Philadelphia White Collar Bar Reception

2026/03/04

Co-Hosted By Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick & Raspanti, LLP Please join Josh Hill of Pietragallo’s White Collar Group and the Philadelphia White Collar Bar for a reception on Wednesday, March 11, 2026 from 6:00-9:00pm (EST) to kick off the ABA National Institute on White Collar Crime in San Diego, CA. Several Philadelphia law and consulting firms are co-hosting cocktails and hors d’oeuvres at Roy’s Restaurant on the Lanai Patio. Other Sponsors Include:  James A. Backstrom, Counselor at Law Ballard Spahr LLP Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC CBIZ, Inc. Duane Morris LLP Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP Post & Schell PC Saxton & Stump Saul Ewing LLP Welsh & Recker PC Read More

Beyond the Mirror: The Unique Protections of the Pennsylvania Constitution

2026/03/04

This article highlights often-overlooked Pennsylvania constitutional provisions that practitioners can leverage to advance more robust arguments on matters of significant consequence to their clients. The Pennsylvania Constitution stands apart from its federal counterpart, not only in age but in scope. Running from July 15, 1776, just days following the signing of the Declaration of Independence, through Sept. 26, 1776, the Pennsylvania Constitutional Convention, chaired by Benjamin Franklin, also took place at Independence Hall in Philadelphia. Significantly, the Pennsylvania Constitution was adopted on Sept. 28, 1776, a full decade before the ratification of the U.S. Constitution in 1788. At the time, the Pennsylvania Constitution was considered the most radically democratic of all the early state constitutions. Its Declaration of Rights was embedded within the original document, unlike the U.S. Bill of Rights, which was appended after ratification in 1791. This historical distinction underscores Pennsylvania’s early and enduring commitment to the protection of individual liberties for its citizens and the limitation of governmental power. As Chief Justice Thomas Saylor observed in the foreword to The Pennsylvania Constitution: A Treatise On Right and Liberties (Gormley), “some of the core rights set forth in the amendatory provisions to the United States Constitution known as the Bill of Rights … are couched as restraints on legislative power … [but] the analogue provisions of the Pennsylvania Constitution … directly proclaim affirmative rights for individuals.” Interestingly, many of the framers of the Pennsylvania Constitution were also influential in shaping the U.S. Constitution. Benjamin Franklin, James Wilson (associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court from 1789 to 1798), George Clymer (who represented Pennsylvania in the first session of the U.S. House of Representatives), Robert Morris (George Washington’s first choice for treasury secretary over Alexander Hamilton and one of Pennsylvania’s first U.S. senators), Thomas Fitzsimons (also represented Pennsylvania in the first session of the U.S. Read More

Three Pietragallo Lawyers Recognized in the 2026 Edition of Legal 500

2026/02/25

Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick & Raspanti, LLP is pleased to announce that we have been recognized in the 2026 Edition of the Legal 500 U.S. Elite-Philadelphia as a Tier 1 department for White-Collar Crime in Philadelphia. Along with our department recognition, partners Marc S. Raspanti (Tier 1), Douglas Rosenblum (Tier 2), and Joshua Hill (Tier 3), have also been recognized for their work in White-Collar Crime. Legal 500 spotlights leading lawyers at regional powerhouses across major U.S. business centers—recognizing those handling work at the top of their local markets. The rigorous selection process includes independent research, peer and referee feedback, client references, and interviews with shortlisted attorneys. Notably, 2026 marks the first year Philadelphia has been included in the U.S. Elite rankings—making this recognition especially meaningful. About Pietragallo Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick & Raspanti, LLP is a multi-disciplined business and commercial litigation firm headquartered in Pittsburgh with five offices throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and West Virginia from which we serve our clients in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Read More

New Ground Broken by the New Jersey Appellate Division in Norcross Decision, but the Outcome Is the Same: Case Dismissed

