Ten Knox Attorneys Named to 2016 Best Lawyers in America® List

Guy C. Fustine, Thomas A. Tupitza, Francis J. Klemensic, Richard A. Lanzillo, Peter A. Pentz, Neal R. Devlin, Michael A. Fetzner, Carl N. Moore and Richard W. Perhacs, shareholders at Knox McLaughlin Gornall & Sennett, P.C., were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in the 2016 Best Lawyers in America® list, along with Michael J. Visnosky, of counsel.

Inclusion is considered an honor because Best Lawyers is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey in which more than 52,000 attorneys cast almost 5.5 million votes on the abilities of other lawyers, and lawyers are not required or allowed to pay a fee to be listed.

Guy C. Fustine was selected for both Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law as well as Litigation – Bankruptcy.

He is among a distinguished group of attorneys who have been listed in Best Lawyers for over twenty years and is AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rated. Mr. Fustine is board certified in business bankruptcy law by the American Board of Certification and has acted as lead counsel in many notable cases.

Thomas A. Tupitza was selected for four practice areas for 2016: Public Finance Law for the fifth consecutive year; Real Estate Law and Land Use & Zoning Law for the second consecutive year; and was newly selected for Health Care Law for 2016.

He has been active as bond counsel in tax-exempt financing transactions for over 25 years and is a title insurance agent in Pennsylvania and New York. His practice is focused on public finance, real estate, health law and nonprofit organizations. Mr. Tupitza is President of the Knox firm and is AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rated.

Francis J. Klemensic was selected for Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants for the fifth consecutive year.

He has successfully defended hospitals, physicians, dentists, podiatrists, rehabilitation facilities, therapists and psychiatrists in both state and federal courts throughout Pennsylvania. Mr. Klemensic is BV Distinguished® Peer Review Rated, and his practice is focused on medical malpractice defense, civil litigation and insurance litigation.

Richard A. Lanzillo was selected for Commercial Litigation for the fourth consecutive year.

He has extensive experience in complex commercial and employment litigation and has successfully litigated numerous cases to verdict and other disposition in state and federal courts. Mr. Lanzillo is AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rated, and his practice is focused on litigation of contract, corporate, intellectual property and employment disputes. He is also this year's President of the Erie County Bar Association.

Peter A. Pentz was selected for Workers’ Compensation Law – Employers for the fourth consecutive year.

He is certified as a Workers' Compensation Law Specialist by the Pennsylvania Bar Association and is AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rated. Mr. Pentz represents employers and insurance carriers and counsels employers in workplace safety programs, return-to-work programs, accident investigation and accident prevention. He is also currently President of the Pennsylvania Bar Association's Workers Compensation Section.

Neal R. Devlin was selected for Commercial Litigation for the fourth consecutive year.

His practice is focused primarily on litigating contract, business and intellectual property disputes, though he also practices in constitutional law, appellate practice, and commercial, employment and tort litigation. He was selected as one of Erie’s 2015 "40 Under 40" (Erie Reader) and a 2014 "Lawyer on the Fast Track" (The Legal Intelligencer).

Michael A. Fetzner was selected for Workers’ Compensation Law – Employers for the third consecutive year.

An AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rated attorney, Mr. Fetzner focuses his practice on real estate, estate planning and administration and workers’ compensation. He has successfully defended several large manufacturing companies against numerous claims and has counseled many other employers in establishing risk management programs to reduce workers’ compensation costs. Mr. Fetzner is active in both the Erie County and Pennsylvania Bar Associations, serving in many leadership capacities over the years. He was selected as the 2015 "Chancellor of the Bar" by the Erie County Bar Association.

Carl N. Moore was selected for Workers’ Compensation Law – Employers for the second consecutive year.

He has practiced in the areas of workers' compensation and governmental law for over 35 years. Mr. Moore is active on several committees of the Erie County Bar Association, including the Workers' Compensation Section, of which he was Chair in 2013.

Richard W. Perhacs was selected for Labor Law - Management for the second consecutive year and was newly selected for Employment Law - Management for 2016.

He has counseled both local government and business employers on labor and employment law issues for over 35 years. Mr. Perhacs represents more than a dozen public school systems, and authored “Labor Relations for School Leaders: A Practical Guide to Labor Contracts, Negotiations, Strikes and Grievances,” a book that leads school board members and administrators through an array of labor relations situations.

Michael J. Visnosky was newly selected for Family Law for 2016.

He continues to serve of counsel for Knox Law and is also the Director of Governmental Affairs for LECOM Health. During his career at Knox Law, he handled a variety of family law, real estate, civil litigation and personal injury matters. He is Co-Incorporator and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Millcreek Health System, Inc. and Chairman of the Board Emeritus of Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM), the largest medical school in the United States.

For more information, please contact Sarah Holland.