Eleven Unruh Turner Burke & Frees lawyers were recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® and four in The Best Lawyers: One to Watch® in America 2025 editions.

Since its inception in 1983, Best Lawyers® has earned a reputation as the ultimate benchmark of legal excellence. The recognitions are determined through an extensive Purely Peer …

We are thrilled to announce that 21 of our attorneys have been named to the Daily Local News’ Reader’s Choice Top Lawyers of Chester County list for 2024! This is the fourth consecutive year firm attorneys have received this honor.

We would like to extend our sincere congratulations to the following attorneys for being recognized …

Unruh Turner Burke & Frees is proud to announce that eleven firm attorneys have been selected to the 2024 Super Lawyers list and five firm attorneys have been selected to the 2024 Pennsylvania Rising Stars list. Super Lawyers, part of Thomson Reuters, is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas …

The Chester County Bar Foundation Law Day Ceremony took place on May 1, 2024, at the Chester County Justice Center. Law Day  was established in 1958 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower to celebrate the rule of law in a free society.

Amanda Sundquist, Chair of the 2024 Law Day Event Committee, worked closely …

Unruh Turner Burke & Frees is proud to have ten lawyers recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® and three in The Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America 2024 editions. Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers® has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence.

Best Lawyers recognitions are compiled …

Daily Local News readers voted for Chester County’s Top Lawyers in the annual Top Lawyers Readers’ Choice Poll earlier this year. Readers voted online for their favorite lawyers in various practice areas.

This is the second year that every lawyer at the firm has been recognized and the third consecutive year that firm attorneys have …

Unruh Turner Burke & Frees (“UTBF”) is pleased to announce that eleven attorneys have been selected to the 2023 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list and four firm attorneys have been selected to the 2023 Pennsylvania Rising Stars list. Super Lawyers, part of Thomson Reuters, is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice …

Unruh Turner Burke & Frees (UTBF) was honored to be named among U.S. News & World Report’s Best Lawyers ® “Best Law Firms in America” again for 2023. The firm earned a National “Tier 1” ranking in Land Use and Zoning Law for the second year in a row; a Metropolitan “Tier 1” ranking for Philadelphia …

Unruh Turner Burke & Frees (UTBF) is pleased to announce that eleven UTBF attorneys have been recognized in the 2023 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America® and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch™.

For more than 40 years, Best Lawyers has been recognized as a reliable and unbiased resource to identify top legal professionals. …

Unruh Turner Burke & Frees is honored to have fourteen attorneys named to Main Line Today’s “2022 Top Lawyers” list. Each year Main Line Today publishes a list of “Top Lawyers” in the region. Attorneys are nominated by their peers and vetted through the magazine’s editorial process. Main Line Today is a regional magazine focusing …

Chester County has voted and the results are in. Every attorney at Unruh Turner Burke & Frees (UTBF), one of Chester County, Pennsylvania’s largest law firms, has been voted a Top Lawyer for 2022 by Daily Local readers. Unruh Turner Burke & Frees’ attorneys were recognized in the following practice areas:

Ten attorneys at Unruh Turner Burke & Frees have been named to the Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list for 2022, in addition to an attorney being named among the 2022 Pennsylvania Rising Stars. The Rising Stars list includes attorneys who are 40 years old or younger or who have been practicing law for 10 years or …

Unruh Turner Burke & Frees (UTBF) was honored to be named among U.S. News & World Report’s Best Lawyers ® “Best Law Firms in America” again for 2022. The firm earned a National “Tier 1” ranking in Land Use and Zoning Law; a Metropolitan “Tier 1” ranking for Philadelphia in three practice areas: Land Use …

WEST CHESTER, PA ─ Unruh Turner Burke & Frees (UTBF) is pleased to announce that ten UTBF attorneys have been recognized by Best Lawyers in America.

In the area of Real Estate Law, partners William J. Burke, III, Theodore F. Claypoole and Donald C. Turner were named to the Best Lawyers …

Unruh Turner Burke & Frees is honored to once again have multiple attorneys named to the annual “Top Lawyers” list by Main Line Today magazine. Main Line Today is a regional magazine focusing on the communities, traditions and lifestyles of Philadelphia’s western suburbs. Attorneys are nominated by their peers and vetted through the magazine’s editorial …

Unruh Turner Burke & Frees is honored to have twenty attorneys named to the Daily Local News 2021 Best Lawyers Readers Choice list. UTBF attorneys recognized are:

Twelve attorneys at Unruh Turner Burke & Frees have been named to the Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list for 2021. Additionally, three attorneys were named among the 2021 Pennsylvania Rising Stars. The Rising Stars list includes attorneys who are 40 years old or younger or who have been practicing law for 10 years or less.

