Craig M.Brooks has been selected to the Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list for the tenth consecutive year. He is a member the firm’s Employment and Labor Law practice and represents employers in a full practice that includes employment discrimination, FMLA, wage and hour, union matters, wrongful discharge and other employment torts, non-competes and other restrictive covenants, policy drafting, and good practical advice helping clients achieve their goals while minimizing the risk of legal claims. He practices in federal and state courts, as well as government agencies, in Pennsylvania and elsewhere. He also represents individuals with advice and claims arising out of their employment.

Robert J. Burnett has been selected to the Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list each year since 2019. As chair of the firm’s Oil and Gas Law practice, Robert’s practice is exclusively devoted to the representation of landowners and royalty owners in oil and gas matters. He assists landowners and royalty owners in negotiating new oil and gas leases, surface use and pipeline right-of-way agreements, advises clients on complex oil/gas title issues and lease development and expiration claims, and also represents clients in royalty disputes arising out of the calculation and payment of production royalties and the deduction of post-production costs.

Jaclyn E. Faulds has been selected the Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list this year. She was previously selected to the Pennsylvania Rising Stars list for the seven consecutive years. As part of the firm’s Business Law Group, she concentrates her practice in business counseling, corporate governance, financing transactions, and business planning and commercial transactions including acquisitions, mergers, and entity restructuring. She also represents clients in real estate matters including financing, acquisitions and sales, title issues, and lease negotiation.

Christopher M. Jacobs has been selected to the Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list for the eighth consecutive year. He has previously been selected to the Pennsylvania Super Lawyers Rising Stars list from 2011to 2016. As a litigation attorney, Jacobs focuses his practice on the areas of business litigation, insurance bad faith, and insurance coverage. In his insurance bad faith litigation practice, Christopher has served as counsel for major national insurers in actions involving construction defect claims, latent and progressive injury claims, long-tail environment exposure claims, disputed uninsured and underinsured motorist claims, first-party property losses, and excess verdicts. 

Brandon McCullough has been selected to the Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list for the third time. He has previously been selected to the Pennsylvania Super Lawyers Rising Stars list from 2013 to 2023. He concentrates his practice primarily in the areas of insurance coverage and bad faith litigation and complex commercial and business litigation. He has represented insurance companies in a wide array of coverage disputes in trial courts and on appeal in both state and federal courts. He has litigated and counseled clients on issues involving numerous types of commercial and personal lines insurance.

Alan S. Miller has been selected to the Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list each year since 2008. He concentrates his practice in the areas of environmental law and energy law, insurance coverage and bad faith, and complex commercial litigation. He is chair of the firm’s Insurance Coverage and Bad Faith Law practice as well as the Environmental and Energy Law practice

Brendan A. O’Donnell has been selected for the Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list this year. He was previously selected to the Pennsylvania Rising Stars list for seven consecutive years. As part of the Oil and Gas Law practice group O’Donnell represents landowners and royalty owners in a variety of matters including the preparation and negotiation of leases, pipeline right-of-way agreements, surface use agreements, and oil, gas and mineral conveyances.

Shelly R. Pagac has been selected to the Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list each year since 2013. She is the Chair of the Employment and Labor Practice Group, bringing decades of experience in counseling, training, litigating all employment matters, and defending employers nationwide. Shelly partners with businesses to develop proactive strategies that foster healthy workplaces while ensuring compliance with labor and employment regulations.

Tammy L. Ribar has been selected to the Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list for the second time. Concentrating her practice on commercial real estate matters, Tammy has experience in diverse real estate transactions, including ground-up development, zoning and land use, acquisitions and dispositions, financing transactions, title issues, lease negotiation and landlord/tenant disputes. Tammy works with developers, property owners, individuals and entities. Her work is diverse and includes large-scale and complex real estate transactions as well as residential transactions.

Samuel H. Simon has been selected to the Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list for the eighth consecutive year. Co-chair of the Litigation practice group, Sam is well versed in all areas of civil law with a particular focus on commercial/ business litigation. Sam regularly represents clients in the construction, manufacturing, oil and gas, and wholesale/retail/distribution industries. Sam also represents architects and engineers in actions where faulty/ negligent design is alleged.

Henry M. Sneath has been selected to the Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list each year since 2008. He is chair of the firm’s Intellectual Property Practice and Co-Chair of the Litigation Practice. A trial attorney, having tried 99 cases to verdict, he focuses on complex business litigation and injunction proceedings including intellectual property, patent, trademark and copyright infringement, trade secret misappropriation claims, Defend Trade Secrets Act (DTSA), products and pharmaceutical liability, toxic torts, insurance coverage and bad faith, probate trusts and estates litigation, cybersecurity and data breach prevention and litigation, and catastrophic injury litigation matters.

Heidi Rai Stewart has been selected to the Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list since 2019. Her practice is focused on Estates and Trusts where she develops estate plans, administers estates and trusts for both individual and corporate clients, and represents clients in Orphans’ Court proceedings. Heidi also does extensive work in the areas of Special Needs and Elder Law, including Long Term Care planning. She is also accredited to represent clients in Veteran’s Administration proceedings.

