Main Office Attorneys
Page Content
OGC Main Office Attorneys
Laurie A. Malone
Chief of Staff
Laurie A. Malone is the Chief of Staff in the Governor’s Office of General Counsel for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. She was appointed to this position in January 2023 and is responsible for assisting the General Counsel in overseeing the provision of legal services to over 30 executive branch and independent agencies.
Previously to this appointment, Ms. Malone served as Chief Deputy Attorney General of the Medicaid Fraud Control Section in the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, where she supervised a team of over seventy (70) attorneys, agents, analysts and auditors investigating and prosecuting healthcare cases in state and federal courts. In this role, she and her team received the United States Inspector General’s Award for Excellence in Fighting Fraud, Waste, and Abuse. During this time Ms. Malone was appointed as a Special Assistant United States Attorney to the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and served on the Executive Committee of the National Association of Medicaid Fraud Control Units.
Prior to her appointment at the Office of Attorney General, Ms. Malone was Deputy of the Pre-Trial Division in the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office. Under her leadership, the office implemented diversion and reentry programming targeting non-violent offenders for alternative case resolutions that addressed underlying causes of criminal behavior and reduced recidivism while simultaneously implementing new indicting grand jury practices to address witness intimidation. Additionally, Ms. Malone served as the District Attorney’s lead in a city-wide application and award from the MacArthur Foundation’s Safety and Justice Challenge to address prison overcrowding. During this time, she was also an Adjunct Professor at the Temple University School of Law.
Ms. Malone received her law degree from Temple University School of Law and her undergraduate degree in Political Science from Temple University.
Theron R. Perez
First Deputy General Counsel
First Deputy General Counsel
Theron R. Perez was appointed First Deputy General Counsel in the Governor’s Office of General Counsel (OGC) in October 2019. Prior to his appointment, he had served as Chief Counsel for the Department of Corrections (DOC) since July 2013. Theron had previously served as Deputy Chief Counsel at the DOC and headed the Employment Litigation section since June of 2011. Prior to that he had served as Assistant Counsel for the DOC since 2005. During his tenure with the DOC, he represented the agency in both federal and state litigation in various civil rights and employment matters. He has also been involved in the negotiation and review of contracts, developed and delivered legal training for DOC staff, and provided advice regarding the promulgation of policy, Right to Know Law matters, and employment and labor issues.
Prior to serving at DOC, Theron served as the Deputy Director for the Central Region for U.S. Senator Arlen Specter. An active member of the community, Theron is a deacon at Calvary Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Middletown, PA and has served as a volunteer attorney in the Dauphin County Pro Bono Program. He is a graduate of the Dickinson School of Law and completed his undergraduate studies at Messiah College.
D
erek Riker
Deputy Chief of Staff
Derek Riker was appointed Deputy Chief of Staff in the Governor’s Office of General Counsel in January 2023. He is responsible for operations management and employee training, development, and retention for over 600 lawyers and support personnel.
Prior to his appointment, Mr. Riker served as Deputy Inspector General at the Philadelphia Office of Inspector General, where he managed a team of lawyers and investigators tasked with conducting discrete probes into allegations of fraud, waste, and mismanagement involving high ranking public officials and city contractors.
Previously to that, Mr. Riker served as an Assistant District Attorney in the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office. During his tenure, Mr. Riker was instrumental in the creation of the Diversion Courts Unit. As Chief of that unit, he developed several of its key programs from concept through implementation, with primary focus on addressing the underlying causes of criminality through both pretrial and reentry programming. Mr. Riker was chosen by the U.S. Department of Justice to act as a mentor-trainer to jurisdictions throughout the country interested in developing diversion programs.
Before pursuing a career in law, Mr. Riker was a lobbyist and strategic advisor on government affairs to several Fortune 500 companies. He received his B.A. from Saint Joseph’s University and his J.D. from Widener University Delaware School of Law. He also received an M.A. in Political Management from the George Washington University.
Addie A. Abelson
Deputy General Counsel
Addie A. Abelson was appointed Deputy General Counsel with the Governor’s Office of General Counsel (OGC) in August 2021. In addition to her general responsibilities to the General Counsel, Addie’s practice focuses on regulatory and transactional matters on behalf of the Governor’s Office and in conjunction with various executive and independent agencies.
