Office profile
DeForest Koscelnik & Berardinelli
Profile
Provided by DeForest Koscelnik & Berardinelli
DeForest Koscelnik Yokitis & Berardinelli
www.deforestlawfirm.com
www.deforestlawfirm.com
Managing Partner: Walter DeForest
Number of partners: 4
Number of lawyers: 7
Languages:English
Firm Overview:
For over 27 years, DeForest Koscelnik Yokitis & Berardinelli has built a nationwide practice in federal and state courts and before administrative tribunals.
Main Areas of Practice:
Number of partners: 4
Number of lawyers: 7
Languages:English
Firm Overview:
For over 27 years, DeForest Koscelnik Yokitis & Berardinelli has built a nationwide practice in federal and state courts and before administrative tribunals.
Main Areas of Practice:
Commercial Litigation:
3 partners, 7 fee earners, based in Pittsburgh and New York
Firm has litigated matters in more than 20 states, ten federal courts of appeals and the United States Supreme Court. Examples include:
■ Succeeded in having previously entered $2 million default judgment against client stricken; subsequently filed motions to dismiss resulted in plaintiff voluntarily dismissing claim against firm’s client
■ Successful defense of lawsuit involving local sports stadium saved millions in taxpayer funds
■ Successfully tried breach of contract and fraud in shareholder rights case
■ Achieved dismissal of claims involving malicious prosecution, computer fraud, and conspiracy in federal court
■ Achieved dismissal of breach of contract, unjust enrichment and fraudulent representation claims in federal court
■ Obtained substantial relief for director in derivative suit
Firm has litigated matters in more than 20 states, ten federal courts of appeals and the United States Supreme Court. Examples include:
■ Succeeded in having previously entered $2 million default judgment against client stricken; subsequently filed motions to dismiss resulted in plaintiff voluntarily dismissing claim against firm’s client
■ Successful defense of lawsuit involving local sports stadium saved millions in taxpayer funds
■ Successfully tried breach of contract and fraud in shareholder rights case
■ Achieved dismissal of claims involving malicious prosecution, computer fraud, and conspiracy in federal court
■ Achieved dismissal of breach of contract, unjust enrichment and fraudulent representation claims in federal court
■ Obtained substantial relief for director in derivative suit
Key Clients: Teledyne Technologies Incorporated, PNC Bank, NA, Carnegie Mellon University
White Collar Criminal Defense:
2 partners, 5 fee earners, based in Pittsburgh and New York
Headed by former federal prosecutor from the Southern District of New York.
■ Successfully defended executive in a federal export fraud investigation; no criminal charges were brought against firm’s client
■ Achieved dismissal of charges against client charged with a money-laundering conspiracy in federal court
■ Successfully negotiated a Rule 11(c)(1)(C) plea resulting in a sentence of 54 months for client originally facing a Sentencing Guidelines range of between 135-168 months in a federal health care fraud prosecution
■ Achieved declination of prosecution for client in an environmental crimes investigation when we took over the representation only after the prosecutor had informed the client that he would be criminally charged
■ Successfully defended a member of the clergy in case involving false accusations of abuse
■ Successfully guided client through grand jury investigation into COVID-19 related deaths at health care facility
■ Achieved dismissal of charges against client charged with a money-laundering conspiracy in federal court
■ Successfully negotiated a Rule 11(c)(1)(C) plea resulting in a sentence of 54 months for client originally facing a Sentencing Guidelines range of between 135-168 months in a federal health care fraud prosecution
■ Achieved declination of prosecution for client in an environmental crimes investigation when we took over the representation only after the prosecutor had informed the client that he would be criminally charged
■ Successfully defended a member of the clergy in case involving false accusations of abuse
■ Successfully guided client through grand jury investigation into COVID-19 related deaths at health care facility
Technology Law:
2 partners, 3 fee earners, based in Pittsburgh
■ Comprehensive experience in technology matters, including E-Commerce, Internet Law, Technology Transfer and commercialization programs, policies and agreements, Licensing and Outsourcing transactions, Dispute Resolution and International Collaborations
Key Clients: Baptist Health South Florida, Inc.
Products Liability and Toxic Torts:
3 partners, 9 fee earners, based in Pittsburgh and New York
Successfully litigated products liability cases across the country. Examples include:
■ Obtained summary judgment for clients on claims by an upstream component manufacturer in a major aviation products liability case.
■ Successfully achieved dismissal of lawsuit against client for landfill clean-up costs.
■ Successfully achieved summary judgment for clients in numerous asbestos defense matters.
Key Clients: Teledyne Technologies Incorporated
■ Obtained summary judgment for clients on claims by an upstream component manufacturer in a major aviation products liability case.
■ Successfully achieved dismissal of lawsuit against client for landfill clean-up costs.
■ Successfully achieved summary judgment for clients in numerous asbestos defense matters.
Key Clients: Teledyne Technologies Incorporated
Mediation Services:
1 partner, based in Pittsburgh
The firm’s most experienced litigator, who has actively practiced law for over 50 years, serves as a Mediator.
■ Clients describe the firm’s mediator as cost-effective, practical, and responsive
■ Clients describe the firm’s mediator as cost-effective, practical, and responsive
Employment Law:
4 partners, 9 fee earners, based in Pittsburgh and New York
National labor and employment law practice is headed by partners who are consistently recognized in The Best Lawyers in America for their employment related work. Examples include:
■ Achieved summary judgment in favor of client in Title VII federal court case.
■ Achieved jury verdict in favor of client in state court case involving claims for sales commissions brought by former salesman employee.
■ Successful assertion of executive bonus claims in arbitration.
■ Achieved summary judgment in favor of client in Title VII federal court case.
■ Achieved jury verdict in favor of client in state court case involving claims for sales commissions brought by former salesman employee.
■ Successful assertion of executive bonus claims in arbitration.
Key Clients: Teledyne Technologies Incorporated, Sinclair Broadcasting, Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation d/b/a Wabtec Corporation, PNC Bank, NA, St. Barnabas Health System
Health Law:
2 partners, 4 fee earners, based in Pittsburgh and Florida
Extensive knowledge of the legal and regulatory landscape and industry forces affecting the health care industry both nationally and internationally, including health care fraud and abuse, tax exemption, medical malpractice, research compliance, medical technology, innovation and commercialization, operations policies, procedures, and contracts, business transactions, governance, and litigation.
Key Client: UPMC, Baptist Health South Florida, Inc., St. Barnabas Health System
Key Client: UPMC, Baptist Health South Florida, Inc., St. Barnabas Health System
Local Counsel Services:
3 partners, 7 fee earners, based in Pittsburgh
National and international law firms that do not have Pittsburgh offices depend on the firm’s experience in the Pennsylvania state and federal courts, as well as its broad knowledge in commercial litigation and other matters to serve as their local counsel.
Offices:
Pittsburgh
436 7th Ave., 30th Fl.
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
New York
511 West 25th Street, 5th Fl.
New York, NY 10001
Offices
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USA - Head office
Koppers Building, 30th Floor
436 Seventh Avenue
, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, PA 15219
Email: [email protected]
Tel: +1 412 227 3100
Fax: +1 412 227 3130