Headlines

03/05/2010
Alan W. Flenner, an environmental law attorney with High Swartz LLP in Norristown, will be a featured speaker at the Pennsylvania Bar Institute's Land Use Institute, to be held March 26 - 27 in Philadelphia. The seminar will focus on recent developments in land use law.

Mr. Flenner will be a panelist on the program, "Water Facilities Planning and Permitting." He concentrates his practice on matters associated with the built and natural environments including environmental, land use, and municipal law, and advises municipalities on local environmental regulation involving stormwater management, sustainable development, and green building issues.

High Swartz LLP is a general practice law firm serving clients in the Delaware Valley and throughout Pennsylvania. Established in 1914, High Swartz is the oldest law firm in Montgomery County. For more information, please visit www.highswartz.com. More

10/28/2009
Mary Cushing Doherty, has been named a 2009 Woman of Distinction by The Philadelphia Business Journal. The award recognizes 25 of the region's most dynamic women - women who are making headlines in their professional field and in their community. Ms. Doherty has been practicing family law for more than 25 years and has an outstanding record of professional and community service. More

10/26/09
Alan W. Flenner, who serves as a Captain in the Navy Reserve, has been assigned to the Chief of Naval Operations Management and Analysis (“CNOMA”) unit at the Pentagon after completing a two-year tour of duty as the Deputy Inspector General for Reserve Programs with the Naval Facilities Engineering Command at the Washington Navy Yard. CNOMA provides independent, impartial, and unbiased advice to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations on a wide variety of issues through the naval and business experience of its Reserve Component members. CNOMA projects involve the identification and recommendation of best practices, use of diverse analytic and quantitative techniques, change management, strategy development, and the simple application of an outsider’s perspective. At High Swartz, Mr. Flenner concentrates his practice on matters associated with the built and natural environments including environmental, land use, and municipal law.

09/16/2009
Top Real Estate Attorneys Join High Swartz LLP

September 16, 2009, Norristown, PA - High Swartz LLP announced today the expansion of its real estate practice with the additions of F. Arnold Heller, William F. Kerr, Jr., and Dina Schlossberg, who have joined the firm as Of Counsel. All three attorneys previously practiced at Blank Rome LLP.

Mr. Heller is a seasoned practitioner with more than 30 years of experience in the area of real estate development law. He advises a range of clients including healthcare providers, condominium developers, homeowners associations and affordable housing organizations on matters pertaining to the creation and preservation of housing as well as formation of joint ventures, construction contracts and sale/leaseback transactions. Mr. Heller is a graduate of Williams College and received his J.D. from Vanderbilt University Law School.

Mr. Kerr will continue his 15 year real estate practice focusing on land use and zoning, real estate development, real estate taxation, eminent domain, code compliance, and more. He represents developers, property managers and property owners of residential, multi-family, commercial, industrial and institutional properties. Additionally, he has an expertise in real estate tax assessment issues relating to affordable housing properties. Mr. Kerr is a graduate of Delaware Valley College and earned his M.S. at Rutgers University. He received his J.D. in 1991 from the Temple University Beasley School of Law.

Ms. Schlossberg has more than 20 years of experience in the area of real estate law, concentrating primarily on community development and economic development initiatives. She represents for profit and nonprofit developers, institutional lenders and community financial institutions in matters pertaining to affordable housing tax credit transactions, homeownership and moderate income housing initiatives, limited equity cooperatives and land trusts, and more.

A former Associate Practice Professor of Law at the University of Pennsylvania Law School, and a current Adjunct Professor at the Drexel University Earle Mack School of Law, she is a member of the American Bar Association's Forum on Affordable Housing and Community Development, and serves on the Executive Committee of the Real Property Section of the Philadelphia Bar Association. She is additionally a board member and officer of Regional Housing Legal Services, and is a board member of PennFuture, an environmental advocacy organization headquartered in Harrisburg. She is a graduate of Miami University and earned her law degree in 1985 from the Temple University Beasley School of Law.

"Messrs. Heller and Kerr and Ms. Schlossberg are widely-respected members of the Philadelphia legal community and we are delighted that they have decided to bring their unique real estate expertise to our firm," said High Swartz Managing Partner, Paul Bartle. "The addition of their practices expands our capabilities as we continue to acquire clients with more diverse and complicated real estate needs."

08/06/09
High Swartz Attorneys to Speak at Montgomery Bar Association’s Environmental Law Seminar

August 6, 2009, Norristown, PA — Kenneth R. Myers and Alan W. Flenner, attorneys with High Swartz LLP in Norristown, will be featured speakers at the Montgomery Bar Association’s Environmental Law Seminar, to be held August 12 at the Montgomery Bar Association Building in Norristown. The seminar will focus on current energy issues and how they affect business and residential consumers.

