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Our lawyers represent clients before legislative and executive bodies in both formal and informal proceedings relating to ethics, energy, solid waste, real estate, privatization, taxation, technology, the environment, and health care. We review city, state, and federal legislation and combine broad legal knowledge with effective advocacy techniques to help clients understand government policy, critical to survival in a regulated environment. We also represent clients during contract negotiations and at hearings. In conjunction with our government relations efforts, we provide our clients with advice concerning compliance with federal and state laws regulating election and campaign political activity, fundraising, and contributions.

We know that political, legislative, and governmental issues can often arise as obstacles in achieving your goals, and our attorneys have sophisticated practices that can handle these pitfalls and help you negotiate the legal and regulatory maze. Our lawyers have represented numerous government agencies, departments, and municipalities in complex litigation matters, or served in government positions. As a result of our long-term involvement in this field of practice, we have developed in-depth knowledge in governmental regulation that enhances the representation of government entities and the representation of non-government clients concerning regulatory matters. We also develop and implement strategies for clients who need to obtain public funding or who need assistance with an administrative or regulatory matter in the local, state, or federal milieu. Throughout the process, you stay informed of changes that could affect your business interests or decisions.

Schnader’s attorneys are also experienced with a broad spectrum of contracts involving government entities, and many have first-hand experience as former government executives and lawyers. We can assist in the formation and administration of such public-private arrangements, and we can advise and advocate when disputes arise. We work with local, state, and federal government agencies and with domestic and foreign business organizations. 

Examples of the types of projects with which our attorneys are experienced include:

  •  Real Estate Development
  •  Eminent Domain
  •  Transportation and Infrastructure
  •  Energy
  •  Municipal, County and State Services
  •  Municipal Utilities
  •  Child Welfare
  •  Education
  •  Investments
  •  Concessions
  •  Sports and Entertainment Venues
  •  Airports and Aviation
  •  Engineering and Architecture
  •  Construction

Our litigation experience includes:

  • Represented the City of Philadelphia in defeating an effort to obtain an injunction in litigation challenging the City’s ability to regulate the manufacture of “ghost guns.”
  • Represented voters in litigation involving attempts by a legislative committee to subpoena an executive branch agency and challenges to the enforcement of the subpoena, including extensive briefing and argument on legislative investigations and the executive branch’s obligations in response to legislative requests for information.
  • Represented city council members in zoning appeals in challenges to high density development projects in low density neighborhoods to protect interests of community members.
  • Successfully defended the District Attorney in five employment discrimination cases involving seven plaintiffs and claims of age and/or reverse-race discrimination. Obtained a defense verdict in federal district court on behalf of the District Attorney and the City of Philadelphia in the only case that went to trial.
  • Obtained summary judgment on behalf of the Philadelphia District Attorney in a religious discrimination case arising out of the office’s Covid-19 vaccine mandate and representing the District Attorney in the appeal of the judgment and in similar claims pending before the EEOC and PHRC.
  • Representing prosecutors in three different civil cases asserting claims of malicious prosecution and the District Attorney’s Office in federal and state cases challenging policies and procedures put in place to ensure compliance with constitutional obligations in criminal proceedings.
  • Represented a Montgomery County municipality in litigation arising from the condemnation of a failed real estate development project.
  • Representing Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Airport in litigation under the Eminent Domain Code.
  • Represented the Pennsylvania Department of Health in federal proceedings arising from the bankruptcy of Hahnemann University Hospital.
  • Represented government pension funds in class and individual litigation under state and federal securities laws.

Our Attorneys

Marilyn Z. Kutler

Marilyn Z. Kutler

215-751-2684

Philadelphia, PA

mkutler@schnader.com

 215-751-2684 Philadelphia, PA
Hon. Timothy K. Lewis

Hon. Timothy K. Lewis

412-577-5290

Pittsburgh, PA Philadelphia, PA

tlewis@schnader.com

 412-577-5290 Pittsburgh, PA Philadelphia, PA
Ira Neil Richards

Ira Neil Richards

215-751-2503

Philadelphia, PA

irichards@schnader.com

 215-751-2503 Philadelphia, PA
David Smith

David Smith

215-751-2190

Philadelphia, PA

dsmith@schnader.com

 215-751-2190 Philadelphia, PA

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The Higher Calling Of The Law Requires...

