Loren L. Speziale
Top rated Business & Corporate attorney in Allentown, Pennsylvania
Gross McGinley, LLP
Practice Areas: Business & Corporate, Banking, Real Estate; view more
Licensed in Pennsylvania since: 2009
Education: Seton Hall University School of Law
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2021 - 2025 
Selected to Rising Stars: 2010 - 2011, 2013 - 2015 Details
A veteran attorney of over 20 years, Loren L. Speziale is a partner at Gross McGinley, LLP, in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and has provided her clients with judicious service in myriad legal practice areas pertaining to:
- Business law: Contract disputes, banking matters, entity formations, purchase, sale and transfer of a business, and general corporate matters
- Employment and labor law: Corporate HR policies, discrimination claims, workplace investigations and confidentiality, and noncompete agreements
- Real estate: Commercial and residential real estate transactions, land development, real estate loan documents, zoning matters, tax assessment appeals and more
- Sports law
- Municipal easements
Ms. Speziale completed her undergraduate studies in 1997, graduating with his Bachelor of Science degree from The Pennsylvania State University. She then went on to enroll at the Seton Hall University School of Law and received her Juris Doctor in 2002, along with her license to practice in New Jersey. She later obtained her license to practice in Washington, D.C., in 2004 and Pennsylvania in 2009, and she was admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the Eastern and Middle Districts of Pennsylvania, the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit.
A consummate professional, Ms. Speziale is committed to solving her clients’ legal woes and giving them the peace of mind they deserve. She takes on the burden of their case while they focus on their own personal development or the growth of their business. For her many contributions to promoting a pristine client-centric practice, she is rated AV Preeminent* through Martindale-Hubbell, the organization’s highest rating, and holds a “Very Good” rating on Avvo, along with positive testimonials.
Within her legal community, Ms. Speziale maintains close affiliations with prominent legal organizations such as the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce (board member), the Pennsylvania Bar Association, the Bar Association of Lehigh County, the Monroe County Bar Association, the Northampton County Bar Association and the Women’s Resources of Monroe County (on the board of directors and gala committee member).
*AV®, AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished and Martindale-Hubbell Notable are certification marks used under license in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell® is the facilitator of a peer-review rating process. Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™ fall into two categories – legal ability and general ethical standards.
Practice areas
Business/Corporate, Banking, Real Estate: Business, Employment & Labor: EmployerFocus areas
Business Formation and Planning, Business Organizations, Condominiums & Cooperatives, Contracts, Landlord/Tenant, Limited Liability Companies, Mortgage & Refinance, Partnership, Short Sale, Sub-chapter S Corporations
- 20% Business/Corporate
- 30% Banking
- 30% Real Estate: Business
- 20% Employment & Labor: Employer
First Admitted: 2002, New Jersey
Professional Webpage: https://www.grossmcginley.com/people/loren-l-speziale/
Bar/Professional Activity:
- Northampton County Bar Association - CLE Presenter Presentation: Decoding the Paycheck Protection Program and Other COVID-Related Loans, 2020
- U.S. Court of Appeals Third Circuit
- U.S. District Court District of New Jersey
- U.S. District Court Middle District of Pennsylvania
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Pennsylvania
- District of Columbia
- New Jersey
- Pennsylvania
- Bar Association of Lehigh County
- Pennsylvania Bar Association
- Northampton County Bar Association
- Donald E. Wieand Barristers Inn
- Monroe County Bar Association
Verdicts/Settlements (Case Results):
- Liberty Philadelphia REO, LP v. EFL Partners V, LP, et al., No. 2285 EDA 2014
- Spiros P. Stamus and Athena S. Stamus, et al. v. Panayiotis John Pasyanos, et al., C.C.P., Northampton County, No. C-48-CV-2012-9864
Videos:
- News has been getting calls from panicked viewers who work with someone who has come down with coronavirus, and many have been asking what they can do if they're afraid to go to work. WFMZ's Josh Rultenberg spoke with a local lawyer to get that answer. Loren Speziale is a partner at the Gross McGinley law firm in Allentown. She says employees are in a tough spot if they don't want to go to work because someone has come down with coronavirus., Both employers and employees navigate health issues amid pandemic, Small Business, 2020
- Employees at a long-term care facility in Bucks County are being told they either need to get vaccinated against COVID-19, or risk being terminated. Loren Speziale addresses the rights of employers and individuals amidst the COVID-19 vaccination., Bucks County says employees at long-term care facility who don't get vaccine risk losing their jobs, Business, Individual, 2021
- There's a lot of talk in the business community about whether to mandate COVID-19 vaccinations now while under Emergency Use Authorization, or down the line when they have official FDA approval. "We don't have guidance that specifically says you can mandate," said Loren Speziale, business attorney and partner at Gross McGinley. Loren goes on to provide legal guidance to employers., Business community weighs whether to mandate, incentivize COVID-19 vaccines, Business, Individual, 2021
Representative Clients:
- Ranieri Real Estate Partners and Liberty RE Asset Holdings, LLC: Real Estate Litigation
- Viamedia: Employment and Business Litigation
Transactions:
- Ranieri Real Estate Partners: Due Diligence relating to acquisition of distressed loan portfolio.
