Houston Harbaugh, P.C.

08/24/2026

Houston Harbaugh, P.C. attorney Jessica A. Ellel was named the Best Lawyers® 2027 Health Care Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Pittsburgh.

This distinguished honor is awarded to only one lawyer in each practice area and geographic region, based on the highest level of peer review feedback. Ms. Ellel’s recognition highlights the deep respect she has earned within the legal community and by her clients for her unwavering commitment, professional integrity, and client-focused advocacy.

“Health care providers today are navigating an increasingly complex regulatory landscape, and I consider it a privilege to help them protect their practices so they can stay focused on caring for their patients,” said Ms. Ellel. “This recognition means a great deal to me because it reflects the trust that my clients and peers have placed in me throughout my career, and I remain committed to providing the same thoughtful, practical counsel that has always been the foundation of my practice.”

05/22/2026

Houston Harbaugh is thrilled to announce that 14 of our esteemed attorneys have been recognized in the 2026 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers and Rising Stars List

Congratulations to the 2026 Super Lawyers:
Craig Brooks
Robert J. Burnett
Jaclyn Faulds
Christopher Jacobs
Brandon McCullough
Alan S. Miller
Shelly Pagac
Brendan O'Donnell
Tammy Ribar
Samuel H. Simon
Henry Sneath
Heidi Rai Stewart, Esq.

We are equally proud to celebrate our attorneys who have been named to the 2026 Pennsylvania Rising Stars list!
Kudos to:
Erik Bergenthal
Maura Perri

Join us in congratulating these outstanding professionals!


https://hh-law.com/insights/news/houston-harbaugh-congratulates-14-attorneys-on-the-2026-pennsylvania-super-lawyers-and-rising-stars-list/

05/19/2026

In the latest blog post by Brendan O'Donnell, under Section 609.2 of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (MPC), a municipal curative amendment allows a local government to self-declare its zoning ordinance substantively invalid to fix regulatory gaps—such as missing provisions for modern data centers or solar farms—while shielding itself from competing landowner challenges for 180 days. This procedure can be beneficial for municipalities and landowners alike as new infrastructure is being planned to support the rapid expansion of our digital ecosystem.

Fix outdated PA zoning. How Montgomery Township uses MPC Section 609.2 municipal curative amendments to manage data center land use.

05/15/2026

This is the first installment of a new insurance claims-focused series within Defending the Algorithm™, written and edited by Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Insurance and Commercial Litigation Attorney Christopher M. Jacobs, Esq., with research assistance from Gemini 3.0. This series explores the practical, legal, and regulatory challenges facing claims organizations as they integrate artificial intelligence into their daily workflows. Always in cooperation with the DRI Center for Law and Public Policy AI Task Force.

Uncover the challenges and benefits of AI in insurance claims through the first installment of a new insurance claims-focused series within Defending the Algorithm™

05/15/2026

This series explores the intersection of polymathic thinking, Bayesian reasoning, and artificial intelligence — and what that intersection means for lawyers, executives, and business leaders navigating the most consequential professional transformation of our era.



https://hh-law.com/blogs/blog-intellectual-property-litigation-protection-and-prosecution-dtsa-ai-artificial-intelligence-lawyers/artificial-intelligence-ai-and-the-rise-of-the-modern-polymath-what-lawyers-and-business-leaders-need-to-know-now/

05/15/2026

In Edition 1, we examined the insurance discovery showdown in Estate of Lokken v. UnitedHealth Group, where plaintiffs are fighting to crack open the algorithmic “black box” behind AI-driven claims processing. In Edition 2, we took a sharp turn into trademark territory—and examined what happens when Silicon Valley’s biggest players choose brand names that collide with established marks in the rapidly emerging field of AI-powered, screenless computing. Now, in Edition 3, we shift gears to the latest in the ever-evolving, AI-assisted litigation e-Discovery process – specifically technology-assisted review (“TAR”), and its most recent iteration: TAR 2.0



https://hh-law.com/blogs/blog-intellectual-property-litigation-protection-and-prosecution-dtsa-ai-artificial-intelligence-lawyers/artificial-intelligence-ai-in-civil-litigation-document-review-and-production-technology-assisted-review-tar-2-0/

05/14/2026

This Edition #5 is the second installment of the Polymath Series within Defending the Algorithm™, written and edited by Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Business, IP and AI Trial Lawyer Henry M. Sneath, Esq., and authored with research and organizational assistance by Claude® 4.7 from Anthropic and Google Gemini 3.0. This series explores the intersection of polymathic thinking, Bayesian reasoning, and artificial intelligence — and what that intersection means for lawyers, executives, insurance carriers and business leaders right now.

Defending the Algorithm™ Newsletter is a series published by Henry Sneath with assistance from others at Houston Harbaugh, P.C. - Building Client Confidence®. This Edition #5 continues the theme of the Rise of the Modern Polymath and why corporate legal counsels and insurance carriers are looking...

05/14/2026

Brendan O’Donnell recently joined The Real Deal Landman Show as a guest to discuss his article, “The Colocation Loophole,” featured on The Oil and Gas Addendum blog. This episode of The Real Deal Landman Show explored potential impacts and lease questions associated with the colocation of facilities like data centers and gas wells, along with other emerging issues in oil and gas law.

Join Brendan O'Donnell on The Real Deal Landman Show to explore oil and gas legal issues and the colocation loophole.

03/13/2026

Houston Harbaugh attorneys recently attended the Allegheny County Bar Association Women in the Law Division (WLD) luncheon where the firm proudly sponsored a table in support of this meaningful professional event.

The luncheon featured keynote speaker Jamila Wideman, General Manager of the WNBA’s Washington Mystics, who shared her inspiring career journey spanning professional athletics, public interest law, and leadership.

The event provided an excellent opportunity for attorneys and legal professionals across the region to connect, learn from Wideman’s unique professional path, and celebrate the ongoing work of the ACBA Women in the Law Division in supporting and advancing women in the legal community.



https://hh-law.com/insights/events-speaking-engagements/houston-harbaugh-attends-acba-women-in-the-law-division-luncheon-featuring-jamila-wideman/

03/13/2026

We’re proud to share that Robert J. Burnett has been appointed to the Allegheny County Bar Association’s Professional Ethics Committee.

Robert’s appointment reflects his commitment to upholding the highest standards of integrity and our firm’s continued dedication to leadership and service within the legal community.

Congratulations!



https://hh-law.com/insights/news/robert-j-burnett-appointed-to-acba-professional-ethics-committee/