Maureen A. Gallagher

After serving as judicial law clerk to the Hon. Charles C. Brown, Jr., then the president judge of Centre County, Maureen Gallagher joined McQuaide Blasko in State College because she wanted to be a trial attorney. She successfully tried her first medical malpractice case to verdict in 1995 as a young associate with the Firm, and over the years has become one of the most experienced trial attorneys in the Firm. Maureen is honored to have been recognized both by the judiciary and by her peers as a Martindale-Hubbell AV-Preeminent attorney, having attained the highest possible peer review rating in both legal ability and ethical standards since 2014; this is particularly meaningful to her because all of the peer evaluations were submitted by attorneys outside the Firm, including some of her former opponents in the Courtroom.

As an experienced trial attorney, Maureen has expertise in all aspects of complex medical malpractice litigation, including pretrial discovery and depositions, case analysis and investigation, multiple jury trials to verdict, and appellate advocacy. Because she experienced first-hand the benefits of mentorship, Maureen is passionate about mentoring younger attorneys who have a sincere desire to learn trial advocacy, and this has been a focus of her work with the Firm over many years. Recognizing that a jury trial may not always be the preferred means of resolving a case, Maureen likewise has extensive experience and expertise in arbitration, mediation, and other forms of alternative dispute resolution.Throughout her lengthy career, Maureen has been called upon countless times to advise health care administrators on a wide variety of legal issues that arise within the context of day-to-day patient care. She has been an invited presenter with the Pennsylvania Bar Institute as well as with area hospitals, and physician and nurses’ groups. She also has an interest in media law, having successfully handled defamation cases for the Firm’s clients and taught media law at the undergraduate level. Maureen transferred to the Firm’s Hershey-area office in 1998, and over the years she has been an active member of her community, primarily focusing on activities and service that benefit children and families. She has served as a youth basketball coach, scout troop leader, library volunteer, food bank volunteer, Ronald McDonald House volunteer, and a member of the Board of a non-profit mental health organization. She is also a member of the Firm’s Management Committee, and the managing partner of the Hummelstown office.