Susan is a shareholder of Blakinger Thomas, the Chair of the firm’s Civil and Commercial Litigation group, the Chair of the Creditors’ Rights and Bankruptcy group, and a member of the Municipal group. Her practice focuses on civil litigation with an emphasis on creditor collections, construction law, commercial disputes, and personal injury and wrongful death claims. Her municipal practice involves serving as solicitor to multiple townships and a zoning hearing board. Susan has extensive experience in representing clients in both federal and state court matters.
Susan brings to Blakinger Thomas a tremendous enthusiasm for individualized client service. She finds professional satisfaction in working closely with her clients in formulating strategies for litigation and working toward and achieving successful resolutions for their legal problems through pre-litigation negotiation, dispute resolution, arbitration and/or trial.
Education
- The Dickinson School of Law of the Pennsylvania State University, J.D.
- Mount Holyoke College, B.A.
Bar Admissions
- Pennsylvania, 2001
- Supreme Court of the United States of America, 2007
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit, 2016
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, 2003
- U.S. District Court, Middle District of Pennsylvania, 2003
Professional Memberships
- Pennsylvania Bar Association
- Pennsylvania Association for Justice
- Lancaster Bar Association (Corporate, Business and Bankruptcy Law Section, Chair, 2011 and 2018)
- Pennsylvania State Association of Township Solicitors
Community Involvement
- YWCA Lancaster (Past Board Member, Past President)
- Power Packs Project (Finance Committee, Past Board Member, Past President)
- Leadership Lancaster, Core Class of 2012
Seminars & Publications
- “Getting Paid: Collecting your Accounts Receivable,” Lancaster Chamber of Commerce Professional Development Series, 2010
- “Protecting Your Rights During A Home Improvement Project,” Business Woman Magazine, March 2010
- “When the Pieces Fall Apart. . . . A Successful Businesswoman’s Legal Strategy for Personal and Professional Well-Being,” Professional Women’s Forum of the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce and Industry, 2009
- “Commercial and Residential Evictions in Pennsylvania: When the Tenant or Landlord Files Bankruptcy,” Sterling Education Services, Inc., May 2008