JAMES W. APPEL, Partner

James W. Appel is a partner of the firm, where he has practiced since 1969. He obtained his B.A. from Wesleyan University in 1966, his J.D. from Boston University Law School in 1969, and his LL.M. in Taxation from Villanova University School of Law in 1983. He practices principally in the areas of estate planning, probate, banking and commercial law, real estate and business transactions.

Areas Practiced: Business and Commercial Law, Wills, Trusts and Elder Law, Real Estate, Zoning and Land Use, Probate and Estate Administration

E-mail at jappel@ayzlaw.com

WILLIAM J. CASSIDY, JR., Partner

William J. Cassidy, Jr. is a partner of the firm. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame, where he received his B.A. in 1975, and from Duquesne University Law School, where he received his J.D. in 1979. He practices in the areas of civil litigation, creditors' rights, municipal law, and civil rights litigation and compliance.

Areas Practiced: Municipal Law, Real Estate, Zoning and Land Use, Labor and Employment Law, and Education Law
E-mail at bcassidy@ayzlaw.com

ROBERT W. HALLINGER, Partner

Robert W. Hallinger is a partner of the firm. He joined the firm in 2000 after practicing for seventeen years in Lancaster and York, Pennsylvania. He is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Gettysburg College where he received his B.A., summa cum laude, in 1979. He received his J.D. from Dickinson School of Law in 1982. Mr. Hallinger has a varied civil practice background, with substantial experience in trial litigation and tax assessment appeals.  He is also a AAA-trained mediator, and provides such services to parties seeking alternative dispute resolution in civil matters.

Areas Practiced: Civil and Commercial Litigation

Related News and Events:

• Mediation: A process to Curb Litigation and Resolve Dispute

• Dealing with your 2018 Property Assessment
  
  E-mail at rhallinger@ayzlaw.com

KENNETH H. HOWARD, Retired Partner

Kenneth H. Howard is a retired partner of the firm. He graduated cum laude in 1968 with a B.A. from Westminster College and received his J.D. from Vanderbilt University of Law in 1971. He practiced primarily in the areas of real estate, estate planning and administration. 

MICHAEL W. LEWIS, Associate

A Lebanon County native, Michael W. Lewis joined the firm as an associate attorney in 2023. Michael attained his Bachelor of Arts, graduating with degrees in both Economics and Pre-Law, from Lafayette College. In addition to receiving two degrees, Michael was a quarterback for the Lafayette football team, and he took a prominent role serving as a member of both the Lafayette and Patriot League Athletics Leadership Councils. Michael went on to earn his Juris Doctor degree from Michigan State University College of Law, receiving Dean’s List accolades for multiple semesters. For demonstrating excellence in Income Taxation and Will Drafting, Michael was awarded the Jurisprudence Award for both classes. He interned for the Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company in the legal department during his 2L summer. Michael was recently appointed to the Aaron’s Acres Board of Directors and is a member of the Professional Liability Defense Federation.

Following his graduation from law school, Michael gained experience in a higher education athletics compliance role at Bucknell University. Michael’s background as a local former student-athlete and higher education administrator benefits AYZ clients as he supports the Education Law practice group.

Areas Practiced: Education Law, Employment and Labor Law, & Civil and Commercial Litigation

E-mail at mlewis@ayzlaw.com

JANICE L.M. LONGER

Janice L.M. Longer has been practicing law in Lancaster County for over 20 years and previously served as the Vice President and General Counsel of a publicly traded computer franchisor and distributor.  Ms. Longer is a graduate of Villanova Law School.  Ms. Longer has a varied background in civil and criminal law matters, including family law, criminal defense and DUI, zoning and municipal law matters, small business counseling, estate planning and employment matters.  In addition, Ms. Longer has significant appellate experience and represents clients who have been accused of child abuse and are seeking to expunge a Childline report. Ms. Longer lives in the southern end of the county on a working farm and regularly sees clients in the Quarryville office.

Areas Practiced:   Family Law, Criminal Defense and DUI, Small Business Counseling, Zoning and Municipal Law matters, Estate Planning, and Employment matters.

E-mail at jlonger@ayzlaw.com

PHILLIP A. MICHAEL

Phillip A. Michael joined the firm in February 2024 with more than 10 years of litigation experience including trying dozens of cases to verdict. His practice is focused on civil and commercial litigation, as well as education and employment law.

Prior to joining AYZ, Phillip served as a Deputy Attorney General in the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General. In that position, he represented Commonwealth agencies and officials in all manner of civil litigation, including administrative law, civil rights, employment discrimination, and education law. Phillip successfully defended agency clients in numerous matters, including a constitutional challenge to the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s background review process for teaching permit applicants, a lawsuit alleging the Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission violated a racehorse owner’s due process rights after his horse was disqualified from a race, and allegations that the State Ethics Commission initiated an investigation into a township supervisor without probable cause.

