Best Lawyers in Pennsylvania, United States for Real Estate Law
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Cities
Megan E. Thompson is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Banking and Finance Law and Real Estate Law. Megan E., who practices law in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Megan E. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
James M. Berent is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Real Estate Law. James M., who practices law in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which James M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Area of Emphasis Marnie Schock is a shareholder in the Corporate & Commercial Group of Babst Calland. Her practice focuses on: real estate transactions including sales, purchases, commercial and retail leasing, easements and other real estate agreements; the acquisition, disposition and leasing of mineral interests, joint development and exploration agreements, licensing and rights-of-way and other mineral conveyancing and related agreements; corporate acquisitions, mergers and divestitur...
Kirk B. Burkley is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Bankruptcy and Real Estate Law. Kirk B., who practices law in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been recognized since 2011. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Kirk B. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice ...
Jay Alberstadt is a senior partner with MacDonald Illig. He concentrates his practice in the areas of real estate, commercial and economic development, conventional and tax-exempt financing, and estate planning and administration. He provides legal services to individuals, business entities, lending institutions, municipal authorities and development agencies. Mr. Alberstadt handles matters ranging from residential real estate transactions to detailed title and development issues. He also pro...
Area of Emphasis Alyssa Golfieri is a shareholder in the Real Estate, Land Use and Zoning, and Corporate and Commercial groups of Babst Calland. Ms. Golfieri assists private and public sector clients primarily on land use and real estate transactions and disputes, with a strong emphasis on zoning, subdivision, and land development. Ms. Golfieri advises and represents private sector clients on a wide array of land use and real estate related matters, including acquisitions, leases, easements, ...
Adam J. Warhola is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Real Estate Law. Adam J., who practices law in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Adam J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Area of Emphasis Chris Farmakis has developed a reputation for delivering reliable, practical, efficient business-oriented advice to his clients. His legal practice focuses on these disciplines: acquisitions and divestitures; complex corporate and commercial transactions; real estate transactions; entity, joint venture and partnership structuring and formation; general business counseling; and project implementation and management of large document management projects. He is a shareholder and...
Eric B. Smith joined Timoney Knox as a partner in 2018. His practice focuses on commercial and real estate litigation, business disputes and municipal litigation. Mr. Smith is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania and practices in the five-county Philadelphia metropolitan area. Through his commercial litigation practice, he represents clients in contract and wa...
Margaret K. Sitko is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Real Estate Law. Margaret K., who practices law in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been recognized since 2009. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Margaret K. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
John VanLuvanee is acknowledged to be one of Pennsylvania’s premier land use attorneys. He handles zoning, subdivision and land development matters, as well as real estate transactional matters, for developers and property owners. During his career, he has been involved in many significant, precedent-setting land use cases decided by the Commonwealth Court and Pennsylvania Supreme Court. Mr. VanLuvanee works closely with his clients in the acquisition of real estate for development and ...
Christopher Schubert brings more than 26 years of experience in real estate, land use, and business law. He represents leading telecommunications companies, wireless carriers, and tower operators in complex zoning and leasing matters, while also advising developers, landowners, and commercial clients throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland. Chris provides practical, strategic guidance on zoning, subdivision, land development, leasing, real estate transactions, and condemna...
Julie C. Berson is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Real Estate Law. Julie C., who practices law in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Julie C. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Lisa G. Banjak is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Real Estate Law. Lisa G., who practices law in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Lisa G. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Jeff focuses his practice on multiple areas of real estate law, including real estate development, real estate finance, joint venture transactions, multifamily transactions, landlord-tenant disputes, and loan workouts. He currently serves on the firm's management committee and board of directors, and is chair of the firm's Business Law Section. Jeff’s representations have included engagements by private equity funds in connection with the purchase of distressed debt, lenders in connecti...
Gordon W. Prince is a business law attorney who joined Gawthrop Greenwood shortly after graduating number one in his class at Widener University Delaware Law School. He focuses his practice in the firm’s Business Law Department and supports a broad range of transactional and general business entity matters including business formation, the drafting and negotiation of contracts and merger agreements, business compliance with state and federal law, and real estate and corporate governance...
Our Methodology
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
The Process
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.