Rothman Gordon: William E. Lestitian

William E. Lestitian
CEO/Managing Shareholder
welestitian@rothmangordon.com

Summary:
Bill Lestitian was elected by his fellow shareholders to be Rothman Gordon's CEO/Managing Shareholder in 2007. He is the first to hold such a post in the firm's 54 year history. Prior to his election to this position, Bill had served on the firm's Management Committee since 2002.

Bill is also the head of the Corporate & Business Department of the Firm. Using his experience as a Certified Public Accountant, Bill advises closely-held and family-owned businesses on capital formation, forms of business organization and related tax implications, mergers & acquisitions, employment matters, and shareholder disputes and has successfully navigated his clients through complex regulatory matters and litigation.

Bill is a native Pittsburgher who is very active in the community. He was appointd to serve on Allegheny County Council representing District 12 in 2006 and 2007. His contributions to the community have been recognized by numerous organizations. He was named a Fast Tracker by the Pittsburgh Business Time in 2004 and a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer by Law & Politics in 2004 and 2005 for his representation of closely-held businesses. Bill was also recognized as one of Western Pennsylvania's "Forty Under Forty" by Pittsburgh Magazine and the Pittsburgh Urban Magnet Project (PUMP) in 2002. Bill was selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers Consumer Guide for Representation of Small Businesses by the Best Lawyers In America in 2001and received the Presidential Excellence Award from the International Association of Lions Clubs and graduated from Leadership Pittsburgh XV in 1999. Additionally, he was named Outstanding Young Lawyer of the Year by the Allegheny County Bar Association in 1997.

Bill is a member of the Allegheny County Bar Association and was invited to become an Allegheny County Bar Foundation Fellow in 2004. He is also a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association, the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Association for Corporate Growth and has been called on to speak on such topics as electronic commerce and internet legal considerations. He has also served as an instructor for the Veteran Entrepreneur Development Program at Robert Morris University.

Bill is a member of the Board of Directors for the Lions Club of Downtown Pittsburgh (serving as its President in 1998-99) and is a former member of the Board of Directors for Mothers Against Drunk Driving of Allegheny/Westmoreland/Beaver Counties, for which he also served as Chair of the Legislative Committee from 1992-97 and as President from 1997-99. He is an advisor for PowerLink an organization devoted to helping women-owned businesses to grow and served on their Board of Directors from 1997-99. Bill served on the Finance Committee for Achieva, an organization dedicated to helping persons with disabilities. He is a member of the Notre Dame Club of Pittsburgh. He volunteers for numerous other community groups and non-profit organizations when the opportunity to do so arises. Bill received his B.B.A. from The University of Notre Dame in 1984 and his J.D., cum laude, from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law in 1990. He served on the Editorial Board for the Journal of Law and Commerce from 1989-90.

Before attending law school, Bill worked as a Senior Auditor for Ernst & Whinney (presently Ernst & Young). He became a Certified Public Accountant in 1987.

Court Admissions:
U.S. District Court, Western Pennsylvania; United States Tax Court

Bar Admissions:
Pennsylvania