Sweet Stevens Expands Practice with Several New Attorneys
News Release
New Britain, PA – Five new attorneys have recently joined the education law firm of Sweet, Stevens, Katz & Williams.
“We’re pleased to welcome these accomplished attorneys to our team over the past few months,” said Sharon W. Montanye, Managing Partner. “Collectively, their unique and distinctive professional backgrounds will come together to bolster our abilities to help our clients throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey.”
- Christopher A. Bambach primarily represents school districts and entities in matters of special education and student services throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Previously, he worked in complex and general civil litigation in Pennsylvania and Mississippi. He is a graduate of the Mississippi School of Law.
- Andrea Lynne Cola focuses her work on civil rights defense, special education and student services. Prior to joining the firm, Andrea was an attorney for the School District of Philadelphia in its Special Education Unit. She also worked for the Defender Association of Philadelphia, enforcing the rights and needs of children in matters involving abuse, dependency/parental rights, and education conflicts/issues. She is a graduate of Suffolk University Law School.
- Maria B. Desautelle represents school entities, primarily in the area of special education. Prior to joining the firm, Maria served as a mediator and complaint investigator with the New Jersey Department of Education – Office of Special Education. She also worked as a deputy attorney general with the New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety. There she represented both the Department of Human Services and the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. She is a graduate of Widener University School of Law.
- Jason D. Fortenberry advises school entities on special education issues, Section 504 matters, Americans with Disability Act violations, and other disability discrimination claims. He also has represented students and their families in such matters, bringing a dual perspective to his work. Previously, he was an attorney at a legal service agency in Pennsylvania and for the State of New Jersey, Office of Administrative Law. He is a graduate of the Rutgers University School of Law.
- Austin J. Soldano represents clients in matters involving tax assessment appeals, civil rights violations and employment discrimination. Previously, he served as an assistant district attorney in the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office, where he was assigned to the Appellate Division. He is a graduate of the West Virginia University College of Law.
Bambach will be based in the firm’s Pittston, PA office, while the others will work out of the firm’s New Britain, PA headquarters.
Sweet, Stevens, Katz & Williams, LLP was formed in 1995 by nine experienced education lawyers who created the first private law practice in Pennsylvania dedicated entirely to Education Law. Since then, the firm has grown to 18 attorneys who represent over 290 school and municipal entities as Solicitors or as Special Counsel in more than 50 counties throughout Pennsylvania.