Focus:

Seth is an associate in Bernstein-Burkley’s Creditors’ Rights group. His practice is primarily focused on commercial collection, foreclosure and other related litigation matters.

Background:

• West Virginia University (B.A., Political Science, 2020)
• West Virginia University (J.D., 2023)

After graduating with both his B.A. and J.D. from West Virginia University, Seth served as a judicial law clerk for the Honorable Joseph M. George, Jr., Court of Common Pleas of Fayette County. In 2024, Seth made the move to Pittsburgh and joined a firm specializing in municipality and corporate matters.

In his free time, Seth is interested in exploring the outdoors and hopes to receive his recreational pilot certificate soon.

Affiliations and Memberships:

• Member of the Bar, Pennsylvania

Admissions:

• Admitted to the Bar of Pennsylvania
• Pennsylvania Bar Association

Focus:

As a litigation associate, Sophia is passionate about helping clients navigate the litigation process, from the beginning to the resolution, all while being committed to the client’s best interest. Sophia’s practice focuses on:

• Commercial Litigation
• Complex Litigation
• General liability
• Bankruptcy Litigation

She Represents:

Sophia has represented businesses and individuals in a variety of matters—including commercial litigation, class action litigation, and adversarial bankruptcy litigation. She has represented clients in matters involving:

• Breach of contract
• Breach of fiduciary duty
• Fraud and other business torts
• Trademark defense
• Oil and gas disputes

Affiliations/Associations:

• Allegheny County Bar Association
• The Hay-Sell Pittsburgh American Inns of Court
• American Bar Association
• Pennsylvania Bar Association

Admissions:

• Admitted to the bar of Pennsylvania
• Admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the Eastern and Western Districts of Pennsylvania

Education & Certification:

Sophia grew up in Erie, Pennsylvania before completing her undergraduate education at the University of Notre Dame where she received a degree in English and minored in Constitutional Studies. She then pursued her law degree at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. While at Pitt Law, Sophia competed on the mock trial team as an advocate in three competitions and served as Vice President of the Pitt Law Women’s Association. She also worked with students at The Neighborhood Academy to develop their oral advocacy skills in preparation for a national moot court competition as part of the Marshall-Brennan Constitutional Literacy Project.

• University of Notre Dame (B.A. English, 2021)
• University of Pittsburgh School of Law (J.D., 2024)

Focus:

Gwenyth’s practice is focused on commercial bankruptcy and commercial litigation. She assists borrowers, lenders, creditors, and debtors in all aspects of business reorganizations, bankruptcies, and related litigation.

Background:

Prior to joining the firm as an associate, Gwenyth served as a law clerk in the Bankruptcy and Restructuring Practice Group. While attending law school, Gwenyth was an active member of the University of Pittsburgh School of Law Mock Trial team, a Legal Analysis and Writing Research Assistant, a Legal Analysis and Writing Teaching Assistant, a Mock Trial Strategy & Practice Teaching Assistant, and President of OutLaw.

Gwenyth was the 2023 Pitt Law Internal Appellate Competition winner.

CALI Excellence for the Future Award Recipient:

• Federal Appellate Advocacy
• Expert Witness

Education:

• Champlain College: Bachelor of Arts in Law, summa cum laude, May 2021
• Champlain College: Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, summa cum laude, May 2021
• University of Pittsburgh School of Law: Juris Doctor, cum laude, May 2024

In her free time, Gwenyth coaches a high school Mock Trial team.

Affiliations and Memberships:

• Allegheny County Bar Association
• Judith K. Fitzgerald Bankruptcy Inns of Court
• International Women’s Insolvency & Restructuring Confederation – Pittsburgh Chapter
• Member of Turnaround Management Association

Admissions:

• Pennsylvania
• U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania

Community Involvement:

• Gray Paws Sanctuary
• Winchester Thurston School

Background:

Mason’s practice is focused on creditor’s rights, workouts, and bankruptcy litigation. Prior to joining the firm, Mason served as a law clerk for the Honorable Gregory L. Taddonio in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. While attending law school, Mason participated as a judicial intern for the Honorable Charles M. Walker in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Tennessee and served as Acquisitions Editor for Transactions: The Tennessee Journal of Business Law.