Addie comes to OGC from the Department of Human Services, where she advised the agency on regulatory matters. She also provided legal counsel to the Department’s Office of Income Maintenance on matters related to program administration and recipient eligibility for the following programs: Medical Assistance, Long Term Care, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Addie represented the Department in appeals before the Commonwealth Court and the Department’s Bureau of Hearings and Appeals. She received her bachelor of science in industrial engineering from the University of Pittsburgh and her juris doctor from the Pennsylvania State University’s Dickinson School of Law, where she served as an editor on the Penn State Law Review.
Nicole M. Bordonaro
Deputy General Counsel
Nicole M. Bordonaro was re-appointed Deputy General Counsel in the Governor’s Office of General Counsel (OGC) in January 2023. In addition to her responsibilities to the General Counsel, Nicole’s practice at OGC focuses on legislative and policy matters affecting the Governor’s Office, executive branch, and independent Commonwealth agencies. Prior to this appointment, Nicole most recently served as the Chief Counsel to the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, the Office of the State Fire Commissioner, and the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security.
Previously, Nicole served as Executive Deputy General Counsel for Legislative Affairs with OGC. In her role as Executive Deputy General Counsel, Nicole served as counsel to the Governor’s Office of Legislative Affairs and the Governor’s Policy Office on all legislative matters. In tandem with her legislative responsibilities, Nicole served as liaison counsel to the Department of Education and the Department of General Services. Nicole also served as the General Counsel’s designee to the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws (Pennsylvania Delegation), and to the Joint Committee on Documents (Chair).
A long standing OGC attorney, Nicole was also employed by the Governor’s Office of General Counsel, Department of Education’s Office of Chief Counsel. Her primary areas of concentration at the Department of Education were legislation, original jurisdiction litigation and school finance. In addition, Nicole created the Civics Education Alliance, a partnership between OGC and the Pennsylvania Bar Association (PBA). Prior to entering law school, Nicole was employed by the Pittsburgh based public affairs firm, William J. Green & Associates. Upon graduation from law school, Nicole was employed with the Pennsylvania Senate; as Assistant Counsel to the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry; and as a law clerk to the Honorable Bernard L. McGinley, Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania.
Nicole previously served as the Chair of the PBA’s Administrative Law Section and received a “Pro-Bono Award” from the PBA. Nicole is a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association, the James S. Bowman American Inns of Court, the Commonwealth Court Historical Society, and has served as a lecturer and presenter for the Pennsylvania Bar Institute, among others. Nicole received the “Governor’s Office of General Counsel’s Award for Excellence, Energy and Enthusiasm” for her dedication and service to the Commonwealth, and the “Unsung Heroes” award from the Legal Intelligencer. Nicole received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Pittsburgh, and a Juris Doctor degree from the Widener University School of Law (cum laude, Widener Scholar).
Jacob Boyer
Deputy General Counsel
Jacob Boyer was appointed Deputy General Counsel in January 2023. Prior to his appointment, Jacob served as Deputy Attorney General in the Impact Litigation Section of the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General under Attorney General Josh Shapiro. In that role, Jacob represented the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in civil litigation involving issues of significant state and national importance. Since 2020, Jacob has served as lead counsel on behalf of the Commonwealth and the Pennsylvania Department of State on numerous election matters. He also has represented the Commonwealth in various actions against the federal government related to access to healthcare, gun violence, and predatory student lending.
Before joining the Office of Attorney General, Jacob clerked for Diane Wood on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit and Beryl Howell on the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. He graduated summa cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania Law School and received his bachelor of arts from Amherst College.
Sean P. Brennan
Deputy General Counsel
Sean P. Brennan was appointed Deputy General Counsel in the Governor’s Office of General Counsel (OGC) in January of 2023. In addition to his responsibilities to the General Counsel, Sean concentrates on legislative matters on behalf of the Governor’s Office and in conjunction with various executive agencies.
Sean’s background includes both public and private sector experience in state legislative and regulatory practice, with a focus on insurance, healthcare, finance, and criminal justice. In the private sector, Sean worked for Independence Blue Cross where he focused on state regulatory matters and public policy development. His public sector experience includes more than a decade with the Pennsylvania General Assembly.
