Position: Partner

Practice Areas:
  • Business & Finance
  • Commercial Transactions
  • Corporate Law
  • Mergers & Acquisitions

Contact

Address:
Cross Creek Pointe
1065 Highway 315, Suite 200
Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702

PH: 570-826-5678
FX: 570-826-5640
Email
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Assistant’s Name:
Jaden Perrillo
Email Assistant

Attorney Paul T. Rushton counsels business clients on corporate law, commercial transactions, business formation, shareholder, employment and governance agreements, shareholder disputes and mergers, acquisitions and divestitures.

His clients come from numerous industries including architects, engineers, physicians, dentists, lawyers, insurance and investment brokerage, construction, water bottling, landscapers, hunting and lake clubs, restaurants, bars, advertising, manufacturing, technology, real estate investments, education, stone, timber, and oil and gas.  He is known in legal and business circles for his thoroughness, attention to detail and for constantly considering ways to further his clients’ goals.

In addition to his practice, Paul energetically looks for ways to give back to his community. He is a member of the Board of Trustees of Misericordia University, the Board of Directors of the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business and Industry, the Board of Directors of the Greater Wilkes-Barre Growth Partnership, the Board of Directors of The Institute, and the Board of Directors of the United Way of Wyoming Valley, as well as various committees of those organizations, including the Governance Committee of the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business and Industry, which he chairs. He has addressed groups of students at his alma maters, Heights Elementary School, G.A.R. Memorial High School, and Susquehanna University, as well as the Regional Workshop of Future Business Leaders of America and the Great Valley Technology Alliance Business Plan Competition.

Named a Rising Star by Law and Politics, Attorney Rushton was recognized by the Times Leader as one of the area’s “Top 40 Under Forty” professionals.

cum laude graduate of Susquehanna University, Paul earned his law degree from the Dickinson School of Law of the Pennsylvania State University, where he served as an Associate Editor of the International Law Journal.

Paul frequently speaks to groups of business owners and others on a variety of legal and business issues through presentations and seminars. Most recently, Paul appeared on an episode of the Stone House Retirement Income Planners’ Blue Collar Wealth podcast, where he and host Bob Brown provided helpful information for natural gas lease holders. The main topics of their discussion included managing natural gas lease assets, estate planning, and liability protection for natural gas lease holders.

Representative Matters

Paul has represented clients in connection with the following transactions in the past several years:

  • Sale of assets of funeral home business.
  • Purchase of assets of personal care home business.
  • Sale of equity interests of architecture and engineering firm to private equity firm.
  • Sale of equity interests of multidimensional products and sales distribution business.
  • Sale of equity interests of deli product distribution business.
  • Sale of equity interests of salon and spa business.
  • Purchase of assets of bike tour business.
  • Sale of assets of laundromat business.
  • Sale of assets of supply business.
  • Purchase of assets of transmission rebuilding and repair business.
  • Sale of assets of software distribution and support business.
  • Purchase of assets of deli product distribution business.
  • Purchase of assets of insurance agency.
  • Sale of assets of deli product distribution business.
  • Purchase of assets of pest control business.
  • Sale of assets of physical therapy business.
  • Sale of equity interests of waste hauling and environmental construction business.
  • Purchase of stock of automobile dealership.
  • Purchase of assets of industrial coating and air filtration business.
  • Sale of assets of tennis club.
  • Purchase of the assets of several vending businesses.
  • Sale of assets of window, door, and entry system business.
  • Purchase of stock of auto body business.
  • Sale of assets of medical practice.
  • Purchase of assets of greenhouse and garden center business.
  • Sale of equity interests of metal fabrication business.
  • Purchase of assets of saw shop and stone business.
  • Sale of assets of telephone system and network infrastructure business.
  • Purchase of assets of wood products manufacturing business.
  • Sale of assets of dental practice.
  • Purchase of assets of ice cream business.
  • Sale of stock of pizza restaurant.
  • Sale of stock of tool and die machine shop business.
  • Purchase of assets of voice and data solutions business.
  • Sale of assets of insurance agency.
  • Purchase of assets of pest control business.
  • Sale of assets of bottled water business.
  • Purchase of assets of pharmacy.
  • Sale of equity interests of child care business.
  • Sale of assets of modular building solutions business.
  • Purchase of stock of McDonald’s franchisee.
  • Purchase of assets of McDonald’s franchisee.
  • Sale of assets of stone quarry business.
  • Purchase of stock of awning business.
  • Sale of stock of ophthalmic laboratory business.
  • Purchase of assets of bar and restaurant business (including liquor license).
  • Sale of assets of accounting firm.
  • Purchase of stock of flower business.
  • Sale of assets of deli and beer sales business (including liquor license).
  • Purchase of stock of hardware business.
  • Purchase of assets of bottled water business.
  • Sale of the assets of a vending business.
  • Purchase by a building products manufacturer of the assets of a national competitor.
  • Sale of the stock of a brewery to a private equity firm.
  • Purchase of the assets of several tire sale, service, and retread businesses by a regional tire sale, service and retread company.
  • Sale of the assets of an insurance brokerage business to a competitor.
  • Purchase of the assets of an insurance brokerage business by a competitor under a Section 363 bankruptcy sale.
  • Purchase of the assets of a temporary staffing business.
  • Purchase of the assets of a manufacturer of components used in roofing, pool liners, wall coverings, label applications, and shower liners under a Section 363 bankruptcy sale.
  • Purchase of the assets of a day care business.