Unruh Turner Burke & Frees (UTBF) was named among U.S. News & World Report’s Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms in America” for 2021. The firm earned a Metropolitan “Tier 1” ranking for Philadelphia in Land Use and Zoning Law; a National “Tier 2” ranking in Land Use and Zoning Law; and a Metropolitan “Tier 3” …

Unruh Turner Burke & Frees (UTBF) is pleased to announce that six of our partners are listed among 2021’s Best Lawyers in America®. This year’s honorees include William J. Burke, III and Theodore F. Claypoole for Real Estate Law, David M. Frees, III for Trusts and Estates, Amanda J. Sundquist and …

We are proud to announce that fifteen attorneys at Unruh Turner Burke & Frees were named to the 2020 “Top Lawyers” list by Main Line Today magazine. Main Line Today is a regional magazine focusing on the communities, traditions and lifestyles of Philadelphia’s western suburbs. Attorneys are nominated by their peers and vetted through …

Eight attorneys at Unruh Turner Burke & Frees have been recognized by Pennsylvania Super Lawyers for 2020. Additionally, two attorneys were named among the 2020 Pennsylvania Rising Stars. The Rising Stars list includes attorneys who are 40 years old or younger or who have been practicing law for 10 years or less.

The UTBF attorneys …

Unruh Turner Burke & Frees (UTBF) is pleased to announce our own Amanda Sundquist, a partner in the firm’s school law and municipal government practice areas, was named among the honorees of VISTA Today’s inaugural class of VISTA Millennial Superstars.

In partnership with the Chester County Economic Development Council, Brumbaugh Wealth Management and Wilmington …

For the second year in a row, every partner at Unruh Turner Burke & Frees was named to the 2019 “Top Lawyers” list by Main Line Today magazine. Attorneys are nominated by their peers and vetted through the magazine’s editorial process. Sixteen attorneys at the firm, including all partners, were named to the list in …

Eight of UTBF’s lawyers were named to the Pennsylvania Super Lawyers Lists for 2019. Included among this year’s Pennsylvania Super Lawyers are:

The results are in…

Every partner in our firm was named among the 2018 “Top Lawyers”

We are pleased to announce that 16 attorneys at Unruh Turner Burke & Frees, including all partners, are named to Main Line Today’s “Top Lawyers” list for 2018.

UTBF is pleased to announce that nearly half of the firm’s attorneys were included among this year’s “Super Lawyers” and “Rising Stars” lists.

This year’s “Super Lawyers” include:

The Chester County Bar Association held its annual Law Day Luncheon on Friday, May 4, 2018. The luncheon is held annually to celebrate Law Day, and to recognize Chester County students with awards for their poster and essay submissions. This year’s theme was “Separation of Powers – Framework for Freedom.” Several awards were given for …

Amanda Sundquist served as a moderator for the “Autonomous Vehicles:  The Future of Mobility” panel at the 2018 Chester County Association of Township Officials (“CCATO”) conference on March 13, 2018.  The panel  discussed impacts of connected and autonomous vehicles on existing transportation infrastructure and on future planning for municipalities.   Amanda serves on CCATO’s education …

Eight of the 19 attorneys at Unruh Turner Burke & Frees have been recognized by Pennsylvania Super Lawyers for 2017. Pennsylvania Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters rating service and publication, selects outstanding attorneys by utilizing a multi-phase selection process involving peer nomination, independent research and peer evaluation. Only 5 percent of Pennsylvania attorneys receive the …

By: Amanda Sundquist

Statements of Financial Interest are not just for candidates running for office. Public officials (individuals currently serving elected or appointed offices) and certain public employees are required to annually file the Statement by May 1st. Local (county, township, borough, or school district) public officials and employees file …

By: Amanda J. Sundquist

The White House has released a tool kit to help municipalities modernize zoning regulations related to housing. The tool kit suggests a number of potential starting points that a local government can use to encourage growth opportunities and affordable housing. Some suggestions include:

By: Amanda J. Sundquist

School administrators and administrative staff are often faced with a number of challenging issues regarding enrollment of new students. A common issue is whether a school district can register a child where the school district has not received the child’s prior educational records, including disciplinary records.

