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  • Trust EM
  • Personal Injury
  • Business Law
  • Labor & Employment
  • Oil & Gas
  • Trent Echard
  • Matt Marquette

Where are you from?

Rochester, PA (Beaver County).

Why did you become a lawyer?

I got to know a lot of lawyers forking at a golf course as a kid. Some of them I cam to really admire. I saw how they made a positive difference in peoples’ lives and I wanted to do the same.

Where did you go to school?

I am a “double Duker” – all seven years at Duquesne.

Where are you admitted to practice?

All state and federal courts in Pennsylvania.

What do you like to do outside of the office?

I am an avid golfer and runner. I am also a ski instructor at Seven Springs.

Where are you from?

Mt. Pleasant, PA (Westmoreland County).

Why did you become a lawyer?

To help people. When I grew up, my dad was a lawyer with his own office. I spent a lot of time at his office and going to court with him. For him – it was always about helping his client out of a tough situation. He always looked rewarded when he got a good result for his clients. That is what drives me.

Where did you go to school?

I went to Carnegie Mellon University and earned two engineering degrees. I went to law school at Case Western Reserve University. I chose Case Western because it offered plenty of opportunities to get “hands on” experience in the courtroom. As a law student, I had a great experience working for a Federal Judge in Cleveland, working in the U.S. Attorneys’ Office, and even representing clients at trial in minor criminal cases.

Where are you admitted to practice?

I am admitted in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia, along with many federal courts. I am also a registered Patent Attorney.

What do you like to do outside of the office?

I love fishing, but my favorite thing to do is spending time with my wife and three children.

What type of employment cases do you handle?

We handle all types of cases for employees and employers.

I think I have been discriminated against at work. What should I do?

You may have options to pursue. We can talk with you.

What business services do you offer?

We help a number of businesses with their day-to-day matters. For example, we review and draft many types of contracts. We give advice on business disputes, labor & employment, and intellectual property. We handle all types of business litigation. For businesses, we understand that legal advice needs to be practical. We strongly believe in understanding your business and understanding how our advice affects “the big picture.”

What types of businesses do you represent?

We represent businesses in various industries statewide.

Will you come meet me at my business?

We’d love to!

Do you handle business litigation?

Absolutely. We have extensive experience defending corporate clients in business disputes and labor matters. Unlike many other firms, we have a depth of experience from the Plaintiff’s side. We have found this experience to be invaluable in getting results.

Do you handle oil and gas cases?

Absolutely. Trent was the head of the Oil & Gas department at a large downtown law firm. He has extensive experience representing land owners with leases, pipelines, royalty analysis, and ownership disputes.

Do you represent any drilling or pipeline companies?

No. We represent landowners.

My lease is about to expire, what should I do?

That depends on what your lease says. Before you talk with the gas company, it is usually helpful to discuss lease expiration with a lawyer. We would be happy to review your lease and give you advice.

I think the gas company stopped producing gas from my property. What should I do?

If the wells on your property are not producing oil and gas, you may be able to break your oil and gas lease. A lot of leases require the production of oil or gas “in paying quantities.” This means enough oil or gas has to come out of the well to pay a royalty. But, there are exceptions to this rule. To give you a full analysis, we would need to review your lease and talk with you.

Do I have a good lease?

Oil and Gas lease bonuses and royalties are different, depending where you are, and they change frequently. But, it’s not always just about the money. It’s also important to have lease terms that protect your property. We can look at everything and give you practical advice on what to do.

Somebody claims that they own my oil and gas rights. Can you help?

Yes. There are special lawsuits called “quiet title actions” to resolve who owns the gas. We have extensive experience with these.

I think there’s something wrong with my royalties. Can you help?

Yes. Royalties and deductions are usually set by the terms of your lease. We would be happy to take a look at it for you.

Do you offer free consultations?

Yes. Call, text, or email us to set up a consultation.

What is a contingent fee?

We don’t charge unless you get money. We think of it as a partnership and we work together with you. If we get you a better result, everybody wins.

Do I have a case?

This is a very fact specific question. If you think you may have a case, make an appointment with us, and we will get those questions answered.

What’s my case worth?

This is also a very fact-specific analysis. After discussing and reviewing all of the facts and injuries involved in your case, we can discuss an appropriate range of value.

I was injured and it put me out of work. What should I do?

You should contact us immediately. If you aren’t able to travel, we can come to you. It is often important to make critical decisions about your lawsuit very early on – like notifying the at-fault party and letting them know that they need to preserve evidence about your accident. These decisions can have a big impact on a lawsuit. We can discuss your options.

How can I reach you?

What kind of cases do you handle?

We have experience with a broad range of matters.

Do you charge for initial consultations?

In most cases, we offer an initial consultation at no cost. Call or email us for more details. In personal injury cases, we never charge a fee unless we get a recovery for you.

Where are you located?

We’re are located outside of Pittsburgh in Allison Park. Our office is 2 miles south from exit 39 of the PA Turnpike. Directions:

Do you make house calls?

Absolutely! We understand how important it is to understand how a case affects our client. That means we will gladly come meet with you in your house. For our corporate clients, we love to learn about your business. We will always take you up on an invitation to see your business.

Why did you start your own firm?

Trent and Matt both worked for a downtown Pittsburgh firm. From the start, Trent and Matt worked on several high-stakes cases together. They have seen clients through all types of serious problems – including life-changing injuries, high-dollar business disputes, and even felony charges. Trent and Matt truly enjoyed their big firm experience, and they are proud of the work they have done for their clients. They decided to set up their own firm so they so they could work directly with clients on all aspects of a case – eliminating any “red tape” from the process of hiring a lawyer.

Why is your office in the suburbs?

We want to make it as easy as possible for our clients to come see us. We selected a location with less traffic, lots of space to meet clients, and plenty of free parking.
Owner of Multiple Companies

John

When there is a legal issue, Trent is my first call. He has handled a broad range of assignments for me. Trent is an excellent litigator and is tuned in to my businesses.

ACCREDITATIONS & AWARDS