Paul also has experience in addressing the following issues on behalf of clients:

  • Formation of Pennsylvania family limited partnerships, transfer of property and contract rights to family limited partnerships, and gifting of limited partnership interests therein.
  • Purchase and sale of Pennsylvania liquor licenses and the application for the transfer of such licenses with the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board.
  • Conversion of a Pennsylvania general partnership into a Pennsylvania limited partnership or limited liability company in accordance with available exemption from Pennsylvania realty transfer tax.
  • Preparation of contracts that comply with the Pennsylvania Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act and counseling home improvement contractors on the procedures that are required by such Act.
  • Purchase of assets of personal care home business.

Education

Susquehanna University (B.A. in Political Science, cum laude, 1997.
Dickinson School of Law of the Pennsylvania State University (J.D., 2000). Paul served as an Associate Editor on the Dickinson School of Law of the Pennsylvania State UniversityInternational Law Journal as a law student.

Bar Admissions

  • Pennsylvania
  • New York

Industry Experience

  • Architects and Engineers
  • Medical practices, hospitals, health centers, and related businesses
  • Dental practices
  • Lawyers
  • Water bottling
  • Insurance and investment brokerage
  • Construction (including federal, commercial, and home improvement contractors)
  • Restaurants, Bars, and related businesses
  • Tire sales, service, and retread business
  • Advertising and promotional products
  • Technology
  • Real Estate, including real estate investors
  • Stone, timber, oil, and gas
  • Manufacturing
  • Day Care
  • Education
  • Water haulers
  • Landscapers
  • Hunting Clubs
  • Lake Clubs

