Boston University School of Law, J.D. (1984)
Staff Member and Projects Editor, Boston University Law Review

The Johns Hopkins University, B.A. (1981) University Honors and History Thesis Honors

Law Clerk to Hon. Thomas D. Lambros, United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Cleveland, OH (1984-86)

Associate, Wilmer Cutler & Pickering, Washington, D.C. (1986-91)

Associate and later Partner, Titus & McConomy (and predecessor firms) Pittsburgh, PA (1991-1999)

Partner, Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis LLP, Pittsburgh, PA (1999-2001)

Shareholder, Watkins Dulac & Roe P.C., Pittsburgh, PA (2001-2009)

President, Adrian N. Roe P.C., Pittsburgh, PA (2009 to present)

Member, Roe & Simon LLC, Pittsburgh, PA (current)

Boston University School of Law, J.D. (1984)
Staff Member and Projects Editor, Boston University Law Review

The Johns Hopkins University, B.A. (1981) University Honors and History Thesis Honors

Supervising Attorney, Duquesne University School of Law, Federal Litigation Clinic (2007-present).

Supervising Faculty, Immigration Law Clinic, West Virginia University College of Law

“Public Employees, Expert Testimony, and the First Amendment Right,” Vol. 6, No. 9 Pittsburgh Lawyers Journal, at 6 (April 30, 2004).

The Jurisdictional Pitfalls of Settlement,” Volume 19, Number 4, Litigation Magazine (ABA Summer 1993).

Co-author, “An Assessment of the Insider Trading Sections Act after Tull v. United States,” 1 Insights: Corp. Sec. Law Adv. 8 (Prentice Hall 1987).

Note, “Section 1983 Challenges to State Convictions by Persons Not in Custody,” 64 Boston University Law Review 683 (1984).

I am a generalist. I have handled civil, criminal, and administrative matters. The matters tend to have many twists and some of the clients are sometimes “controversial.” My areas of experience include the following:

1. Class Actions

I have been named as class counsel (or co-counsel) in a number of class actions.   E.g., Patterson v. Fidelity National Title Insurance Co., Nos. GD-03-021176 and GD-05-017476 (Allegh. Cty.) (consumer class actions alleging deception in sale of title insurance); Chevalier v. General Nutrition Centers, Inc., No., GD 13-017194 (Allegh. Cty. Pa.) (“fluctuating work week method” of overtime compensation violates Pennsylvania law); Pedder v. Tar Wars Trucking, Inc., 2:13-cv-454 (W.D. Pa.) (failure to pay overtime based on purported FLSA exemption); Vargas v. GNC General Nutrition Centers, Inc., 2012 W.L. 3544733 (W.D. Pa. Aug. 16, 2012) (de facto policy against overtime); Neals v. MGIC, Civil Action No. 10-1291 (W.D. Pa. Apr. 6, 2011) (discrimination against pregnant women in the marketing of private mortgage insurance).

2. Constitutional and Civil Rights Litigation

            I have handled several First Amendment cases. Swartzwelder v. McNeilly, 297 F.3d 228 (3d Cir. 2003) (right of police officer to testify as expert witness); Bruderhof Foundation, Inc. v. Varner, 2:97-cv-1472 (W.D. Pa.) (right of religious order to protest outside prison).

When I say “handled” I mean starting by reading through a stack of papers and speaking with the client, then drafting a complaint that lays out the cause of action, and then litigating the case through all steps in the litigation process including a motion for preliminary injunction, discovery, summary judgment practice, trial, and appeal. I have handled a variety of employment discrimination cases involving claims of age, disability, race, sex, and/or sexual orientation discrimination.

3. Non-Competes

            I have advised departing executives on their rights and obligations in relation to their prior employers. I have also litigated preliminary injunction proceedings in which executives have been alleged to have stolen trade secrets or violated non-compete and/or confidentiality provisions. E.g., Hudson Global Resources Holdings, Inc. v. Hill, No. 02:07-cv-132 (W.D. Pa.).

4. Deals Gone Bad

            I have litigated disputes arising from major transactions such as a claimed breach of contract to purchase thousands of acres of agricultural lands, the sale of an aircraft refueling operation, the sale of a jet aircraft, the sale of interests in an natural gas wells, and a “tolling agreement” to covert coal into coke.

5. Insurance Coverage and ERISA

            I have brought a number of cases under homeowner’s and property owner’s insurance policies. These cases typically involve a claim for breach of contract through the insurer’s failure to provide coverage and a related claim for “bad faith” denial of insurance coverage (assuming there is a factual basis for such a claim). I have also participated in several matters involving actual or potential claims under employee benefit plans.

5. Immigration Litigation

            I have represented numerous “aliens” — non-U.S. citizens — in relation to potential actual immigration enforcement proceedings. (I will typically refer out a client who wishes to apply for a visa but is not actively at risk of deportation.) I have participated in full-blown immigration court trials cases in which my client sought asylum or “withholding” of deportation or removal based on fear of persecution on account of political opinion, membership in a particular social group, or religion. I have also tried a cancellation of removal case based on hardship to a U.S. citizen relative; a removal case brought against a permanent resident who had been convicted of a drug offense but determined (through appellate proceedings handled by me) not to be an aggravated felon; and a removal case brought against a permanent resident accused of marriage fraud.

I have filed an appeal in the Board of Immigration Appeals and have presented oral argument to a three-judge panel of the Board. Such argument is rarely granted and I believe the case was of national importance.

I have handled a complete denaturalization proceeding including all district court and appellate proceedings.

I have defended several clients in criminal cases involving illegal reentry charges and, in some cases, in related immigration proceedings.

6. Federal Criminal Cases

            I have defended numerous federal criminal cases and am a member of the Criminal Justice Act Panel of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. I have tried a several federal criminal trials to verdict and have briefed and argued several criminal appeals before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.