2026/02/09

On Jan. 30, 2026, the appellate division of the New Jersey Superior Court affirmed the dismissal of the 13-count indictment against New Jersey power broker George Norcross, and five other defendants, including: Norcross’ brother Philip Norcross, the managing partner of Parker McCay law firm; William Tambussi, who frequently served as counsel to George Norcross; Dana Redd, former Mayor of Camden; Sidney Brown, the CEO of NFI, a trucking and logistics company; and John O’Donnell, an executive in The Michaels Organization, a residential developer. The indictment, brought in June 2024, was the culmination of a seven-year on-and-off-and-on-again investigation that had the hallmarks of the state having a defendant (George Norcross) in search of a crime, which is never a promising prospect for the prosecution. (Full disclosure, the author represented several witnesses in the investigation, none of whom were charged in the case). In February 2025, the trial court granted the defendants’ motion to dismiss the 111-page “speaking indictment,” and the state appealed. Aside from the political intrigue surrounding this case, there are several important legal issues, including a couple of first impressions in New Jersey, addressed in the opinion. The essence of the trial court’s dismissal, and the appellate court’s decision is that the lengthy speaking indictment failed to assert the offenses of theft by extortion or criminal coercion which underpinned all the other offenses (mainly conspiracy charges), that Dana Redd did not commit any act of official misconduct, and all charges but one were facially time-barred. The appellate division opinion is noteworthy in the following respects: 1. The court confirmed that a speaking indictment is subject to the same facial review as non-speaking indictments. As noted, the state presented a speaking indictment setting forth its theory of the case at great length. The state argued that the trial court had erred by applying a new standard to its review of the indictment, utilizing a “sufficiency-of-the-evidence-included-in-the-indictment” test without reviewing the grand jury record. Read More

Best Practices For Conducting Witness Interviews In Internal Investigations

2026/02/06

Internal investigations are critical to protecting organizations from legal, regulatory, and reputational risk. They help determine whether a violation of law, regulation, or policy has occurred, and they inform decisions about remediation, discipline, and control enhancements. Among the various tools available to investigative teams, witness interviews are often the most impactful in establishing the facts. Yet many in-house counsel and compliance professionals receive little training on how to conduct them effectively. Poorly executed interviews can compromise fact-finding, undermine credibility, and squander opportunities to mitigate risk. This article outlines practical, field-tested best practices for conducting effective witness interviews in internal investigations. Recognize that all witnesses are not alike Every witness brings a unique combination of role, perspective, knowledge, and emotion. A one-size-fits-all approach will fail. Before the interview, invest time to understand the witness’s position, reporting lines, tenure, and involvement with the issues at hand. Review the organizational chart, recent performance changes, and any publicly available information, such as a LinkedIn profile. Consider how the witness’s function and incentives may shape their understanding of events. Tailor your approach to the witness, adjust your pace, tone, question framing, and level of detail to meet them where they are. The goal is to elicit accurate, complete information, and that requires adapting your style to the person in front of you. Choose a time and place that prioritizes comfort and discretion Logistics can materially influence candor. Schedule the interview at a time and in a location that reduces anxiety and interruption for the witness. Avoid clustering interviews back-to-back in the same room, which can telegraph the existence and scope of the investigation and deter openness. Select a quiet, neutral, and private setting; virtual interviews should be conducted on secure platforms with camera use to facilitate rapport and nonverbal assessment. Be mindful of who sees the witness enter or leave the interview space, and, where possible, stagger timing to preserve confidentiality and reduce speculation. Read More