Pro bono/Community Service:
- LVEDC Economic Policy Committee, Member
- Former Assistant Solicitor to Bethlehem, PA
- Small Business Council (GLVCC), Board Member
- Public Policy Committee (GLVCC), Member
- Rodale Institute, Board of Directors
- Former Women’s Resources of Monroe County, President of Board of Directors, Gala Committee and 5K Committee Member
- LVEDC, Board of Directors
- Former Easton Area Chamber of Commerce, Board Member
- City of Bethlehem Human Relations Commission, Member and Former Chairperson
Honors/Awards:
- 2021-2023 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers
- 2010 – 2011 New Jersey Super Lawyers Rising Stars
- 2013 – 2015 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers Rising Stars
- 2018 Women of Influence, Lehigh Valley Business
- 2022 Lehigh Valley Business Power List in Law
- award recognizing local women leaders who are successful in their professional careers and who make a significant positive impact in the community, Women of Influence Award, Lehigh Valley Business, 2018
- On June 21, Lehigh Valley shared their list of 30 attorneys who, through their roles as leaders, help fashion policies, settle disputes, and ensure fairness in the Lehigh Valley. The Power 30 is a list that recognizes those who shape local communities and influence our quality of life. This is not a ranking, but a vehicle to introduce readers to the people who impact the way we live, Power 30 in Law list, Lehigh Valley Business, 2021
- 2017 Local Legal Leaders, Lehigh Valley Magazine
- 2017 Lehigh Valley Select Lawyers, Lehigh Valley Style Magazine
- 2014 Lehigh Valley Business Forty Under 40
Educational Background:
- Seton Hall University School of Law, J.D., 2002
- Pennsylvania State University, B.S., 1997
Scholarly Lectures/Writings:
- In March 2020, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) provided numerous paid leave opportunities for employers with under 500 employees. Employers were able to receive tax credit reimbursement for FFCRA payroll, but most of these credits expired within one year. Fast forward to 2021 and the passage of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA). Loren highlights paid leave extension, expansion and new non-discrimination aspects of ARPA for employers., Author, What Employers Need to Know: FFCRA Paid Leave under ARPA, Gross McGinley, Manufacturing, Construction, 2021
- Quoted: “Alt-left or alt-right, your boss has the full right to fire protesters”, Lehigh Valley Business, August 2017, https://lvb.com/alt-left-or-alt-right-your-boss-has-the-full-right-to-fire-protesters/
- Quoted: “New Rule Could Lead Advisers to Dump Small Investors”, Lehigh Valley Business, January 2017, https://lvb.com/new-rule-could-lead-advisers-to-dump-small-investors/
- A virtual discussion to help educate employers and supply them for resources for employees, Panelist, COVID-19 Virtual Vaccine Workshop, Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce - Healthcare Committee, Small Business, 2021
- Risk is essential to business. Amidst the pandemic, businesses and non-profits struggled to survive. This webinar focused on risk mitigation and building resilience, adhesion liability, reputation, and transition., Co-presenter, Doing Risky & Rewarding Business, Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, 2020
- PA manufacturers have faced setbacks amidst the pandemic shutdown, COVID-19 outbreaks and creating workplaces that allow for masking and social distancing. As Pennsylvania continues its COVID-19 vaccination rollout, Phase 1B includes manufacturing workers. Will you require your workers to get vaccinated so you can get back to business as usual? Gross McGinley Partner Loren L. Speziale, business attorney and chair of the firm’s employment law team, provides COVID-19 vaccination legal guidance to manufacturers about: Mandates – can you legally require employees to get vaccinated? Privacy laws, reasonable accommodations, and exemptions – creating policies and protocols that meet EEOC, ADA and other employment law standards Employer and employee consequences – understanding litigation risks, employer liability and legality Accessibility – can you offer onsite vaccinations? Incentive programs – What’s permissible? What’s not? Following the legal portion of the program, get an update from the Lehigh Valley’s top medical providers Capital Blue Cross, Lehigh Valley Health Network and St. Luke’s University Health Network in a brief panel discussion and update about the state’s rollout and what you can expect in this next phase. The event will wrap up with a Q&A for the presenter and panelists. Employers will learn about valuable resources to help create a lawful vaccination strategy for their manufacturing organization. Participants are invited to submit questions in advance to ensure they are answered., Presenter, Keeping It Legal: A Manufacturer’s Guide to COVID-19 Vaccination Mandates, Manufacturers Resource Center, Manufacturing, 2021