Sean came to OGC from the Pennsylvania State Senate where he served as the Executive Director and Legal Counsel to the Judiciary Committee. Prior to his work with the Judiciary Committee, Sean held several positions with the Pennsylvania State Senate, including Deputy Chief Counsel to the Appropriations Committee and Director and Legal Counsel to the Banking and Insurance Committee. Before his tenure with the Pennsylvania State Senate, Sean spent eight years as a legislative aide and research analyst with the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. While working for the House of Representatives, he attended law school at night to complete his Juris Doctor degree.
Sean received his Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Political Science from Bloomsburg University and his Juris Doctor from Widener University Commonwealth Law School.
Anne Gingrich Cornick
Deputy General Counsel
Deputy General Counsel
Anne Gingrich Cornick was appointed Deputy General Counsel for the Pennsylvania Governors Office of General Counsel (OGC) in March 2015. Her chief responsibilities encompass all criminal legal issues at OGC and she serves as the primary contact for all law enforcement agencies. Anne is also Chair of the Criminal Justice Practice Group.
Anne came to OGC after many years as a criminal defense attorney in both state and Federal jurisdictions. She has represented individuals, including a large indigent client base, at every level of the criminal justice system, and her extensive trial experience has been comprised of charges ranging from DUIs, drug offenses, assaults, and homicides. She has also served as counsel in civil litigation cases involving family law, custody law, wills and estates, professional licensure law, and evolving civil proceedings concerning SORNA legislation. Anne has a strong background in direct and collateral appellate work, and served as the Chief Deputy Public Defender of the Appellate Division in Dauphin County, where she first began her legal career.
Anne has served as an adjunct professor in constitutional and criminal law at Central Penn College, an instructor at the Dickinson School of Law of the Pennsylvania State University, and a guest lecturer at the Pennsylvania State Police Academy. She received her J.D. from The University of Texas School of Law where she was a Presidential Scholarship in Law Recipient and a Texas Law Fellow. Prior to attending law school she served as a Peace Corps Volunteer leading community health programs in Luapula Province, Zambia. She holds a B.A. from Boston University College Honors Program, summa cum laude. Anne lives in the city of Harrisburg with her husband, Sean, and their daughter.
Michael J. Fischer
Executive Deputy General Counsel
Michael J. Fischer was appointed Executive Deputy General Counsel in January 2023. Previously, he served as Chief Counsel and Executive Deputy Attorney General for Attorney General Josh Shapiro. In that role, he oversaw the Office of Attorney General’s first-ever Impact Litigation Section and represented Pennsylvania in litigation challenging federal government policies dealing with health care, the environment, education, immigration, and other areas. In 2020, he argued before the United States Supreme Court on behalf of Pennsylvania in litigation challenging the Trump Administration’s efforts to roll back the contraceptive mandate under the Affordable Care Act.
Michael previously worked as Senior Counsel for the United States Senate Judiciary Committee, where he oversaw the staff of the Crime & Terrorism Subcommittee on behalf of Senator Sheldon Whitehouse. He also served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, where he investigated and tried cases involving violent crime, public corruption, white-collar crime, narcotics, and other offenses. He worked for the Washington, D.C., law firm of Kellogg, Hansen, Todd, Figel & Frederick, where he handled complex trial and appellate litigation across a broad variety of subject matters. Following law school, Michael clerked for the Honorable Edward R. Becker and the Honorable Michael Chertoff on the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
Michael graduated from Princeton University magna cum laude and Columbia University School of Law, where he was a Hamilton Fellowship Recipient and a James Kent Scholar. He is a native of Wayne, PA, and a graduate of Radnor High School.
Andrew P. Hanna
Deputy General Counsel
Deputy General Counsel
Andrew P. Hanna was appointed Deputy General Counsel in the Governor’s Office of General Counsel (OGC) in March of 2021. In addition to his general responsibilities to the General Counsel, Andrew focuses on legislative and transactional matters on behalf of the Governor’s Office and in conjunction with various executive agencies. Andrew is a member of OGC’s Transactions Practice Group and Intellectual Property Practice Group. Andrew comes to OGC from the Department of Corrections (DOC), where he served as Assistant Counsel for Legal Services. Andrew’s practice focused on policy, legislation, procurement law, negotiating contracts, reviewing contracts for form and legality, and providing legal counsel on transactional matters. Andrew has also represented the DOC in Compassionate Release cases. Andrew received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh and his Juris Doctor degree from Widener University School of Law.