Phillip also previously served as an Assistant Public Defender with the Lancaster County Public Defender’s Office. Based on his training and extensive complex trial experience, Phillip was capital counsel qualified by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to represent individuals charged with death-penalty eligible offenses, a distinction currently held by less than a dozen attorneys in Lancaster County.

Phillip earned a B.A. cum laude in Political Science and English at Gettysburg College and a J.D. cum laude at Temple University Beasley School of Law.  At Temple, Phillip won the Albert H. Friedman Graduation Prize for Most Outstanding Writing Project and the Barrister’s Award for Most Outstanding Trial Performance in the Trial Advocacy Program. He also completed internships at the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, the Philadelphia City Solicitor’s Office and the Philadelphia Federal Community Defender’s Office. After law school, Phillip spent a year clerking for Judge Jennifer Sibum on the Monroe County Court of Common Pleas. Phillip is a member of the Lancaster and Pennsylvania Bar Associations.

Areas Practiced:   Civil Litigation, Education Law, Employment and Labor Law

E-mail at pmichael@ayzlaw.com

JEFFREY P. OUELLET, Managing Partner

Jeffrey P. Ouellet serves as the firm’s managing partner. He initially joined the firm in 2015 after practicing for 18 years in Lancaster, Harrisburg and Philadelphia. He is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Virginia Tech where he received his B.A., summa cum laude, in 1994. He received his J.D. from the Washington & Lee School of Law in 1997, where he was named by the faculty as a Burks Scholar and he was a published member of the Law Review. Jeff served as a President of the Lancaster Bar Association in 2015, and he still serves as the Treasurer for the charitable arm of the LBA, the Lancaster Law Foundation. He also serves as the Chair of the LBA’s Judiciary Committee which is tasked with evaluating candidates for the local bench. Jeff was honored with the 2012 LBA President’s Award for his contributions to the LBA, and the 2022 LBA Service Award for his work to update the process through which judicial candidates are vetted and endorsed. Jeff is an active member of the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce where he serves on the Advocacy Committee, and he is a past Chamber Board member. Jeff was the recipient of the Lancaster Chamber’s Small Business Person of the Year in 2022. In 2023, Jeff was named to the Central Penn Business Journal’s Annual Power List for Law. Mark James and Jeff have written about estate planning at length and they have co-authored two books:  Wills, Trusts and Your Estate Plan and Estate Planning Success for Women.   Jeff practices principally in the areas of estate planning and administration, business law, commercial litigation, employment law and Marcellus shale legal issues.

Areas Practiced: Probate and Estate Administration, Marcellus Shale Law, Business and Commercial Law, Wills, Trusts and Elder Law, Labor and Employment Law, Education Law, & Civil and Commercial Litigation

Related News and Events:

• Managing Partner Jeffrey P. Ouellet Named to CPBJ 2023 Power List for Law

• Managing Partner Jeffrey P. Ouellet Awarded Lancaster Chamber’s Small Businessperson of the Year Award

• Managing Partner Jeffrey P. Ouellet Honored by Lancaster Bar Assoc. with Service Award

E-mail at jeffo@ayzlaw.com

DANA C. PANAGOPOULOS, Partner

Dana Panagopoulos is a partner of the firm.  Dana focuses on providing advice to clients who are faced with estate planning or elder law concerns. She regularly practices in Orphan’s Court, counseling fiduciaries such as guardians of incapacitated person; trustees; and administrators and executors of estates. She also assists clients and family members of individuals with special needs including, medical assistance planning, special needs trust planning and guardianship matters.  Dana also focuses on the development of estate plans that fit her client’s individual needs and advises executors and administrators through the administration process.

Areas Practiced: Elder Law, Estate Planning, Probate and Estate Administration, Guardianships, and Orphan’s Court Litigation; and Education Law

Email at danap@ayzlaw.com

SUSAN P. PEIPHER, Partner

Susan. P. Peipher is a Partner of the firm, serving clients in the Civil Litigation and Municipal Law practice groups. Susan has long served municipalities and zoning boards as solicitor, counseling government entities on daily operations in an efficient and effective manner. In her litigation practice, Susan brings a successful record for her clients in achieving resolutions for legal matters through the process leading to potential trial.

Susan graduated with a Bachelor’s of Arts from Mount Holyoke College, going on to earn her Juris Doctor from the Dickinson School of Law of the Pennsylvania State University. An author for various industry publications, Susan has been called on to present and share her expertise with local organizations and audiences.

