Montgomery McCracken Walker & Rhoads lawyer Virginia “Jennie” Pittman Sikes died at age 68.

Sikes joined the firm in 1986. She was the first woman to be named managing partner of Montgomery McCracken and served many years on the firm's management committee, according to a press release.

She previously clerked for Judge Max Rosenn of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
Sikes concentrated her practice on nonprofit and tax-exempt organizations, including foundations and on state and local tax controversies. She served as counsel to other law firms on ­tax-exempt and state and local tax issues.

Sikes also counseled tax-exempt organizations on numerous matters and represented many national corporations in Pennsylvania corporate net income, franchise and sales tax controversies.

Sikes lectured on tax-related matters and was active in charitable organizations and arts groups, said the firm. For five years she taught in Temple University Law School's master's program in taxation, and for four years in Drexel University's master of science program in arts administration.

Sikes served on the boards of directors of Wilkes University, where she chaired the academic committee; and the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, where she chaired the governance committee. She was also the past president of the Philadelphia Cultural Fund and of the Philadelphia Volunteers for the Arts, according to a press release.

She attended Columbia Law School. •