Mr. Myers will serve as a panelist for the ethics portion of the Seminar, which will address a hypothetical situation that might occur during the course of representing building contractors and developers. Mr. Myers has represented developers, industrial clients, municipal bodies and associations in environmental matters, including air, water, solid waste and noise regulation. His publications include the original Pennsylvania Chapter of the Environmental Law Practice Guide (Matthew Bender), the original Environmental Spill Reporting Handbook (West Publishing), and articles on environmental and regulatory topics. He co-founded and managed environmental law practice as a member of Morgan Lewis & Bockius, his prior firm.

Mr. Flenner will speak about “High Performance Building Regulations,” including federal, state, and local incentives to encourage construction of energy efficient buildings and the incorporation of renewable and alternative energy sources in building designs. He concentrates his practice on matters associated with the built and natural environments including environmental, land use, and municipal law, and advises municipalities on local environmental regulation involving stormwater management, sustainable development, and green building issues. Mr. Flenner is the current Chair of the Environmental Law Committee of the Montgomery Bar Association and will serve as Moderator of the Environmental Law Seminar.

06/08/09
Alan W. Flenner, J.D., P.E., was the guest speaker at the King of Prussia Rotary Club meeting on June 8, 2009. Mr. Flenner discussed sustainable development and green building issues including design and construction contract considerations and federal and state financial incentives for commercial and residential building owners. Mr. Flenner concentrates his practice on matters associated with the built and natural environments including environmental, land use, and municipal law. He advises clients on sustainable development and green building issues.

05/04/09
Alan W. Flenner’s article, "The Flow Toward Stormwater Authorities in Pennsylvania," appeared in the May 4, 2009 issue of The Legal Intelligencer’s Environmental Law Supplement. The article discusses the many demands facing local governments with respect to stormwater management, including increased regulation of stormwater, aging infrastructure, population increases and limited financial resources. The article further identifies alternate mechanisms to equitably fund stormwater programs, including the formation of a separate municipal stormwater management entity or utility as a user-oriented funding mechanism that fairly allocates the cost of stormwater management.

04/22/09
High Swartz Attorneys to Speak at 2009 Municipal Law Colloquium

April 22, 2009, Norristown, PA - Alan W. Flenner, attorney with High Swartz LLP in Norristown, will be featured speakers at the Pennsylvania Bar Institute's Municipal Law Colloquium, to be held May 8 - 9 at the Hershey Lodge and Convention Center in Hershey. The seminar will explore updates in municipal law that are relevant to both new and experienced solicitors.

Mr. Flenner will present the workshop, "Sustainable Development and Green Building Regulations," which will provide an overview of sustainable development and explore the legal aspects of municipal green building regulations. He concentrates his practice on matters associated with the built and natural environments including environmental, land use, and municipal law, and advises municipalities on local environmental regulation involving stormwater management, sustainable development, and green building issues. Mr. Flenner is the current Chair of the Environmental Law Committee of the Montgomery Bar Association.

03/03/09
Mark R. Fischer, Jr. has joined High Swartz LLP as an Associate, where he will focus on commercial and civil litigation. Mr. Fischer has three years legal experience handling matters pertaining to insurance coverage. He has also served a clerkship in the Superior Court of New Jersey as law clerk to the Honorable Thomas P. Kelly, J.S.C. He is a summa cum laude graduate of Widener University, and received his law degree from the Villanova University School of Law in 2004. Mr. Fischer is a member of the Pennsylvania and Montgomery Bar Associations.

02/17/09
High Swartz Partner Joel D. Rosen has been elected Chairman of the Board of the Hepatitis B Foundation, located in Doylestown. A board member since 2003, Rosen is committed to finding a cure for hepatitis B by increasing the Foundation’s visibility in national and international arenas, as well as increasing the funds available for research, public health and outreach initiatives. “As we move toward a cure and the discovery of new therapeutic agents for hepatitis B, the Foundation continues to be the main champion for the 400 million people worldwide with chronic hepatitis B”, says Rosen. “From its epicenter in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, the positive impact of the Foundation spans the globe. I am proud of what we have accomplished and look forward to the challenges that lay ahead.” With more than 25 years of legal experience, Rosen’s areas of practice include: franchise law; business and commercial law; employment law; trademark/copyright; and commercial leasing. Prior to joining High Swartz in 2007, he was the owner of the Law Offices of Joel Rosen, and the Vice President/General Counsel of NutriSystem, Inc. Rosen is a member of the American, Pennsylvania and Montgomery Bar Associations.

