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MATTHEW M. HOFFMAN is with the law firm of Tucker Arensberg where he is a shareholder in the firm's Business and Finance Department, co-chair of the Municipal and School Law Practice Group and a member of the Real Estate/Construction Practice Group. In the area of school law, Mr. Hoffman's practice involves the representation of public school districts and school entities as solicitor, labor counsel and special counsel. His representation of private sector clients predominantly involves general commercial litigation, most frequently construction-related disputes. Mr. Hoffman currently serves as solicitor for various school entities throughout Western Pennsylvania, including several public school districts, vocational-technical schools, an alternative education program and charter schools. As solicitor for these entities, his experience includes the review, interpretation and application of constitutional, statutory and regulatory matters affecting school entities, staff and students, the drafting of school district operating policies and contracts, the prosecution and defense of tax assessment appeals, tax collection matters, special education consultation and student disciplinary matters. Mr. Hoffman has represented school districts before administrative agencies and state and federal trial and appellate courts. In representing school entities, Mr. Hoffman has also served as chief negotiator for various professional and non-professional collective bargaining agreements, representing schools throughout the entire act 88 process, including mediation, fact finding, non-binding arbitration and court injunctions. He has counseled school clients on development of personnel policies and procedures, the application of employment and discrimination laws (including the Americans with Disabilities Act; the Family Medical Act, Pennsylvania Human Relations Act and federal discrimination law) and in resolving specific labor issues affecting school clients from hiring to employee wage, benefit and working condition matters to suspension and termination issues. Mr. Hoffman has also consulted on and litigated a range of school personnel issues, including labor grievances, unfair labor practice charges, and demotion and discharge proceedings. He also has comprehensive experience in the area of construction law and litigation. His experience includes the negotiation and drafting of design, construction management and general construction contracts and the litigation of construction-related claims, most frequently on behalf of owners and design professionals. He has defended various claims involving design professional liability, non-conforming or defective work, payment disputes, delay and acceleration damages, and work scope disputes. Mr. Hoffman has tried cases before federal and state courts, in both jury and bench trials, and in mediation and arbitration proceedings. He is admitted to practice in the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, the U.S. District Courts for the Western and Eastern Districts of Pennsylvania and U.S. Tax Court. Mr. Hoffman was selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers of America in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 in the education law category. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown and his law degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law where he served on the Law Review and was awarded the Order of the Coif. Mr. Hoffman is a member of the Allegheny County Bar Association, Pennsylvania Bar Association and the Pennsylvania School Boards Solicitors Association. MEGAN M. OTT is an attorney at Goehring, Rutter & Boehm and a member of the firm's School and Municipal Law Group where she offers a diverse set of school focused skills. Ms. Ott serves as a local agency law specialist in the employment setting and a resource for collective bargaining and employee benefits. She has experience in all phases of tax assessment and exemption matters, from evaluation through negotiation and trial. Ms. Ott is experienced in the public procurement process from drafting RFPS to negotiating and drafting contracts. She has handled a wide swath of students' issues including discipline, transportation, special education and medication. Ms. Ott is also experienced in analyzing situations arising under the McKinney Vento and Fostering Connections Acts and developing actions plans. She is well-versed in all aspects of labor relations including bargaining unit certification, negotiation, mediation, fact finding, unfair labor proceedings, contract administration, grievance, arbitration, professional and non-professional demotion, discipline and dismissal proceedings. Ms. Ott is experienced in prosecuting and acting as special counsel in dismissal proceedings under the School Code, ADA, and the FMLA in various forums including the Unemployment Compensation Board, the PHRC, the EEOC, and the U.S. Department of Education. She works with tax collectors, district business offices and municipalities to create and implement interim assessment programs which can be a good source of revenue for little cost to collect real estate taxes for new construction or improvements. Ms. Ott is the firm's internal expert on Right-To-Know and Sunshine Law, regularly speaking and educating public officials on both topics. She has also addressed school districts and parents regarding the legal rights and obligations of teen adults, as well as mandatory reporting of abuse for child care employees. Ms. Ott serves as solicitor of Conway Borough and Kennedy Township Uniform Construction Code Board of Appeals. She earned her undergraduate degree from Penn State University and her J.D. degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. FREDERICK J. WOLFE is a shareholder in the Pittsburgh law firm, Tucker Arensberg where he concentrates his practice in the area of school and municipal law. Mr. Wolfe has been involved in all areas of school law for 20 years and serves as solicitor or special counsel to several school districts, municipalities and municipal authorities in Western Pennsylvania. As a school district solicitor, he routinely advises school districts on matters such as the interpretation of federal and state statutes and regulations as they apply to school districts, constitutional issues involving school districts and their employees and students, drafting and implementation of school board policies, negotiation, drafting and administration of collective bargaining agreements, all aspects of personnel and labor relations including hiring, discipline and discharge of employees, contracting, bidding and procurement, charter schools, special education and student discipline matters. He is a graduate of Washington & Jefferson College and the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. AIMEE R. ZUNDEL is an attorney in The Law Offices of Ira Weiss where she focuses her practice in school law and special education matters, including representation of school districts in school discipline hearings and special education due process hearings. She is admitted to practice in the courts of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. Ms. Zundel earned her B.A. degree, magna cum laude, from Mount Union College and her J.D. degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. Ms. Zundel is a member of the Allegheny County Bar Association (ACBA) and the Municipal and School Solicitors Section. She participates in volunteer activities with the ACBA and its Young Lawyers Division.
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