Pollock Begg Partners Assume Leadership Roles within Allegheny County Bar Association

PITTSBURGH — Joseph R. Williams and Heather Trostle Smith, both partners in downtown Pittsburgh family law firm Pollock Begg, have been elected to leadership roles within the Allegheny County Bar Association, the ACBA announced Wednesday.

Williams will serve as president-elect from July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021. Commencing on July 1, 2021, Williams will serve as president of the association for one year. In that capacity, he will preside over the ACBA’s governance; represent the ACBA in regional, statewide and national legal matters; speak on behalf of the association to the community-at-large; and serve as a steward to the ACBA’s sections, committees and divisions.

Williams, 36, is one of the youngest elected to this prestigious position in the 150-year history of the ACBA.  A respected litigator who also is certified in collaborative law, Williams served on the ACBA Board of Governors from 2017-20 and was past chair of the ACBA Young Lawyers Division. He was honored with ACBA’s Outstanding Young Lawyer Award in 2017 and served as program chair of ACBA’s Bench Bar Conference in 2019.

Trostle Smith, who has previously served on the ACBA Judiciary Committee, was again elected to a three-year term. The Judiciary Committee consists of 24 ACBA members who evaluate and rate candidates for judicial positions on the state and federal bench, including both trial court and appellate court candidacies. These ratings are published to the community at large and often relied upon by members of the public when determining whether to support a judicial candidate.

A leader in continuing education for attorneys, Trostle Smith has presented programs on shareholder rights, executive compensation, electronic discovery, client management and other family law issues for the ACBA, Pennsylvania Bar Association, Pennsylvania Bar Institute and National Business Institute.

“Both Joe and Heather go above and beyond to fulfill Pollock Begg’s commitment to service and leadership and to advance the legal profession,” said fellow Pollock Begg Partner Candice L. Komar. “We are incredibly proud they have been recognized by their peers and know their unwavering leadership will continue a long-standing high standard of excellence at our ACBA.”

Comprised of nearly 6,000 members, the ACBA promotes a just, accessible and inclusive judicial system. ACBA serves the legal profession and community by fostering a culture of ethics and professionalism, championing equality and diversity, supporting equal access to legal services and enhancing the success of members through education, networking, leadership and professional development opportunities.

About Pollock Begg

An intellectual influencer in the legal marketplace, Pittsburgh-based Pollock Begg focuses on innovative, team-oriented solutions to resolve domestic matters. Driving legal expectations in the industry, the family law attorneys at Pollock Begg serve in numerous leadership positions within matrimonial law organizations and are encouraged to participate in pro bono work and community initiatives. Founded in 2001, Pollock Begg is a top-tier law firm as ranked by U.S. News and World Report. For more information, visit pollockbegg.com.

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