12/17/2008
Alan W. Flenner, P.E., an Associate with High Swartz in Norristown, has been appointed as the 2009 Chair of the Environmental Law Committee of the Montgomery Bar Association. The Environmental Law Committee conducts monthly professional development luncheons that often include a guest speaker and that provide members an opportunity to share practice experiences. The Committee also presents an annual Continuing Legal Education program that provides an update on current trends in environmental law. Flenner concentrates his practice on issues affecting the built and natural environments, with a particular emphasis on environmental, land use and municipal law. He is currently researching the relationship between local government regulation and environmental sustainability.

12/04/2008
Ken Myers joined with Valerie Holliday, a geologist with petroleum and gas expertise, to present a talk entitled “Gas Exploration in the Marcellus Shale” at the 2008 annual meeting of the Water Resources Association of the Delaware River Basin. In two-thirds of Pennsylvania and a portion of New York State, the Marcellus Shale lies about 4,000 to 8,000 feet below ground, rich in natural gas. Indeed, if recent geological estimates are correct, “Pennsylvania could be the Saudi Arabia of natural gas,” according to Myers. Holliday described the advanced production methods needed to free the gas from the tight stone in which it is trapped. Myers explained the key elements in leasing property for development and the operation of the typical gas exploration and development lease. He described the new initiatives to control environmental impacts of the development of the Marcellus being taken by the Delaware River Basin Commission, Susquehanna River Basin Commission, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

10/30/2008
Alan W. Flenner, P.E., an Associate with High Swartz in Norristown, participated as a presenter in the Montgomery County Bar Association’s “Environmental Practice Update 2008” continuing legal education program. The program focused on sewage facilities planning, municipal green building initiatives, sustainability, and greenhouse gas management. Flenner specifically addressed the development and adoption of local sustainable planning practices including green building initiatives, incentives, and regulations. Flenner concentrates his practice on issues affecting the built and natural environments, with a particular emphasis on environmental, land use and municipal law.

10/07/2008
Alan W. Flenner of High Swartz in Norristown presented "Legal Aspects of Green Zoning/Building in Pennsylvania" at the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission's workshop on "Planning for Sustainability: Green Codes and Planning." Co-sponsored by the American Planning Association, Pennsylvania Chapter, Southeast Section, Professional Development Institute, the workshop educated planning practitioners and decision makers about the development and adoption of local sustainable planning practices. Flenner concentrates his practice on issues affecting the built and natural environments, with a particular emphasis on environmental, land use and municipal law.

3/3/2008
Alan W. Flenner, P.E., an Associate with High Swartz, was promoted to the rank of Captain in the United States Navy on March 1, 2008. Alan is a Reserve Civil Engineer Corps officer assigned to the Naval Facilities Engineering Command ("NAVFAC") in Washington, DC as the Inspector General (Reserve Component). NAVFAC is an Echelon II level command within the Department of the Navy responsible for the acquisition and maintenance of the Navy and Marine Corps shore based infrastructure. The mission of the NAVFAC Inspector General (IG) is to act as the focal point for issues relating to NAVFAC's integrity, efficiency, fraud, waste, and abuse programs. Detection and prevention of inefficiencies, mismanagement, and wasteful and abusive practices are among the major functions performed by the IG. Other responsibilities include command self-assessments and inspections, special investigations, audits, and management control.

2/7/2008
Alan W. Flenner, an attorney with High Swartz in Norristown and a registered professional engineer, recently spoke to engineering students at Elizabethtown College about alternative career opportunities for engineers, including careers in government and the legal profession. Following the career program, Flenner led a discussion among students and faculty about the siting and project review process for wind energy facilities from a land use perspective. Flenner focuses his law practice on matters associated with the built and natural environments and concentrates in the areas of municipal, environmental, and land use law. He is also a Commander in the Navy Reserve serving as the Inspector General (Reserve Component) with the Naval Facilities Engineering Command in Washington, DC.

December 2007
Eric B. Smith, Esquire, of High Swartz LLP named as a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer-Rising Star. Partner Eric B. Smith has been named in the December 2007 issue of Philadelphia magazine as a "Pennsylvania Super Lawyer - Rising Star." Mr. Smith's practice focuses on Real Estate and Commercial Litigation, as well as Municipal and Land Use Law. An attorney named as a Super Lawyer - Rising Star is considered among the best in their profession and represents the top 2.5% of the outstanding emerging lawyers who are under age 40.

10/9/2007
Alan W. Flenner, P.E., an associate with High Swartz LLP in Norristown, completed a successful two-year assignment as the commanding officer of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 21 during an official ceremony conducted October 20th at the Battalion's headquarters aboard Naval Air Engineering Station, Lakehurst, N. J.. More on this article...

