IN Fox Chapel Area Fall 2016 | Page 62

SPONSORED CONTENT BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT SPONSORED CONTENT Giuffre Law Office SMALL-TOWN SERVICE IN A BIG WORLD T here’s probably no better portrayal of the principled hometown attorney than Harper Lee’s Atticus Finch in “To Kill a Mockingbird.” And, while he’ll admit that it might sound hokey, Paul Giuffre of Giuffre Law Office isn’t afraid to cite Finch as the reason why he started pursuing law many years ago. Since he began practicing in 1990, Giuffre has served in nearly every capacity as an attorney, giving him a strong foundation and wider appeal to his clients. He was a prosecutor with the Allegheny County District Attorney’s office for five years, was in a private practice as a partner in a downtown law firm after that, and, in 2013, opened his own suburban practice in the Fox Chapel area with two other attorneys. “Having started out as a prosecutor, most of my career had been focused on litigation – first criminal, and then civil,” Giuffre said. His civil practice included a wide range of cases including personal injury and medical malpractice claims. Because of his litigation experience, Giuffre is recognized as a member of the Academy of Trial Lawyers of Allegheny County – a group whose membership is limited to 250 active members. As a result of having obtained several seven‑figure verdicts or settlements, he is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum. While he still enjoys the challenges of trial work, limiting his practice to those areas was not what Giuffre wanted: “I grew up in Aspinwall and I just always wanted to have a small, general‑practice law office in the heart of my community, to practice law in my own backyard.” Giuffre, who currently lives in O’Hara Township, began his hometown practice working with attorney Tim Sheerer, who was the solicitor for the Fox Chapel Area School District. However, as Sheerer’s health declined, Giuffre soon found himself becoming more involved in school district matters. When Sheerer passed away, the district retained Giuffre, who 60 724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE | Fox Chapel Area today continues to serve in the solicitor’s role. In addition to his work with the Fox Chapel Area School District, Giuffre maintains an open‑door office where he welcomes anyone who may need legal assistance. From wills and estate planning, estate administration, general litigation, commercial litigation, and small business representation to personal injury claims, Giuffre says he’s willing and able to help all comers. There are few legal problems that he cannot help clients with in their time of need. “Working in the community where I reside provides me with the more diverse practice I wanted,” Giuffre explains. “It’s brought me back to being a more active member of my community. Now representing someone is not just about earning a living, it’s part of helping a neighbor, and serving the community I call home.” As a Fox Chapel Area High School alum, he added, “it’s an honor to represent my school. It’s a role where I can do the most good and help the most people. I always wanted that. That’s what I always saw myself doing.” Along the way, Giuffre has left some lasting legacies in the community. He was a founding board member of the Seneca Area EMS, which serves Sharpsburg and Etna boroughs. He is a committee member for the Fugh Foundation, which helps fund community organizations and provides scholarships to Fox Chapel Area and Shaler Area graduates. He has also been an active member of St. Scholastica Parish and is on the advisory board for Christ the Divine Teacher Catholic Academy in Aspinwall. For more information on Giuffre Law Office, including more about all the areas of practice, go to the website at giuffrelawoffice.com. You can also call Paul directly at 412.781.7900, or stop by the office at 221 Commercial Avenue in Aspinwall.