Mission Statement

The Babst Calland Women’s Initiative strives to increase the retention and advancement of women attorneys at our Firm and in the broader legal community by promoting inclusivity and equal opportunities.

The Women’s Initiative meets regularly to facilitate open discussions about workplace challenges historically faced by women in professional settings and encourages the exchange of advice and experiences to aid others in navigating those challenges.

The Women’s Initiative further supports the Firm’s women attorneys in developing and promoting their practices by acknowledging and celebrating successes and encouraging mentorship among all of the Firm’s attorneys. A key goal of the Women’s Initiative is to connect women attorneys across the Firm’s practice groups and offices, allowing for organic support systems to develop and prosper. This blending of practice groups and offices encourages collaboration and cross-marketing opportunities that benefit our attorneys and clients. By encouraging these relationships, the Women’s Initiative’s work advances the professional and business development of women attorneys at the Firm and within the legal community at large.

 

Features

The following celebrates the initiatives of the women attorneys at Babst Calland.

Susanna Bagdasarova and Kate Cooper Co-Author Firm Alert

February 21, 2025
Posted By: Babst Calland

In their recent alert BOI is Back: Corporate Transparency Act Reporting Requirements Reinstated with Chris Farmakis and Dane Fennell, Susanna Bagdasarova and Kate Cooper discuss the recent developments for the reporting requirements under the Corporate Transparency Act. FinCEN has announced a 30-day deadline extension for reporting companies. The new deadline for the majority of reporting companies to file an initial, updated, and/or corrected BOI report is March 21, 2025. …

Attorney Francesca (Cella) Iovino Joins Babst Calland

February 18, 2025
Posted By: Babst Calland

Francesca C. (Cella) Iovino recently joined Babst Calland as an associate in the Litigation Group. Ms. Iovino’s experience encompasses all phases of litigation from initial pleadings through trial and appeal in the state and federal courts. She has handled a variety of complex commercial disputes, involving breach of contract, breach of warranty, shareholder disputes and oppression claims and business torts. Ms. Iovino also has represented clients in financial servicing issues, debt collection and lender liability matters, trade secret misappropriation and restrictive covenants. …

Anna Hosack Co-Authors Legal Intelligencer Article

February 17, 2025
Posted By: Babst Calland

In a recent case, the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court found that the use of an attestation may negate the need for a full privilege log when responding to a Right-to-Know Law request where there are redacted privileged documents and an attestation providing context for the privilege. In her recent article Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law Update: The Death of the Attorney-Client Privilege Log? with Michael Korns, Anna Hosack provide this Pennsylvania RTKL Update.

Alex Farone Co-Authors Employment and Labor Alert

February 4, 2025
Posted By: Babst Calland

The new presidential administration’s efforts to prioritize immigration law enforcement has resulted in increased activity by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and an uptick of questions from employers about how to handle ICE investigations. In their Alert, “Employer Guidance for Workplace Interactions with ICE,” Alex Farone and Steve Antonelli provide guidance to employers for potential interactions with or inspections by ICE at the workplace, including preliminary actions, suggested steps during an ICE visit (whether announced or unannounced), and follow-up recommendations. …

Stefanie Mekilo Authors Federal Lawyer Article

January 28, 2025
Posted By: Babst Calland

In her recent article Help the Clerk to Help Your Case: Writing Insights from a Federal Career Clerk Turned Litigator Stefanie Mekilo shares writing insights and practical tips gleaned during her time in chambers to help get and keep the judge’s law clerk on your side. To read the full article, click here.

Mackenzie Moyer, Christina Puhnaty, and Alexandra Graf Co-Author Firm Alerts

January 23, 2025
Posted By: Babst Calland

On January 20, 2025, the Trump administration issued a suite of Executive Orders and memoranda signaling a dramatic shift in American energy and environmental policy. Collectively these actions, among a historically large array of “Day One” orders issued by the administration, aim to stimulate domestic energy production (with a focus on oil, natural gas, coal, hydropower, biofuels, critical minerals, and nuclear energy resources), expand energy transmission infrastructure, enlarge refining capacity, and streamline environmental permitting and review requirements for energy production and infrastructure projects while canceling Biden-era domestic climate policies, disengaging from international climate agreements, and curtailing leasing and permitting for offshore and onshore wind energy projects. …

Sloane Wildman and Jessica Deyoe Co-Author Environmental Alert

January 21, 2025
Posted By: Babst Calland

In their recent alert PFAS: A New Four-Letter Word in Environmental Law? Updates from 2024 and Predictions for 2025 with Joseph Schaeffer, Sloane Wildman and Jessica Deyoe discuss some of the more significant PFAS-related developments from the past year and considers what might happen in 2025 and beyond. To read the full alert, click here.

