Hon. Alan S. Penkower, Ret.
Judge Alan Penkower retired in 2004 from the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County in Pittsburgh, PA, after serving since 1983. Assigned to the court’s civil division for more than 15 years, Judge Penkower presided over 800 jury and non-jury trials on a wide range of issues. He also conducted more than 4,000 judicial settlement conferences with a high rate of success, incorporating both facilitative and evaluative mediation techniques. Judge Penkower has gained a reputation as a fair and patient jurist with an excellent understanding of the law. His colleagues admire his temperament and sense of humor, and note that he empathizes with all parties in a dispute and inspires in litigants the belief that their voices are being heard.

Judge Penkower served from 1979-1983 as Chief Judge of the Pittsburgh Municipal Court and from 1972-1983 as Presiding Judge of the Pittsburgh Housing Court. He is a frequent speaker, panelist and lecturer at continuing education programs for various bar, professional and trade groups.

SPECIALIZES IN:

Business/commercial, construction defects, employment, intellectual property, personal injury, product liability, professional malpractice, and real estate.

EDUCATION:

  • J.D., New York University School of Law
    (1967)
  • B.A., Brandeis University (1965)

ORGANIZATIONS AND ACHIEVEMENTS:

  • Faculty Assistant, Civil Mediation Course, National Judicial College (1997, 1998, 1999) where he also completed a 40-hour course in Civil Mediation
  • Past President, Pennsylvania Conference of State Trial Judges
  • Active on numerous committees and task forces of the American, Pennsylvania and Allegheny County bar associations
  • American Inns of Court, Counselor to the University of Pittsburgh School of Law Chapter

AVAILABLE:

West Coast, East Coast.