Erik M. Bergenthal has been selected to the Pennsylvania Rising Stars list for the eighth consecutive year. He concentrates his practice in complex civil litigation, oil and gas, non-compete disputes, construction litigation, petitions for guardianship, zoning appeals, and collection cases.

Maura K. Perri has been selected to the Pennsylvania Rising Stars list for the fourth time. An associate attorney in the firm’s Business Law Group, Maura concentrates her practice in the areas of general corporate law, commercial transactions, mergers and acquisitions, business planning, and real estate. Her experience includes counseling clients on entity selection and formation and reviewing and drafting various other corporate documents, such as operating agreements, employment agreements, and stock redemption agreements. 

Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters business, is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The annual selections are made using a patented multiphase process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, an independent research evaluation of candidates and peer reviews by practice area. The result is a credible, comprehensive and diverse listing of exceptional attorneys. The Super Lawyers lists are published nationwide in Super Lawyers Magazines and in leading city and regional magazines and newspapers across the country. Super Lawyers Magazines also feature editorial profiles of attorneys who embody excellence in the practice of law. For more information about Super Lawyers, visit SuperLawyers.com

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Brendan O’Donnell recently joined The Real Deal Landman Show as a guest to discuss his article, “The Colocation Loophole,” featured on The Oil and Gas Addendum blog. This episode of The Real Deal Landman Show explored potential impacts and lease questions associated with the colocation of facilities like data centers and gas wells, along with other emerging issues in oil and gas law.

Hosted by Jerris Johnson and Drew Hopkins, The Real Deal Landman Show presents an authentic view of the world of land and energy professionals with stories, insights and conversations with people in the industry.

To listen to the episode, click here.

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Houston Harbaugh Senior Attorney, Erica Pietranton, was selected as a panelist at the 2026 Women & Leadership Symposium at Bethany College.

The symposium brought together accomplished professionals to share practical strategies, real-world insight, and candid perspectives on leadership, career advancement, and networking. The program featured keynote speaker Toria Tolley, who opened the event with a compelling discussion on leadership, growth, and navigating competitive professional environments.

Erica participated in the expert panel discussion, “Winning in the Workplace & Beyond,” where she contributed her perspective as a commercial and civil litigation attorney. The panel focused on equipping attendees with actionable strategies for professional success, emphasizing authentic relationship-building and creating meaningful opportunities.

To learn more, click here.

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Houston Harbaugh attorneys recently attended the Women in the Law Division (WLD) Luncheon hosted by the Allegheny County Bar Association (ACBA), where the firm proudly sponsored a table in support of this meaningful professional event.

The luncheon featured keynote speaker Jamila Wideman, General Manager of the WNBA’s Washington Mystics, who shared her inspiring career journey spanning professional athletics, public interest law, and leadership in professional sports organizations. Wideman discussed her transition from being a standout collegiate athlete at Stanford University and a member of the WNBA’s inaugural draft class to earning her law degree from NYU School of Law and building a career as a civil rights and criminal defense attorney.

The event provided an excellent opportunity for attorneys and legal professionals across the region to connect, learn from Wideman’s unique professional path, and celebrate the ongoing work of the ACBA Women in the Law Division in supporting and advancing women in the legal community.

Houston Harbaugh was proud to support this event and remains committed to engaging with organizations that foster professional development, mentorship, and leadership within the legal profession.

To learn more about the ACBA Women in Law Division, click here.

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Houston Harbaugh, P.C. is pleased to announce that attorney Robert Burnett has been appointed to serve on the Allegheny County Bar Association (ACBA) Professional Ethics Committee.

The Professional Ethics Committee, upon request of any member of the association, its Board of Governors, or any Committee or Section, provides guidance on the proper interpretation of the Code of Judicial Conduct and the Rules of Professional Conduct. The Committee offers opinions on the applicability of these standards to particular factual circumstances that do not involve questions of judicial discretion or decision.

Mr. Burnett’s appointment reflects Houston Harbaugh’s ongoing commitment to ethical practice and leadership within the legal community.

To learn more about the ACBA, click here.

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Their article, “The AI Daily Routine: An Artificial Intelligence Practicum for Defense Attorneys,” is Part 2 of their Defending the Algorithm series and was published by the DRI Center for Law and Public Policy AI Task Force.

The article examines how law firms can build effective AI infrastructure, improve information architecture, master prompt engineering, enhance legal research and litigation analytics, manage large-scale e-discovery using AI tools, and implement responsible governance protocols.

To read the full article, click here.

Henry Sneath will chair, and all three authors will speak at DRI’s full-day live CLE seminar, “Artificial Intelligence in Defense Practice: Tools, Prompts, Workflows, Implementation and Governance”, hosted by the DRI Center for Law and Public Policy.

Date: March 9–10, 2026
Location: DRI Headquarters, Chicago, Illinois

The program will focus on practical guidance for defense practitioners, corporate counsels and insurance professionals navigating the use of artificial intelligence, including risk management, litigation strategy, ESI Discovery protocols, AI governance, and ethical considerations.

For more information about the seminar and networking event, including registration, click here.

