Harrisburg Shareholder Steve Gierasch Quoted in The Legal Intelligencer on Buchanan's Presence in the State Capital

Stephen C. Gierasch, co-managing shareholder of Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney's Harrisburg office, was quoted in an article in the March 1, 2011 edition of The Legal Intelligencer. The article, "Large Harrisburg Firms Battle Outside Competition," discusses the challenges of competing in that market.

Apart from Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, Gierasch cited only five other firms, based primarily out of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, as having a "real" presence. Buchanan's Harrisburg office boasts 40 attorneys and government relations professionals.

Those five major players compete amongst themselves for "the higher-end regulatory and litigation work," Gierasch noted. "We wouldn't view the local firms as litigation and regulatory competitors."

Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney's Harrisburg office resembles a full-service firm more than a satellite office, Gierasch explained. "I don't need to go to outside offices to get things done," he said. "We've got it in-house here."

Interacting with local lawyers is important to Buchanan Ingersoll attorneys, Gierasch said, as is hiring local talent. The firm often brings on associates originally from Harrisburg but who left for law school and have since returned.

Staying local with regard to lateral hires is particularly useful, according to Gierasch, who noted that his office pulls in partners from other Harrisburg offices. Most recently, the Ryan Russell Seltzer & Ogden firm joined Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney's Energy Group.