Pietragallo recognized in the 2026 edition of Best Law Firms®

2025/11/06

Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick & Raspanti, LLP has been recognized in the 2026 edition of Best Law Firms®, receiving National rankings in Tier 2 and 3, as well as Regional rankings in Tiers 1, 2, and 3. Under the Regional Tier 1 ranking, Pietragallo was recognized for 18 practice areas in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, including: Commercial Litigation (PGH & PHL) Corporate Compliance Law (PHL) Criminal Defense: White-Collar (PGH & PHL) Employment Law – Individuals (PHL) Employment Law – Management (PHL) Family Law (PGH) Health Care Law (PHL) Insurance Law (PGH) Litigation- Insurance (PGH) Litigation – Labor and Employment (PHL) Litigation – Trusts and Estates (PGH) Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs (PGH) Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants (PGH) Product Liability Litigation – Defendants (PGH) Trusts and Estates (PGH) Workers’ Compensation Law – Employers (PGH) Pietragallo received six Tier 2 and Tier 3 Regional rankings: Tier 2 Regional in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia for the  practice areas of Bet-the-Company Litigation, Construction Law, and Litigation – Real Estate. Tier 3 Regional in Pittsburgh for the practice areas of Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Corporate Law, and Litigation – Construction. Pietragallo has been named as a Tier 2 National firm for Commercial Litigation and Litigation – Labor & Employment and a Tier 3 National firm for our work in Health Care Law. Best Law Firms rankings are based on a rigorous evaluation process that includes the collection of client and lawyer evaluations, peer review from leading attorneys in their field, and review of additional information provided by law firms as part of the formal submission process. Clients were asked to provide feedback on firm practice groups, addressing: expertise, responsiveness, understanding of a business and its needs, cost-effectiveness, civility, and whether they would refer another client to the firm. Lawyers also voted on expertise, responsiveness, integrity, cost-effectiveness, whether they would refer a matter to a firm, and if they consider a firm a worthy competitor. Read More

Gaetan J. Alfano and Douglas K. Rosenblum to Present at Philadelphia Bar Association’s 2025 Bench-Bar & Conference

2025/10/09

On Friday, October 10, 2025, partners Gaetan J. Alfano and Douglas K. Rosenblum will present on “Building the “Better” Ponzi Scheme – The Par Funding Story,” at this years Philadelphia Bar Association’s 2025 Bench-Bar & Annual Conference. Attendees will get an in-depth discussion of one of the largest Ponzi scheme frauds to impact the Philadelphia region. This three day conference, held from October 9-11, 2025, will include more than 24 CLE programs with topics including commercial litigation, crisis management, AI copyright protection, and more. Interested in attending? Register here. Read More

23 Pietragallo Lawyers Named in 2026 The Best Lawyers In America and Ones to Watch

2025/08/21

Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick & Raspanti, LLP is pleased to announce that 23 lawyers have been named as 2026 The Best Lawyers in America® and Ones to Watch. In addition, partner Douglas Rosenblum has been named “Lawyer of the Year” for his work in Criminal Defense: White-Collar in Philadelphia. Best Lawyers recognition is determined entirely through peer review, aiming to reflect the consensus of leading attorneys on the professional excellence of their colleagues within the same region and practice area. The following is a full list of our 2026 honorees: Gaetan Alfano Bet-the-Company Litigation Commercial Litigation Employment Law – Individuals Employment Law – Management Litigation – Labor and Employment Charles J. Avalli Family Law Litigation – Trusts and Estates Trusts and Estates Joseph J. Bosick Commercial Litigation Construction Law Litigation – Construction Pamela Coyle Brecht Health Care Law Qui Tam Law Kerri Lee Cappella Family Law Scott A. Coffina Criminal Defense: White-Collar Mark Gordon Insurance Law Litigation – Insurance Transportation Law Workers’ Compensation Law – Employers Kenneth J. Horoho, Jr. Family Law Latia R. J. Hubbard Railroad Law James F. Marrion Product Liability Litigation – Defendants Michael Morse Criminal Defense: White-Collar Richard J. Parks Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/ Insolvency and Reorganization Law Corporate Law Litigation – Real Estate William Pietragallo II Bet-the-Company Litigation Commercial Litigation Mass Tort Litigation/ Class Actions – Plaintiffs Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants Francis E. Pipak, Jr. Workers’ Compensation Law – Employers Marc S. Raspanti Corporate Compliance Law Criminal Defense: White-Collar Health Care Law Qui Tam Law Douglas K. Rosenblum Corporate Compliance Law Criminal Defense: White-Collar – Lawyer of the Year Clem C. Trischler Commercial Litigation Product Liability Litigation – Defendants Robert D. Weinberg Family Law Peter St. Tienne Wolff Commercial Litigation Litigation- Trusts and Estates Mass Tort Litigation/ Class Actions – Plaintiffs Trusts and Estates The Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch®: Matthew Barnes Commercial Litigation Quintin DiLucente Commercial Litigation Ashley Kenny Criminal Defense: White-Collar About Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick & Raspanti, LLP Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick & Raspanti, LLP is a multi-disciplined business and commercial litigation firm headquartered in Pittsburgh with five offices throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and West Virginia from which we serve our clients in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Read More

