Business

Banking Law

Financial institutions of all types have sought the experience of Mette, Evans & Woodside attorneys for everything from the minute details of mergers and acquisitions to the preparation of documents for complex loan transactions. We have a long history of representing savings and loans, community and regional banks and credit unions in all types of business matters.

We offer a fully integrated approach to solving the needs of our banking clients, providing counsel on regulatory and Securities and Exchange Commission requirements, significant workout, litigation of lender liability matters, employment and benefits issues, as well as assisting with the purchase or sale of branch locations.

• Mergers
• Acquisitions
• Loan Documents
• Regulatory Issues
• SEC Compliance
• Workouts
• Creditors’ Rights
• Litigation
• Lender Liability
• Banking Employment

Creditors’ Rights

Mette, Evans & Woodside attorneys understand all aspects of the collection process.

We represent creditors in both business and consumer collections, loan workouts, turnarounds, and liquidations. We are committed to finding creative and effective solutions that will maximize your recovery and minimize your costs and fees.

• Consumer And Business Collections
• Foreclosures
• Replevins
• Loan Workouts
• Liquidations
• Out-Of-Court Restructuring
• Turnarounds

Banking Law Attorneys

John A. Feichtel
Timothy A. Hoy

Business Law

Running a business can be demanding. Whether it is a sole proprietorship or a public corporation, a business requires attention to legal details and the benefit of reliable legal counsel. The attorneys in the Mette, Evans & Woodside Business Law practice can provide your business with the legal strength you need to succeed.

Our Business Law attorneys are skilled at guiding you through the often complex challenges of forming, owning and operating a business. We can help you realize your entrepreneurial dream and make sure you can maximize its potential.

Our business attorneys have broad experience in many industries, including: Real Estate, Manufacturing, Banking, Healthcare, Education, Public Utilities, Energy, Finance, Agriculture, Retail, Construction, Engineering, Hospitality, Automotive, Distribution, Student Housing, Residential Rentals

Business Formation & Organization

The attorneys at Mette, Evans & Woodside assist start-up companies in all aspects of the business formation process. Our attorneys have experience in all aspects of business and tax law and can guide you through selecting an entity structure that provides the most benefits. We can prepare and file all required formation documents, as well as, assist with annual filings and corporate legal issues.

Business Reorganization

Business reorganization is sometimes a necessary alternative when cash flow does not equal expenses or when a company needs to reorganize debt, restructure or maximize the value of its assets. Regardless of the situation, our attorneys have the experience to provide a customized reorganization plan that meets the needs of your individual situation.

Because every business is unique, the available legal remedies and strategies can differ considerably. Complicated laws and regulations, tax codes, bankruptcy laws and state and federal employment laws make each business reorganization different. Our attorneys draw on their extensive experience to navigate a successful reorganization.

• Business Reorganization
• Debtor and Creditor Relations
• Out-Of-Court Workouts
• Bankruptcy

Business Planning

In addition to helping launch businesses, our attorneys offer proactive assistance with a full range of legal concerns to help avoid issues. At Mette, Evans & Woodside, we recognize the importance of taking a proactive approach to legal issues to minimize corporate liability, bypass common business mistakes and avoid potential litigation. We can serve as trusted counsel for whatever situation arises in the course of running your business successfully.

• Business Formation
• Choice Of Entity
• Bylaws and Operating Agreements
• Mergers & Acquisitions
• Asset Purchases and Sales
• Shareholder & Partner Agreements
• Commercial Disputes and Litigation
• Employment & Executive Compensations
• Employment Agreements
• Board Duties and Indemnification Issues
• Public & Private Offering of Securities
• Contract Preparation, Analysis & Negotiation
• Executive Compensation
• Joint Ventures
• Tax Planning

Creditors’ Rights

From simple collection matters under state law to complex bankruptcy proceedings under federal law, Mette, Evans & Woodside attorneys understand all aspects of the collection process.

We represent creditors in both business and consumer collections, loan workouts, turnarounds, liquidations and bankruptcy proceedings. We are committed to finding creative and effective solutions that will maximize your recovery and minimize your costs and fees.

• Consumer and Business Collections
• Foreclosures
• Replevins
• Loan Workouts
• Liquidations
• Out-Of-Court Restructuring
• Turnarounds
• Bankruptcy Proceedings

Succession Planning

Surviving the unplanned departure of a key owner or managing executive can be perilous for any business, whether a large corporation or family-run business. Unfortunately, many business owners and executives fail to adequately plan for their successors.

