Speakers

H. Jeffrey Brahin of the Law Offices of H. Jeffrey Brahin presented a webinar to the Greater Bux-Mont Chamber of Commerce on "Covid-19 Commercial Leasing issues."

Topics included potential defenses to default actions by landlords such as force majeure, co-tenancy and casualty clauses, and common-law defenses of impossibility of performance and frustration of purpose.

He also discussed negotiating strategies for both landlords and tenants.

Brahin focuses his practice on complex commercial and real estate litigation, as well as real estate and corporate transactional work.

He represents an variety of companies and individuals in complex commercial litigation matters that include covenants not to compete, partnership and shareholder disputes, commercial debt collection, trade name litigation and matters involving the Uniform Commercial Code, the Pennsylvania Uniform Trade Secrets Act litigation and Pennsylvania Wage Payment and Collection Law matters.

Elected and Appointed

Offit Kurman announced the promotion of five associates and two counsel attorneys to principal.

Attorneys Gwendolyn Holdgreiwe, Ian Thomas, Emily Gelmann, Karin Corbett and Jordan Savitz were promoted from associate; Crystal Kramer and Scott Lloyd were promoted from counsel.

Additionally, eight associates were promoted to counsel status: Jung Kim, James Gillis, Sharie Albers, Ben Karb, Gabriel Celii, Alfredo Acin, Katharine Batista and Kathryn Pettit.

Holdgreiwe practices in real estate, landlord representation and fair housing practice areas and focuses on litigating landlord-tenant disputes, particularly, representing residential and commercial landlords.

Thomas is a member of the commercial litigation practice group, where he litigates matters concerning real estate, business disputes and employee mobility/trade secrets.

Gelmann practices in Offit Kurman's family law practice group, where she handles divorce, custody, pre- and post-nuptial agreements, and is often court-appointed counsel to represent children in divorce cases.

Corbett is a business attorney and commercial litigator who prevents, resolves and litigates legal disputes for businesses in the construction and real estate industry.

Savitz practices in Offit Kurman's business law and transactions practice group, where he advises clients in all stages of the business life cycle.

Kramer's practice is focused on landlord representation and representation of property managers of residential and commercial real estate in Virginia.

Lloyd practices in Offit Kurman's intellectual property practice group, where he counsels emerging and midsize businesses on an array of legal issues in the areas of corporate governance, intellectual property, commercial transactions, dispute resolution, regulatory compliance and international trade matters.

Kim is part of the commercial litigation group and practices and concentrates on all facets of real estate law, from tax lien litigation to construction claims.

Gillis estate planning, transfer and income tax planning and trust and estate administration in Virginia.

Albers is an attorney in Offit Kurman's family law practice group. Her practice includes adoptions, divorce, child custody and visitation, child support and spousal support.

Karb focuses his practice on commercial real estate transactions and advising homeowners associations and condominium associations in both North and South Carolina across a spectrum of issues, including the interpretation of covenants, contractual matters and collection of assessments.

Celii focuses his practice on representing businesses and municipal entities navigating labor and employment disputes.

Acin is part of Offit Kurman's commercial litigation group, where he represents executives and entrepreneurs, as well as their families and businesses, in resolving legal issues.

Batista is a labor and employment attorney who provides management with risk mitigation strategies and effective representation in litigation, in industries such as hospitality, medical, financial services, architecture and retail.

Pettit focuses her practice on construction law, counseling and representing owners, construction managers, contractors, subcontractors and design professionals in all phases of construction projects.