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The Health Care Law practice at Houston Harbaugh is proud to announce its recent partnership with the Duquesne University SBDC Pro Bono & Legal Services Program. Through this partnership, all active start-up clients of the Duquesne University SBDC have access to up to ten hours of pro bono legal assistance from participating firms.

To read the full press release, click here.

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Houston Harbaugh, P.C. was proud to sponsor the ACBA LGBTQ+ Rights Committee’s International Association of LGBTQ+ Judges Panel Discussion. This program brought together distinguished judges from across North America to share insights on judicial experiences, LGBTQ+ legal issues, representation, and pathways to the bench.

Through its support, Houston Harbaugh reaffirms its commitment to promoting inclusion and meaningful dialogue within the legal community.

To learn more about the ACBA, click here.

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Jessica A. Ellel concentrates her practice in healthcare law. Chair of Houston Harbaugh’s Health Law Practice, Jessica works almost exclusively with health care entities and health practitioners. Jessica is especially well-versed in HIPAA compliance and conducts on-site and remote HIPAA training and maintains Houston Harbaugh’s HIPAA compliance manual. She serves as an adjunct professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law teaching Health Care Business Transactions. She received her Juris Doctorate and Health Law Certificate from the University of Pittsburgh, where she was editor for The Pittsburgh Journal of Technology Law and Policy, and a Bachelor of Science degree from Cornell University.

John M. Hartzell, Jr. concentrates his practice in estate planning and estate and trust administration and chairs the Firm’s Estates and Trusts practice. With prior experience as a Certified Public Accountant, he leverages his knowledge of tax law for businesses and individuals in preparing estate and gift tax plans, and he works with business owners on their succession planning matters. Additionally, John counsels landowners with oil and gas interests on their tax and estate planning challenges. He is skilled at using sophisticated estate planning techniques to minimize federal and state death taxes and to transfer wealth in a controlled and efficient manner. He received his Juris Doctorate from Duquesne University, an MBA from Clarion University, and a Bachelor of Science degree from Pennsylvania State University.

Samuel H. Simon concentrates his practice on commercial/business litigation and co-chairs the Firm’s Litigation Practice. He regularly represents clients in the construction, manufacturing, oil and gas, and wholesale/retail/ distribution industries, as well as individuals in matters such as breach of contract disputes, negligence, restrictive covenants, civil rights, construction litigation, and environmental litigation. Sam also represents architects and engineers in such matters as faulty design specifications and design negligence. He serves as an Adjunct Professor of Law at Duquesne University School of Law, teaching Federal Civil Rights Litigation. He received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Akron, where he was a member of the Law Review, and a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Pittsburgh.

Alex W. Thomson concentrates his practice in business law. He represents a wide range of business clients from start-ups to publicly traded companies in a diverse set of industries, from steel to software. He has counseled clients in numerous corporate transactions, including sales, acquisitions, mergers, joint ventures, and strategic alliances. Thomson has helped clients obtain both public and private financing for their businesses, including venture capital financing. He received his Juris Doctorate, cum laude, from the University of Pittsburgh, where he was a member of the Law Review. Thomson also earned an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh’s Katz Graduate School of Business, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Boston University.

Heidi Rai Stewart concentrates her practice in the area of estate planning and estate and trust administration. Her work in the Firm’s Estates and Trusts practice extends to Special Needs planning and Long-Term Care planning, including Elder Law. Stewart also regularly represents clients in Orphans’ Court matters such as Will contests, guardianships, actions relating to undue influence, and breaches of fiduciary duty. She also is accredited to represent clients in Veteran’s Administration proceedings. She received her Juris Doctorate from Duquesne University School of Law, and a Bachelor of Arts degree, magna cum laude, from Carlow College (now Carlow University).

Please join us in congratulating our newly elected Executive Committee and Officers on their well-deserved election win.

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Houston Harbaugh is pleased to announce the promotion of Senior Attorney Acacia B. Perko to Shareholder. On behalf of the Executive Committee and the Directors, promotions are effective January 1, 2026:

The promotion is from the firm’s key practice areas of Litigation and Intellectual Property.

“We congratulate Acacia on her hard work and dedication in achieving this well-earned promotion. We are excited to have her as a partner and know she will continue her high level of success as she moves to this next step in her career.” said Alex W. Thomson, President of Houston Harbaugh.

Houston Harbaugh’s Newest Shareholders

Acacia B. Perko

Acacia is a Business, IP, and AI Trial Lawyer with 14 years of experience litigating high-stakes cases in state and federal courts. She combines a broad-based litigation background with a national focus on the emerging legal challenges of Artificial Intelligence. As a co-author of Houston Harbaugh’s “Defending the Algorithm” series, Acacia serves as a lead strategist for companies navigating the intersection of traditional business disputes and emerging technology.

Acacia’s practice is built on a deep foundation in Business Litigation, Intellectual Property, Trade Secret Law, Insurance Coverage and Bad Faith Law and Insurance Defense. An accomplished advocate with extensive first and second-chair trial experience, she is licensed in state and federal courts in both Pennsylvania and Ohio, representing a diverse range of regional and national clients through all phases of litigation and appellate advocacy.

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