Brian C. Vertz

Attorney Profile
Top Rated Family Law Attorney in Pittsburgh, PA
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
- Family Law (80%),
- Tax: Consumer (10%),
- Appellate (10%)
Brian C. Vertz is one of Pittsburgh's top divorce lawyers, with more than 25 years of experience in a full range of difficult and complex family law cases. As a partner of Pollock Begg Komar Glasser & Vertz LLC, Brian is effective in resolving family law issues through skilled negotation and drafting of settlement agreements, powerful courtroom skills, and persuasive advocacy in the appeals court. His clients feel confident because Brian dedicates himself completely to meeting their needs and objectives.
With an MBA degree and business valuation training in his background, Brian combines big-firm experience with the personal service of his focused boutique firm. He has a demonstrated aptitude for financial analysis, and has used his knowledge to benefit clients in divorce cases involving complex assets, professional practices, executive compensation, international custody, and matrimonial tax issues. He is trained in mediation and arbitration to resolve disputes out of court, and he is creative and tenacious in pursuing favorable settlements.
Brian C. Vertz is the author of a nationally-recognized legal treatise on divorce taxation, Frumkes & Vertz on Divorce Taxation. He shares the most recent developments about divorce tax and financial strategy on his legal blog at FamilyLawTaxAlert.com.
Brian has received frequent recognition of his experience and knowledge in the family law sphere. He is listed in every edition of The Best Lawyers in America since 2010, and is one of the four family lawyers named in the "Top 50 Lawyers in Pittsburgh" on Super Lawyers. Martindale Hubbell has awarded its AV-Preeminent, the highest rating.
Brian was elected as a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers in 2003 and now serves as the President-Elect of the Pennsylvania Chapter. He is active at the national level as the co-chair of two committees and a lifetime member of the AAML Foundation. The Pennsylvania Bar Association has elected Brian to the Family Law Council and its Executive Committee. He is also a Certified Valuation Analyst, a designation conferred by the National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts (NACVA) for proficiency in business valuation.
Brian has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to public service. He volunteers for Neighborhood Legal Services Association and donates to the Fellows Program of the Allegheny County Bar Foundation. He writes prolifically and his articles have appeared in legal publications for the Pennsylvania Bar Institute. He is also a broadcast presenter and author for the annual Family Law Update (since 2006), and he has written legal education materials on business valuation, tax, child support, executive compensation, equitable distribution and marital settlement agreements.
*AV Preeminent is a certification mark of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., used 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 confidential opinions of members of the Bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell ratings fall into two categories, legal ability and general ethical standards.
Family Law (80%): Alimony & Spousal Support, Child Support, Custody & Visitation, Divorce, Prenuptial Agreements, Marital Property
Tax (10%): Tax Law
Appellate (10%): Appeals
Alimony & Spousal Support, Child Support, Custody & Visitation, Divorce, Prenuptial Agreements, Marital Property, Tax Law, Appeals
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Super Lawyers: 2005 - 2020
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Additional Sources of Information About Brian C. Vertz
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About Brian Vertz
Admitted: 1992, Pennsylvania
Professional Webpage: https://www.pollockbegg.com/attorneys/brian-c-vertz/
Honors/Awards:
- Named Best Lawyers Family Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Pittsburgh., Best Lawyers Family Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Pittsburgh, 2019
- Named to Best Lawyers in America lists for family law in 2019. , Best Lawyers in America lists for family law, 2019
- Fellow, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, 2003 - Present
- Listed on the Top 50 Pittsburgh Super Lawyers list. , Top 50 on Pittsburgh Super Lawyers, 2018
- Chosen by judges and legal peers,, Best Lawyers In America, Naifeh and Smith, 2017
- Chosen by judges and legal peers, , Best Lawyers in America, Naifeh and Smith, 2016
- AV-Preeminent Rating, Martindale Hubbell Law Directory, 2017
Special Licenses/Certifications:
- Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA) - National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts (NACVA), 2006
- American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers - President-Elect, Pennsylvania Chapter, 2017
- American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Arbitration Certification, 2013
- Pennsylvania Bar Association - elected to Family Law Section Council and Executive Committee, 2017
Bar/Professional Activity:
- Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1992
- U.S. Supreme Court, 1999
- U.S. Circuit Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, 1992
- Supreme Court of Georgia, 2006
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit, 2005
Pro bono/Community Service:
- Former Area Governor, Toastmasters International
- ACLU Legal Committee, 1994
- National Chair of the Amicus Committee, AAML, 2013-Present
- Kiwanis Club of Pittsburgh, 2002
- Area 12 Governor - Toastmasters International (Pittsburgh), 2009
- Mellon Toastmasters, VP-Education, 2008
- Board of Trustees, Crafton Public Library
Scholarly Lectures/Writings:
- Tax Consequences in Divorce: Avoiding the Pitfalls, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, 2005
- Drafting Marital Settlement Agreements, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, 2008
- Drafting Marital Settlement Agreements, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, 2003
- Author, Pennsylvania Family Lawyer, Volume XXXIV, No. 3. "Restrictive Custody Order Does Not Terminate Child Support Obligation." 2012.
