Meet Our Team

Beverly A. Block

Managing Member and Attorney At Law

University of Michigan, ’01
University of Pittsburgh School of Law, ’04

EXPERIENCE

Bev opened B&A in 2018 amidst a backdrop of diverse experience, including, working in a large international law firm, a mid-sized regional firm, and as a clerk for a federal judge. With this experience, Bev is committed to sustaining a firm whose hallmark is a deep investment in the success of its clients. Through years of experience, Bev has become adept at prosecuting and defending civil disputes in a variety of forums—including state and federal courts, private mediations, and AAA arbitration proceedings. Over the years, Bev has developed expertise in business disputes and employment-related matters. The defining feature of Bev’s practice is her deep relationship with her clients. There is no “one-off” engagement, and her relationships are not limited to her areas of expertise. Bev built B&A to provide approachable legal service to a wide-range of clientele, and she devotes her full self to managing those relationships. For Bev, being a lawyer has never been a 9-5 job, but is instead a lifestyle achieved through attentiveness, planning, and balance.

AWARDS

  • Pennsylvania Super Lawyer, 2019-2020
  • Pittsburgh Business Times, Women of Influence Awardee, March 2019
  • Pennsylvania Rising Star, 2012 – 2018

ASSOCIATIONS

  • Allegheny County Bar Association
    • Board of Governors
    • Co-Chair, Gender Equality Committee
    • Judiciary Committee, Past Member
    • Women in the Law Division, Past Member of Executive Council
  • Pennsylvania Bar Association
    • Commission on Women in the Profession
  • Wexner Heritage Program, Pittsburgh ’18
Bring your whole self to work. I don’t believe we have a professional self Monday through Friday and a real self the rest of the time. It is all professional and it is all personal.
Sheryl Sandberg

Jeffrey R. Gordon

Of Counsel

Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri, ‘94
The Ohio State University College of Law, ‘97

EXPERIENCE

Jeff’s practice focuses on labor and employment law and related litigation.  With experience at large national law firms and in-house as a Senior Corporate Counsel for a Fortune 500 Company, Jeff advises his corporate and professional clients on all facets of employment-related disputes and labor-management relationships.  Jeff relies on over two decades of accumulated knowledge and experience in successfully partnering with clients to offer strategic guidance on how to effectively navigate through and comply with the complex, ever-evolving world of federal and state employment laws.  Jeff views client relationships as long-term partnerships in which he provides value not only by successfully resolving employment-related legal disputes, but by proactively identifying and resolving potential employment law and regulatory compliance issues before they become adversarial.  Away from work, Jeff enjoys traveling with his wife and two children, distance running and reading historical non-fiction.

AWARDS

  • Graduated with honors from Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri, with a BA in Economics
  • Finalist, Moot Court Negotiations Competition, The Ohio State University College of Law
  • Distinguished Adjunct Professor, Penn State University Greater Allegheny – Labor Relations
  • Distinguished Adjunct Professor, Slippery Rock University – Employment Law

ASSOCIATIONS

  • Licensed member of the Bar in Pennsylvania and Ohio
  • Allegheny County Bar Association
    • Labor and Employment Law Section
  • Temple Sinai, Board of Trustees, 2014-2017
Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.
Thomas Edison

Holly S. McCann

Member and Attorney At Law

Edinboro University, ’86
Duquesne University School of Law, ’94

EXPERIENCE

Holly is a seasoned corporate and tax lawyer. For the past 20+ years, Holly’s practice has focused on assisting businesses in general corporate and partnership matters, including formation and dissolution issues, evaluation of tax matters, regulation of non-profit corporations, unrelated business taxable income and tax structuring issues. Before becoming a lawyer, Holly was a revenue agent for the IRS, and with that experience, she is uniquely qualified to offer practical business and tax solutions to a wide array of clients. Before joining the Firm as an original member, Holly worked in both large and mid-sized firms.

AWARDS

  • Pittsburgh Planned Giving Council’s Allied Professional of the Year Award, 2013

ASSOCIATIONS

  • Allegheny County Bar Association
    • Tax Sections
    • Exempt Organization Section
  • Pittsburgh Tax Club, President
Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.
Hellen Keller

Corinne McGinley Smith

Associate

Duquesne University ‘05
Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University ‘09

EXPERIENCE

Corey began her legal career as a Judicial Law Clerk for the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania where she gained experience with appeals taken from a variety of state agencies, courts of common pleas, and civil actions brought by and against the Commonwealth. Corey then transitioned to the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas where she served as a Judicial Law Clerk in the Family Division. Corey later joined the Central Legal Staff of the Superior Court of Pennsylvania where she primarily focused on Civil and Domestic Relations matters. As a member of the Domestic Relations Team, Corey drafted memoranda and opinions and performed docketing statement review in order to troubleshoot potential issues on appeal. Corey’s extensive experience in all areas of civil litigation make her an incredible asset to the firm’s growing trial practice.

When not working, Corey enjoys traveling and spending time with her three daughters and husband.