The attorneys at Mette, Evans & Woodside work with businesses across all types of industries to assist with succession planning to help them ensure a smooth transition that will enable them to achieve future business goals. Our attorneys have experience in managing the heavy lifting required for a large corporation transition, as well as the subtle nuances of a leadership change in a closely-held family concern.

Our legal team has expertise in both business succession and estate planning, so we can facilitate creating a plan that not only provides a smooth transition, but also takes into consideration any potential tax consequences.

• Succession Planning
• Family Business Matters
• Transition Strategies
• Mergers, Acquisitions & Divestitures
• Pass-Through Entities
• Private Placements & Private Equity Transactions
• Buy/Sell Agreements
• Ownership Transfers
• Tax Planning
• Lifetime Gift Planning
• Wealth Transfers

Business Law Attorneys

Thomas A. Archer
Matthew D. Coble
John A. Feichtel
Timothy A. Hoy
Aaron D. Martin
Benjamin A. Ried
James A. Ulsh

Employment Law

The Employment Law attorneys have been helping businesses meet the challenges of maintaining a highly skilled workforce for over four decades. We provide legal counsel on the complex state and federal regulations that surround human resource decisions.

Mette, Evans & Woodside helps to keep businesses in compliance with all legal and regulatory requirements. We are prepared to aggressively represent you before administrative agencies and the courts when necessary.

We also assist clients in strengthening compensation and benefits packages with the development of employee options such as stock-ownership plans, profit-sharing, health and welfare plans, 401k plans and other complex compensation solutions.

• Human Resources
• Employee Relations
• Employment Agreements
• Executive Compensation
• Unemployment and Workers’ Compensation Defense
• Employee Benefits And ERISA
• Discrimination Defense
• Wage and Labor Standards Compliance
• Employee Handbooks
• Affirmative Action Plans
• Severance & Termination
• Employee Discipline Matters
• Americans with Disabilities Act
• Government Regulations & Compliance
• Family Medical Leave
• Sexual Harassment

Employment Law Attorneys

Thomas A. Archer
Aaron D. Martin
Kathryn Lease Simpson
James A. Ulsh

Health Law

The Mette, Evans & Woodside’s Healthcare practice area focuses on the special needs of the professionals working in healthcare. Our attorneys wide-range of experience and in-depth knowledge of the healthcare field, licensing and employment issues, and business concerns allows us to provide exceptional guidance and effective solutions for the many legal issues faced by healthcare providers.

• Establishment of a Practice
• Professional Licensing Issues
• HIPAA Compliance
• Employment Agreements
• Restrictive Covenants
• Buy-Sell Agreements
• Human Resources
• Healthcare Practice Management

Health Law Attorneys

John A. Feichtel
Kathryn Lease Simpson
James A. Ulsh

Insurance Regulatory & Corporate Law

The Insurance Regulatory & Corporate Law practice at Mette, Evans & Woodside provides comprehensive representation to those engaged in the business of insurance, including insurance companies and fraternal benefit societies, insurance producers (individuals and agents), reinsurers, third party administrators, and others.

The legal landscape pertaining to the business of insurance is constantly evolving.  There are changes in risks, changes in regulations, changes in decisional law, and changes in technology, all of which necessitate business practice shifts. Our attorneys work to identify and understand these ongoing changes, and stand ready to help insurance clients understand and overcome them.

We regularly assist our clients with transactional, regulatory, and litigation matters, including but certainly not limited to:

• Obtaining regulatory approval for the licensure and expansion of insurance carriers across multiple jurisdiction utilizing the UCAA form filing process;
• Obtaining regulatory approval of acquisitions, as well as other insurance holding company filings (Forms A, B, D, E, F, etc.);
• Drafting and negotiating all types of insurance related agreements, reinsurance, program administrator, and producer agreements, among others;
• Obtaining regulatory approval of policy forms and rates;
• Guiding clients through and serving as the point of contact for communications with regulators generally;
• Providing advise with respect to underwriting, claims handling, and other issues facing our clients on a daily basis;
• Assisting clients respond to and manage regulatory inquiries of various types, including market conduct and financial examinations;
• Seeking recovery for clients with claims in insurance company receivership and insolvencies;
• Helping licensees to respond to and resolve enforcement inquiries; and
• Representing clients in litigation, including with respect to breach of contract, statutory bad faith, unfair trade practices and similar claims

Our experienced Insurance Regulatory & Corporate Law team includes one of three Pennsylvania members of the Federation of Regulatory Counsel, a multi-national association of lawyers who have significant experience in the practice of insurance regulatory law.