09/2007
The article, "Handling Sites that Go Bump in the Night: Quicker Cheaper Environmental Site Remediation" was prepared by Kenneth R. Myers for publication in the Schuylkill Valley Business Advisor. The article explains the practical benefits for owners of suspect property of the relatively new "Brownfields cleanup" program of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

09/2007
Kenneth R. Myers program, "Redistricting: Limiting the Right to Vote," sponsored by the Montgomery Bar Association and Jewish Social Policy Action Network, and cosponsored by the Committee of Seventy and the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania. Bruce Cain, Heller Professor of the University of California - Berkeley, and Daylin Leach, State Representative from Montgomery County, spoke on the issue of "safe seats" in Congress and the State Legislature, the process of gerrymandering election districts, and possible remedies.

9/2007
Divorce and the Elderly, written by Stephanie E. Murphy, was published in the Fall 2007 newsletter of the Pennsylvania Bar Association Elder Law Section.

August, 2007
Kenneth R. Myers and Alan W. Flenner of High Swartz LLP were speakers for the Montgomery Bar Association seminar on Local Environmental Regulation held on August 8 in Norristown. More

June 2007
In June 2007, four partners with High Swartz LLP - Mary Cushing Doherty, Gilbert P. High, Jr. and Thomas D. Rees - were named Pennsylvania "Super Lawyers" by Philadelphia Magazine and Law and Politics Magazine. Law and Politics Magazine selects "Super Lawyers" from a poll distributed to all lawyers in Pennsylvania. Only 5% of the lawyers in Pennsylvania are selected as Super Lawyers by Law and Politics. In the same poll, Ms. Doherty was also named as one of the top 50 female lawyers in Pennsylvania. More

Mary Cushing Doherty is serving as President of the Pennsylvania Chapter of the AAML.

Alan W. Flenner, P.E., an associate with High Swartz LLP in Norristown, has been re-elected as Counsel for the Seabee Memorial Scholarship Association (SMSA). SMSA awards academic scholarships to the children and grandchildren of past and present members of the U.S. Navy Seabees and Civil Engineer Corps.

December 2006, Eric B. Smith, Esquire, of High Swartz LLP named as a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer - Rising Star. Partner Eric B. Smith has been named in the December 2006 issue of Philadelphia magazine as a "Pennsylvania Super Lawyer - Rising Star." Mr. Smith's practice focuses on Real Estate and Commercial Litigation, as well as Municipal and Land Use Law. An attorney named as a Super Lawyer - Rising Star is considered among the best in their profession and represents the top 2.5% of the outstanding emerging lawyers who are under age 40. 2006 RISING STARS

Congratulations to the 2006 RISING STARS of High Swartz LLP.

Thomas D. Rees, a partner in the firm, spoke at the Pennsylvania Bar Institute's 2006 Northeast Employment Law Institute on the Pennsylvania Wage Payment and Collection Law. Mr. Rees also wrote a chapter on the Wage Payment and Collection Law for the course book for the Employment Law Institute. Mr. Rees has spoken at and prepared materials for the Employment Law Institute since 2000, and has provided course materials and taught employment law courses for PBI since 1993. View Wage Payment and Collection Law Chapter.

Thomas D. Rees, will again serve as a Contributing Editor on Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware law for BNA Books' state-by-state surveys on covenants not to compete, tortious interference in the employment context, and trade secrets. BNA publishes these updates on the law of each state for the American Bar Association's Section of Employment and Labor Law.

Five of our lawyers have earned Philadelphia Magazine's "Super Lawyer" title - an honor reserved each year for a very limited number of attorneys whose knowledge and legal acumen is recognized by both clients and peers as "outstanding." More information. More information.

Alan W. Flenner, P.E., of Norristown based High Swartz LLP spoke on the "Legality and Calculation of Stormwater Management Charges" at the Lorman Education Services sponsored seminar Creating and Operating a Successful Stormwater Utility in Pennsylvania. More

Alan W. Flenner, an attorney with High Swartz LLP in Norristown, has been named a Distinguished Alumnus of the University of Delaware Mechanical Engineering Department. He will be honored at the Mechanical Engineering Business & Career Conference on April 28, 2006 in Newark, Delaware. More

Mary Cushing Doherty was interviewed by American Airlines Sky Radio for their "America's Most Influential Women" segment. Mary Cushing Doherty speaks about selecting an attorney to avoid over-lawyering. The segment will air in April, 2006. Click to listen to the audio (uses Windows Media Player).

Alan W. Flenner, (an attorney and a registered professional engineer), recently completed a legal memorandum on the legality and calculation of municipal charges for management of stormwater. More Information.

1/28/2006
December 2005, Eric B. Smith, Esquire, of High Swartz LLP named as a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer -- Rising Star. More

Thomas D. Rees and Kenneth R. Myers of the firm have been successful in two recent land use appeals. In the case of Presby Homes & Services v. Abington Township Zoning Hearing Board, Messrs. Rees and Myers were successful in arguing to the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court that a municipal zoning hearing board could not restrict a life care community's driveway access onto a state highway, by limiting the driveway's use to emergency vehicles. More

Archives