A school district …

By: Amanda J. Sundquist

With the start of the school year, school administrators and administrative staff are often faced with a number of challenging issues regarding enrollment of new students. A common issue is whether a school district can register a child whose parents have declined to complete the Home Language Survey.

In order …

By: Amanda Sundquist

With the start of the school year, school administrators and administrative staff are often faced with a number of challenging issues regarding enrollment of new students. A common issue is whether a school district can register a child that does not have the required proof of immunization.

A school district …

School Law Chair Amanda Sundquist presented the program “Before You Hit Send: Navigating an E-mail Minefield” at the annual Pennsylvania School Boards Association’s Solicitors’ Symposium in State College Pennsylvania. She addressed ethical, professional, and legal risks school board solicitors may encounter when corresponding by e-mail with the judiciary and their own school …

Utilizing a multi-phase selection process involving peer nomination, independent research and peer evaluation, Super Lawyers®, a Thomson Reuters publication, has named eight Unruh Turner Burke and Frees attorneys as Pennsylvania Super Lawyers® for 2016. One attorney has been named as a 2016 Pennsylvania Rising Star. Each year only 5 percent of Pennsylvania attorneys receive the …

Amanda Sundquist participated in the Chester County Association of Township Officials’ Education Committee’s program “Child Protective Services Law” on September 23, 2015. Amanda served as moderator of the program. The panelists discussed among other topics, the definition of child abuse, mandatory and permissive reporters and the reporting process, new township obligations under the Law …

On July 15, 2015, Amanda Sundquist presented the inaugural Planning Track Primary course for the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors’ (PSATS) new Pennsylvania Municipal Government Academy. In an interactive all-day seminar at PSATS headquarters in Enola, Pennsylvania, Amanda engaged with township supervisors, managers, secretaries and zoning officers on a broad range of principal …

Unruh Turner Burke & Frees is pleased to announce that eight of the firm’s attorneys have been selected as Pennsylvania Super Lawyers for 2015. One additional attorney was named as 2015 Pennsylvania Rising Stars.

The lists appeared in the June 2015 issues of Philadelphia magazine and Pennsylvania Super Lawyers magazine. Each year only 5 percent …

Amanda Sundquist was the moderator for the Chester County Association of Township Officials’ Education Committee’s program “Scrambled Eggs” on May 14, 2015. The program featured Brian Moyer, Penn State Extension, Dan Miloser, Chester County Conservation District, and Diane Clayton, Zoning Officer for Kennett Township. The group discussed common issues related to the keeping of …

Unruh Turner Burke & Frees is pleased to announce the naming of two new partners, Amanda J. Sundquist and Christopher L. Turner.

Amanda J. Sundquist has been with the firm since 2006 and is a valued and respected member of the firm’s Municipal and School Law Practice. Amanda’s practice is focused …

By: Amanda Sundquist

The Office for Civil Rights (“OCR”) updated its previous “Dear Colleague” letter issued in 2011 regarding public schools’ obligations for student enrollment. Public schools may not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, citizenship or immigration status of a student (or his/her parent or guardian) in regard …

By: Amanda Sundquist

In a unique ruling, a New Jersey Superior Court Judge has permitted two school districts to add eleven students and their parents as third party defendants in a bullying and harassment case against the school districts. The students are alleged to have bullied the student plaintiff and their parents are …

By: Amanda Sundquist

I have previously blogged about a First Amendment law suit brought by two middle school students against Easton Area School District in federal court. The school district banned the wearing of “I (heart) Boobies” bracelets distributed by the Keep A Breast Foundation. The students were suspended for failing to comply …

By: Amanda Sundquist

On November 9, 2011, the “Safety in Youth Sports Act” was signed into law.  The Act addresses concussion and head injury risks for student athletes and the education of the coaching staff.

