Meet the New Members of the Board of Directors

Hon. Joseph P. Walsh, Secretary

The Honorable Joseph P. Walsh, a native of Philadelphia, is a founding member of Walsh Pancio, LLC. Joe has practiced for nearly 30 years in Montgomery County. His practice focuses on civil and commercial litigation, zoning and land use, municipal law, and estate administration. He has tried over 100 cases to verdict throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and has also handled multiple cases before the Superior Court and Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania.

In 2016, Joe was appointed by the Honorable Thomas Wolf, Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, to serve as judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Montgomery County. He was proud to serve as a judge from 2016 through 2018.

Since leaving the bench, Joe is a frequently sought arbitrator and mediator in civil disputes, where he assists parties and counsel in resolving matters in equitable and amicable means. He was recently selected and certified as an arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association (AAA), where he hears and decides commercial, construction, and consumer matters brought under the jurisdiction of the AAA.

Joe is a career-long member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association and the Montgomery Bar Association (MBA), and has held numerous positions within the MBA. He is a past president of the Montgomery Trial Lawyers’ Section. He also served as the Chair of the Government Relations Committee, and was responsible for working directly with Pennsylvania legislators to solve the most eminent problems facing attorneys in Montgomery County.

Aside from his service as a judge, Joe has also served the community in numerous roles for over 15 years. He served on the Board of Supervisors of Montgomery Township from 2010-2016 and served as the Chairman of the Board during his service. He has also served as solicitor of the Montgomery Township Zoning Board, as Chair of the Montgomery Township 300th Anniversary Planning Committee, as solicitor for the North Penn Police Athletic League, and as School Director of the North Penn School District Board of Directors.

Joe graduated from Widener University Delaware Law School, cum laude, in 1991 where he served as an Editor of the Law Review; he obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree from Saint

Joseph’s University in Philadelphia in 1988. He has been admitted to practice in state and federal courts throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Joe and his wife Nancy, who have been married for 25 years, are the proud parents of three daughters: Shannon, a graduate of the University of Georgia; Bridget, who attends the University of Pittsburgh; and Maggie, who attends the University of Delaware.

David Downey, Esq., Director

David is a solo practitioner with a focus on real estate and criminal defense in Philadelphia and the surrounding counties of Montgomery, Bucks, Chester, and Delaware. Additionally, David is of counsel at Stern & Eisenberg, handling both transactions and litigation, connecting him to a wealth of resources and experienced senior counsel.

With an interest in providing legal counsel for other real estate professionals, he remains current on changes in the local real estate market. He provides guidance to real estate investors, agents, and loan officers, in all areas of real estate including compliance and financing. He has formed various business entities for real estate investors and manages the local closings for a private equity firm out of the New York City area. He has managed negotiations with homeowner and condo associations, as well as stalled foreclosures through loss mitigation plans. David has litigated tax sales, post-closing disputes, ejectments, evictions, title actions, land disputes, and construction matters. David has a close affiliation with Terra Abstract in Warrington, Pennsylvania, enabling him to provide additional real estate services for each transaction.

David is a passionate advocate for defendants facing criminal charges. He has experience with DUI/DWI, drug crimes, grand theft, burglary, violent offenders, resisting arrest, probation violations, expungements, juvenile offenses, license suspensions, and other traffic matters. He has worked as conflict cases for the Public Defender’s Office of the Montgomery Bar Association, with a relentless dedication to ensure the best possible outcome for every defendant.

After completing a year and a project for the Montgomery Bar Association Leadership Academy, David was appointed Vice Chair to the Criminal Defense Committee, where he works closely with top litigators in Montgomery County. Recently, David was appointed to the Montgomery Bar Association Board of Directors.

With over two decades of experience in residential real estate lending, investing, and venture capital, David can provide insight based on personal experience through various market cycles. In 2001, David graduated from Temple University with a Bachelor of Business Administration. He navigated his way through the ever-changing lending market, which included the 2008 Housing Market Crash and the compliance-driven years following the passing of The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act in 2010. In 2012, David enrolled in an evening program at Widener University Delaware Law School. While in law school, David raised capital for business ventures, including Stateside Vodka.

