Our Attorneys
Contact Robert Elias:
Philadelphia/Fort Washington, Pa.
215-454-2550
Scranton/Northeast, Pa.
570-215-8380
RElias@EMKLegal.com
Robert W. Elias
Partner
Education
Rob received his Juris Doctorate from Villanova University in 1995. He received Bachelor of Arts degrees in Economics and Foreign Service from the Pennsylvania State University. He also received a Master of Arts degree in History from Villanova University, where he was a member of the Phi Alpha Theta Honor Society.
Practice Areas
Workers’ Compensation
Insurance Coverage
Labor & Employment
News, Honors, Publications, & Speeches
Recent Lectures and Seminars:
- Managing Workers’ Compensation Claims with an Aging Workforce; Pennsylvania Self Insurers’ Association Annual Meeting, September 2013.
- Employment Land Mines: Employment Considerations for Workers’ Compensation Professionals; Pennsylvania Self Insurers’ Association Spring Meeting, March 2012.
- The Use of the TNCP in Workers’ Compensation Claims; Philadelphia Bar Association, Workers’ Compensation Section Meeting, March 2012.
- The Construction Workplace Misclassification Act; Smith’s Insurance Agency Contractors Seminar, February, 2016.
- Independent Contractors and the Workers’ Compensation Act; Donegal Insurance Workers’ Compensation Seminar, September, 2015.
- PMA Management Corp. Presenter “Intro to PA WC Litigation” February 2021
- DVWCT Legal Update Presenter on “Is Stress Work Related?” November 2022
Notable Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court Decisions:
City of Philadelphia v. WCAB (DeFruscio), 695 A.2d 910 (Pa. Commw. 1997); retirement and disability
Martino v. WCAB (PECO Energy), 813 A.2d 945 (Pa. Commw. 2002); loss of consortium and subrogation
Weikel v. WCAB (PECO Energy), 840 A.2d 1082 (Pa. Commw. 2004); benefits and average weekly wage
Fox v. WCAB (PECO Energy), 969 A.2d 11 (Pa. Commw. 2009); sovereign immunity and subrogation
Professional Organization Memberships
Alexander F. Barbieri Inns of Court, Charter Member
Philadelphia Bar Association
Pennsylvania Self Insurers’ Association
Contact Shannon Mickle:
Philadelphia/Fort Washington, Pa.
215-454-2550
Scranton/Northeast, Pa.
570-215-8380
SMickle@EMKLegal.com
Shannon Mickle
Partner
Education
Shannon attended Allegheny College, and received her degree in Political Science. She received her Juris Doctor degree from Villanova University School of Law where she chaired the Honor Board for two years.
Practice Areas
Workers’ Compensation
Insurance Coverage
Labor & Employment
News, Honors, Publications, & Speeches
- Shannon has been named a Superlawyer Rising Star by Philadelphia Magazine in 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015, and 2016.
- The Construction Workplace Misclassification Act; Smith’s Insurance Agency Contractors Seminar, February, 2016.
- Independent Contractors and the Workers’ Compensation Act; Donegal Insurance Workers’ Compensation Seminar, September, 2015.
- Comcast National Workers’ Compensation Litigation Summit Presenter Fall 2017
- PMA Management Corp. Presenter “Intro to PA WC Litigation” February 2021
- DVWCT Legal Update Presenter on “Is Stress Work Related?” November 2022
Notable Cases:
DePue v. WCAB (N. Paone Construction, Inc.), 61 A.3d 1062 (Pa. Commw. 2013)
Professional Organization Memberships
Member: Philadelphia Bar Association
Contact John Kennedy:
Philadelphia/Fort Washington, Pa.
215-454-2550
Scranton/Northeast, Pa.
570-215-8380
JKennedy@EMKLegal.com
John F. Kennedy
Partner
Education
Mr. Kennedy received his J.D. from Villanova School of Law and earned his B.S. in Business Management, magna cum laude, from the University of Scranton.
Practice Areas
Workers’ Compensation
Insurance Coverage
Labor and Employment
Municipal Litigation
Products Liability
Professional Organization Memberships
Pennsylvania Bar Association
Lackawanna County Bar Association
Board Member – Saint Francis Soup Kitchen (2001 – present, Board President 2010 – 2012)
Lackawanna Pro Bono Volunteer Attorney (2001 – present)
Notable Decisions
Key Handling Systems, Inc. v. Workers’ Compensation Appeal Bd., 729 A.2d 109 (Pa. Commw. 1999).
Schrader v. Workers’ Compensation Appeal Bd, No. 812 C.D. 2016 (Pa. Commw 2018).
