Local Counsel

Out-of-state counsel rely on Mr. Schwab based on his years of practice with federal and state courts in the Pittsburgh area as well as his trial and litigation experience. He knows the local rules and chamber practices, having handled numerous cases in Pittsburgh’s federal and state courts. His close ties in the legal community make him an invaluable resource to lawyers from outside the Pittsburgh area.

In 2014, Mr. Schwab was appointed by the Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania to serve on the Western District’s Local Rules Advisory Committee from 2014 to 2016, including the ediscovery and criminal subcommittees.  In 2022, Mr. Schwab again accepted an appointment from the Chief Judge to serve on the reconstituted Western District’s Local Rules Advisory Committee.  He also recently served as Chair of the Federal Court Section of the Allegheny County Bar Association, after serving for years as an officer on the Federal Court Section.

Representative cases as local counsel include the following:

  • Pittsburgh counsel to executive of global pharmaceutical corporation charged with insider trading and securities fraud in federal court; charges dismissed two weeks before trial
  • Pittsburgh counsel to international defense contractor in patent infringement and trade secret lawsuit in federal court; court granted motions to dismiss
  • Pittsburgh counsel to large healthcare system in 21-day jury trial in federal court against publicly traded actuarial and employee benefits companies
  • Pittsburgh member of trial team representing global pharmaceutical company in lawsuit concerning disqualification of law firm representing competitor in hostile takeover; successfully obtained preliminary injunction
  • Pittsburgh counsel to worldwide coffee company and coffeehouse chain in multi-district patent litigation concerning mobile payment applications/software
  • Pittsburgh counsel in False Claims Act employment retaliation matter

Additionally, Mr. Schwab is a skilled advocate having tried numerous jury and bench trials over his career. For over 15 years, he has served on faculty with the National Trial Advocacy College held annually at the University of Virginia School of Law in Charlottesville, Virginia.

He frequently speaks on trial advocacy and civil litigation, including the following:

  • “Essentials of Trial Evidence,” Federal Court Section, Allegheny County Bar Association (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), December 8, 2016
  • “Demonstration of Direct Examination,” National Trial Advocacy College at the University of Virginia School of Law (Charlottesville, Virginia), January 9, 2016
  • “What’s Happening in Federal Court,” Allegheny County Bar Association’s Bench-Bar Conference (Seven Springs, Pennsylvania), June 19, 2015
  • “eDiscovery Issues in Complex Cases in Federal Court,” E-Discovery Symposium, Pennsylvania Bar Institute/Allegheny County Bar Association (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), April 17, 2015
  • “Cyber Security Threats, Trips, and Traps: Managing Risk and Protecting Data in the Cyber Age,” Professional Liability Attorney Network (webcast available at PLANattorney.org), January 21, 2015
  • “ADR & Settlement in Federal Court,” Allegheny County Bar Association’s Bench-Bar Conference (Seven Springs, Pennsylvania), June 20, 2014
  • “Streamlining and Managing eDiscovery in Complex Cases in Federal Court,” 2014 E-Discovery SymposiumPennsylvania Bar Institute/Allegheny County Bar Association (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), April 25, 2014
  • “Choosing the Winning Theme & Order of Witnesses with Sample Openings & Examinations,” Academy of Trial Lawyers of Allegheny County/Allegheny County Bar Association Federal Court Section (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), March 28, 2014
  • “E-Discovery for the Corporate Market,” Featured Moderator, Today’s General Counsel Institute (New York, New York), July 17, 2013
  • “Discovery in Federal Litigation,” Moderator, Bench-Bar Conference, Federal Court Section, Allegheny County Bar Association (Seven Springs, Pennsylvania), June 21, 2013
  • “Simplifying E-Discovery in Patent and Complex Cases in Federal Court,” 2013 E-Discovery Symposium, Pennsylvania Bar Institute/Allegheny County Bar Association (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), April 26, 2013
  • “E-Discovery for the Corporate Market: The Exchange,” Featured Moderator, Executive Counsel Institute (Houston, Texas), September 19, 2012
  • Moderator, “Hot Topics in Federal Litigation,” Bench-Bar Conference, Federal Court Section, Allegheny County Bar Association (Seven Springs, Pennsylvania), June 15, 2012