Kate Cooper and Susanna Bagdasarova Co-Author Firm Alert

January 14, 2025
Posted By: Babst Calland

In recent weeks, significant developments have unfolded regarding the implementation of the Corporate Transparency Act and its beneficial ownership information (BOI) reporting requirements to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), which remain subject to a nationwide injunction. The ongoing legal challenges have left the status of the BOI reporting requirement in flux. For the time being, unless the Supreme Court intervenes, the nationwide injunction is likely to remain in place through at least March 25, 2025, the scheduled date for oral arguments before the Fifth Circuit. …

Veteran West Virginia Attorney Ramonda Marling Joins Babst Calland’s Charleston Office as Shareholder

January 6, 2025
Posted By: Babst Calland

Babst Calland announced the lateral move of established West Virginia attorney Ramonda C. Marling who will be joining as a Shareholder in the firm’s office in downtown Charleston.

Effective today, Ms. Marling is joining forces with Babst Calland senior-level legal counsel in its Litigation and Energy and Natural Resources practice areas. Ms. Marling primarily represents clients in litigation and commercial matters. She has extensive experience in complex, high-dollar commercial litigation matters representing natural gas producers, midstream companies, coal companies, pharmaceutical manufacturers, tobacco companies and other corporations.

Susanna Bagdasarova and Kate Cooper Co-Author Firm Alert

December 20, 2024
Posted By: Babst Calland

In the previous Alert, Susanna Bagdasarova and Kate Cooper along with Chris Farmakis and Dane Fennell discussed the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas granted a nationwide preliminary injunction in Texas Top Cop Shop, Inc., et al. v. Garland, et al., temporarily halting enforcement of the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) and its beneficial ownership information (BOI) reporting requirements, including the January 1, 2025, filing deadline. …

Stefanie Pitcavage Mekilo Selected for YWCA’s 2025 Tribute to Women of Excellence Award

December 19, 2024
Posted By: Babst Calland

Stefanie Pitcavage Mekilo has been selected for the YWCA of Greater Harrisburg’s 2025 Tribute to Women of Excellence (TWE) Award as a member of the TWE Class of 2025.  This regionally recognized, annual award recognizes leading female professionals and community volunteers who have devoted their time and energy to making Central Pennsylvania a better place to live and work.

An award ceremony will be held at the Hershey Lodge and Convention Center on March 26, 2025.  …

Anna Hosack Co-Authors Legal Intelligencer Article

December 13, 2024
Posted By: Babst Calland

On November 20, 2024, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court unanimously upheld the constitutionality of state preemptive firearm laws that prohibit municipalities from passing local gun regulations. Attorneys Michael T. Korns and Anna Hosack discuss the implications of this decision for municipalities on gun regulation in Pennsylvania.

To read the full article, click here.

Susanna Bagdasarova and Kate Cooper Co-Author Firm Alert

December 5, 2024

In their recent alert Court Blocks Enforcement of the Corporate Transparency Act Nationwide Susanna Bagdasarova, Kate Cooper, Chris Farmakis and Dane Fennell discuss how the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas granted a nationwide preliminary injunction temporarily halting enforcement of the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA). With less than a month to go before the January 1, 2025 compliance deadline for entities formed prior to 2024, this ruling blocks the U.S. …

Morgan Madden Selected as a 2024 Winner of the City & State Pennsylvania Impact Awards

December 4, 2024
Posted By: Babst Calland

Morgan Madden has been selected as a 2024 winner of the City & State Pennsylvania Impact Awards. The Impact Award represents Pennsylvania’s most outstanding corporate and civic citizens.

This list “recognizes Pennsylvania’s most influential executives, thought leaders, visionaries and trailblazers, who are setting new standards of excellence, dedication and leadership in improving their communities and making transformative change by successfully promoting one of core principles of social responsibility which include: Charity, Community Engagement, Customer Service, Diversity & …

Attorney Spotlight on Sara Antol

November 18, 2024
Posted By: Babst Calland

This is the fifth in a series of profiles featuring the women attorneys of Babst Calland to acknowledge and celebrate their success and to connect women attorneys across the Firm’s practice groups, offices and clients. This attorney spotlight features Sara Antol.

To view the profile on Sara, click here.

Women's Initiative
Anna Jewart Sits as a Panelist for Women’s History Month Educational Networking Event
Anna Jewart will be a panelist for the Women’s History Month Educational Networking Event on...
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News
SAY “YES”: Reinventing Yourself in the Legal Profession
The Legal Intelligencer (by Janet Meub) Clients come and go. There is no guarantee that...
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News
Babst Calland Participates in the New Jersey State Bar Association’s DEI Conference
Babst Calland participated in the New Jersey State Bar Association’s DEI Conference on October 7,...
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Women's Initiative
Babst Calland Celebrates International Women’s Day
On March 8, 2025, we observe International Women’s Day (IWD), a global day to celebrate...
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Babst Calland Receives ACBA ALLY Certification
News
Babst Calland Partners with PLDIC for “Ask Us Anything” Panel Discussion
Babst Calland partnered with the Pittsburgh Legal Diversity & Inclusion Coalition (PLDIC) to sponsor and...
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