CALI Excellence for the Future Award Recipient:

• Business Reorganizations and Workouts
• Consumer Bankruptcy and Finance
• Negotiations

 

• Lipscomb University: Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude, May 2014
  Major: Public Administration and Government
• University of Tennessee, College of Law, Juris Doctor, May 2021

Affiliations and Memberships:

• Allegheny County Bar Association (ACBA)
• The Judith K. Fitzgerald Western Pennsylvania Bankruptcy American Inn of Court
• Turnaround Management Association

Admissions:

• Tennessee Law Licensure
• Pennsylvania Law Licensure

Mary is an associate in Bernstein-Burkley’s Litigation practice group.

Focus:

Mary handles all phases of litigation, from inception through trial, including early and essential investigation, substantive motion practice and conducting depositions and mediations, and successful settlement negotiation. Her practice focuses on:

• Commercial Litigation
• General liability
• Bankruptcy Litigation
• Employment Litigation
• Whistleblower Litigation

Mary became a lawyer to help solve problems. She enjoys being a part of the solution and believes that true resolution of a dispute critically depends on a full understanding of the goals unique to each case.

She Represents:

Mary has represented healthcare delivery systems, nonprofit organizations, real estate developers and investors, and individuals in a variety of matters—including commercial litigation, employment discrimination, insurance, and professional liability. She has represented clients in matters involving:

• Breach of contract
• Breach of fiduciary duty
• Unfair competition
• Fraud and other business torts
• Premises actions
• Trade secret defense
• Professional malpractice matters
• Wrongful termination
• Wage and hour disputes

Background:

• University of Pittsburgh (B.A. Sociology and Political Science)
  • President of the Sociology Students Association
  • Editor in Chief of the Pitt Sociology Review
• University of Pittsburgh School of Law (J.D.)
  • Lead Articles Editor of the Journal of Law and Commerce
  • CALI Award: Conflicts of Law

Admissions:

• Pennsylvania State Bar
• United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
• United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania

Affiliations and Memberships:

• Pennsylvania Bar Association
• Allegheny County Bar Association
• Junior League of Pittsburgh
• Amen Corner
• Armenian Bar Association

Background & Focus:

Matt is an Associate in the Commercial Real Estate Practice where he counsels clients on real estate transactions, land development and financing, land use, and zoning. Matt reviews, drafts, and negotiates commercial and residential leases on behalf of landlords and tenants, and represents landlords in landlord-tenant disputes, including evictions and ejectments. He also works with Homeowner Associations (HOAs) and Condominium Associations, assisting Boards with documents, disputes and issues in planned communities. Matt also has experience representing property owners with real estate assessment tax appeals, and non-profits with real estate tax exemptions.

In addition, Matt also serves oil and gas owners, drawing on his extensive knowledge of Pennsylvania and West Virginia oil and gas law. Matt has significant experience related to oil and gas title rights and title curative measures, as well as leasing and conveying oil and gas rights.

Matt is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. He is a member of the Allegheny County Bar Association, NAIOP and the American Association of Professional Landmen, Michael Late Benedum Chapter.

 

Penn State University, B.S., Management

Duquesne University School of Law, J.D.

• Managing Business Editor of the Duquesne Business Law Journal
• Managed the law school’s Unemployment Compensation Clinic
• Awarded the Clinical Legal Education Association outstanding Student Award

 

 Memberships:

• NAIOP, Pittsburgh Chapter
• Allegheny County Bar Association
• American Association of Professional Landmen, Michael Late Benedum Chapter

 Bar Admissions:

• Pennsylvania
• West Virginia
• United States District Courts for the Western District of Pennsylvania
• U.S District Courts for the Middle District of Pennsylvania

Kevin J. Cummings is an associate attorney in Bernstein-Burkley’s Creditors’ Rights group, His practice focuses on commercial collection matters, foreclosure, real estate, and landlord-tenant disputes. Kevin’s approach is client-centered and service-forward.

“Every case has a unique set of issues, and no two clients are alike.  The key to providing the best service possible is to be dedicated to your craft and the foundation of dedication is the willingness to commit your time to the task,” Kevin says.

Kevin has had the privilege to handle a variety of cases in a variety of practice areas across the Courts of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. This experience honed his listening skills – the ultimate need of a client may go far beyond the results of a case. Giving his clients the space to articulate their case goals has been a pillar of his practice.

