David J. Solfanelli

Tactical Counsel for Real Estate and Business Disputes

Profile Overview

Precision in the Deal. Authority in the Courtroom.

David Solfanelli acts as the tactical anchor for clients establishing or expanding their footprint in Northeastern Pennsylvania. A former Pennsylvania Municipal Police Officer turned commercial attorney, Dave brings a rare discipline to the practice of law: the investigative eye of law enforcement combined with the strategic foresight of a commercial deal-maker.

For the firm’s corporate and individual clients, Dave serves a dual function essential to operating in a growing economic hub:

• The Architect: Structuring the complex real estate and business transactions that drive development with ironclad precision.
• The Shield: Defending those interests in state and federal court when disputes arise.

Areas of Focus

1. Commercial Real Estate and Development

The Mission: Securing Your Footprint in a Growing Hub. In a region defined by rapid industrial expansion and logistics growth, a transaction is only as good as the diligence behind it. Dave does not merely process closings; he engineers them. Through his affiliate, DJS Abstract & Settlement Service, he provides cost-efficient, streamlined oversight for critical deals—from industrial land acquisitions to complex leasing agreements in our distribution corridors.

• The Tactical Advantage: His background in law enforcement allows him to identify structural risks and evidentiary weaknesses that others miss, ensuring that your real estate investment is not just “done,” but “secured.”

2. Litigation and Regulatory Defense

The Mission: Command in the Courtroom. When litigation becomes necessary, Dave’s presence is defined by authority. Having spent years in law enforcement before entering the bar, he possesses an intrinsic understanding of evidence, procedure, and human behavior that provides a distinct edge in civil, criminal, and regulatory matters:

• Governmental and Regulatory Defense: Leveraging police experience to deconstruct prosecution strategies and investigations, challenging procedure with a level of insight few attorneys possess.
• Commercial Litigation: Protecting business owners in shareholder disputes and breach of contract claims, cutting through the noise to focus on the facts that win cases and preserve operations.

3. Local Market Navigation

The Mission: Turning Local Roots into Operational Success. Born, raised, and invested in the Greater Scranton area, Dave understands the local landscape—both its physical terrain and its political reality. For out-of-market businesses and local developers alike, he is a trusted ally who navigates municipal nuances to get deals across the finish line.

Notable Case Results

• Federal Civil Rights Defense Victory: Secured a full win for a defendant in the U.S. District Court (M.D. Pa.) completely insulating the client from liability against complex federal statutory and Constitutional claims.
• “Not Guilty” Verdict in Criminal Trial: Won a complete acquittal for a client in Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas by utilizing a critical motion in limine to suppress evidence, effectively dismantling the prosecution’s case before it could begin.

Representative Matters

Dave has shaped case law and secured outcomes across multiple legal disciplines, reinforcing the firm’s reputation for sophisticated advocacy:

• White Collar Defense: 3:13-CR-22 (M.D. Pa.)
• Bankruptcy and Fraud Defense: Fraudulent Transfer Litigation, 494 B.R. 816 (Bankr. M.D. Pa.)
• Public Official Ethics: Ethics Act Civil Litigation, 19 A.3d 570 (Pa. Cmwlth.)
• Insurance Litigation: Supreme Court of PA Appeal, 2 A.3d 526

Professional Distinctions

• Solicitor: Lackawanna County Prison Board (2010–Present)
• Former Senior Hearing Committee Member: Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
• Law Enforcement Service: Former Pennsylvania Municipal Police Officer
• Judicial Clerkship: Former Clerk to Judge Barrasse, Lackawanna County
• Awards: CALI Award for Excellence; Keystone College Founder’s Award

Community Leadership

• Board Member: All About the Kids Bicycles, Inc. (2015–Present)
• Board Member: Keystone College National Alumni Association (2011–Present)
• Board Member: Treatment Court Advocacy Center of Lackawanna County (2017–Present)
• Graduate: Leadership Lackawanna (2005)

Education

University of Pittsburgh School of Law

Keystone College