PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA LABOR, EMPLOYMENT AND SCHOOL LAW ATTORNEY
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Mark E. Scott graduated from Harvard University in 1975. He received his BA degree, cum laude, in economics, with a concentration in labor studies and employment related issues. While at Harvard, Mark was a member of the varsity football team for three years (letterman), including Harvard's 1974 Ivy League Championship Football Team.
After Harvard, Mark accepted a position in labor relations with Jones and Laughlin Steel Corporation. Initially assigned to work at J&L's Aliquippa, Pennsylvania works, a huge fully integrated steel plant located along the banks of the Ohio River, Mark's primary duties included contract administration, grievance processing through and including final and binding arbitration, and collective bargaining. Mark also had significant responsibility for the formulation, development and implementation of incentive compensation plans, job descriptions and classifications, affirmative action plans, and supervisory development programs . Mark received regular promotions while at J&L to positions of increasing responsibility, culminating in the position of Manager of Labor Agreements.
While employed at J&L, Mark enrolled in Duquesne University's Evening Program of Legal Study. Mark graduated from Duquesne Law School in 1982; where he served as an Editor on the Duquesne Law Review. His program of legal study emphasized labor and employment law, discrimination and other employment related issues.
EMPLOYMENT LAW
Following graduation from Duquesne, Mark left J&L and practiced labor and employment law with two prominent Pittsburgh law firms. His practice concentrated on union elections, unfair labor practice proceedings, contract negotiations, labor arbitration, employment discrimination, unemployment compensation and general client counseling. In 1987, Mark co-founded SG&C Associates, Inc., a management consulting firm engaged in advising organizations of all types in the fields of human resources management and organizational development.
In his private law practice, Mark regularly represents clients before federal and state governmental agencies, including but not limited to the National Labor Relations Board, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, OSHA; as well as the federal and state courts. He also is experienced in alternative dispute resolution (mediation), arbitration proceedings, negotiating and evaluating employment contracts, non-compete agreements and general client counseling.
EDUCATION/SCHOOL LAW
As an experienced employment law attorney, with eight years of experience as a school director in the North Hills School District, serving as President for two years and as Vice President for two years, Mark has a unique perspective on school law issues. This unique perspective enables him to counsel both school districts as well as teachers and administrators with respect to all aspects of education law.
Notably, Mark was counsel for the plaintiff in a case which is frequently cited as having established new precedent establishing limits on a school district's ability to demote a professional administrator under the Pennsylvania School Code. Argued before the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court and the Supreme Court,of Pennsylvania, the case established that a demotion was arbitrary and could not be upheld where the administrator had not been given an unsatisfactory evaluations prior to his demotion. The case is now cited by plaintiffs as implying that a progressive discipline standard now applies to demotion cases. (Hajzus v. Peters Township School District , Teacher Tenure Appeal No. 1-03, 41 SLIE 6 (2004), aff'd at PA Commonwealth Court No. 2011 CD 2003 (2004); Petition for Allowance of Appeal den 581 PA 702, 864 A.2d 1206 (2004). Mark has successfully represented professional educators challenging adverse employment actions in school districts throughout western Pennsylvania.
WILLS AND ESTATES
Mark also assists individual clients in preparing Last Will and Testaments, probating estates, contract disputes and other legal issues.
MEMBERSHIPS AND AFFILIATIONS
Previous Member, Board of Directors, New Century Careers, Inc.
Previous Member, Board of Directors, CL 504 Fund
First Vice-President, Board of Directors, Wildwood Golf Club
Member, American Bar Association
Member, Harvard Varsity Club
Previous Member, Harvard Schools and Scholarships Committee
Previous Member, Board of Directors, North Hills School District
Previous Member, Board of Directors, North Hills Foundation
Previous Member, Harvard Yale Princeton Club
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call to arrange for your free initial consultation. The firm is located in suburban Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and services clients throughout western and central Pennsylvania, eastern Ohio and Northern West Virginia.
LABOR & EMPLOYMENT LAW -- FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION
OUR GOAL IS...
To provide elite professional legal services to corporate and individual clients.
To achieve all client goals and objectives in the most expeditious and cost effective manner possible.
To conduct all activities in strict accordance with the highest ethical standards and principles.