Cary B. Hall, Esq., Director

Cary’s passion is assisting individuals and small businesses with their various legal issues.

Cary earned an Ivy League degree in philosophy from Columbia University, and his law degree from the University of Miami. While in law school, he was involved in graduate student government and was a contributing author and editor of the University of Miami Business Law Journal.

Cary began his legal career as a judicial law clerk in Towson, Maryland, and first established his own law practice there at the age of 26. He moved to Pennsylvania in 2000, and revived his solo practice after working for a few years with local law firms. These early efforts were rewarded by being named a “Pennsylvania Super Lawyer – Rising Star” in 2005 and 2006 by the publishers of Philadelphia magazine. His practice focuses on civil, criminal and family law litigation and transactions with close to 20 years of tested experience throughout southeastern Pennsylvania and Maryland.

Cary also serves as an arbitrator in civil court cases and has been court-appointed as defense counsel in state criminal prosecutions. In addition to his solo law practice, he additionally serves as a Special Assistant Public Defender in Magisterial District Courts throughout Montgomery County. Cary is a contributing author and served as editor-in-chief to the Montgomery Bar Association’s Civil Practice Manual, the definitive legal manual for practicing law in Montgomery County.

John S. Han, Esq., Director

Born in Seoul, South Korea, John Han immigrated to the United States with his parents and younger sister at the age of six. He graduated with Class Honors from the University of Michigan with a B.A. in Economics in 1990. He then attended The American University, Washington College of Law, earning his Juris Doctor Degree in 1993. Prior to graduation from law school, John accepted a commission as an officer in the United States Navy Judge Advocate General’s Corps and served on active duty from 1993 to 1999. During his naval service, John successfully performed duties as a defense counsel, prosecutor, and general counsel. As a defense counsel stationed in San Francisco, California and Naples, Italy, John provided high quality and zealous representation of Navy and Marine Corps service members charged with serious felony offenses involving murder, sexual assault, drug trafficking, and fraud. He obtained 7 full acquittals in contested trials on behalf of his clients.

John received an Honorable Discharge from the United States Navy in 1999. From 2000 to the present, he has continued his military service in the United States Navy Reserve. Respected for his extensive trial experience, knowledge of the law, and superior writing ability, John was appointed to the bench in 2010. From 2010 to 2014, he served as a Military Trial Judge for the Navy-Marine Corps Trial Judiciary. He presided over felony court-martial cases involving sexual assault, violent crime, drug trafficking, child pornography, and fraud. In addition to his judicial experience, John served as the Commanding Officer of two Reserve units and currently holds the rank of Captain in the United States Navy Reserve. From 2000 to 2006, John served as an Assistant District Attorney for the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office. In this capacity, he prosecuted numerous jury and bench trials in cases involving public corruption, fraud, white collar crime, and violent crime. John was the lead prosecutor in complex and lengthy grand jury investigations. He also conducted criminal investigations of police officers accused of wrongful use of deadly force, corruption, and civil rights violations.

In December 2006, John left the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office to begin his career in the United States Department of Justice as a an experienced trial lawyer who understands a variety of complex businesses, their corporate and financial structures, tax implications, and the economic effects of divorce.

Trial Attorney in the Organized Crime and Gang Section. From 2006 to 2021, he investigated and prosecuted major federal RICO and Violent Crimes in Aid of Racketeering cases against national and international organized crime groups, including the Mafia and violent street gangs. From 2008 to 2019, John successfully prosecuted several members and associates of the Philadelphia La Cosa Nostra Family. In these complex and wide-ranging prosecutions of criminal organizations, he acquired substantial experience with conducting financial investigations, pursuing wiretap investigations, and charging fraud and money laundering offenses.

James G. Schu, Jr., Director

Randi

L. Rubin, Esq., Director

Randi L. Rubin leads the Family Law practice with the primary objective of achieving her clients’ goals with compassion and zealous advocacy. Randi focuses her practice on a wide range of family law matters representing clients in complex custody matters and complicated divorce and support matters. As a seasoned trial lawyer, Randi litigates in courts in Bucks County, Chester County, Delaware County, Montgomery County, Philadelphia County in Pennsylvania, and Southern New Jersey. Her clients include business owners, entrepreneurs, and high-net-worth individuals requiring sophisticated advice.

