Areas of Practice

EMPLOYMENT LAW

Following graduation from Duquesne, Mark left J&L and practiced labor and employment law with two prominent Pittsburgh law firms. His practice concentrated on union elections, unfair labor practice proceedings, contract negotiations, labor arbitration, employment discrimination, unemployment compensation and general client counseling. In 1987, Mark co-founded SG&C Associates, Inc., a management consulting firm engaged in advising organizations of all types in the fields of human resources management and organizational development.

In his private law practice, Mark regularly represents clients before federal and state governmental agencies, including but not limited to the National Labor Relations Board, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, OSHA; as well as the federal and state courts. He also is experienced in alternative dispute resolution (mediation), arbitration proceedings, negotiating and evaluating employment contracts, non-compete agreements and general client counseling.

EDUCATION AND SCHOOL LAW

As an experienced employment law attorney, with eight years of experience as a school director in the North Hills School District, serving as President for two years and as Vice President for two years, Mark has a unique perspective on school law issues. This unique perspective enables him to counsel both school districts as well as teachers and administrators with respect to all aspects of education law.

Notably, Mark was counsel for the plaintiff in a case which is frequently cited as having established new precedent establishing limits on a school district’s ability to demote a professional administrator under the Pennsylvania School Code. Argued before the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court and the Supreme Court,of Pennsylvania, the case established that a demotion was arbitrary and could not be upheld where the administrator had not been given an unsatisfactory evaluations prior to his demotion. The case is now cited by plaintiffs as implying that a progressive discipline standard now applies to demotion cases. (Hajzus v. Peters Township School District , Teacher Tenure Appeal No. 1-03, 41 SLIE 6 (2004), aff’d at PA Commonwealth Court No. 2011 CD 2003 (2004); Petition for Allowance of Appeal den 581 PA 702, 864 A.2d 1206 (2004). Mark has successfully represented professional educators challenging adverse employment actions in school districts throughout western Pennsylvania.

WILLS AND ESTATES

Mark also assists individual clients in preparing Last Will and Testaments, probating estates, contract disputes and other legal issues.

MEMBERSHIPS AND AFFILIATIONS

  • First Vice-President, Board of Directors, Wildwood Golf Club
  • Member, American Bar Association
  • Member, Harvard Varsity Club
  • Previous Member, Harvard Schools and Scholarships Committee
  • Previous Member, Board of Directors, North Hills School District
  • Previous Member, Board of Directors, North Hills Foundation
  • Previous Member, Harvard Yale Princeton Club
  • Previous Member, Board of Directors, New Century Careers, Inc.
  • Previous Member, Board of Directors, CL 504 Fund