The Berks Barrister Summer 2017 - 7

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is only about fifteen percent of
his practice, he likes the fact that
"bankruptcy is straight forward." He
feels an obligation to serve on the
pro bono panel. "Those clients are so
confused and overwhelmed with the
paper work."
Jay considers himself a "travel
junkie." He and his wife travel to
Europe on vacation three times a
year. In 2017, March found them in
Austria. In July they spent time in France, including five nights in
a small country inn surrounded by vineyards and with no phones,
TV, air conditioning or window screens. "It was very pleasant."
Croatia is their destination in October.
Having outside interests closer to
home is Paul H. Herbein, Esquire.
With twenty-seven years of experience
in bankruptcy law, he finds the pro
bono work to be "very rewarding
to help someone who cannot help
themselves against overwhelming
odds."
Paul's more local interests beyond
his practice are trap shooting as well
as buying, managing and selling real
estate. He is currently managing
nineteen properties! That will keep you close to home.
Brenna H. Mendelsohn,
Esquire, may be raising two sons,
aged one and three, but she still
maintains an active bankruptcy
practice since returning to her native
Berks County in late 2004. Prior to
that, she had practiced in New York
City and Philadelphia. A co-chair of
the Berks Bar's Bankruptcy Section,
she normally has one pro bono case
going all the time. "I like giving
people who have had rough times a
fresh start."
She finds relaxation away from the demands of family and
practice on the tennis court. An avid player, she frequently plays
in United States Tennis Association sanctioned tournaments,
whether it is mixed doubles with her husband in the winter or
women's singles and doubles in the summer.
Another sports enthusiast on the
panel is Scott C. Painter, Esquire.
He golfs and bowls, but he really likes
talking about his quest to see a game
in all thirty major league baseball parks
with his son. This past spring they
made it to San Diego, San Francisco
and Oakland, making it a total of
twenty-two to date.

For twenty-five years, Scott has practiced bankruptcy law.
Fulfilling his pro bono obligation by serving on MidPenn's
bankruptcy panel has been very gratifying. "Pro bono clients
many times find themselves in bad situations, and they are very
grateful when you show them the way out." His community
work includes serving on the Wyomissing School Board,
which is not always as pleasant an experience as spending an
afternoon or evening at a ballpark.
For Stephen M. Otto,
Esquire, ninety-five percent of his
practice is devoted to bankruptcy
law. He has been around it a long
time, beginning when he was an
11-year-old helping out in his
father's Pittsburgh law firm. Steve's
duties at the time included copying
documents and then delivering them
for filing in the bankruptcy court
office. Following law school, Steve
came to work for Neighborhood
Legal Services in Beaver County,
where he really became interested in bankruptcy work. With
his "mathematical bent," he finds representing bankruptcy
clients to be "solution driven, getting to the root of the
problem."
Being on the pro bono panel allows Steve to live out his
faith by helping those in need. As for interests outside of law,
he enjoys the "marriage of exploring trails, hiking and running."
A recent vacation in the Rocky Mountains "added elevation to
the miles."
The youngest attorney on the
panel is Daniel T. Rabenold,
Esquire, but he does not lack
experience. The recent financial
crisis began in 2008 when Dan was
in law school, and it sparked an
interest in bankruptcy law. He finds
the law interesting, especially its
mathematical nature, the strict rules
and their mechanical application,
offering people who are in dire
straits a clean slate.
"I find the pro bono work
personally rewarding; it is why bankruptcy exists. To help
people in a dark spot is what the law intends." In his spare
time, Dan likes fishing, fencing, chess and reading.
In nominating the members for this year's award,
MidPenn's Attorney Good concluded, "What I love about the
bankruptcy panel is that they are so humble. They stand in the
background, waiting for the call. And they never fail to answer
and provide top-notch service to our clients."
Well said and a well-deserved honor for the Ten.

Summer 2017 | 7
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The Berks Barrister Summer 2017

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