Thomas P. Howell
Deputy General Counsel
Deputy General Counsel
Thomas P. Howell was appointed Deputy General Counsel in the Pennsylvania Governor’s Office of General Counsel (OGC), in April 2016. In addition to his responsibilities to the General Counsel, Thomas concentrates his practice in the area of public records law. Thomas is also a member of OGC’s litigation group and his practice includes litigation on behalf of various executive agencies and the Governor’s office. Thomas is also the Chair of the Records Access and Management/Right-to-Know Law Practice Group
Since joining the Commonwealth in 1996, Thomas has served in various capacities with the Department of Labor and Industry, where he represented the Department in areas of Labor and Employment law, primarily as counsel to the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation. Thomas has represented executive agencies in Pennsylvania’s Courts of Common Pleas and Commonwealth Court, and has successfully litigated matters before the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. Thomas received his bachelor’s degree in History from College Misericordia (now Misericordia University) in Dallas, Pennsylvania, in 1994, and received his Juris Doctor from Widener University School of Law in 1996, where he was a member of the Moot Court Honor Society.
Alaina C. Koltash
Deputy General Counsel
Alaina C. Koltash was appointed Deputy General Counsel in the Governor’s Office of General Counsel (OGC) in August 2020. In addition to her general responsibilities to the General Counsel, Alaina focuses on legislative matters on behalf of the Governor’s Office and in conjunction with various executive agencies.
Alaina came to OGC from the Pennsylvania House of Representatives where she served as Executive Director and Counsel to the Education Committee. In that position, she drafted, analyzed, and negotiated legislation on a wide range of education issues. Prior to that, she served as Assistant Counsel to the Department of Education (PDE). While at PDE, Alaina’s practice focused on areas including financially distressed school districts, early childhood learning, and school finance. Alaina also served as counsel to the Charter School Appeal Board.
Alaina is an active member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association and currently serves as Vice Chair of the Government Lawyers Committee. Alaina is also a barrister member of the James S. Bowman Inn of Court, a founding board member of the Widener Law Commonwealth Alumni Association, and a long-time volunteer for the Money in Your Pocket Program which provides free tax preparation for low-income families in the Capital Region.
Alaina received her undergraduate degree from the Pennsylvania State University and her juris doctor, magna cum laude, from Widener University School of Law where she was a Widener Merit Scholar.
Jonathan D. Koltash
Deputy General Counsel
Jonathan D. Koltash was appointed Deputy General Counsel in January 2023. Prior to his appointment, Mr. Koltash served as Chief Counsel to the Pennsylvania Health Insurance Exchange Authority beginning in December 2019. Previously Mr. Koltash served as Assistant Chief Counsel for the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH). In that position, he served as DOH’s litigation supervisor, providing counsel to the Secretary of Health, the Physician General, and DOH staff on litigation matters. He was counsel to the Bureau of Human Resources, the Bureau of Laboratories, and the Office of Medical Marijuana. He is also an adjunct professor at Widener Commonwealth Law School and Central Penn College.
Prior to working with the DOH, Mr. Koltash served as Deputy Attorney General with the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, where he represented the Commonwealth in various matters before both the federal and state courts. Mr. Koltash also previously served as Assistant Counsel for the Department of Labor and Industry.
Mr. Koltash is an active member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association (PBA). He currently sits in the PBA’s House of Delegates and serves as the Chair of the Government Lawyers’ Committee. He is currently serving as the Treasurer of the Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Secretary of the Federal Bar Association Middle District Chapter, a member of the Board of Directors for the YMCA Youth and Government program a member of Widener Commonwealth’s Board of Overseers and leadership in the James S. Bowman Inn of Court.
Mr. Koltash is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, and the United States District Courts of the Eastern, Middle and Western Districts of Pennsylvania. Mr. Koltash received his B.S. in Finance and Economics from the Pennsylvania State University and his J.D., cum laude, from Widener University Commonwealth Law School.
Elizabeth L. Pettis
Deputy General Counsel
Elizabeth L. Pettis was re-appointed Deputy General Counsel in the Governor’s Office of General Counsel (OGC) in January 2023. Her practice at OGC focuses on transactional and regulatory matters affecting over 30 executive branch and independent Commonwealth agencies. She also develops, implements, and manages various training initiatives for OGC.