Susan has demonstrated a commitment to community involvement in her previous positions on the boards of the YWCA of Lancaster and Power Packs Project, including serving as Board President for Power Packs. Susan also is an alumna of Leadership Lancaster’s Core Class of 2012. Susan is currently a member of the Pennsylvania and Lancaster Bar Associations, the Pennsylvania Association for Justice, and the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Solicitors.

Areas Practiced:   Civil & Commercial Litigation, Municipal Law

E-mail at speipher@ayzlaw.com

ALEXA K. POTTS, Associate

Alexa K. Potts is an Associate in the firm’s Civil and Commercial Litigation, Employment and Labor, and Municipal Law groups. Alexa earned her Bachelors of Arts from Morehead State University and Juris Doctor from Penn State Dickinson Law School, collecting summa cum laude honors at both institutions upon graduation. As an undergrad, Alexa competed on the Division I Rifle Team. During law school, Alexa served as an Articles Editor for the Dickinson Law review. Alexa also gained experience interning with the Honorable Christopher C. Conner of the U.S. District Court, Middle District of Pennsylvania, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. Following the conclusion of her education, Alexa returned home to Lancaster County to serve clients in litigation and municipal matters. Alexa is a member of the Lancaster and Pennsylvania Bar Associations.

Areas Practiced:   Civil & Commercial Litigation, Municipal Law, Labor & Employment Law

E-mail at apotts@ayzlaw.com

TIMOTHY J. REESE, Of Counsel

Timothy J. Reese joined the firm after 42 years in practice as a partner and shareholder with a variety of firms all emanating from his association in 1977 with the firm of Xakellis, Perezous and Mongiovi. Most recently, he has been the President and shareholder of the firm of Reese, Samley, Wagenseller, Mecum and Longer P.C. He obtained his undergraduate degree from the Pennsylvania State University in 1974 and his J.D. from the Dickinson School of Law in 1977 where he was named a member of the Woolsack Society for outstanding academic achievement.  He taught Business Law courses previously at the local campus of Penn State. He is a member of the Pennsylvania and Lancaster County Bar Associations. He formerly served as Co-Chairman of the Family Law Section of the Lancaster Bar Association and received the Association’s Access to Justice Award in 2000 for his pro bono services. Mr. Reese has served as President of both the Lancaster Chapter of American Business Club and the Lancaster Mediation Center as well as serving on the Boards of the Penn State Club of Lancaster County, Manheim Township Parks and Recreation, and Ames Reese, a division of the international powdered metal company, Ames, from Barcelona, Spain. He was one of the original six attorneys selected by the Court to act as a Child Custody Conference Officer, a position he held for several years. Mr. Reese has been recognized by the website Avvo with the “Client’s Choice” and its highest designation for Family Law. He has successfully argued cases before the Pennsylvania Supreme, Superior and Commonwealth Courts. He practices in the area of family law including complex divorce, custody and in other areas of domestic relations, as well as personal injury matters.

Areas Practiced:   Family Law and Personal Injury matters.

E-mail at treese@ayzlaw.com

MATTHEW C. SAMLEY, Partner

Matthew C. Samley is a partner of the firm. He joined the firm in 2020 after nearly 30 years in practice. He practices in the areas of bankruptcy and creditors' rights, real estate, business transactions, small business formation, business buy-sell, estate planning and administration. He serves as parliamentarian for the Lancaster County Commercial and Industrial Real Estate Council. Mr. Samley is on the adjunct faculty for Harrisburg Area Community College in Lancaster where he teaches a variety of courses in the Department of Business Studies. He frequently presents at professional education programs on estate planning and administration, landlord-tenant, collection law, ethics, business formation, and bankruptcy. Mr. Samley is a member of the Business Law Section of the Pennsylvania Bar Association, the Estate Planning Council of Lancaster County and the Eastern District of Pennsylvania Bankruptcy Conference. He is a staff officer for the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary and is a founding member of the Department of Homeland Security. Mr. Samley is also a member of the Lancaster Lion's Club and is the conductor of the Lititz Community Band. Mr. Samley received his B.S., cum laude, from Millersville University and his J.D. from Dickinson School of Law.

Areas Practiced:   Bankruptcy and Creditors' Rights, Real Estate, Business Transactions, Small Business Formation, Business Buy-Sell, Estate Planning and Administration.