Insurance Regulatory & Corporate Law Attorneys

Matthew D. Coble

Municipal Finance

The Mette, Evans & Woodside Municipal Finance attorneys have been instrumental in the financing and development of thousands of municipal projects including hospitals, colleges, schools, parks, water and sewage treatment facilities. We represent bond issuers, underwriters, lenders and trustees of public and private debt. Our accomplished attorneys will work with clients from the planning stage through to the finished project, coordinating all phases of the project to assure a successful outcome.

Our Municipal Finance group has extensive experience in the refunding and restructuring of outstanding debt, and working side by side with our Taxation attorneys we are able to provide expert counsel on complex state and federal tax issues that can affect even the most conventional municipal bond transactions.

As one of the first firms in the Commonwealth to serve as Bond Counsel in connection with the Pennsylvania Pennvest program, Mette, Evans & Woodside is practiced in bond pool financing and the issuance of tax and revenue anticipation notes. We have played a key role in the issuance of short, intermediate and long-term debt and have served as Underwriter’s Counsel to national investment banking firms.

• Municipal Finance
• Public Projects
• Municipal Bonds
• Pool Financing
• Transactions
• Refunding
• Restructuring Debt

Municipal Finance Attorneys

Benjamin A. Ried

Municipal Law

At Mette, Evans & Woodside, our attorneys have a broad depth of experience in municipal law. We represent municipal entities and municipal authorities across Pennsylvania. Our attorneys are knowledgeable in all areas of municipal laws and rules affecting governmental bodies. We have served as solicitors and special counsel to public bodies for various issues. Mette, Evans & Woodside works with our client municipalities to assure compliance with federal and state statutes, regulations, as well as local ordinances.

Procurement & Contracts

Mette, Evans & Woodside offers legal services to clients across all phases of the government procurement process, including review of bidding documents, preparation of clients’ responses to competitive procurements, contract negotiations and bid protests.

The government contract process is much more regulated and complex than typical business agreements. The bid and award decision-making processes are by governed by unique laws and procedures. Our attorneys have a wide breadth of experience in helping clients navigate state and municipal contracting challenges.

We work closely with our clients to ensure that proposals submitted not only meet strict bid requirements, but also employ strategies aimed at strengthening their competitive position for award selection

Once a bid decision has been issued by the government agency, our attorneys are prepared to assist with any legal issues that may arise. We represent clients in bid protests to challenge flawed contract award decisions in addition to defending clients against disputes by disappointed bidders.

• Government Contracts
• Bid Process
• Award Protest
• Procurement Council
• Set-Aside Decisions
• Warranty & Acceptance Issues
• Claims Litigation
• Subcontractor Disputes
• Submission of Bids & Proposals
• Remedies Before or After Contract Award
• Contract Interpretation

Procurement Attorneys

John A. Feichtel

Public Utility & Energy

The attorneys of Mette, Evans & Woodside have extensive insight and experience in dealing with all aspects of public utility and energy regulation and legislation. We work on behalf of municipalities, telecommunications companies, private and public water and sewer utilities, large commercial users of gas, electricity and telephone, transportation business and utility users.

Our attorneys offer clients the benefit of considerable state and federal experience; along with sound technical knowledge of the electric and gas industries, and water supply and sanitary sewer disposal systems. Skilled litigators, our attorneys can also prepare the necessary applications and legal documents that accompany public hearings, permitting and compliance.

• Mergers and Transfer of Facilities
• Stock Transactions
• Sale and Abandonment of Assets
• Environmental Regulations and Compliance Issues
• Applications for Necessary Permits and Licenses
• Drafting Purchase Power Agreements and Contracts
• Local, State and National Authorities Requirements

Telecommunication

The Telecommunications attorneys at Mette, Evans & Woodside have represented major wireless telecommunications carriers for more than a decade. Clients including AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, Cingular, T-Mobile, Alltel, 360 Communications, Cellular One, and Shentel PCS, as well as others throughout Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Northern Virginia have benefitted from our long term relationships with local municipalities and our decades of experience negotiating with municipal solicitors.

We work closely with engineers and ensure prompt review and expeditious municipal approval of plans. Our attorneys are proficient in designing, negotiating and evaluating transactional documents for telecommunications facilities and sites.

• Site Acquisition
• Title Research and Examination
• Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance/Analysis/Advice
• Zoning Ordinance Analysis
• Environmental Evaluations
• Permit Applications