Houston Harbaugh Announces 2016 Executive Committee and Officers
Houston Harbaugh today announced the election of its three-member Executive Committee and Officers. On the Executive Committee are: Michael J. Dempster, Samuel H. Simon, and Alex W. Thomson. Thomson will also serve as President along with John M. Hartzell, Jr. who will serve as Treasurer, and Mary-Jo Rebelo who will serve as Secretary. The Executive Committee, which is responsible for the overall management of the firm, and Officers are elected annually by the Firm’s directors.
Michael J. Dempster concentrates his practice in corporate and commercial transactions, including real estate development. He represents a wide variety of closely held businesses in such diverse areas as manufacturing, advertising and public relations, product distribution, software applications, and health care providers. A natural extension of his work with private business owners, and leveraging his experience as a former tax accountant with an international CPA firm, he also works with clients on estate planning and wealth management. Dempster received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law and a bachelor of arts degree from Cornell University.
Samuel H. Simon concentrates his practice on commercial/business litigation. He regularly represents clients in the construction, manufacturing, oil and gas, and wholesale/retail/ distribution industries, as well as individuals in matters such as breach of contract disputes, negligence, restrictive covenants, civil rights, construction litigation, and environmental litigation. Simon also works with sureties in representing architects and engineers in such matters as faulty design specifications and design negligence. He received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Akron where he was a member of the Law Review, and a bachelor of science degree from the University of Pittsburgh.
Alex W. Thomson concentrates his practice in the area of business law. He represents a wide range of business clients from start-ups to publicly traded companies. He represents clients in a diverse set of industries from steel to software. He has counseled clients in numerous corporate transactions, including sales, acquisitions, mergers, joint ventures and strategic alliances. Thomson has assisted clients in obtaining both public and private financing for their businesses, including venture capital financing. He received his Juris Doctorate, cum laude, from the University of Pittsburgh where he was a member of the Law Review. Thomson also earned a MBA from the University of Pittsburgh’s Katz Graduate School of Business, and a bachelor of science degree in Electrical Engineering from Boston University.
John M. Hartzell, Jr. concentrates his practice in the areas of estate planning and estate and trust administration. John also has experience with general corporate and income tax matters. Hartzell is a former Certified Public Accountant and spent over seven years in public accounting providing income tax advice to individuals, corporations and flow-through entities such as partnerships and S-corporations. He received his Juris Doctorate from Duquesne University; an MBA from Clarion University; and a bachelor of science degree from Pennsylvania State University.
Mary-Jo Rebelo concentrates her practice in the areas of commercial litigation and employment law. Some of Mary-Jo’s recent and regular areas of representation include litigation involving commercial contracts, products liability litigation, insurance coverage disputes, violations of federal and state securities laws, accountant malpractice, business fraud, directors and officers litigation, and injunction actions to enforce restrictive covenants arising out of employment relationships. Mary-Jo graduated magna cum laude from Elms College. She received her Juris Doctorate from Duquesne University School of Law, cum laude, where she was Editor-in-Chief of the Duquesne Law Review (v. 26).
