Current association: Reed Smith LLP

Law School: University of Pittsburgh School of Law

Undergraduate: University of Pittsburgh (French and Political Science)

Current hometown: Pittsburgh, PA

Favorite bar or restaurant in current home city? Why? I love trying new bars and restaurants in Pittsburgh, but my current go-to is a tiki bar called Hidden Harbor.

Fun hobbies or activities? I greatly enjoy outdoor activities like camping and hiking. I have a goal of seeing all of US National Parks and I’m working through traveling to those!

EMLF Involvement: As a new member of EMLF, I am looking forward to getting more involved with the organization in 2024. So far this year, I moderated a panel with Verde CO2’s Chief Executive Officer, Charles Fridge, for EMLF’s Special Institute on Carbon Capture. We focused on carbon capture concerns from the emitter’s perspective, which was a really great discussion.

Community Involvement: I currently sit as the Chair of the Board of Directors of a local, non-profit live arts company called RealTime Arts.

Where did you grow up? A small town outside of Pittsburgh – Glassport, Pennsylvania.

What is your area of practice? My practice focuses on representing energy clients (primarily those in the upstream oil and gas and carbon capture and sequestration sectors) with various corporate and transactional matters.

How did you get involved in that area of law? I worked for a smaller, regional law firm after graduating from law school and experienced oil
and gas-related work there – I found it really interesting that working with energy clients allowed me to experience several disciplines within the law (general corporate, transactional, title, real estate, etc.). After that, I moved to my last firm, where I worked primarily on general mergers and acquisitions, and I learned that I definitely want transactional work to be a part of my career. When the opportunity to join a nationally recognized firm and a group of great people arose, I was excited to return to work related to the energy industry.

How much of your time is spent representing clients in the coal, oil and gas, or other energy industries? Most of my time is spent representing clients in those industries, though my colleagues and I also represent a number of lenders in energy-related transactions.

Has your involvement in EMLF benefited you? If so, how? Yes! As a new member, I have already had the opportunity to meet several new people in the industry. I have also enjoyed getting to both participate in and observe the CLE programs that EMLF has hosted.

You are still a young lawyer but have been practicing for a few years. Looking back, what two or three things have been most helpful to you in developing as a lawyer and as an attorney at your firm? First, and most importantly, I have been incredibly lucky to have had supportive mentors at each stage of my legal career – from law school, to legal internships, to each of the firms where I have worked. I cannot adequately emphasize how significant it has been for me to have those folks who have supported me personally and professionally. Another thing that helped my development as a lawyer has been to take any opportunities that arise, even if they are matters where I am not sure if I have an interest. At my first firm, I took on anything corporate or real estate-related that I could, spanning from acquisitions to attending eminent domain hearings. This has been beneficial for me to figure out the things that I did (and did not) like. Working with a lot of different individuals and seeing their specific practices has given me a lot of information about how I want to see my practice develop as I progress as anassociate at Reed Smith.

Is there any advice you would give to new lawyers and law students who are about to become lawyers? I would tell junior lawyers and law students not to be afraid to ask questions or seek advice from your mentors, your peers, and your supervising attorneys. I know that this sounds simple, but starting your legal career can be overwhelming as you try to learn the ropes of a new industry while learning the technical information required to be a successful lawyer. For junior (and not so junior) attorneys – there are so many people out there who want to help you and see you thrive – don’t be afraid to reach out to them!