HARRISURG, Pa., January 29, 2021 — Kathy L. Pape, one of the region’s prominent business leaders and governmental affairs experts has joined Saxton & Stump. She, along with recent hires Elaine A. Stanko and Richard S. Calabrese, expand the firm’s business and corporate and mergers and acquisitions team to more than 16 attorneys, many of whom are established leaders in the field.
“We are thrilled to add this dynamic, impactful group of attorneys to our firm,” said Saxton & Stump CEO James Saxton. “Kathy, Elaine and Rick bring the type of executive, financial and regulatory experience that helps our clients’ businesses thrive.”
The firm’s team of business attorneys act as trusted advisors to their business clients, providing experienced and practical advice in all stages of the business’s life, from startup to securing critical financing (debt and equity), managing growth and expansion, critical customer and supplier relationships and joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, preparing for a sale or transfer and, if necessary, winding down and dissolution. The group also works closely with the firm’s intellectual property, labor and employment, real estate and employee benefits and executive compensation attorneys to ensure knowledgeable and comprehensive solutions for a client’s most specialized needs.
Expanding a top-flight business and corporate team
Kathy L. Pape, Esq. is a registered Pennsylvania lobbyist and practicing attorney formerly with McNees Wallace & Nurick LLC. Previously, she was the CEO and president of Pennsylvania American Water and head of American Water’s mid-Atlantic region which included Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia and Maryland. While at the helm of American Water’s largest region, she used her legal, financial, business and governmental experience to balance customer service, reasonable rates, infrastructure replacement and community engagement. Her efforts won many accolades from customers, regulators and legislators. She proved instrumental in the passage of legislation that ensured water quality and quantity and water system sustainability for decades. Her broad business background has helped many municipal clients to analyze the pros and cons of regionalizing and monetizing assets.
She started her career at the Office of Consumer Advocate, Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission and as a utility attorney at General Waterworks. She also served as corporate counsel and manager of finance for American Water’s 13-state region. Later, she served as vice president, treasurer and rate counsel for Philadelphia Suburban Water. While she was at Philadelphia Suburban Water, the company grew from a five-county suburban Philadelphia water company to the second largest publicly traded U.S. water and wastewater service provider. Pape has a LL.M in Taxation from Villanova University, a J.D. from The Dickinson School of Law and a B.A. in Political Science from Edinboro University in western PA.
Elaine A. Stanko, Esq. is a banking and financial services attorney with more than 30 years of experience in commercial and consumer financing. Stanko was the Vice President and Director of SBA Loan Documentation for a community bank based in Reading, PA where she managed a team of loan documentation specialists who reviewed applications, documented loans and prepared commitment letters and term sheets, including for Payback Protection Program (PPP) loans for businesses. She has practiced business and corporate law at law firms across central Pennsylvania, including McNees Wallace & Nurick, Fox Rothschild and Barley Snyder, experience that she leverages to counsel clients in vital business transactions. Stanko has a J.D. from The Dickinson School of Law and a B.A. from Shippensburg University.
Richard S. Calabrese, Jr., Esq., focuses his practice in tax, corporate and business law, and is also a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). Prior to joining Saxton & Stump, Calabrese was a tax and corporate business attorney for Fitzpatrick Lentz & Bubba in Allentown, PA and a tax associate at the “Big 4” firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP in Philadelphia. Calabrese is well-versed in Pennsylvania realty transfer tax and real estate structuring methodologies that help minimize adverse tax consequences. He has advocated for clients with Pennsylvania Board of Appeals/Board of Finance and Revenue petitions, Internal Revenue Service (IRS) penalty abatements and correspondence relating to various tax controversy matters. He also assists with small- to mid-sized mergers and acquisitions, specifically as it relates to corporate tax law and incentive agreements. Calabrese has an LL.M. in Taxation and a J.D. from Villanova University and a B.S. in Accounting from the University of Pittsburgh.
Saxton & Stump named Kathy Pandelidis Granbois chair of the Business and Corporate Law group last year and announced the additions of attorneys Andy P. Berger as shareholder and Kamron W. Abedi as associate. Both Berger and Abedi joined Saxton & Stump from Stevens & Lee, a Reading-based law firm. Former Stevens & Lee shareholder John M. Hogan joined Saxton & Stump’s M&A team in 2019 with a unique focus in transactions involving the Corporate Healthcare and Life Sciences industry. The firm also welcomed M&A attorney Anthony J. Foschi, from Pittsburgh-based Tucker Arensberg to establish the firm’s Hospitality practice.
Saxton & Stump’s strategic growth outlook
With 113 professionals, including 58 attorneys, the firm continues to grow and based on their strategic plan for 2021, will continue to expand its current team of lawyers and professionals, focusing on bringing additional resources to support client needs.
Saxton & Stump provides solutions for complex legal issues and partners with clients to create a roadmap for their success. The firm is committed to empowering clients by delivering five-star service and results-focused advice.