Randi provides timely, responsive, individualized service and takes great strides to explain the legal process and prepare clients for all phases of litigation, court appearances, mediation, and evaluations. Randi exercises strong judgment and utilizes her keen business acumen to identify opportunities to engage in early negotiation and settlement discussions. Adding to her wide range of legal experience, Randi has personally experienced divorce firsthand. As a result, she exudes patience and understanding for her clients’ and their families’ emotional transition.

In addition to her matrimonial practice, Randi is an entrepreneur in the cannabis industry. Randi was a member and contributor to obtaining one of the first dispensary licenses in Pennsylvania in 2017 and is currently a member and investor in a dispensary in New Jersey.

Before concentrating her practice in family law, Randi practiced commercial litigation focusing on disputes and transactions involving real estate and finance, intellectual property, shareholder disputes and business divorce, trade secrets, and employment law. Her diverse and extensive litigation skills outside of family law provide her clients with the added benefit of

Jim is an experienced civil litigator with a focus on defending professional liability claims in state and federal court and before disciplinary boards. Jim represents clients from a variety of industries, including other lawyers, insurance professionals, accountants, and related business organizations. Jim also defends clients against general liability claims, and has experience in commercial litigation, corporate and consumer bankruptcy matters, subrogation, and bad faith claims.

Jim has been recognized as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers. He is a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association and the Montgomery County Bar Association, where he was selected as a member of the Montgomery County Bar Association Leadership Academy. Jim is also active in the Professional Liability Defense Federation (PLDF), where he has served as chair and vice chair of the Young Professionals Committee and contributed to publications including the PLDF’s Annual Survey of Law and Multi-State Significant Issue Survey. He has presented on topics including risk management for lawyers, legal ethics, and expert witnesses.

As an undergraduate, Jim was Valedictorian of his class at Penn State’s Abington College and a member of the Sigma Tau Delta English honor society. He then graduated cum laude from Temple University’s Beasley School of Law, where he was a Senior Production Editor on the Temple Political and Civil Rights Law Review. Prior to joining the firm, Jim was an associate for an international law firm in Philadelphia.

Jim resides in Montgomery County and is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and the United States District Courts and Bankruptcy Courts for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and the District of New Jersey.

Kelley Menzano Fazzini, Esq., Chair, Family Law Section

Kelley M. Fazzini has extensive experience handling both litigation and negotiation in domestic relations issues. She focuses her practice on matters involving prenuptial agreements, divorce, custody, support, domestic continued on next page >

Meet the New Members of the Board of Directors

Continued from page 31 violence, and paternity. She practices in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Kelley earned her law degree from Loyola University of Chicago School of Law in 2009, where she received a Child and Family Law Certificate, as well as the Pro Bono Service Award and the Leadership and Service Award. She also served as Editor-in-Chief of the Children’s Legal Rights Journal. She earned her bachelor’s degree, cum laude, from Villanova University in 2006.

During law school, Kelley dedicated her education to the study of family law and served as a legal intern for the Family Violence Unit of the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, as an extern for the Honorable Ronald Bartkowicz, and as a licensed clinic student in the Loyola University of Chicago School of Law Child Law Clinic. Following law school, she was a post-graduate fellow with CIVITAS Child Law Center and an associate at a boutique family law firm in downtown Chicago.

Rebecca Sallen, Esq., Chair, Probate & Tax Section

Over the years and due to her passion and commitment to help others, Attorney Rebecca Sallen has developed a deep understanding of: Estate Planning and Administration, Probate Law, Mediation, Alternative Tension Resolution, and Coalition. Together, these skills build to help her clients with all of their estate-related needs.

Ms. Sallen has written papers and spoken to audiences about the impact of family responsibilities and relationships within various economic strata, current laws, and upcoming statutes affecting individual rights and finances. She has also extensively written on how to create inclusive environments for optimal tension resolution.

