Family Law

• Divorce
  Curt also handles commercial and other civil litigation matters including shareholder and partner disputes; cases involving covenants not to compete, commercial disparagement, and misappropriation of trade secrets; real estate litigation including representing large commercial and residential landlords; breach of contract lawsuits; construction litigation, including performance disputes and mechanics’ liens; collection cases; employment litigation; representing bars and restaurants in litigation involving their operations and liquor licenses; and family law and divorces. With approximately 30 years of trial experience and a substantial business background, he is able to effectively handle the most complex commercial lawsuit. Curt takes pride in making sure that even his most sophisticated business clients understand the nature of the lawsuit in which they are involved and how the law pertains to that case.

Criminal Law

• DUI/DWI
  The Commonwealth is continuing to crack down on drunk drivers, particularly those with prior DWI offenses. As of December 23, 2018: a person convicted of a third DWI offense with a blood alcohol level (BAC) of.16 or higher or a fourth (or subsequent) DWI… Continue reading
• Wrongful Death
  Curt Ward has been with the Firm since 1989 and is its managing partner.  Curt has successfully handled many personal injury cases. He has obtained significant awards and settlements for his clients in very complex personal injury matters. His practice includes cases involving motor vehicle accidents, medical malpractice, wrongful death, slip and fall and products liability. He has earned a well deserved reputation for tirelessly working for his clients who have been injured and always keeping his clients well informed. read more
• Fraud
• Restraining Order
  Recently in the news there has been much talk about “temporary restraining orders”, particularly in connection with the suspension of the President’s “travel ban” by various federal courts. So what is a temporary restraining order (“TRO”)? A TRO is a type of injunction issued by… Continue reading

Business and Corporate Law

• Corporate Law
  Rod joined the Firm in 2007. He has represented a variety of clients in a wide array of matters, principally involving real estate, corporate law, bank lending, creditors’ rights, employment law and landlord/tenant matters.
• Business Disputes
  Kevin’s unique multi-dimensional practice combines real estate, business and corporate transactional matters as well as business and commercial litigation matters. As a result he is a knowledgeable business planner with a concrete grasp of how to handle business disputes and litigation should the need arise. Few transactional lawyers also have this added dimension. He has handled a large number of purchases and sales of businesses and real estate ranging from under $500,000 to transactions involving many millions of dollars. Kevin has successfully handled countless zoning cases (commercial and residential) and is comfortable appearing before local zoning boards and municipal governing bodies, including Upper Merion Township. He has extensive courtroom experience in various state and federal courts on behalf of business and private clients, including the Courts of Common Pleas of Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery Counties.  Kevin is the solicitor for the Bridgeport Civil Service Commission.
• Business Transactions
  Although he spent two and a half years on the staff of the Montgomery County District Attorney, he leaves the litigation (criminal and civil) to others in the office and focuses mainly on commercial transactions and estate planning. A large number of his clients are restaurateurs, for which he is grateful on two counts: first, he loves a good meal out; and second, he finds his restaurant clients endlessly engaging and a bit more colorful.
• Limited Liability Companies
  Ken Butera is the Firm’s founder. He has been a fixture in Montgomery County and suburban legal circles for many years. His practice concentrates on commercial transactions, estate planning, real estate and business law. A large part of Ken’s practice includes restaurant and liquor licensing matters, including liquor license transfers and the purchase and sale of restaurant businesses.  Ken has years of experience working on behalf of clients with the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board. In addition to his law practice, Ken has served as a featured lecturer on real estate law in seminars given by the Pennsylvania Bar Institute.An important part of Ken’s practice involves working with newly created businesses, including corporations, partnerships and limited liability companies. He has been instrumental in the creation of countless new restaurants and other small businesses in Philadelphia and the surrounding counties. Ken clearly enjoys the challenges that come with meeting new clients and launching new business enterprises, and many of his clients have also become friends over the years.
• Trade Secrets

Employment Law

• Employment Litigation
  Rod joined the firm in 2007.  He represents a variety of clients principally involving corporate law, trust and estates, real estate, and employment law.  Rod’s recent focus has been on trust and estate planning and administrative and transactional matters.  However, he also continues to represent companies and individuals involved in employment disputes, shareholder/partnership disputes, and trust and estate litigation. His clients have included  real estate developers, contractors, physicians, tax exempt organizations, and private clients in the trust and estate arena. In all of his matters, Rod brings a commitment to thoroughness and an understanding of the issues, which are aimed at achieving a successful and cost effective solution for the client.

