A Harrisburg lawyer who has defended officials in some of the highest-profile corruption cases in Pennsylvania is winding down his solo practice and joining Scranton-based law firm Myers Brier & Kelly.

William Fetterhoff, who has long practiced at Fetterhoff and Zilli, is now of counsel to Myers Brier, resident in the 14-lawyer firm's Harrisburg office and a member of the firm's white-collar defense group. 

Fetterhoff represented defendants in the “Computergate,” “Bonusgate” and Pennsylvania Turnpike pay-to-play scandals—cases that rocked state politics over the past decade. He also represented Patrick Reese, an aide to former Attorney General Kathleen Kane who was ultimately convicted of criminal contempt, defending against charges connected to the same investigation that led to Kane's political downfall and conviction. 

Additionally, he handles professional licensure matters and has represented lawyers who faced disciplinary action in Pennsylvania.

Fetterhoff's longtime partner was his wife, Marilyn Zilli, who retired several years ago. He is now 68, he said. “Rather than retire I figured I would continue to practice law in a somewhat less intense fashion,” Fetterhoff said.

Myers Brier founding partner Daniel Brier said in an interview Tuesday that he got to know Fetterhoff when they represented co-defendants in the Turnpike case, and they stayed in touch. “Bill is someone I have viewed as a role model and mentor,” Brier said.

When they met recently and Fetterhoff mentioned that he wanted to join up with a larger firm, it didn't take long for them to reach an agreement, Brier said.

“Few attorneys in Pennsylvania can say they've represented clients in many of the most significant and highly publicized state public corruption prosecutions of the last 15 years. Bill can,” he added in a statement. 

Myers Brier has one other lawyer based in Harrisburg, associate Erik Anderson.

“Our criminal practice, particularly in the federal Middle District [of Pennsylvania], has been expanding and growing,” Brier said, noting that Fetterhoff will be able to help with the federal work. “Having Bill there with his reputation with the prosecutors and the court is a great asset to the firm.”

Fetterhoff opened his firm in 1981. Before that, he worked for the Dauphin County Public Defender's Office. He also worked as counsel to the Pennsylvania state Senate's Health and Welfare and Law and Justice Committees.

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