Astor Weiss Kaplan & Mandel, LLP | Philadelphia Lawyers

Corporate/Business Law

Astor Weiss Kaplan & Mandel, LLP’s Business Department provides timely service to meet the widely varied business opportunities and needs of its clients, from formation to company maturity and sale or merger. In addition to the ongoing governance needs of any business, commercial collection services and business planning tax advice, we provide “soup to nuts” service in the following areas, among others:

Our Business Lawyers

Paul C. Astor

Senior Partner

Paul C. Astor

Senior Partner

Background

Paul Astor is the senior partner and chair of the firm and its executive committee. Mr. Astor founded the firm in 1954. Today, his practice is focused on the areas of Corporate and Commercial Law, Trusts and Estates, Real Estate Law and Domestic Relations.

Mr. Astor has held several positions with multiple government agencies, including serving as special counsel to the Governor of Pennsylvania, helping to bring Volkswagen’s manufacturing plant into the Commonwealth, and serving as special counsel to the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue, Lottery Division. Mr. Astor has served as Chairman of the Philadelphia Bar Association’s Law Day and has chaired its Public Relations Committee.

Education

Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, B.S. in Economics, 1951
University of Pennsylvania Law School, J.D., 1954

Bar Admissions

Pennsylvania
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Professional Affiliations

The Brandeis Law Society
Philadelphia Bar Association
Pennsylvania Bar Association
American Bar Association

Awards

Recipient of “Lifetime Achievement” Award of American Associates of Ben Gurion University, November 2007
American Heart Association, honoree
Chairman’s Circle, Abramson Center for Jewish Life
Legacy Society, Federation of Jewish Agencies

Community Involvement

Served on the advisory Board of Hudson United Bank and is counsel and Director of WEAZ-FM Radio, Inc. (B101)
Served as President and was named Honorary President of the Justice Lodge of B’Nai B’rith
Honorary Director of the Abramson Center for Jewish Life (formerly Philadelphia Geriatric Center)
Serves as a Director on the Leadership Council of the Abramson Cancer Center at the University of Pennsylvania
Associate Chairman and Founder of American Associates of Ben Gurion, University of Negev
Director on National Board of AABGU & Chairman of its Governance Committee
Trustee of the Federation of Jewish Agencies
Supporting member of the National Liberty Museum
Supporting member of the Academy of Music
Supporting Philadelphia Opera Company
Served as President of Men’s Club, Temple Beth Hillel-Beth-El and served as Board Member
Co-Chairman (2 years) Federation “Circle of Partners”

Presentations and Publications

Served on panels (seminars on Ethics and Law) at the University of Pennsylvania Law School and Villanova Law School

Contact

Paul C. Astor, Esquire
Astor Weiss Kaplan & Mandel, LLP
The Bellevue
200 South Broad Street, Suite 600
Philadelphia, PA 19102
215.790.0100
215.790.0509 (fax)
pastor@astorweiss.com

Ronald B. Glazer

Of Counsel

Ronald B. Glazer

Of Counsel

Background

Ronald B. Glazer is of counsel to the firm and a member of the Real Estate Business & Financing groups. He concentrates his practice in all types of development and investment real estate, creation and operation of condominium and homeowners’ associations, joint ventures and structuring mixed-use projects. He handles acquisition, sale, leasing, financing, development and operation for owners, developers, leasing and management agents, associations and lenders. Ron’s practice also includes alternative dispute resolution as an arbitrator of disputes. He has been trained as an arbitrator by the American Arbitration Association.

Prior to joining Astor Weiss Kaplan & Mandel, LLP, Mr. Glazer was of counsel to a suburban Philadelphia firm. He previously was a senior partner in WolfBlock LLP’s Real Estate Practice Group.

Mr. Glazer is considered a national authority in the field of condominiums and homeowners’ associations. He has authored a number of published articles on various aspects of real estate law and has chaired panels and lectured for numerous organizations, including the International Council of Shopping Centers, the National Banking Law Institute, the Pennsylvania Bar Institute, the Pennsylvania and Philadelphia Bar Associations, the Practicing Law Institute and several commercial program providers.