Inclusion. When Pennsylvania Attorney General William Schnader left politics and sought to return to private practice in Philadelphia, he discovered that no major Philadelphia law firms would hire his protégé, Bernard Segal, a Jewish attorney. In response, in 1935, William Schnader, Bernard Segal and Francis Lewis formed a new law firm, Schnader & Lewis -- the first religiously integrated law firm in Philadelphia.

Innovation. Because Schnader was religiously integrated from its founding, many local clients in the Philadelphia area would not retain the firm in the 1930s and 1940s. Accordingly, the firm sought to represent larger, national companies.

Vision. Firm founder William Schnader was president of the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws, which drafted and developed the Uniform Commercial Code. He successfully campaigned for the Code's adoption in 49 states.

The pursuit of freedom. At the request of President Truman, firm founder Earl Harrison, as Commissioner of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, toured displaced persons camps at the end of World War II and recommended to the President that displaced persons in Europe be permitted to resettle in Palestine. His report was a major factor that led to American support for the establishment of Israel.

The pursuit of justice. Firm founder Earl Harrison testified on behalf of an African-American student denied entry to the University of Texas School of Law because of his race. The case challenged the "separate but equal" doctrine, as applied to state law schools and laid the foundation for Brown v. Board of Education. The Supreme Court eventually overturned the lower courts' decisions and ordered the University of Texas to admit qualified black applicants.

Courage. Firm founder Bernard Segal convinced the Philadelphia bar to defend nine accused Communists pro bono. The defendants were convicted but their cases were thrown out on appeal. As a result, the Justice Department abandoned Smith Act prosecutions across the country.

The pursuit of justice. When George Wallace threatened to block integration of the University of Alabama, Schnader’s Bernard Segal drafted a statement in opposition. He and Jerome Shestack called lawyers all over the country requesting their support. The statement was published in the Birmingham News with 53 prominent lawyer signatories and provided support for President Kennedy's Executive Order federalizing the Alabama National Guard.

The pursuit of justice. In the wake of George Wallace's efforts to impede the integration of the University of Alabama, and at the urging of Schnader’s Bernard Segal, President Kennedy convened 244 lawyers at the White House to ask them to move the battle for civil rights and racial equality to the courts. The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law was born and Jerome Shestack became its full-time executive director while continuing to practice at Schnader.

Inclusion. Firm founder Bernard Segal was chair of the ABA’s Committee on the Federal Judiciary. He advocated the appointment of federal judges of all genders and races.

Inclusion. Firm founder Bernard Segal was the first Jewish person to serve as Chancellor of the Philadelphia Bar Association. He encouraged the bar into public service and expanded its racial horizons.

Inclusion. Schnader was one of the first major Philadelphia firms to hire a female attorney.

Diversity. Schnader was a founding member of the Philadelphia Diversity Law Group, which aims to increase the number of diverse attorneys in-house and in private practice.

Inclusion. The firm appointed Albert Dandridge as Chief Diversity Officer and charged him with increasing and developing our bench of diverse attorneys.

Service. The firm adopted Caton Village (now closed), a halfway house for women in Philadelphia, where we provided free legal clinics and social and educational activities for its residents.

Service. Schnader lawyers regularly represent undocumented children who were abused or abandoned by their parents. We help these children obtain guardians, stop removal proceedings, and begin the path to citizenship.

Service. As U.S. veterans waited an average of four years for a ruling on the denial of their disability benefits, Schnader attorneys led a campaign advocating for a solution to address the backlog.

The pursuit of justice. Schnader attorneys represented Guantanamo Bay detainees, advocating for fair treatment and due process against a byzantine legal landscape.

Service. With a nonprofit partner, Schnader attorneys and staff designed and taught a pilot life skills seminar for young adults aging out of the foster care system. The program included lessons on securing vital documents, opening a bank account, looking for jobs and going to an interview.

Service. Schnader attorneys help middle school students in Pittsburgh set up a youth court, prepare for mock trials and draft a bill of rights for their school. The students learn about Constitutional law, advocacy and restorative justice from participating in these programs.

Service. Bernard Segal, a founder of the firm, believed that Schnader's hallmark is its "dedication to the higher calling of the law," which he defined as "the lawyer's obligation to assume an active role in the pursuit of a just and ordered society, in helping to solve the emerging problems of social, economic and political importance, and to serve the public as his or her client, as she or he would serve a full-paying client."