ASSOCIATIONS

  • Allegheny County Bar Association
    • Co-Chair of Attorneys Against Hunger
    • Public Service Committee
    • Chair of the Young Lawyers Division, 2016-2017
    • Board of Governors, Past Member
  • The Ellis School, Board of Trustees

Whatever you choose to do, leave tracks. That means don’t just do it for yourself. You will want to leave the world a little better for your having lived.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Marcie J. Solomon

Associate

Carnegie Mellon University, BFA, ‘00
Carnegie Mellon University, M.A.M., ‘01
University of Pittsburgh School of Law, ‘17

EXPERIENCE

Before joining the Firm, Marcie spent several years at a large national law firm where her practice focused on corporate law matters including transactional work, estate and trust matters, corporate governance, and general business advice for both corporate and nonprofit clients. Marcie also has experience representing businesses and individuals in business and employment litigation. Prior to becoming an attorney, Marcie had a career in Orchestral and Arts Management where her core work focused on personnel management, labor relations, program development, travel operations, logistics management and strategic planning. Marcie’s extensive operations and management experience gives her keen insight into the varied challenges of running a business, including people and project management, budgeting and overseeing large corporate initiatives. Marcie is also a graduate of the Orchestra Management Fellowship Program of the League of American Orchestras. When not lawyering or enjoying music, Marcie spends time with her family, mostly chasing her children and pets.

AWARDS

  • University of Pittsburgh School of Law, Order of the Coif
  • University of Pittsburgh School of Law, ABA-BNA Labor/Employment Law Award
  • Graduate, Orchestra Management Executive Fellowship Program of the League of American Orchestras
  • Pennsylvania Super Lawyers Rising Stars (2021, 2022)

ASSOCIATIONS

  • Allegheny County Bar Association
    • Arts and the Law Committee
    • Nonprofit Law Committee
  • Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts
  • Wexner Heritage Program, Pittsburgh ‘18
  • Jewish Federation of Pittsburgh, Member of Board of Trustees
You can have unbelievable intelligence, you can have connections, you can have opportunities fall out of the sky. But in the end, hard work is the true, enduring characteristic of successful people.
Marsha Evans

George Thompson

Associate

University of Pittsburgh, ’10
University of Pittsburgh School of Law, ‘13

EXPERIENCE

George began his legal career at a small law firm managed by an accomplished trial lawyer, where he was a part of a team that secured a seven-figure jury verdict in federal court, just weeks after he passed the bar exam. It was there that he was told, “Whoever knows the documents the best, wins the case.” George’s attention to detail serves as the foundation for his practice. In addition to his small firm experience, George worked for a midsize law firm with offices in several states. At both firms, George successfully represented individuals and businesses in commercial and employment law matters. Such matters involved a wide range of issues and claims, including those related to contractual disputes, trade secrets, trademarks, patent assignments, unfair competition, tortious interference, and employment discrimination. George has also represented businesses in wage and hour enforcement lawsuits brought by the federal government. George is grateful for the opportunity to continue his practice with B&A. When not working, George enjoys running, reading, fly fishing, and spending time with his family. Perhaps most notably, George is the third person to join B&A as a proud owner of a miniature dachshund.

AWARDS

  • University of Pittsburgh Journal of Law and Commerce, Associate Editor and Notes and Comments Editor

ASSOCIATIONS

  • Allegheny County Bar Association, Labor & Employment Section

If you intend to go to work, there is no better place than right where you are; if you do not intend to go to work, you cannot get along anywhere.

Abraham Lincoln

John R. Whipkey

Of Counsel

Gettysburg College ’01
University of Pittsburgh School of Law ’04

EXPERIENCE

John’s practice focuses on oil and gas and real estate law. John routinely represents companies and individuals who buy and sell mineral rights in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia. John has robust expertise in evaluating land and title issues, litigating oil and gas claims and in negotiating leases, rights-of-way and construction agreements. In addition to his oil and gas practice, John is licensed in North Carolina where he represents individuals in a variety of legal matters.

Before joining the B&A team, John worked in several mid-sized law firms and clerked in the Pennsylvania Superior Court.

In his free time, John enjoys traveling, running half marathons and hanging with his wife, two small children and miniature dachshund.

AWARDS

  • Pennsylvania Super Lawyers, Rising Star

ASSOCIATIONS

  • Pennsylvania Bar Association
  • Allegheny County Bar Association
  • West Virginia State Bar
  • North Carolina Bar Association
  • National Association of Royalty Owners

 

Zack Block

Non-Profit Strategist

University of Wisconsin, ‘00
University of Pittsburgh School of Law, ‘05

EXPERIENCE

For more than a decade, Zack has pursued his passion for building community and impact for local and national nonprofits. He has tackled every aspect of nonprofit work, from serving and chairing countless boards, founding organizations, and fundraising, to hiring staff and building budgets, programs, operations, and board support.

Before dedicating his career to nonprofit work, Zack was a tax attorney at two different Big Four accounting firms for close to ten years. Zack’s extensive experience with tax law and accounting creates the perfect backdrop to help nonprofits grow their impact and empower them to better serve their communities.

AWARDS

  • 2017 Pittsburgh Magazine 40 Under 40
  • 2018 The Incline Who’s Next: Philanthropy

ASSOCIATIONS

  • Leadership Pittsburgh’s Leadership Development Initiative, Class XIX
  • Leadership Pittsburgh, Class XXXIV
  • Schusterman Fellowship, Cohort 5, 2019-2020
  • Schusterman Fellowship Alumni Committee Member, 2020 – Present
  • Hillel Jewish University Center of Pittsburgh, Board Member & Chair, 2005 – 2018

 

How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.

Anne Frank

Awards

Beverly Block
Rated by Super Lawyers


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Beverly Block
Rated by Super Lawyers


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Marcie J. Solomon
Rated by Super Lawyers


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