Porter Wright today welcomes three new attorneys to its Pittsburgh office. Kathleen Gallagher has been added as a partner to the firm’s litigation team, and both Carolyn McGee and Russell Giancola have been added as senior associates in litigation. The three attorneys join Porter Wright from the Pittsburgh office of Cipriani & Werner, PC.

“Our Pittsburgh office is excited to welcome this new group of litigators to our growing team,” said Ellen Freeman, partner-in-charge. “We are so pleased to add further bench strength to continue to best serve both new and existing clients in Western Pennsylvania and beyond.”

As partner at Porter Wright, Gallagher will integrate her 30 years of litigation experience in complex commercial and business litigation including real estate, contract, construction, trademark, securities fraud and environmental disputes. A former prosecutor, she has extensive experience conducting internal investigations for both public and private corporate entities and public bodies, including internal investigations conducted under the Department of Justice Corporate Governance guidelines and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency guidelines. Additionally, Gallagher has nearly 20 years of experience in re-districting matters having represented clients in the Pennsylvania Supreme Court as well as United States District Courts in both Pennsylvania and Virginia. She received her J.D. from Duquesne University School of Law in 1982 and B.A., summa cum laude, from Grove City College in 1979.

Carey McGee will serve as senior associate, bringing 10 years of litigation experience in which she has defended mid-size and large companies against claims of strict liability, implied and express warranty, negligence and breach of contract. Most recently, McGee assisted in the defense of one of the country's largest homebuilders against various state and federal claims. She received her J.D., cum laude, from Duquesne University School of Law in 2008 and B.A., cum laude, in Economics and Business Administration from Saint Mary's College in 2005.

Also senior associate, Russ Giancola focuses his legal work in commercial litigation and election law. He brings litigation experience in title and warranty claims, fraud/breach of contract actions and corporate investigations. Giancola has worked with businesses in the construction, health care, education and retail industries. He received his J.D. from University of Colorado School of Law in 2005 and B.A. from University of Notre Dame in 2002.

Notably, since July of 2017, Gallagher, McGee and Giancola have represented the Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in multiple redistricting matters in the Commonwealth Court, Pennsylvania Supreme Court and Eastern District of Pennsylvania; one of which is currently on appeal to the United States Supreme Court.