Presentations

  • “Back to the Drawing Board: Recent Law Changes and M&A Developments Warrant Reconsideration of Governance Documents by Closely-held Businesses” (co-presenter), 2023 PBI Business Law Institute.
  • “What’s New (or at least more prevalent) in the M&A Market for Closely-Held Businesses and What Should Business Owners Do About It”, September 2023, Presentation for Business Lending Department for Local Bank.
  • “Commercial Dispute Appeals, The Sequel: Amendments to Title 15 and Why They’re Important” (co-presenter), July 2023 CJE/CLE Webinar for Pennsylvania Superior Court and Staff Attorneys.
  • “Recent Developments and Suggested Considerations for Oil and Gas Royalty Owners” (co-presenter), Wyalusing Community Room and Community Foundation (Montrose, Pennsylvania), 2023.
  • “A Deep Dive on Family Limited Partnerships and Limited Liability Companies” (co-presenter), Stone House Retirement Income Planners’ Blue Collar Wealth Podcast, 2023.
  • “Too Close for Comfort: Equity Offer and Governance Agreement Considerations for Closely Held Businesses in Transition” (co-presenter), 2022 PBI Business Law Institute.
  • “Coming and Going: Considerations for Use and Contents of Employment and Separation Agreements”, 2022 NEPA SHRM Legal Update.
  • “Business Law 2022” (co-presenter), October 2022 CJE/CLE Webinar for Pennsylvania Superior Court and Staff Attorneys.
  • “Avoiding and Overcoming the “OOPS!”: Practical Solutions for Common Governance Errors in Closely-Held Businesses” (co-presenter), 2021 PBI Business Law Institute.
  • “Jumping Through Hoops – Crafting Enforceable and Assignable Non-Competition and other Restrictive Covenants”, 2021 NEPA SHRM Legal Update.
  • “Choice of Entity and Governance Agreement Considerations for Closely-Held Businesses”, Wilkes University Small Business Development Center (SBDC).
  • “Tale of the Tape – Comparing and Contrasting the Business Transition Options for Closely-Held Business Owners” (co-presenter), 2020 PBI Business Law Institute.
  • “Preparing for and Effectuating the Sale of a Closely-Held Business”, 2019 PBI Business Law Institute (also presented at the THINK Center of the Greater Wyoming Valley Chamber).
  • “Forming an Entity for a Veteran-Owned or Reservist-Owned Small Business in Pennsylvania”, Wilkes-Barre Connect Honor Boots to Business Reboot Event, THINK Center of the Greater Wyoming Valley Chamber.
  • “Practice Tips for Properly Structuring and Conducting Effective Internal Corporate Investigations”, THINK Center of the Greater Wyoming Valley Chamber.
  • “Non-Competition and other Covenants for the Protection of an Employer’s Trade Secrets and other Interests”, King’s College Family Business Forum.
  • “Successfully Negotiating and Drafting Acquisition Agreements in Pennsylvania”, National Business Institute (2005).
  • “HIPAA Essentials for Employers”, SHRM.
  • “Choice of Entity Considerations for Medical Practices”, Wilkes University Continuing Learning Seminar.
  • Presentation concerning internal corporate investigations at a Northeastern Pennsylvania Chapter Institute of Internal Auditors seminar held in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
  • Gave presentations to groups of contractors in Wilkes-Barre, Scranton, and Hazleton on the Pennsylvania Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act.
  • Appeared as a guest on the radio show “Remodeling Roundup” on WILK to discuss the requirements of Pennsylvania Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act and answer questions from listeners regarding such requirements.
  • Appeared on “Remodeling Roundup” to discuss the EPA’s Lead Rule and the requirements imposed upon certain contractors by such Rule.
  • Participated in a panel discussion on the subject of acquisitions at the King’s College Family Business Forum.

Publications

Honors

superl2015

Paul earned the distinction of being named as a “Rising Star” from Philadelphia Magazine in 2006, 2014 and 2015.

In April, 2010, Paul was recognized by the Times Leader as one of the area’s “Top 40 Under Forty”.

Professional Community Activities

  • Business Law Section Council – Pennsylvania Bar Association
  • Executive Committee of the Business Law Section of the Pennsylvania Bar Association
  • Vice Chair of the Business Law Section of the Pennsylvania Bar Association
  • Corporation Bureau Advisory Committee
  • Title 15/Business Associations Committee of the Section on Business Law of the Pennsylvania Bar Association
  • Closely-Held Business Committee of the Section on Business Law of the Pennsylvania Bar Association (Chair)
  • Luzerne County Bar Association (Wilkes-Barre Law & Library Association)
  • Board of Trustees of Misericordia University
  • Finance Committee of Misericordia University
  • Board of Directors of The Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business and Industry
  • Board Development Committee of The Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business and Industry
  • Governance Committee of The Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business and Industry (Chair)
  • Secretary of The Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business and Industry
  • Executive Committee of The Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business and Industry
  • Board of Directors of the Greater Wilkes-Barre Growth Partnership
  • Board of Directors of The Institute
  • Board of Directors of the United Way of Wyoming Valley
  • Executive Committee of the United Way of Wyoming Valley
  • Governance Committee of the United Way of Wyoming Valley
  • 2nd Vice Chair of the United Way of Wyoming Valley
  • Campaign Cabinet for 2023 Annual Giving Campaign for the United Way of Wyoming Valley
  • Chair of 2020 Annual Giving Campaign for the United Way of Wyoming Valley
  • Leadership Wilkes-Barre — Class of 2008
  • Past Member of the Board of Directors of Junior Achievement of Northeastern Pennsylvania, Inc.
  • Past Member of the Board of Directors of The United Rehabilitation Services, Inc.
  • Past Member of the Board of Directors of Wyoming Valley Catholic Youth Center
  • Past Member of the Board of Directors of Thru the Cracks, Inc

Personal Interests

  • Golf
  • Traveling

Reviews

“I used RJG for every legal service from setting up my tax licensing to setting up my LLC and found them to be extremely knowledgeable, helpful and friendly especially Paul Rushton. They are a great firm.” – Client Review from Lawyers.com

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