Chambers USA Recognizes Pietragallo as a 2025 Leading Law Firm in Pennsylvania

2025/06/05

Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick & Raspanti, LLP has been recognized by Chambers and Partners USA in its 2025 Guide in the areas of False Claims Act in USA-Nationwide (Band 2), White Collar Crime & Government Investigations in Pennsylvania (Band 2), and General Commercial in Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh & Surrounds (Band 3). Chambers ranks leading law firms and attorneys across the U.S. after extensive and in-depth research including interviews with clients and members of the legal community. Their rankings are based on the opinion of clients and peers, and by the quality of the firms work. Our attorneys were ranked in the following practice areas and regions: William Pietragallo- Litigation: General Commercial— Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh & Surrounds (Band 1) Peter St. Tienne Wolff– Litigation: General Commercial— Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh & Surrounds Pamela Coyle Brecht– False Claims Act: Plaintiff—USA: Nationwide (Band 1) Marc S. Raspanti- Litigation: White Collar Crime & Government Investigations— Pennsylvania (Band 1) & False Claims Act: Plaintiff-USA: Nationwide (Band 1) Douglas Rosenblum- Litigation: White Collar Crime & Government Investigations— Pennsylvania   About Pietragallo Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick & Raspanti, LLP is a multi-disciplined business and litigation law firm headquartered in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia with five offices throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and West Virginia from which we are able to serve our clients in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Read More

20 Pietragallo Lawyers Named in 2025 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

2025/05/22

Pietragallo is pleased to announce that 20 lawyers have been named to the 2025 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers and Rising Stars list. Super Lawyers is a service of Thomson Reuters legal division which compiles a list of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas. Each year, Super Lawyers select attorneys based on peer nominations and evaluations combined with their own independent research. Selections are made on an annual, state by state basis to develop an extensive list of remarkable attorneys that can be used as a resource for attorneys and individuals seeking legal assistance. Only five percent of lawyers are selected to Super Lawyers and two and a half percent to Rising Stars. The following were recognized in the 2025 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list: Gaetan J. Alfano (Top 100 in Philadelphia) Charles Avalli Joseph J. Bosick Kerri Lee Cappella (Top 50 Women in Pennsylvania, Top 50 in Pittsburgh) Mark Gordon Brennan Hart Kenneth J. Horoho, Jr. Christopher A. Iacono Michael A. Morse William Pietragallo, II Francis E. Pipak, Jr. Marc S. Raspanti (Top 100 in Philadelphia) Douglas K. Rosenblum Clem C. Trischler Robert D. Weinberg The following were recognized in the 2025 Pennsylvania Rising Stars list: Anthony Sarafino “Fino” Caliguire Alyssa Dedola Quintin DiLucente Ashley Kenny Peter St. Tienne Wolff To read more, click here.   About Pietragallo Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick & Raspanti, LLP is a multi-disciplined business and commercial litigation firm headquartered in Pittsburgh with five offices throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and West Virginia from which we are able to serve our clients in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Read More