- On May 13, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) changed its COVID-19 masking guidelines, announcing fully vaccinated Americans could now unmask indoors. While the guidance remains subject to state, local and business requirements, employers are faced with this new challenge. Loren shared guidance for employers to consider how to respond to the CDC mask guidance for their workplace., Author, How Employers Can Respond to CDC Mask Guidance in the Workplace, Gross McGinley, Manufacturing, Construction, 2021
- Business partnerships could be eligible for additional funds via the Paycheck Protection Program if they didn’t include the self-employment income of partners in its initial application, according to a guidance update from the Small Business Administration. SBA borrowers can reopen their PPP application for the limited purpose of adding the self-employment income of partners and members to the loan amount — up to $100,000 annualized — provided that it wasn’t accounted for in the initial application and the lender hasn’t already submitted SBA Form 1502. , Interviewee, Partnerships may be able to increase PPP amount under SBA interim rule, Lehigh Valley Business, Business, Individual, 2020
- Attorney Loren Speziale, Chair of Gross McGinley’s Employment Law Group, presented a breakout session entitled “None of Your Business: Privacy Rights in the Workplace”. Do employees have privacy rights when working for a private sector employer? Does that employer have the right to monitor the workplace as well as the off-duty activities of their employees? The intersection between an employee’s privacy rights and those of the private sector employer are occurring more frequently as technology evolves and new laws are passed. Employer often find themselves considering the conduct of an employee outside work hours and how such conduct impacts the policies and procedures of the employer. With this evolution has come increased monitoring and oversight in the workplace. This invariably results in the need to balance the rights of the employee against the rights of the employer. Loren’s presentation discussed state and federal privacy laws and the interplay of those laws with employee privacy issues private sector employers face daily., Presenter, None of Your Business: Privacy Rights in the Workplace, SHRMLV, 2018
- Loren addresses the biggest trends in business law for 2021 and what she expects will change most dramatically as the pandemic continues and Biden administration takes over. , Interviewee, A Conversation With: Loren Speziale, partner at Gross McGinley in Allentown, Lehigh Valley Business, Business, Individual, 2021
- On Tuesday, January 26, 2021, Business Services Group Attorneys Tom Reilly, and Loren Speziale joined Dr. Kevin Vrablik of Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) and Lora Bastin of Populytics for a free webinar “Employing Your Business’ COVID-19 Vaccination Strategy.” The Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce hosted the event. As Pennsylvania and all states across the U.S. announce and roll out their vaccination strategies, employers and business owners have many questions as they seek to protect their workplaces, employees, and communities. From an employment law standpoint, Attorney Loren Speziale discussed COVID-19 vaccination mandates and incentives, what is and is not permissible based on current laws and government guidance. Additionally, she highlighted employee accommodations and exemptions, as well as consequences employers and employees may face based on their actions., Co-presenter, Employing Your Business’ COVID-19 Vaccination Strategy, Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, Business, Individual, 2021
- Regarding FFCRA, Loren Soezilae weighed in on Loren L. Speziale, an employee of essential businesses that remain open and who are required to be on-site and performing “essential” tasks, state law does not protect them if they decide they are not comfortable going to work. That is considered a “personal decision,” she said., Interviewee, Coronavirus complicating custody disputes, other legal issues, Lehigh Valley attorneys say, lehighvalleylive.com, Small Business, Nonprofit, 2020
- When it comes to wearing masks to help stem the spread of COVID-19 -- as required by Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf in public when social distancing is impossible -- safety trumps any argument that they impinge on civil rights, Lehigh Valley attorneys say. Civil rights advocates may point to laws on the books in some states from almost a century ago prohibiting facial coverings to crack down on hate groups. Those laws were obviously pre-pandemic. Attorney Loren Speziale helped provide guidance. , Interviewee, Going unmasked? Ignoring pandemic mask mandate not a good idea, Lehigh Valley attorneys warn, lehighvalleylive.com, 2020.