News, Honors, Publications, & Speeches
- Seminar: Lackawanna Bar Association “Protz and the Future of IREs” 2017
- Seminar: “Workplace Discrimination and Disability.” The People’s Law School 2003
- Seminar: Understanding the Americans with Disabilities Act. Philadelphia 1991
Mary S. Kohnke Wagner
Partner
Education
Mary earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Niagara University in 1978. She completed a Master of Science in Nursing at Widener University in 1985 where she researched stress levels experienced by nurses in different hospital settings. She graduated with her Juris Doctorate from Temple University Beasley School of Law in 1990 where she received the Harriet Robinson Gillock award for outstanding service to the law school community.
Practice Areas
Workers’ Compensation
Insurance Coverage
Labor & Employment
News, Honors, Publications, & Speeches
Lectures and Seminars
- “Effective Cross Examination of the Medical Expert”, In-house teaching series for new attorneys, February 2019
“Combatting Use of Compound Creams in Workers’ Compensation”, Aramark National Summit, Aramark Tower-Philadelphia- June 2016 - “Understanding Impairment Rating Evaluations under the AMA Guidelines in light of Protz”, Inn of Court Presentation- Philadelphia 2016
- “Managing Chronic Pain”, in collaboration with Gregory Pharo, DO, In house presentation, Citizens Bank Park-Philadelphia- March 2015
- “Infectious Diseases in the Workplace”, Inn of Court Presentation, Philadelphia- March 2015
“Dissecting Medical Records”, In-house client presentation, 2014. - “Workers’ Compensation Issues Involving the Larger Employer”, Philadelphia Bar Institute, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, 2012
- “Emerging Impact of Social Media in Workers’ Compensation”, Several presentations to clients, 2011, 2012, 2013
- “Understanding Pain and the Use of Narcotic Analgesia”, In collaboration with Rosemary Harris, MD, Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Judges’ Conference, Harrisburg, PA- June 2012
“Workers Compensation 101 Roundtable”, Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, Harrisburg, PA- June 2012. - “Understanding the Most Common Mistakes Made in Workers’ Compensation”, Pennsylvania Chambers of Business and Industry Human Resources Conference, Hershey, PA- June 2012
Publications
PA Chamber of Commerce Workers’ Compensation Guide contributor.
Achievements
Selected to Pennsylvania Super Lawyers® (2017-2022)
Professional Organization Memberships
Alexander F. Barbieri Inns of Court
Philadelphia Bar Association
Pennsylvania Bar Association
Corey Jayne Bolander
Partner
Education
Corey is a graduate of Ursinus College, where she double majored in Political Science and Environmental Studies. She received her Juris Doctorate from Widener University School of Law and received an Honors Certificate in Environmental Law upon graduation.
Practice Areas
Workers’ Compensation
Labor and Employment
Professional Organization Memberships
Alexander F. Barbieri Inns of Court
Contact Luciano N. Patruno:
Philadelphia/Fort Washington, Pa.
Direct: 215-714-7447
Cell: 215-906-8947
Main: 215-454-2550 ext. 1005
Fax: 215-358-7024
LPatruno@EMKLegal.com
Luciano N. Patruno
Partner
Educational
Luciano is a graduate of the Pennsylvania State University where he received a Bachelor’s Degree in International Politics. He received his Juris Doctorate degree at Widener University School of Law where he received Certificates of Honor in both Constitutional Law and Professional Responsibility.
Practice Areas
Workers’ Compensation
Labor and Employment
Publications and Seminars
- Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court Decision Highlights the Necessity of Addressing a Changing Injury Description During Termination Petition Litigation | JD Supra -4/08/2021 (Michael Sherman, Esquire co-author)
- Credit Or No Credit: Offsets and Credits in Workers’ Compensation in the post-covid world – Inn of Court Presenter – October 2021
- You be the Judge – How To Judge Credibility Of Claimants, Fact Witnesses And Medical Experts – Inn of Court Presenter April 2019
Professional Organizations
Alexander F/ Barbieri Inn of Court
Contact Wendy Fleming, Esquire:
540 Pennsylvania Avenue, Suite 200
Fort Washington, Pennsylvania 19034
Direct: 215-278-3024
Main: 215-454-2550 ext 1006
Fax: 215-358-7024
wfleming@emklegal.com
Wendy Fleming, Esquire
Partner
Educational
Villanova University School of Law, Villanova, PA Visiting Student, Fall 1994 and Spring 1995
Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, Cleveland, OH J.D. Degree, May 1995
Practice Areas
Workers’ Compensation
Publications and Seminars
- Member Philadelphia Bar Association
-
Co-chair Workers’ Compensation Section-2014
-