Ms. Pettis has an extensive business, transactional, and regulatory compliance background within the Commonwealth and in private industry. Prior to her re-appointment, Elizabeth served as Chief Counsel for the Department of Military and Veteran Affairs, which is the agency that, among other things, oversees the Pennsylvania National Guard, administers state veterans’ programs, and operates six long term care facilities for veterans and their spouses. Preceding her work at DMVA, Elizabeth served the Commonwealth in various attorney positions including Deputy General Counsel in OGC, Deputy Chief Counsel for Administration for the Department of Corrections, Assistant Counsel for the State Employees Retirement System, and Deputy Attorney General in the Office of Attorney General. In the private sector, Ms. Pettis served as Corporate Counsel at Caterpillar, Inc. and as an Associate with Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott, LLC. Finally, Elizabeth also serves as an Adjunct Professor at the Widener University, Commonwealth School of Law and previously served as an Adjunct Professor at the Shippensburg University, John L. Grove College of Business.
Prior to her legal career, Ms. Pettis served in the United States Army for over 10 years as both a Commissioned and a Non-Commissioned Officer.
Ms. Pettis received a B.A. in political science from Millersville University, an M.A. in public administration from Columbus State University, a J.D. from the Pennsylvania State University, and an LL.M. in international business and trade law from American University.
Kelly M. Sekula
Executive Deputy General Counsel
Kelly M. Sekula was appointed Executive Deputy General Counsel for Public Safety in the Governor’s Office of General Counsel in January 2023. Ms. Sekula’s practice focuses on public safety and criminal justice matters on behalf of the Governor’s Office and in conjunction with various executive branch and independent Commonwealth agencies.
Prior to this appointment, Ms. Sekula served as a Senior Deputy Attorney General in the Criminal Prosecutions Section of the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General investigating and prosecuting a wide spectrum of crimes ranging from misdemeanors to complex felonies and homicides, including cold-case homicides. Ms. Sekula also assisted and advised the Attorney General related to the Board of Pardons and was a member of the Conviction Integrity Section. Prior to her work in the Criminal Prosecutions Section, Ms. Sekula was a member of the Appeals & Legal Services Section where she represented the Commonwealth at all levels of appeals and supervised the Statewide Investigating Grand Jury. Ms. Sekula was also appointed as the Administrative Law Judge for firearms appeals and criminal history record information challenges.
Prior to her appointment at the Office of Attorney General, Ms. Sekula was an Assistant District Attorney in the Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office. In that capacity, she served as Chief of the Violent Crimes and Homicides Unit where she supervised and coordinated strategy and personnel for all homicides, suspicious deaths and violent criminal offenses as well as prosecuted cases. Ms. Sekula also supervised the Investigating Grand Jury and oversaw the County-wide Major Crimes Unit Forensic Team.
Ms. Sekula received her bachelor of arts degree from Juniata College in 1996 and her juris doctorate from Widener University School of Law in 1999.
Sandra Stoner
Deputy General Counsel
Sandra Stoner was appointed in February 2022 as Deputy General Counsel in the Office of General Counsel’s (OGC). Prior to her appointment she had served as Chief Counsel for the Office of Administration (OA), the agency which provides statewide direction on information technology, human resources, merit hiring and continuity of government to agencies under the Governor’s jurisdiction since January 2019.
Preceding her work with OA, Ms. Stoner served as a contract Hearing Officer for the OGC outside Hearing Officer Program. Before becoming an OGC Hearing Officer, Ms. Stoner served in OGC as a Deputy General Counsel with primary responsibilities overseeing employment, personnel and ethics matters and acted as liaison and legal counsel to a variety of agencies. Prior to joining OGC, Sandra was a Senior Deputy Attorney General in Pennsylvania’s Office of Attorney General, Civil Law Division, Litigation Section, where, among other things, she provided legal representation to Commonwealth agencies, officials and employees in a variety of litigations in federal and state court. Prior to that, she was an Assistant Counsel at PennDOT. Before that, Sandra was an associate in a small law practice in Harrisburg.
Sandra received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Government from Franklin and Marshall College and her Juris Doctorate from Dickinson School of Law.
