempting to re-enter the workforce.
  
• MICHAEL P. ROBIC II serves on the Board of the North Catholic Foundation.
• JOHN B. BECHTOL is a member of the Board of Directors of the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix Association
• JOHN B. BECHTOL is a member of the Advisory Board of Lightening Wrench Software, LLC, a developer of digital games and applications.

PERSONAL AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES

• JULIE I. KLINE serves as a Committee Member for The Children’s Home of Pittsburgh and Lemieux Family Center.
  
• JOHN B. BECHTOL was as a first place finisher in the Group 4 Formula Cars division at the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix held at Beaver Run on July 11, 2009. In 2008, John placed first in the Group 5 Division with a winning time of 19:39.
  
• DIANA E. LEECH ran the Pittsburgh Marathon on May 3, 2009, as a
  member of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team in Training.
  
• LeROY L. METZ, II is a Trustee of the Pittsburgh Ballet Theater.
  
• JOHN W. LEWIS, II serves as a Committee Member with the Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Pittsburgh.
  
• LARRY S. BLAIR serves on the Editorial Board of the Pennsylvania CPA Journal.
  
• J. MURRAY EGAN serves as Co-Trustee of the Edith L. Trees Charitable Trust.
  
• BRIAN T. MUST is a Trustee and Sunday school teacher at Mt. Lebanon United Presbyterian Church.
  
• DONALD W. SHAFFER is a volunteer with the American Cancer Society involved with Survivors Affairs.