Background:

After graduating from the Penn State Dickson School of Law, Kevin served as a law clerk for the Honorable Vito Geroulo, Court of Common Pleas of Lackawanna County. He then joined a creditor’s rights firm specializing in consumer collections and creditor’s rights. Kevin also worked in a Scranton law firm handling municipal law and commercial and residential real estate transactions.  In 2017, Kevin relocated to Pittsburgh and expanded his practice areas to serve lenders and servicers of residential and commercial mortgages.

• University of Miami (Florida), B.S., Broadcast Journalism and Political Science, 2005
• Pennsylvania State University, Dickinson School of Law, J.D., 2008

Admissions:

• Admitted to the Bar of Pennsylvania and New Jersey
• United States District Court
• Middle District of Pennsylvania, 2009
• Eastern District of Pennsylvania, 2011
• Western District of Pennsylvania, 2017

Affiliations and Memberships:

• Member of the Bar, Pennsylvania
• Member of the Bar, New Jersey

Focus:

James is an associate in the firm’s Litigation and Real Estate practice groups, with a focus on real estate tax assessment appeals and general litigation matters.

He also has experience in:

• Real estate tax collection
• Real estate tax exemption
• Consumer bankruptcy proceedings

James has successfully handled thousands of commercial and residential tax assessment appeals in Allegheny County and throughout the region representing both taxing bodies and property owners. James’s tax assessment appeal experience includes working with numerous property types, including office buildings, hotels, banks, hospitals, apartment buildings, student housing, low-income housing, and retail stores.

Background:

A native of Pittsburgh, before he was a “Pennsylvania Rising Star,” James was one on the big screen, as he had a small part in the 1996 film Diabolique starring Sharon Stone, when it was filmed in the region in the ‘90s.

• Robert Morris University (B.S.B.A. 2008)
• University of Pittsburgh School of Law (J.D. 2012)

Notable Cases:

• He recently attained a $35 million reduction in fair market value on behalf of a shopping mall in the region.
• He obtained a $213,000 tax refund for a recreational facility in Allegheny County through a tax assessment appeal.

Distinctions:

• He has been selected to the Pennsylvania Rising Stars list by Super Lawyers in the field of Real Estate every year since 2017.

 Admissions:

• Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
• United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania

 Affiliations and Memberships:

• Allegheny County Bar Association

As a communications major at Penn State University, Lara S. Martin wanted to use her persuasive and creative writing skills to effectuate change and found legal advocacy the perfect fit.

Focus:

As an attorney with more than 10 years of experience, Lara considers her biggest professional asset to be her attention and care for the client and focus on the end result.

Her expertise is in:

• Commercial bankruptcy
• Corporate and nonprofit consulting
• Mediation

She Represents:

• Businesses
• Corporate debtors
• Financial institutions
• Not-for-profits
• Secured and unsecured creditors in commercial, corporate, credit, and litigation matters

Background:

A native of Pittsburgh, Lara graduated cum laude from Duquesne University School of Law, where she was a contributing editor and writer for Juris Magazine. She was a pro bono attorney with Jewish Family & Children’s Services assisting in immigration and asylum work prior to joining Bernstein-Burkley, P.C. in 2010. She continues to provide pro bono services when able.

• Admitted to the Bar of Pennsylvania, 2009
• Admitted to practice before the U.S. District Courts for the Western and Middle Districts of Pennsylvania, 2009
• Admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court, 2016
• Pennsylvania State University (B.A. Communications, 2006)
• Duquesne University (J.D. Cum Laude, 2009)
• CUPL China Summer Law Program (Beijing, 2007)

 Affiliations and Memberships:

• Certified Mediator and Mediator for the Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
• Allegheny County Bar Association, Bankruptcy & Commercial Law Section Council Member
• Young Leadership Outreach Team, ACLU, 2016-present
• Certification, Intermediate Grant Writing
• Certified Crisis Counselor, Crisis Text Line
• Treasurer (2015-2017) and Board Member (2014-2018), Kelly Strayhorn Theater
• National Council of Jewish Women, Advocacy Committee
• Junior League of Pittsburgh, Director of Marketing and Communications (2014-2015)