Rees Griffiths

Of Counsel | Attorney

Overview

Rees Griffiths (Of Counsel), has over 40 years of experience representing plaintiffs and defendants in litigation and also resolving conflict through mediation and arbitration. In his legal practice, he concentrated on resolving business and commercial disputes of closely-held businesses. As a litigator and certified mediator, his experience includes matters involving business tort, breach of contracts, construction claims, Uniform Commercial Code, creditors’ rights and professional negligence actions involving non-medical professionals.

In the areas of business litigation, real estate, and construction litigation, Rees was continuously recognized by his peers. In 2009, 2010, and 2011, he was named to the list of Pennsylvania SuperLawyers. No more than the top 5% of lawyers in their respective fields in the state are honored. He also had an AV peer review rating with Martindale Hubbell.

As a certified mediator by the Court of Common Pleas of York County and the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Rees was regularly selected as a mediator by the judges of the Middle District Court and the Realtors Association of York and Adams County.

In his legal practice, he also represented locally owned businesses in a wide variety of complex commercial litigation matters, such as dissenter’s rights cases, minority shareholder cases, partnership, and corporate dissolution as well as construction litigation and litigation involving negligence by real estate professionals, such as appraisers and architects. In addition, Rees defended or brought litigation for local governments and authorities.

Additionally, he has experience in legal actions involving environmental issues, equity proceedings, fiduciary litigation, wrongful discharge, estates litigation and defended lending institutions and trust departments in lender liability cases. Rees also represented plaintiffs in substantial personal injury and wrongful death cases.

During his 40 plus years of experience in litigation, the bulk of his cases were heard in either the Court of Common Pleas of York County or in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. He is familiar with the rules and procedures of these courts; more meaningfully, he appeared numerous times before judges and juries in York and Harrisburg.

Before Rees joined CGA Law Firm, he was a partner at Barley Snyder LLC and chair of the regional firm’s Litigation Department. He also chaired the CGA Law Firm Litigation Department from 2007 to 2016.

Rees’ Verdicts and Settlements Include:

  • A $1.15 million jury verdict in Lebanon County against a nationally known golf course architect for negligence in connection with the design of a private golf course;
  • A judicial award of $2.2 million in compensatory and punitive damages in Berks County in a “minority shareholder freezeout” case;
  • A million dollar plus settlement of a minor’s claim for ingestion of toxic substances on the family farm;
  • And a multi-million dollar private settlement of a wrongful death claim (while the amount of this settlement is confidential, it likely remains the highest wrongful death settlement in the County).
Education
  • J.D., Harvard University – 1975
  • B.S., University of Pennsylvania, cum laude – 1972