Education

University of Pennsylvania Law School, LL.B., cum laude, 1967
Dickinson College, B.A., cum laude, 1964

Bar Admissions

Pennsylvania

Professional Affiliations

American Bar Association
American College of Real Estate Lawyers
College of Community Association Lawyers
International Council of Shopping Centers
Pennsylvania Bar Association
Philadelphia Bar Association, former chair of Real Property Section

Awards

Best Lawyers of America, included for over 30 years
Pennsylvania Super Lawyers
Whose Who in America
Whose Who in American Law
Whose Who in Real Estate
Chambers USA

Presentations and Publications

Pennsylvania Condominium Law & Practice, 1975
Pennsylvania Condominium Law & Practice, 2d Ed., 1981
Pennsylvania Community Association Law & Practice, 2009

Contact

Ronald B. Glazer, Esquire
Astor Weiss Kaplan & Mandel, LLP
The Bellevue
200 South Broad Street, Suite 600
Philadelphia, PA 19102
215.790.0100
215.790.0509 (fax)
rglazer@astorweiss.com

Stephen H. Green

Of Counsel

Stephen H. Green

Of Counsel

Background

Stephen Green is Of Counsel to the Firm. His practice is focused in the areas of business, real estate, tax and estate planning, administration, and litigation. Among other representations, he has taken companies public and has helped neighborhood family business be sold. He has handled large commercial real estate transactions as well as home purchases. He administers estates of all sizes and has litigated large estate matters. He prepares simple Wills and sophisticated estate plans.

Education

Lafayette College, A.B., Phi Beta Kappa
Columbia University Law School, J.D.
New York University Law School, LLM in Taxation

Bar Admissions

Pennsylvania
U. S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit
The United States Tax Court

Professional Affiliations

Former chair of Philadelphia Bar Association Fee Disputes Committee
Lecturer in Continuing Legal Education seminars
Former member of the Boards of the Support Center for Child Advocates, the Philadelphia Association for Retarded Citizens, and the Friends

Neighborhood Guild

Former President of the Associated Alumni of Central High School, Philadelphia
Lecturer on business law at two area colleges

Presentations and Publications

Guardianship in Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Bar Institute Article
“Activism and the Tax Status of Exempt Organizations”, Pennsylvania Bar Quarterly Article
“Understanding Estate Planning and Wills” authored by Stephen H. Green
“Willmaking”, article in the the Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network

Contact

Stephen H. Green, Esquire
Astor Weiss Kaplan & Mandel, LLP
The Bellevue
200 South Broad Street, Suite 600
Philadelphia, PA 19102
215.790.0100
215.790.0509 (fax)
sgreen@astorweiss.com

David S. Mandel

Managing Partner

David S. Mandel

Managing Partner

Background

David Mandel is the firm’s managing partner and chairman of its Real Estate department. His practice is focused on the areas of Commercial Real Estate Acquisitions, Leasing and Finance, Commercial Transactions and Corporate law.

His real estate practice includes representation of national and regional retail tenants, as well as national, regional and local shopping center owners and developers. He also represents landlords and tenants in office and industrial leasing matters, borrowers and lenders in commercial loan transactions, buyers and sellers of commercial properties and apartment complexes and developers of both traditional and condominium type residential communities and shopping centers.

Mr. Mandel has also recently acted as local counsel for a Pension fund in connection with their acquisition of a portfolio of nine shopping centers. In addition to his real estate representation, he represents non real estate business clients in corporate and transactional matters, advising them on a wide variety of issues including business formations, employment agreements, shareholder and partnership agreements, corporate reorganizations and mergers and acquisitions.

Mr. Mandel has an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell.

Education

Villanova University, B.S. in Economics, cum laude, 1974
Villanova University School of Law, J.D., 1977

Bar Admissions

Pennsylvania
U. S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Professional Affiliations

Pennsylvania Bar Association
Philadelphia Bar Association
International Council of Shopping Centers

Awards

Pennsylvania Super Lawyer® 2004 – 2015
Recipient, Villanova University Economics Department Adam Smith Award, 1974

Presentations and Publications

Mr. Mandel has taught several seminars at conferences for the International Council of Shopping Centers, of which he is a member, including “The Duty to Mitigate Damages–Does it Exist?”, “Common Area Maintenance–What’s Hot, What’s Not”, and “A Half Baked Idea?–Issues Arising from the Purchase, Sale and Financing of a Shopping Center Under Construction”
Mr. Mandel has also lectured at the Pennsylvania Bar Institute Real Estate

Contact

David S. Mandel, Esquire
Astor Weiss Kaplan & Mandel, LLP
The Bellevue
200 South Broad Street, Suite 600
Philadelphia, PA 19102
215.790.0100
215.790.0509 (fax)
dmandel@astorweiss.com

Dina S. Ronsayro

Partner

Dina S. Ronsayro

Partner

Background

Dina Ronsayro is a partner in the firm, with her practice focused on the areas of Family law, Personal Injury Litigation, Commercial and Civil Litigation, Landlord-Tenant law, and non-profit organization formation (including obtaining federal tax exempt status).