School districts have new parent notification obligations under the Act.  Prior to participation of a student athlete in an …

By: Amanda Sundquist

Following up on its recent guidance on bullying and harassment, on June 14, 2011 the Office for Civil Rights (“OCR”) issued a “Dear Colleagues” letter regarding the impact of the Equal Access Act (the “Act”) on gay-straight alliances (GSA) and similar student-initiated groups addressing LGBT issues. OCR reminds …

By: Amanda Sundquist

The United States Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has recently issued a “Dear Colleague” letter regarding school district enrollment practices. The letter focuses on practices that may discourage enrollment of students based on their or their parents’ actual or perceived citizenship or immigration status. Under federal …

By: Amanda Sundquist

On December 17, 2010, I blogged about a First Amendment law suit brought by two middle school students against Easton Area School District in federal court. The District banned the wearing of “I (heart) Boobies” bracelets distributed by the Keep A Breast Foundation. The students were suspended for …

By: Amanda Sundquist

On October 28, 2010, I blogged about the United States Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights issuing a “Dear Colleagues” letter addressing school districts’ obligations in regard to bullying and harassment of district students. In December 2010, the National School Boards Association wrote a letter to Office …

By: Amanda Sundquist

Two middle school students have brought a First Amendment law suit against the Easton Area School District in the United State District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.  The District banned the wearing of “I (heart) Boobies” bracelets distributed by the Keep A Breast Foundation.  The students …

By: Amanda J. Sundquist

On October 26, 2010, the United States Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, issued a “Dear Colleagues” letter addressing school districts’ obligations in regard to bullying and harassment of students.  The letter encourages school districts to review their bullying and harassment policies and practices to ensure compliance with …

By:  Amanda Sundquist

In a matter of first impression, the Commonwealth Court has concluded that the Sunshine Act may be violated when property owners are permitted to participate in an executive session for litigation purposes related to a tax assessment appeal.  In Trib Total Media v. Highland School District, at the conclusion of a …

[flv:https://www.utbf.com/school-law/videos/Amanda_Sundquist_01.mov.FLV 450 250]

By: Amanda Sundquist

Watch the above video to find out why it is important for your school district to review student handbooks and school board policies for consistency.  Give Amanda a call at (610) 692-137 if you would like to discuss your district’s student handbook and school board policies.

By: Amanda Sundquist

The United States Supreme Court has issued a decision in City of Ontario v. Quon, which was discussed in my May 13, 2010 blog entry.  At issue in the case was whether a member of the police SWAT team had a reasonable expectation of privacy in text messages transmitted …

By: Amanda Sundquist

The United States Supreme Court has issued a decision in City of Ontario v. Quon, which was discussed in my May 13, 2010 blog entry.  At issue in the case was whether a member of the police SWAT team had a reasonable expectation of privacy in text messages transmitted …

By: Amanda Sundquist

The United States Supreme Court heard oral argument in City of Ontario v. Quon, regarding whether a member of the police SWAT team had a reasonable expectation of privacy in text messages transmitted on a SWAT pager. The Court’s decision in this case may have wide spread impact on …

By: Amanda Sundquist

The United States Supreme Court heard oral argument in City of Ontario v. Quon, regarding whether a member of the police SWAT team had a reasonable expectation of privacy in text messages transmitted on a SWAT pager. The Court’s decision in this case may have wide spread impact on …

By: Amanda J.  Sundquist

The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) for the U.S. Department of Education has issued new guidance regarding Title IX compliance for intercollegiate and interscholastic athletic programs. The new guidance withdraws OCR’s 2005 guidance and provides additional clarification on compliance with part three of the three part Title IX test. …

By: Amanda Sundquist

As discussed in my February 18, 2010 and April 12, 2010 blog entries on free speech, the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit reached conflicting results in two student free speech cases: Layshock v. Hermitage School District and J.S. v. Blue Mountain School District.  The …

By: Amanda Sundquist

Westfall Township is believed to be the first Pennsylvania municipality to file for Chapter 9 bankruptcy protection. The Township sought Chapter 9 protection to force negotiations on a $20 million federal judgment entered in favor of a developer. Chapter 9 was used to reduce the award to $6 million, which …

By: Amanda Sundquist

By: Amanda Sundquist

In an unusual verdict, a jury for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, in MFS, Inc. v Dilazaro, has found four Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection employees individually liable for $6.5 million dollars in damages. Typically, government workers are protected by the doctrine of …

By: Amanda J. Sundquist

As discussed in my February 18, 2010 blog entry, the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit reached conflicting results in two student free speech cases: Layshock v. Hermitage School District and J.S. v. Blue Mountain School District.  An article in the Legal Intelligencer reports …

By: Amanda J. Sundquist

The United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit has issued new, and competing student free speech decisions.  The cases names are becoming familiar to school districts across the region: Layshock v. Hermitage School District and J.S. v. Blue Mountain School District.  Both cases address the …