- The intersection between an employee’s privacy rights and those of the private sector employer are occurring more frequently as technology evolves and new laws are passed. Employer often find themselves considering the conduct of an employee outside work hours and how such conduct impacts the policies and procedures of the employer. With this evolution has come increased monitoring and oversight in the workplace. This invariably results in the need to balance the rights of the employee against the rights of the employer, Presenter, Privacy Rights in the Workplace, Bux-Mont Human Resources Association, 2019
- A look at the growth of telecommuting in the U.S., the top 10 reasons to embrace the trend as well as risks associated from an employment law perspective., Presenter, Telecommuting in the Workplace, SHRMLV, Human Relations, 2019
- The manufacturing workforce is changing rapidly as companies hire more diverse and multifaceted employees. The region’s low unemployment rate and the competition for a trained and qualified workforce has also led to increased competition and retention challenges never seen before in the industry. Automated processes and enhanced technologies have created new demands for a skilled and knowledgeable workforce that is more diverse than ever before. These changes present unique challenges that businesses in the industry have previously never faced. Gross McGinley’s Business Services Group recently provided a seminar to members of the Manufacturers Resource Center on the changing face of the manufacturing workforce. Presented by Attorneys Tom Reilly, Jack Gross, and Loren Speziale, the discussion highlighted process considerations and employment policies that can help attract and retain a qualified workforce while protecting business interests., Co-Presenter, "The Changing Face of Manufacturing: Protecting Your Business as the Workforce Evolves", Manufacturers Resource Center of the Lehigh Valley, Manufacturing, 2018
- Business Success in a Post-COVID Era webinar presented by Gross McGinley and ESSA Bank & Trust Topics: • PPP/CARES Act – Loan Forgiveness• Contracts – How to safeguard your business in future dealings • Reopening Safely – Following state, local and CDC guidelines • Restaurant Guidelines – Indoor and outdoor dining, Co-Presenter, Business Success in a Post-COVID Era: Finances, Contracts, Reopening Safely & Restaurant Guidelines, Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, Restaurant, Banking, Small Business, 2020
- The $2.2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act stimulus package was enacted on March 27th to help Americans and their businesses weather the Coronavirus pandemic. This 880-page document outlines many available programs. Which ones are right for you, your small business or nonprofit? In this free one-hour webinar, you will receive legal, accounting and banking insights from three Lehigh Valley professionals who can help you navigate this process and access federal aid using local service providers., Co-Presenter, The CARES Act: How to apply for loans, grants, tax credits and deferrals, Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, Small Business, Nonprofit, 2020
- "Current Trends and Future Possibilities Under the Fair Labor Standards Act" Co-Presenter 2017 SHRMLV
- “Drafting and Litigating Restrictive Covenants in the Lehigh Valley” Society for Human Resource Managers Co-Presenter 2016
- Author, "Walking Through the New Jersey Equine Activity Statute: A Look at Judicial Statutory Interpretation in Jurisdictions with Similar Limited Liability Laws", The Journal of Sport Law, Seton Hall University School of Law, Vol. 12, No. 1, 2002
- "Looking Ahead: Where is the Relationship Between the Consumer Fraud Act and the Legal Profession Headed?", Co-Author, New Jersey Institute of Continuing Legal Education, 2005
- "New Jersey Legal Malpractice: Comedy or Tragedy", Co-Author, 183 N.J.L.J. 935, 2006
- Co-Author, "Games Lawyers Play", 187 N.J.L. 266, 2007
- Author, "New Jersey Becomes More Business Friendly: Amendments to NJ Corporate Laws", Gross McGinley Business Law Update, 2013
- Author, "Do Your Policies Reflect the New 2013 FMLA Changes?", Gross McGinley Employment Law Update, 2013
- Presenter, “Work Product Limited Immunity and the Attorney-Client Privilege”, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, 2012
- “Appellate Advocacy: Briefs and Arguments - How Do You Get the Court's Attention?” Presenter Donald E. Wieand Barristers’ Inn 2012
- “Effective Presentation of Evidence: How Do You Introduce Evidence?”, Presenter, Donald E. Wieand Barristers’ Inn, 2013
- Author, "Modifications to Contracts by Electronic Communications: The Consequences of Hitting Send", Gross McGinley, LLP Business Law Alert, 2013
- Presenter, “The Great Escape? How a Bankruptcy Filing May Impact a Planned or Pending Civil Action”, Donald E. Wieand Barristers’ Inn, 2013
- Author, "Changes to Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure Regarding Sheriff’s Sales", Gross McGinley Banking Law Update, 2014
- Author, Be Wary of Unpaid Rest Breaks for Nonexempt Employees, Lehigh Valley Business, 2016
- Business Owners "Key Employee Retention" Speaker 2016
- "Drafting and Litigating Restrictive Covenants in the Lehigh Valley", Co-Presenter, Bar Association of Lehigh County, 2016
- Co-Presenter, "Current Trends Under the Fair Labor Standards Act", Bar Association of Lehigh County, 2017
- First Time Home Buying Seminar. Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, Young Professionals Council Panelist 2017
Other Outstanding Achievements:
- Promoted to Deputy Managing Partner, 2018
- Named Equity Partner, 2019
- Eugene Gressman Appellate Moot Court Competition, Semi-finalist
- Dominick L. Gabrielli National Family Law Moot Court Competition, Best Brief and Semi-finalist
Industry Groups:
- Banking; Life Sciences; Non-profit
Selections
5 Years Super Lawyers
5 Years Rising Stars
- Super Lawyers: 2021 - 2025
- Rising Stars: 2010 - 2011, 2013 - 2015
Additional sources of information about Loren L. Speziale
Find me online
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