Birdwhistell, Emily S.

Meagan has been an Associate with Loughran, Mlakar & Bilik since 2000 and has focused her career in litigation, spending a tremendous amount of time in the courtroom.  She has handled numerous cases from trial through appeal to the Pennsylvania Commonwealth, Superior and Supreme Courts.  Meagan has litigated cases throughout the Commonwealth, in both state and federal court.  She currently focuses her practice in the area of gas & oil negotiation and litigation.

Meagan is also an Adjunct Professor at Duquesne University School of Law where she serves as an instructor for the Trial Moot Court program, instructing students in trial technique and strategy, the rules of court and courtroom etiquette.  She also assists the competitive trial teams in preparing for regional and national competitions.

Prior to her current position, Meagan worked as a Senior Law Clerk at Robb, Leonard & Mulvihill and as a Law Clerk for the Pennsylvania Superior Court.  Meagan is a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association and the Westmoreland Bar Association.

Born and raised in Hempfield Township, Meagan graduated from Hempfield Area High School.  As a member of the Phi Alpha Theta Honor Society, Meagan graduated magna cum laude from Saint Vincent College in 3 ½ years.   Meagan earned her law degree from Duquesne University School of Law, where she graduated at the top of her class and was awarded the Louis L. Manderino Honor Society Award for excellence in trial advocacy.

Actively involved in her community, Meagan was honored with the 2010 Award for Community Service given by the Westmoreland County Winner’s Circle and Seton Hill University. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKIOevY5-gk&sns=em

Meagan also serves on the Board of Directors of CASA, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to providing advocates for abused and neglected kids in the court system.  She is also a member of the North Huntingdon Twp. Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, Norwin Lions Club, Emilia Sammartino Lodge #2831, Order Sons of Italy in America, the Westmoreland County Commission for Women and Families, Italian Heritage Society of Monessen and the League of Women Voters.  In 2002, Meagan donated extensive legal services to incorporate and establish non-profit status for Westmoreland Walks, Inc: Taking Steps Against Breast Cancer, a grassroots organization located in Westmoreland County that has raised more than $200,000.00 for breast cancer treatment, research and education in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.  Meagan also served on the Board of Directors for Westmoreland Walks, Inc. from 2002-2010 and is a past President.  Meagan served on a fundraising committee for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Annual Polo for the Cure event, one of the Society’s largest events in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. 

Meagan and her husband, Andy, reside in North Huntingdon Township with their three children, Anna, Michael and Caroline.