- Lecturer, Pennsylvania Bar Association, Family Law Section Winter Meeting, "Hot Tips Regarding Ethical Dilemmas for the Family Law Attorney," and "Difficult Cases - Difficult Issues." 2012.
- Speaker, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, "Valuing the Small Business in Divorce: Practice - Pointers – Pitfalls." 2012
- Author/Lecturer, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, "Slicing the Pie: Equitable Distribution in Pennsylvania." 2010
- Mr. Vertz wrote and presented "Support Law Update 2008" before a live audience in Pittsburgh and more than 500 lawyers at 24 remote locations via satellite TV broadcast., Course Planner, Family Law Update 2008, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, 2008
- Mr. Vertz wrote and presented "Child Support Provisions" for this hands-on seminar teaching lawyers to write marital settlement agreements., Author, Lecturer, Drafting Marital Settlement Agreements , Pennsylvania Bar Institute, 2008
- Brian Vertz is an author of a chapter of the PBI book "Slicing the Pie: Equitable Distribution in Pennsylvania.", Author, Slicing the Pie: Equitable Distribution in Pennsylvania, 2010
- This half-day program will discuss hot topics in divorce and business valuation, with Bob Grossman CPA and Melissa Bizyak CPA, Author, Broadcast Presenter/Host, Business Valuation and Divorce, PBI, Business Valuation, Divorce, 2009
- Brian C. Vertz recently spoke before the Pennsylvania Conference of State Trial Judges on the topic of “Creating Custody Orders that Meet the Developmental Needs of Children.” Judges Kathleen R. Mulligan, Lisette Shirdan-Harris (Philadelphia), and David Workman (Lancaster), and Dr. Eric Bernstein were also speakers for the conference., Lecturer, Pennsyvlania Conf. of State Trial Judges, 2011
- Mr. Vertz wrote and presented "Support Law Update 2011" before a live audience in Pittsburgh and more than 500 lawyers at 24 remote locations via satellite TV broadcast., Course Planner, Family Law Update 2011, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, 2011, Author / Lecturer, Family Law Update, 2011
- Tax Traps for the Unwary!, National Constitution Center, 2007
- Complicated rules can slow down your progress as you work your way through the taxation pitfalls and opportunities that abound in divorces. Frumkes and Vertz on Divorce Taxation quickly guides you through trouble spots and alerts you to potential tax savings in property distribution, support, and more. It offers on-target explanations, examples, specimen clauses, forms, checklists, tables, and other practical planning tools—all designed to reduce the work in divorce tax planning.This plain English manual walks you step-by-step through the most commonly arising trouble spots in property distribution, support, and more. It is intelligently organized and indexed, well supported with citations, and most important, loaded with practical advice., Author, Frumkes & Vertz on Divorce Taxation, James Publishing, 2015
- Co-Course Planner and Statewide Broadcast Presenter, Family Law Update, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, 2006 - 2011
- Author/Lecturer, Business Valuation and Divorce, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, 2009
- Author, "Equitable Distribution," Fundamentals of Family Law, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, 2009
- Author, "Equitable Distribution," Fundamentals of Family Law, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, 2006
- Author, "Equitable Distribution," Fundamentals of Family Law, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, 2004
- Co-Author, "Child Support, Spousal Support and Alimony Pendente Lite," Fundamentals of Family Law, PBI, 2002
- Co-Author, "Child Support, Spousal Support and Alimony Pendente Lite," Fundamentals of Family Law, PBI, 2006
- Co-Author, "Child Support, Spousal Support and Alimony Pendente Lite," Fundamentals of Family Law, PBI, 2004
- Co-Author, "Child Support, Spousal Support and Alimony Pendente Lite," Fundamentals of Family Law, PBI, 1996
- Co-Author, "Child Support, Spousal Support and Alimony Pendente Lite," Fundamentals of Family Law, PBI, 1994
Verdicts/Settlements:
- Mackay v. Mackay (2009) - Superior Court of Pennsylvania - college support, 2009
Videos:
- Pittsburgh divorce attorney Brian C. Vertz of family law firm Pollock Begg Komar Glasser & Vertz LLC has been selected by his peers and named Best Lawyers 2019 Family Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Pittsburgh., Brian C. Vertz, Best Lawyers 2019 Family Law, "Lawyer of the Year" in Pittsburgh, 2018
Educational Background:
- University of Michigan, B.A. in English Language and Literature, Minor in Economics, 1988
- Katz School of Business, University of Pittsburgh, M.B.A. in Management Economics and Law, 1992
Industry Groups
- Business Owners
- Executives
- Family Wealth
- High Net Worth
- Professional Practices
Brian C. Vertz:
Last Updated: 12/5/2019