Ms. Ronsayro began working for the firm as a law clerk while attending law school. While attending Temple University, Ms. Ronsayro was a member of the Political and Civil Rights Law Review and a participant in the Advanced Trial Advocacy Program.

As a mother of young children, Ms. Ronsayro is sensitive to the needs of young families and the unique issues they face.

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Education

Hamilton College, B.A., 1996
Temple University School of Law, J.D., 1999

Bar Admissions

Pennsylvania
New Jersey
U. S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
U.S.District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
U. S. District Court for New Jersey
U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey
The United States Tax Court

Professional Affiliations

Former Chair (2016) of the Philadelphia Bar Association Family Law Section
Philadelphia Bar Association; Co-chair – Support and Alimony Committee, Family Law Section
Philadelphia Bar Association; Member of the Executive Committee, Family Law Section
Philadelphia Bar Association; Former member of the Board of Governors
Philadelphia Bar Association; Former member of the Commission on Judicial Selection and Retention
Volunteer Arbitrator for the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas

Community Involvement

Active member of the region’s Filipino community and has provided all types of legal services to that community
Ms. Ronsayro was the attorney of record for Congregation B’nai Tikvah-Beth Israel located in Gloucester County, N.J.
Ms. Ronsayro had served as the Vice President of Congregation B’nai Tikvah-Beth Israel located in Gloucester County, N.J. as well as its board.

Awards

Hamilton College, Levitt Scholar
Ms. Ronsayro received numerous awards while at Temple University Law School for participation and oral advocacy.
Pennsylvania Super Lawyers Rising Star® 2008, 2010-2012 (Note: There was no Rising Star Publication in 2009)
Pennsylvania Super Lawyers® 2013-2017

Presentations and Publications

Ms. Ronsayro has spoken at the Philadelphia Bench Bar Presentation on issues of Support in Family Law.
She has further spoken at various Bar Association Family Law Section meetings on issues of Support in Family Law

Contact

Dina S. Ronsayro, Esquire
Astor Weiss Kaplan & Mandel, LLP
The Bellevue
200 South Broad Street, Suite 600
Philadelphia, PA 19102
215.893.4966
215.790.0509 (fax)
dronsayro@astorweiss.com

David Gutin

Partner

David Gutin

Partner

Background

David Gutin is a partner in the firm, with his practice focused on Family Law and Commercial Litigation. He co-chairs the Firm’s Family Law/Domestic Relations group. He has worked extensively in many facets of family law, including divorce, child custody, support, adoption and prenuptial agreements. Mr. Gutin has been a leader in the Philadelphia and South Jersey Jewish communities for more than 30 years.

Education

Rutgers University, B.A., high honors, Phi Beta Kappa, 1969
Columbia University Law School, J.D., Stone Scholar, 1972

Bar Admissions

Pennsylvania
New Jersey
U. S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
U. S. District Court of New Jersey
Third Circuit Court of Appeals

Professional Affiliations

Pennsylvania Bar Association
Philadelphia Bar Association
New Jersey Bar Association

Awards

Philadelphia Bar Association Young Lawyers Division Community Service Award in 1982
Philadelphia Federation’s Young Leadership Award in 1977
Pennsylvania Super Lawyer® 2005-2020

Community Involvement

Served as the Chairman (2004 to 2007) of the Philadelphia Jewish Community Relations Council
Serves on the Board of Trustees of the Jewish Federation of Southern New Jersey
Serves as President of Jewish Senior Housing and Healthcare Services, Voorhees, New Jersey
Served as President of Congregation Beth El, Voorhees, New Jersey (2003 to 2005)
Served on the boards of the United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania and the Jewish Family and Children’s Agency of Greater Philadelphia

Contact

David Gutin, Esquire
Astor Weiss Kaplan & Mandel, LLP
The Bellevue
200 South Broad Street, Suite 600
Philadelphia, PA 19102
215.893.4963
215.790.0509 (fax)
dgutin@astorweiss.com

Jerrold V. Moss

Special Counsel

Jerrold V. Moss

Special Counsel

Background

Jerrold “Jim” Moss is Special Counsel to the firm, with his practice focused in the areas of civil litigation and business transactions. Mr. Moss represents clients involved in commercial disputes, personal injury claims and general business transactions. His clients have included advertising agencies, condominium associations, artists and arts organizations, medical providers and law firms. Mr. Moss has established “new law” through arguments to appellate courts. Before joining the firm, he chaired the litigation department at Rubin Quinn Moss & Patterson.