Ms. Sallen is an active member of the Montgomery Bar Association, serving as CoChair of the Governmental Relations Committee, and Officer of the Probate and Tax Section, and an alumna and mentor of the Leadership Academy.

Prior to her law career, Ms. Sallen enjoyed working in politics. As a political consultant, she ran local, congressional, state and presidential campaigns across the United States. She also worked at several national women’s organizations, including: the NOW Legal Defense Fund and Planned Parenthood Action Fund. She co-wrote and co-edited chapters “Coalition Building” and “Public Benefits” for NOW Legal Defense and Educational Fund’s publication Breaking Barriers (2004).

Ms. Sallen is involved with her local community. She sits on the Board of Directors of the Montgomery Bar Association and Montgomery Child Advocacy Project (MCAP). She volunteers regularly as a child advocate in cases of child abuse and neglect and has worked for ten years with blind, autistic and physically impaired children and taught American Sign Language to college students and children.

Mark R. Fischer, Jr., Esq., President, Trial Lawyers Section

Mark R. Fischer, Jr. is a partner in the firm’s litigation department. His practice focuses on representing businesses and individuals in legal matters involving: contracts, construction and home renovation (residential and commercial), consumer protection claims, mortgages and liens on real estate, commercial leases, condominium and homeowners associations, and land development and zoning.

Mark’s skills as an attorney center on his ability to represent the client’s best interests while maintaining a constant eye toward efficiency and resolution. He applies a business-oriented, customer service approach toward litigation. He has developed this mindset over several years as regional counsel to a multinational retail company. This experience has provided Mark a view through the eyes of in-house counsel. Mark uses this experience to counsel businesses strategically handling disputes without losing focus on their end goal and bottom line.

Mr. Fischer is recognized for his litigation practice by numerous publications. Mark was included in his fifth consecutive Super Lawyers® list for his outstanding firm contributions in civil litigation defense work. He has also been listed as a Main Line Top Attorney in civil litigation since 2019.

Currently, Mark serves as assistant township solicitor to Lower Macungie Township and on zoning matters for Upper Dublin Township in Pennsylvania. Mr. Fischer also has considerable experience handling complex zoning matters on appeal to the Common Pleas and Commonwealth Court levels.

Mark has an intimate knowledge of the Philadelphia area. He grew up in Philadelphia and Lower Bucks County, attended college and law school in Delaware County, and now lives and works in Montgomery County. This knowledge of the area gives Mark a unique understanding of the local communities and the business climate in the Greater Philadelphia area. In addition to his work in Pennsylvania, Mark has significant experience in the New Jersey Courts. He completed his judicial clerkship there following law school and now handles commercial litigation cases throughout the State.

Mark currently lives in Montgomery County with his wife, son, and two daughters. He enjoys sports, exercise, exploring the local parks with his family, and rooting for his beloved Philadelphia sports teams. You can find Mark coaching for Plymouth Little League and Colonial Soccer Club of Plymouth Meeting, PA, in his spare time.

Jason

Edwards, Esq.,

Jason Edwards is an Associate with Walsh Pancio, LLC. He focuses his practice on civil and commercial litigation, with an emphasis on insurance law. He also has experience in the areas of family law and dependency.

Before joining Walsh Pancio, Jason served for three years as the Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable Risa Vetri Ferman of the Court of Common Pleas, Montgomery County, PA in both the civil and criminal divisions.

Jason previously worked for the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office for five years while attending law school at night. During his tenure in the District Attorney’s Office, he gained extensive legal experience both inside and outside the courtroom, and received two District Attorney Commendations.

Jason currently serves as an arbitrator for the Court of Common Pleas, Civil Division, Montgomery County, PA. He is also an active volunteer with the Montgomery Child Advocacy Project (MCAP).

Prior to law school, Jason graduated from Shippensburg University in 2010 with a degree in Psychology and a minor in Criminal Justice. He resides in Skippack Township, Montgomery County, PA with his wife Kate, son Johnny, daughter Emma, and Welsh Terrier, Eddie. When not practicing law, Jason enjoys spending time with family, playing ice hockey, and cheering on his favorite sports teams: the Eagles, Flyers, 76ers, Phillies, and Penn State.