Effort Municipal Lawyers

Andrew Bellwoar has been practicing law for over 30 years; representing individuals, businesses, and public entities. His areas of practice consist of Wills/Trusts/Estate Administration, Business Contracts, Real Estate/Land Development/Zoning, and Municipal Law. In the beginning of his career, he served as an Assistant District Attorney at the Delaware County District Attorney's Office. After serving as an Assistant District Attorney, he went on to work in a law firm out of Delaware County. In 1998, Mr. Bellwoar then became a partner in a law firm, where he represented many clients. Andrew has won the Top Lawyer Award for many consecutive years,...

Gilbert P. High, Jr. has devoted his career primarily to the practice of Municipal, Real Estate and Land Use Law and Estates & Trusts. He has extensive experience in legislative drafting, subdivision and land development, zoning litigation, public employment issues, local taxation, public contracting, and the law of easements and rights of way. He regularly speaks on issues pertaining to municipal liability, particularly regarding the maintenance of the Urban Forest, a subject on which he has lectured nationally.

Mr. High also practices in the area of estate planning, particularly in the administration of complex estates, will drafting, the creation and...

David J. Brooman has more than three decades experience in zoning and land use development, as well as environmental law. His background includes negotiating creative solutions in complex land use and environmental disputes, during project development and litigation. He has also counseled public and private companies, developers and lenders, and municipal governments on the business risks and economic impacts of federal, state and local land use and environmental regulations. Brooman is well-versed in crisis management and controversial land uses.

Brooman’s engagements include serving as special environmental and land use counsel to a Pennsylvania municipality in its acquisition and redevelopment of a...

I represent corporate and individual clients before the trial, administrative, and appellate courts of Pennsylvania, the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, and the United States Patent and Trademark Office. I also provide general counsel services to small businesses, municipalities, sole proprietors, artists, writers and musicians. I am an active member of the Lycoming Law Association, serve as solicitor for the City of Williamsport, and as an assistant solicitor for the County of Lycoming.

Michael is an experienced, well-respected litigator and trial attorney. He concentrates his practice in litigation, specifically personal injury matters including wrongful death and catastrophic injury, as well as a wide range of complex municipal matters. He also currently serves as the Solicitor to the Montgomery County Controller. Born in lower Bucks County, Bristol, Pa, Michael learned to value both hard work and education from his mother, who taught at Pennsbury for 40 years and his father who was a laborer and roofer. Michael’s father immigrated here from Calabria, Italy, where most of his relatives still live in a small southern...

Rich Sokorai is a Partner at High Swartz LLP. Rich concentrates his practice in trials, appeals and related advice on behalf of business entities, municipalities and individuals in municipal, commercial, and tort matters. Significant cases that Rich has handled include disputes over control of closely held corporations, franchise disputes, claims for breach of fiduciary duty for both non-profit and for profit corporations, construction disputes, ordinance validity challenges, and large tort cases.

Rich has tried cases in state courts, federal courts and boards of view, as well as administrative courts such as the Environmental Hearing Board and the Public Utility Commission. He...