Property Law

• Real Estate Litigation
  Ken has years of experience working on behalf of clients with the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board. In addition to his law practice, Ken has served as a featured lecturer on real estate law in seminars given by the Pennsylvania Bar Institute.
• Construction Litigation
  Prior to joining the Firm, he clerked for an Associate Dean of the Villanova University School of Law, served on the board of the Villanova Public Interest Fellowship Program and worked in the Villanova Farm Worker’s Legal Aid Clinic. He also served as a clerk at the Senior Citizen Judicare Project in Philadelphia representing the interest of lower income seniors. Before beginning law school, Ken owned and operated an accomplished contracting business that focused on the renovation and restoration of architecturally significant buildings. He is thus well grounded in all aspects of construction litigation. He remains active in local politics.
• Real Estate Transactions
  This article continues the discussion of assignments of contracts  from our last issue.  Specifically, this article addresses assignment of real estate sales contracts, where the ability to assign and the effects of assigning are sometimes crucial.  Following are some aspects of assignments of real property… Continue reading
• Eminent Domain
  Obtained for a property owner more than three times the final offer made by a municipal condemnor for a commercial building taking.
• Land Use and Zoning
• Landlord-Tenant Disputes

Health Law

• Personal Injury
  William J. (Bill) Brennan is an “AV” rated trial lawyer and municipal solicitor who has spent his entire legal career with the Firm. Bill routinely represents local governments, large and small corporations, partnerships and individuals in complex civil litigation in state and federal courts throughout Southeastern Pennsylvania.  As a result of his diligence, persistence and attention to detail, his clients have achieved excellent and cost effective results.  In 1992, Bill tried a catastrophic arm injury case to a jury in Bucks County, Pennsylvania which resulted in a verdict of $2,750,000, the largest personal injury verdict in the history of that county – it stood as the largest verdict for more than ten years.
• Medical Malpractice
  Curt has successfully handled many personal injury cases. He has obtained significant awards and settlements for his clients in very complex personal injury matters. His practice includes cases involving motor vehicle accidents, medical malpractice, wrongful death, slip and fall and products liability. He has earned a well deserved reputation for tirelessly working for his clients who have been injured and always keeping his clients well informed. He is personally involved in each case to assure the most favorable results.
• Auto Accidents

Trusts and Estates

• Estate Planning
  Many times, upon the death of an account holder, issues arise as to who owns a joint account. The rules are straight-forward and are set forth in Pennsylvania’s “Multi-Party Account Act” (the “Act”). An important part of estate planning involves recognizing the results of joint… Continue reading
• Wills
  Wills and estate documents are not always signed before death makes its inevitable visit.  This is a recurring problem, and for law firms that plan estates it is not uncommon that reminders must be sent to clients regarding the status of the unsigned documents.  Usually… Continue reading
• Trusts
  Curt has also successfully handled many cases in Orphans’ Court (Pennsylvania’s probate court) with regard to disputes involving administration of estates and beneficiaries of trusts and estates. These cases can be emotionally charged and often difficult but Curt’s steady and thoughtful approach allows his clients to understand the law and facts of the case and to ultimately make sound and well reasoned decisions.
• Power of Attorney
  At various times in this newsletter, we have advised individuals to obtain an advanced health care directive and health care power of attorney.  Understandably, most people want their wishes to be known regarding end of life decisions and would not want these decisions placed in… Continue reading
• Probate

Finance Law

• Tax Law
  One of the biggest changes coming out of the new Federal tax law involves the so-called “standard deduction” available to individual taxpayers. For years prior to 2018, middle and higher income taxpayers would almost always itemize deductions (such as mortgage interest, state and local taxes,… Continue reading