BLUE BELL, PA - On Friday, January 5, 2024, the Montgomery Bar Association (MBA) held its Annual Business Meeting at Blue Bell Country Club. Over 200 members, legal professionals and community leaders attended the event which included the election of the MBA’s officers for 2024, an awards presentation to honor outstanding contributions to the MBA and community, as well as the installation of its new president, Lisa A. Shearman with the ceremonial passing of the gavel.
Lisa Shearman is a principal at the Lansdale law firm of Hamburg, Rubin, Mullin, Maxwell and Lupin, PC and chairs their Estates and Trusts Department. Shearman is a Fellow of The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and has over 30 years of experience advising and implementing simple to sophisticated estate plans for clients with a special focus on business continuity, succession, the reduction of estate taxes and preservation of wealth. Her practice also includes estate administration and post-mortem planning along with trust administration and the preparation of Inheritance Tax, Federal Estate and Gift Tax and Fiduciary Income Tax Returns. In addition, Lisa assists clients with the formation and operation of tax-exempt organizations including private foundations. She has a substantial track record of successfully representing beneficiaries of estate and trusts in will contests, trust disputes and more in Orphans’ Court and has an active practice representing clients in guardianship matters.
Lisa Shearman’s commitment to both the state and county bar associations and to the community runs deep. She is a past Chair of the Montgomery Bar Association’s Probate and Tax Section, and serves as a Zone 9 Delegate for the Pennsylvania Bar Association (PBA), where she’s also an active member of the Real Property, Probate and Tax Section. She serves on several Boards, including the Montgomery Bar Foundation, Building Bridges Foundation, and the Wills for Heroes Foundation. Among other professional accolades, Lisa is past recipient of the PBA’s President’s Special Achievement Award and Montgomery Bar Foundation’s Milton O. Moss Community Service Award.
A graduate of the University of Scranton (B.S. 1989), Lisa received her law degree from Widener University in 1992 and her LL.M. in Taxation from Villanova University School of Law in 1994.
For the 2024 Bar Year, Seth D. Wilson, Esq. of Morris Wilson Knepp Jacquette, P.C. in Conshohocken will serve as will serve as President-Elect; Colin J. O'Boyle, Esq. of Elliott Greenleaf P.C. in Blue Bell will serve as Vice President; Hon. Joseph P. Walsh of Walsh Pancio, LLC in Colmar will serve as Treasurer; and Mary Kay Kelm, Esq. of Kilcoyne & Kelm, LLC in Colmar will serve as Secretary.
Also of Note: Nathan M. Murawsky, Esq. of Hamburg, Rubin, Mullin, Maxwell & Lupin, P.C. will serve as President of the MBA’s Trial Lawyers Section, Robert M. Sebia, Esq. of Elliott Greenleaf P.C. was named Chair of the MBA’s Young Lawyers Section, Elizabeth Early, Esq. of Boyd & Early Family Law, LLP was named Chair of the MBA’s Family Law Section, and Rebecca Sallen, Esq., of Sallen Law, LLC will continue as Chair of the MBA’s Probate and Tax Section.
In addition to new leadership being appointed, the following community awards were given:
MBA Lifetime Achievement Award
Sponsored by The Pugh Family Lawyers
Awarded to The Honorable Mason Avrigian
Hon. Mason Avrigian, counsel to the firm Wisler Pearlstine LLP is a former Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Montgomery County’s 38th Judicial District (1977 through 1982).
Regretfully Hon. Mason Avrigian was unable to attend this year’s Annual Business Meeting Luncheon, so accepting on his behalf was longtime friend and law partner Amy P. De Shong, Esq.
Hon. Horace A. Davenport Diversity Award
Awarded to The Honorable Garrett D. Page
The Honorable Garrett D. Page of the 38th Judicial District Court of Common Please in Montgomery County, PA received the prestigious Horace A. Davenport Diversity Award.
Presenting the award was 2023 President Justin A. Bayer, Esq., a Partner at the law firm of Kane, Pugh, Knoell, Troy & Kramer, LLP.
Committee of the Year Award
Awarded to The MBA Judiciary Committee
The Judiciary Committee of the Montgomery Bar Association is charged with interviewing and rating candidates for the position of judge of the Court of Common Pleas.
The Committee is composed of lawyers of diverse backgrounds, ages, practices and geographic areas.
Accepting on behalf of the Committee were Co-chairs Joan Orsini-Ford, Esq. (Left) and Eric B. Smith, Esq. (Right). Presenting the award was 2023 President Justin A. Bayer, Esq(Center).
President's Award
Awarded to the MBA’s “Meditation Team”
Meditation has been proven to relieve stress and anxiety, while increasing patience, focus, and imagination. Free morning meditation sessions are held virtually and led by members of the MBA’s “Meditation Team” from 7:30 AM - 7:50 AM, Monday - Friday, and afternoon sessions from 3:30 - 3:45 PM on Tuesday - Thursday. John I. McMahon, Jr., Esq. along with several others in attendance accepted the award on behalf of the Meditation Team. Those pictured in the group shot from left to right are: Adam D. Zucker, Esq., Honorable Garrett D. Page, Jacqueline M. Reynolds, Esq., John I. McMahon, Jr., Esq., and Montgomery County Court Administrator Michael R. Kehs, Esq.
This year's Annual Business Luncheon Meeting was co-sponsored by ARCpoint Labs of King of Prussia and Morgan Wentworth LLC.
Click here to view more photos from this year’s Annual Business Meeting Luncheon.
