Elected and Appointed

Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr elected Michael C. Barnes and Karilynn Bayus to the firm's partnership, effective Jan. 1.

Barnes is a member of the business and finance department in the Philadelphia office.

Barnes advises clients on finance ­matters of states, municipalities, industrial development authorities, school districts and nonprofit entities.

Bayus is a member of the business and ­finance department and health care practice.

Bayus represents and counsels physician groups, physicians, hospitals, universities, ancillary service providers, medical device manufacturers, ambulatory surgical centers and other health care-related businesses in transactional, regulatory and administrative matters.

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McNees Wallace & Nurick attorney Stephen Gierasch is set to succeed Brad Gunnison as co-chair of the corporate and tax group and will be collaborating with Tim Finnerty to lead the practice group.

Gierasch is a mergers and acquisitions attorney and legal adviser to businesses and executives throughout Pennsylvania and beyond.

He often serves as primary outside ­general counsel to those companies with limited or no in-house legal capabilities.

In doing so, Gierasch works with ­businesses to set legal strategy for their ­arrangements involving customers, vendors, strategic partners, employees and owners.

He has led clients through mergers and acquisitions, sales and other strategic ventures—whether as lead attorney for sellers, buyers and investors or as local counsel for publicly traded companies acquiring Pennsylvania-based businesses.

Gierasch is a member of the Whitaker Center's board of directors, the Alliance of Merger & Acquisition Advisors ­central Pennsylvania board and Junior Achievement's Harrisburg regional board.

In addition, since 2014, Gierasch has been a member of Vistage.

Events

The law firm of Reger Rizzo & Darnall partnered with two local nonprofit organizations to provide children with gifts this holiday season.

The attorneys and staff of Reger Rizzo's Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware offices donated more than 150 toys, games, gift cards and articles of clothing to Northern Children's Services and the Support Center for Child Advocates in support of their annual holiday toy drives.

Announcements

Thomas, Thomas & Hafer opened its ninth office in Marlton, New Jersey.

Located east of Cherry Hill, New Jersey, this office will complement the firm's Clinton, New Jersey, office and allow the firm to represent its clients in northern and southern New Jersey in a cost-efficient manner.

The office will be initially staffed by attorneys Mark R. Sander and William Markwardt, both of whom have more than 30 years' experience as trial attorneys.

Between them, their expertise includes the handling of commercial disputes, banking matters, real estate broker/dealer claims, securities litigation, appellate work and the defense of products liability, ­construction defect, employment, environmental, professional malpractice and personal injury claims.

The office address is: Thomas, Thomas & Hafer LLP, Willow Ridge Executive Park, 750 Route 73 South, Suite 205, Marlton, New Jersey, 08053.
The firm's Marlton phone number is ­856-983-0200. •