Related News & Events:

• Partner Matthew C. Samley Receives NBI 2022 Outstanding Faculty Award

• Partner Matthew C. Samley to Present at National Business Institute Seminar

E-mail at msamley@ayzlaw.com

ELAINE G. UGOLNIK, Retired Partner

Elaine G. Ugolnik is a partner of the firm. She initially joined the firm as an associate attorney in 1991 after working as a judicial clerk for Judge Wayne G. Hummer of the Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas and after serving as an Assistant Public Defender. She holds a B.A. from Wayne State University and an M.S. in Education from Temple University, and received her J.D. in 1989 from Temple University School of Law. Ms. Ugolnik devotes her entire practice to all aspects of family law.

Areas Practiced: Family Law, Divorce, Custody and Adoptions

E-mail at eugolnik@ayzlaw.com

PATRICIA DUNLEVY WILLIAMS, Of Counsel

Patricia Dunlevy Williams brings two decades of successful family law experience to our clients. She has a wide array of experience with all areas of family law, including divorce, custody, adoption, and guardianships. She graduated from the Dickinson School of Law in 1995 after earning her B.A., summa cum laude, in English from Alvernia University. Her legal career began with a clerkship under Judge Henry S. Kenderdine, where she was immersed in family law issues. Following the clerkship, Ms. Williams was a staff attorney for Lancaster County Domestic Relations. She then worked for two Lancaster law firms before striking out on her own as a sole practitioner specializing in family law. Ms. Williams is the Past President of the Lancaster Bar Association and a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association. Prior to her term as LBA President, she chaired the LBA’s Family Law Section for several years and served on the LBA’s Board of Directors. She also served as a delegate to the Pennsylvania Bar Association for several terms.

Areas Practiced:   Family Law, Guardianships and Dependency matters.

E-mail at pwilliams@ayzlaw.com

HARRY B. YOST, Retired Partner

Harry B. Yost is a retired senior partner of the firm. He is a graduate of Lebanon Valley College where he received his B.S in 1962, Dickinson School of Law, where he received his J.D. in 1965 and New York University School of Law, where he received his LL.M. in Taxation in 1966. His principal areas of practice included estate planning, wills and trusts, probate, elder law, municipal law and real estate. 

WILLIAM J. ZEE, Partner, Chair of Education Law Group

William J. Zee is a partner of the firm. He serves as chair of the Education Law Group. Bill has represented public and private schools, intermediate units, higher education institutions, and community benefit organizations throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey for the past 20 years. He leads the Education Group’s professional development and training initiatives, with a special focus on student services, trauma-informed and restorative practices, student mental health efforts, and public-school policy. Bill was most recently honored as a “Law Firm Innovator” by the Legal Intelligencer as part of the 2022 Legal Excellence Awards. In 2021, for his work in trauma-informed education, Bill was honored as American Lawyer “Northeast Legal Trailblazer”, and “Pennsylvania Legal Trailblazer” and “Law Firm Innovator” by the Legal Intelligencer. In 2021, Bill was recognized as a “Leader in Law” by the Central Pennsylvania Business Journal. Bill was selected as a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation in 2022, which recognizes lawyers whose career has demonstrated outstanding dedication to the highest principles of the legal profession and to the welfare of society. He has also been rated a “Rising Star” and earned the designation of 2024 Super Lawyer by Super Lawyers. Bill is a highly sought-after public speaker, and regularly lectures locally and nationally to education agencies and special interest groups on a wide range of topics. In addition, he is often selected to provide testimony and written commentary to legislative bodies pertaining to issues impacting public education. Before entering the private practice of law, Bill taught at the secondary level in the public schools in Philadelphia and New Jersey and higher education at Eastern Michigan University and Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. He served as a Dean in both admissions and academic affairs. He holds a B.A. from Rutgers University, M.S.Ed. from the University of Pennsylvania, a J.D. from the Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law, and a Certificate in Leadership Principles from Harvard Business School. Bill is currently engaged in post-graduate studies at the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education. Bill is a dedicated servant leader on the board of directors for a number of community benefit organizations that are important to him, including the Touchstone Foundation, the Lancaster Education Foundation, and formerly Aaron’s Acres. He also serves on the Diversity Committee for the Lancaster Bar Association, and was recently selected to serve on the Pennsylvania School Board (PSBA) Solicitors Association as Section 7 Director, Pennsylvania Bar Association Education Law Council, and the Attachment & Trauma Network’s Board of Directors.

Areas Practiced:   Education Law, Employment and Labor Law

Related News & Events:

• Partner William J. Zee selected as a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation.

• Partner William J. Zee named a 2022 Law Firm Innovator

• Partner William J. Zee named a 2021 Northeast Legal Trailblazer

• Partner William J. Zee Featured in Special Ed Connection Article

• Partner William J. Zee selected for Legal Excellence Award

• Partner William J. Zee named Section 7 Director of PSBA Solicitor Association.

E-mail at wzee@ayzlaw.com