Andrea Geraghty

Partner

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Areas of practice

Education

  • J.D., Duquesne University School of Law
  • B.A., Indiana University of Pennsylvania

Bar Admissions

  • Pennsylvania

Court Admissions

  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania

Biography

Andrea Geraghty focuses her practice in real estate law. With over 30 years of experience, she has wide-ranging experience derived from working with clients through land acquisition, development, construction, and management of a variety of real estate endeavors. She has significant litigation experience in diverse real estate-related matters such as eminent domain, property tax assessment appeals, title and boundary disputes, real estate broker’s commissions, and leasing.  Andrea seeks to understand her clients’ business operations and goals and to identify risk, thus allowing her to effectively serve as both strategist and counselor. Ms. Geraghty became a Partner of Meyer, Unkovic & Scott LLP in March of 2012, when the boutique real estate firm, Geraghty + Associates, merged into Meyer, Unkovic & Scott LLP.

Professional/Community Involvement

  • ACREL, Committee on Professional Responsibility – Land Use/Environmental; Public-Private and Title Insurance Committees
  • Allegheny County Bar Association, Member
    • Real Property Section (Chair 1998-1999)
    • Probate and Trust Law Section
    • Professional Ethics Committee (Chair 2014-2015)
  • Allegheny County Bar Foundation, Member
  • Allegheny County Energy & Environment Vision Team 2012, Chair
  • Allegheny County Government Review Commission, 2015-2016
  • Boy Scouts of America, Laurel Highlands Council, Board of Directors
  • Builders Association of Metropolitan Pittsburgh
  • Duquesne University’s Law Alumni Scholarship Fund, Board
  • Duquesne University School of Law Alumni Association
  • Georgetown Advanced Commercial Leasing Institute, Co-Chair
  • MLM Insurance Company, Board, Vice President, Chair, Audit Committee
  • Pennsylvania Bar Association, Member
    • Real Property Section
    • Probate and Trust Law Section (Chair 1999-2001)
  • Pennsylvania Bar Institute, 1997-2000
  • Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership
  • Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority, Board and Audit Committee, Chair, 2014-2017
  • ULI – Women’s Leadership Initiative, Chair 2017-2018
  • Women’s Bar Association of Western Pennsylvania
  • Georgetown Advanced Commercial Leasing Institute, Co-Chair, 2018 – present

Representative Matters

Representative Matters

  • Advises multi-family, including senior housing, developers on multiple projects.
  • Develops standard lease terms and negotiating points for regional developer.
  • Counsels regulated public utility on real estate acquisition, management, development, and related litigation issues.
  • Serves frequently as land use and title counsel for new development and urban redevelopment projects, including office and industrial facilities, multi-family, retail and mixed-use developments, and residential projects.
  • Acts as claims counsel and coverage counsel for international title insurers.
  • Counsels national nonprofit, establishing and maintaining consistent real estate practice in the acquisition of properties, obtaining tax exemption status, and advocating for occupancy rights across Pennsylvania.
  • Successfully argued before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court on the applicability of Institutions of Public Charity Act.

Education

  • J.D., Duquesne University School of Law, 1983 – cum laude
  • B.A., Indiana University of Pennsylvania, 1974

Communications

  • “Understanding Pennsylvania Eminent Domain,” Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors, July 13, 2022.
  • “Playing Chess: How to Best Position Your Landowner/Developer Client for Potential Litigation of Land Use/Permitting Applications,” RPTE National CLE Conference, April 27, 2022.
  • “How a Trusted Advisor Handles Client Conflicts,” American College of Real Estate Lawyers, October 23-24, 2021.
  • “Pennsylvania Eminent Domain,” University of Pittsburgh School of Law, October 2020.
  • “Eminent Domain Basics,” Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors, November 4, 2018.
  • “2017 Advancing Leaders Series: Advancing Leaders…Negotiate,” ULI Women’s Leadership Initiative, March 16, 2017.
  • “Miracle Grow or Weed Whacker: Issues and Concerns for Retailers and Landlords When Leasing to Cannabis Businesses -Concurrent Sessions,” ICSC OKIMP Retail Development & Law Symposium, March 3, 2017.
  • “Medical Marijuana in Pennsylvania; Real Estate and Land Use Primer,” Pennsylvania Bar Institute’s A Day on Real Estate, March 1, 2017.
  • 2016 National Conversation on Board Diversity, Table Facilitator, November 2016.
  • “Managing Marcellus: Land Use and Impact Regulations after Act 13 Supreme Court Case, Where are we Now?”, Local Government Academy, June 22, 2016.
  • “Annual Real Estate Institute,” Pennsylvania Bar Institute and PBA Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section Course Planner, 1996-2016.

Awards/Honors

  • AV Preeminent® Rating – Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Rating Program
  • Recognized by The Best Lawyers in America© since 2001 – Real Estate, Real Estate Litigation and Eminent Domain & Condemnation Law, Land Use & Zoning Law
    • Lawyer of the Year – Real Estate Litigation 2018
    • Lawyer of the Year – Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law 2015
  • Fellow of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers
  • Selected to Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list since 2005
  • Pennsylvania Bar Association, President’s Award of Merit 2006 and 2017
  • Distinguished Service Award – Boy Scouts, Laurel Highlands Council 2020
  • Duquesne University School of Law, Women’s Law Association 2020 Woman of the Year
  • Real Estate Forum, 2022 Woman of Influence