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Arthur H. Stroyd, Jr., an attorney member, was appointed as Board Chair in January 2026 for a term beginning April 1, 2026. Mr. Stroyd was first appointed to the Board in February 2021 for a term beginning April 1, 2021, and subsequently reappointed to a second term beginning April 1, 2024. He previously served as Vice Chair of the Fund from May 2024 through March 2026. Mr. Stroyd is a partner with Del Sole Cavanaugh Stroyd LLC in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He has extensive trial experience in all areas of civil litigation. Mr. Stroyd is a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers and has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America in five categories, in Pennsylvania Super Lawyers including Pittsburgh’s Top 50 Super Lawyers, in the Best Lawyers in Pittsburgh, and with an “AV Preeminent Rating,” the highest mark for ethics and professional excellence from Martindale-Hubbell’s Peer Review Ratings, for more than 35 years. He is a graduate of Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio and earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, after serving as a U.S. Naval Officer during the Vietnam War. Mr. Stroyd is a member of the Pennsylvania and Allegheny County Bar Associations. His current term expires in March 2027. |
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Laurie M. Schwager, a non-attorney member, was first appointed to the Board in March 2023 for a term beginning April 1, 2023. In June 2024, Ms. Schwager was elected by the Board to serve as Treasurer for the Fund. Ms. Schwager was reappointed to the Board, as well as being appointed as Vice Chair of the Fund, with both of these terms beginning April 1, 2026. Ms. Schwager is a Senior Vice President with Synovus Bank, serving as a Wholesale Relationship Manager in the Legal Industry Depository Services Group, having been employed in the banking industry for over 30 years. Ms. Schwager is currently a member of the Board of Directors of Dress for Success of Luzerne County and Valley in Motion. Ms. Schwager formerly served for six years on the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors as Treasurer and Vice Chair, as well as the Northeastern Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Center (NEPIRC). Ms. Schwager is a graduate of Bucknell University. Her current term expires in March 2029. |
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Daniel W. Coleman, an attorney member, was appointed to the Board in February 2021 for a term beginning April 1, 2021. He was recently reappointed for a second term beginning April 1, 2024. Mr. Coleman is currently Chief Legal Counsel to CORE, the Bipartisan Management Committee of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Mr. Coleman had previously served as Advisor to the Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus. His entire legal career has been devoted to public service. Mr. Coleman is a volunteer with Habitat for Humanity International and the Humane Society of Harrisburg Area, Inc. He is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania. He earned his Juris Doctorate at Temple University – James E. Beasley School of Law. Mr. Coleman’s current term expires in March 2027. |
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John P. Kopesky, an attorney member, was appointed to the Board in January 2022 for a term expiring April 1, 2025. Mr. Kopesky was recently reappointed to serve a second term beginning April 1, 2025. Mr. Kopesky is a member of Shein Law in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He has specialized in representing individuals who have been injured as a result of medical malpractice and defective medical devices and drugs. Mr. Kopesky also represents the victims of asbestos exposure, as well as plaintiffs in other toxic tort litigation. He has lectured on topics relating to pharmaceutical and medical device litigation. Mr. Kopesky has served as an arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association and as a Settlement Master with the Philadelphia Court System. Mr. Kopesky is a graduate of Villanova University School of Business. He earned his Juris Doctorate from the Villanova University School of Law. Mr. Kopesky is admitted to practice law in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and before the United States Supreme Court. Mr. Kopesky’s second term will expire March 31, 2028. |
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Douglas Evan Ress, an attorney member, was appointed to the Board in March 2024 for a term beginning April 1, 2024. Mr. Ress is Of Counsel to Coren & Ress, P.C. in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a litigation boutique he co-founded in 1989. He has extensive trial experience in all areas of civil litigation. Mr. Ress is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, and has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America, including in 2022 as Philadelphia’s singular Lawyer of the Year for bet-the-company litigation, and in Pennsylvania Super Lawyers, including Pennsylvania’s Top Hundred Attorneys in 2007 and Philadelphia’s Top Hundred Attorneys in 2013. Mr. Ress previously served in 2022 and 2023 as Chair of the Pennsylvania Continuing Legal Education Board, after several years as a CLE Board member. He has also served as a Senior Hearing Officer of the Disciplinary Board. Mr. Ress is a graduate of Queens College in New York, and earned his Juris Doctorate from the Georgetown University Law Center. In addition to his service to the Court, Mr. Ress is a Board member of the JDOG Foundation (its mission is dedicated to veteran and military wellness programs, suicide prevention and higher education for veterans), and a Trustee of the Queens College Foundation, the charitable arm of his undergraduate institution. His current term expires in March 2027. |
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Dr. Patrick J. Carey, a non-attorney member, was appointed to the Board in May 2024 for a term expiring April 1, 2025. Dr. Carey was recently reappointed to serve a second term beginning April 1, 2025. Dr. Carey previously served as the UPMC/Susquehanna Health Sports Director, having been a well-respected orthopedic surgeon for over 30 years. Dr. Carey earned his undergraduate degree from Temple University, where he also did his residency and a sports medicine fellowship. Dr. Carey has been recognized as an Irish American Top 50 Medical Professional, received a Pennsylvania Team Physician Athletic Trainer Award, and has been named to the West Branch Hall of Fame and the Lycoming College Hall of Fame. Dr. Carey is a volunteer for the Loyalsock Township Recreation Board and the North Central PA Food Bank. Dr. Carey’s second term will expire March 31, 2028. |
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Mark Sheppard, an attorney member, was appointed to the Board in February 2026 for a term beginning April 1, 2026. Mr. Sheppard’s law firm is located in Chester County, Pennsylvania. For over three decades, he has built a record of successfully representing corporations, public officials and individuals in complex white-collar criminal trials, grand jury investigations, SEC, FCA and other civil enforcement matters. Mr. Sheppard has also represented various companies and individuals in complex litigation and First Amendment matters. He has achieved the highest possible distinction of AV Preeminent Peer Rating from Martindale-Hubbell, indicating the highest level of professional excellence for legal ability and ethical standards. He is the Past President of the Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and was appointed by the Governor to serve on the Pennsylvania Commission of Sentencing from 2015 through 2019. He has testified numerous times before the United States Senate and Pennsylvania Senate Judiciary Committees, as well as other legislative and judicial task forces on natters related to federal and state judicial reform. Mr. Sheppard has also served on a number of non-profit boards and continues to be active with various volunteer organizations, focusing on professional wellness, ensuring access to our courts and the protection of a free press. Mr. Sheppard is a graduate of Lehigh University and earned his Juris Doctorate from the Pennsylvania State University, Dickinson School of Law. His current term expires in March 2029. |