By: Amanda J. Sundquist

The United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit has issued new, and competing student free speech decisions.  The cases names are becoming familiar to school districts across the region: Layshock v. Hermitage School District and J.S. v. Blue Mountain School District.  Both cases address the …

By: Amanda J. Sundquist

In Trefelner v. Burrell School District, the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania issued a temporary restraining order to compel a school district to permit a parochial school student to participate in extracurricular activities offered by the school district, including marching and jazz bands. Pennsylvania’s Public …

By: Amanda J. Sundquist

The Department of Community and Economic Development has released its report “Earned Income Tax Consolidation Best Practices Report.” This resource may be helpful to school districts and municipalities which are navigating through the consolidation of the earned income tax collection system. For assistance utilizing information in the Report or …

By: Amanda J. Sundquist

January 2010 marks the first anniversary of the implementation of the new Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law. The past year has been a year of firsts for local agencies, requesters, and the Office of Open Records as the law has been implemented and interpreted. Sixty-five determinations by the Office of Open Records …

By: Amanda J. Sundquist

January 2010 marks the first anniversary of the implementation of the new Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law. The past year has been a year of firsts for local agencies, requesters, and the Office of Open Records as the law has been implemented and interpreted. Sixty-five determinations by the Office of Open Records …

By: Amanda J. Sundquist

In Harleysville Homestead, Inc. v. Lower Salford Township Authority, 980 A.2d 749 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2009), a residential developer applied to the authority to secure public sanitary sewer service for its development. The developer and the authority entered into an agreement for the construction of sewer lines, under which the …

By: Amanda J. Sundquist

How far can public school officials go in regulating student speech?  The traditional rule is that officials can quell speech that creates a “substantial disruption” of the educational process.  Now, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit appears to have provided school officials in the Fifth Circuit …

By: Land Use and Zoning Secttion

School employers, retired teachers, administrators and other personnel should use caution when entering into emergency contracts for temporary, post-retirement employment. Generally, employers may hire retired teachers, administrators and other personnel under temporary contracts when there is an emergency, or in the event of a shortage of appropriate personnel. However, …

By: Amanda J. Sundquist

In ,Crandell v. Pennsbury Township Board of Supervisors, et al. — A.2d — (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2009), the Commonwealth Court addressed public opposition to a plan by a Township Board of Supervisors member.  Fenton, a resident who ultimately became a board member, formed a group to oppose a developer’s plans.  …

By: Amanda J. Sundquist

Out of school activities by students and staff that impact the effective running of a school district are a gray area to navigate. Recently, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals concluded that a teacher’s personal blog contained “several highly personal and vituperative comments” which justified the school district demoting …

By: Amanda Sundquist

Chester County and other local residents often wonder if they can appeal a decision by their Zoning Hearing Board (“ZHB”). In a recent case, a landowner applied to the ZHB for variances. At the hearing, the ZHB granted a resident party status. The resident tried to appeal the ZHB’s decision. The …

By:    Amanda Sundquist

In my recent blog entry, Dedicated or Donated Property, the Commonwealth Court’s decision in In Re: Erie Golf Course was discussed.  The Lake Erie Region Conservancy, Inc. and the Committee to Keep Erie Golf Course Open filed a petition with the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania for allowance of appeal from the …

By: Amanda J. Sundquist

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has ruled on whether municipalities that opt to enforce the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act (“Act”) may designate one entity to administer, enforce, and conduct all plan review and inspections mandated by the Act to exclusion of other code officials.

Under the Act, municipalities were required to …

Please click here to view our latest blog about the importance of obtaining a survey before you buy property. For additional information, you can also read an article about property surveys on our site here.

Contact Bill Burke for more information.

By: Amanda Sundquist

Does your municipality have dedicated or donated property?  Are you considering changing the use of that property?

In a recent case, the City of Erie filed a petition under the Donated or Dedicated Property Act to abandon the use of dedicated public property known as the Erie Golf Course for …

By: Amanda J. Sundquist

Nextel Partners, Inc. v. Clarks Summit Borough/Clarks Summit Borough Council, 958 A.2d 587 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2008).

In Nextel, an applicant submitted an incomplete conditional use application.  The Borough Council held a hearing on the application 82 days after its receipt; the applicant asserted it was entitled to a deemed …

By: Amanda Sundquist

Are you a driver of a diesel powered motor vehicle?  Does your facility accept deliveries or other visits from diesel powered vehicles?

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