Education

Pennsylvania State University, B. A.
University of Pennsylvania Law School, J. D.

Bar Admissions

Pennsylvania
U. S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
U. S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
U. S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Professional Affiliations

Served on Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association
Served on Board of Directors of the Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association
Served as President of the Government Study Commission (which drafted the Home Rule Charter of Cheltenham Township)
Served on Cheltenham Township Zoning Board

Community Involvement

Served as Vice President, Society Hill Civic Association
Serves as President of Council, Society Hill Towers Owners Association
Serves as Counsel and on Executive Committee of Central Delaware Advocacy Group
Served on Mayor’s Central Delaware Riverfront Advisory Group
Served on Board of Directors of Muse Gallery
Served on Board of Directors of Cheltenham Center for the Arts

Presentations and Publications

Mr. Moss taught Business Law at Spring Garden College

Contact

Jerrold V. Moss, Esquire
Astor Weiss Kaplan & Mandel, LLP
The Bellevue
200 South Broad Street, Suite 600
Philadelphia, PA 19102
215.790.0100
215.790.0509 (fax)
jmoss@astorweiss.com

Business and Employment Agreements

Many business ventures require bylaws, shareholders agreements for corporations, operating agreements and member agreements for limited liability companies, and partnership agreements for partnerships. Such agreements generally provide how the business is to be managed and regulate the transfer of equity interests during lifetime and upon death of equity owners. In addition to experience in such matters we also have experience in other business transactions and documents, such as, employment agreements, non-disclosure and non-compete agreements, consulting and independent contractor agreements, indemnities and releases and commercial contracts of all sorts with third parties.

Collections and Bankruptcy

We have an active practice in commercial collections, regardless of size, and represent creditors in bankruptcy. Collection matters can often be handled on a contingent fee basis.

Intellectual Property

We provide our clients with trademark and copyright services. Astor Weiss files trademark applications for federal trademarks with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (“PTO”) and prosecutes the applications through the process to obtain the trademark. We have appeared a number of times before the PTO’s Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. Astor Weiss is also very active in Federal Courts in copyright litigation and trademark litigation including enforcing clients’ rights in a copyright or trademark.

Mergers and Acquisitions

As a business grows, it may continue its growth by the acquisition of other businesses. Conversely, as a business grows it may become a target of companies on the acquisition trail. We represent buyers and sellers, from identification of the target through consummation of the sale or acquisition including all necessary non-disclosure and due diligence work and all transaction documentation.

Startups

Going into business a client will want limited liability and a structure that will be favorable for income tax purposes. What structure will be best? A “C” Corporation? An “S” Corporation? A limited iability company? A limited partnership? A registered limited liability partnership?

As business lawyers it is our goal to inform our client of the advantages and disadvantages of the alternative methods of organization and give our client the guidance necessary to lead to the correct decision; this involves tax advice as well as advice about the business entities.

Succession Planning

As founders of businesses approach retirement age it becomes important to plan for the future of the business and the role of the next generation in that future. Succession planning includes not only having a will, it requires planning for the business. Will the children or other relatives control the business following the founder’s retirement or death, or should the business be sold upon the founder’s retirement or death? How should these alternatives be planned for? Should a gift program be undertaken now to reduce inheritance taxes in the future? We have considerable experience assisting our clients to reach the best conclusions of what are often very delicate matters.

Corporate/Business Law

BANKING

BUSINESS AND EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS

COLLECTIONS AND BANKRUPTCY

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS

REAL ESTATE AND REAL ESTATE FINANCING

STARTUPS

SUCCESSION PLANNING

Our Business Lawyers

Business and Employment Agreements

Collections and Bankruptcy

We have an active practice in commercial collections, regardless of size, and represent creditors in bankruptcy. Collection matters can often be handled on a contingent fee basis.

Intellectual Property

Mergers and Acquisitions

Startups

Going into business a client will want limited liability and a structure that will be favorable for income tax purposes. What structure will be best? A “C” Corporation? An “S” Corporation? A limited iability company? A limited partnership? A registered limited liability partnership?

As business lawyers it is our goal to inform our client of the advantages and disadvantages of the alternative methods of organization and give our client the guidance necessary to lead to the correct decision; this involves tax advice as well as advice about the business entities.

Succession Planning