Gary p lightman
- 1. Gary P. Lightman – Philadelphia Attorney at Law Having practiced law for over 30 years, Gary P. Lightman is recognized throughout the legal industry as an educated, skilled and proficient attorney. He boasts an extensive resume of courtroom successes to complement his impressive educational background, and with the recommendation from his clients and peers, it is obvious why he has received such praise and accolades. Education Lightman attended Penn State University from 1972 to 1975 where he received his bachelor’s of science degree in accounting. Lightman’s alma mater is ranked number one by recruiters for producing students with a broad makeup of core competencies. With his undergraduate completed, he continued his education at the Temple University School of Law. He graduated in 1978 and received his doctorate of jurisprudence (JD degree) upon graduation. As one of the first law schools in the country to offer a specialized program for graduate law studies, Temple University’s history is proven in preparing students like Lightman for real-world scenarios. Lightman then went on to receive his LLM degree (Latin for Legum Magister, signifying the recipient has a Master of Laws) specifically in taxation and securities. This degree was obtained from the Georgetown University Law Center, where he attended school from 1978 to 1981. This postgraduate law degree demonstrates how he has acquired specialized training and is committed to advancing his education in the field of law. Georgetown is a leading law school in the nation, and its graduates are recognized for their dedication and excellence in education. Law Work History Before hiring an attorney to represent a case, it is imperative that defendants carefully consider the past work history of each attorney they are considering. It is important that clients question the lawyer in order to confirm that they are fully experienced and have obtained the proper training. Through this work history, lawyers can represent clients in the most effective manner possible. By scrutinizing Gary P. Lightman’s law work history, it is clear his experience has played a significant part in helping him become the renowned lawyer he is today.
- 2. He began practicing law with the United States Securities & Exchange Commission located in Washington D.C. He worked in their Division of Corporate Regulation from 1978 to 1981, when he then elected to go into private practice. The Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) is a federal agency that regulates stocks, exchanges and securities in the United States. It was created to “protect investors, maintain fair, orderly, and efficient markets, and facilitate capital formation.” It does this by regulating brokers and dealers, mutual funds, investment advisors and securities exchanges to disclose important information and protect against fraud. The SEC’s mission is to protect investors. The government site states, “As more and more first-time investors turn to the markets to help secure their futures, pay for homes, and send children to college, our investor protection mission is more compelling than ever. As our nation's securities exchanges mature into global for-profit competitors, there is even greater need for sound market regulation. And the common interest of all Americans in a growing economy that produces jobs, improves our standard of living, and protects the value of our savings means that all of the SEC's actions must be taken with an eye toward promoting the capital formation that is necessary to sustain economic growth.” While working for the SEC, Lightman gained an appreciation for fraud concerns and he then focused his attention and drive on assisting clients in the private practice sphere. He worked with the law firm of Fellheimer, Eichen & Goodman in Philadelphia, PA from 1981 to 1989, which later became Klehr Harrison Harvey Branzburg LLP. Lightman gained valuable insight into the business aspect of legal law. His financial understanding and assertive courtroom deportment were an important addition to the team. From there, he worked for two years with Astor Weiss & Newman (now Astor Weiss Kaplan & Mandel, LLP) until 1991 when he started his own law firm in September. At Astor Weiss, Gary Lightman worked on a variety of public service law areas. He developed his already strong commitment to civic duty and responsibility.
- 3. Lightman & Associates began in 1991 and later became Lightman & Manochi, which it is known by today. In September of 2011, Lightman & Manochi will have reached its 20th year of operations, demonstrating its longevity and commitment to law and the surrounding community. From 1978 when he began working with the United States Securities & Exchange Commission to the present, Lightman has been a practicing attorney for 33 years. Legal Practice Areas Gary P. Lightman primarily practices in the following legal fields: Commercial and civil litigation Banking law Real estate Mortgage foreclosures Bankruptcy Elder law Creditors’ rights Construction law Commercial transactions Loan workouts Annuities fraud Consumer protection litigation Business formation, termination and dissolution Lightman excels with cases that are escalated to the court level, and finds these cases challenging and rewarding. Because his keen intellect is adept at solving legal problems, he works with clients to reach a resolution in the most cost effective manner possible. Notable Cases A noteworthy case that Gary P. Lightman worked on was ‘In re American Investors Life Insurance Company Marketing and Sales Practices Litigation, USDC, ED PA, MDL Docket No. 1712’. This case revolved around fraudulent living trusts and annuities, and Lightman worked to uncover and help resolve the matter.
- 4. “A group of insurance sales agents posing as attorneys or agents for attorneys were targeting senior citizens and selling them unsuitable annuities and otherwise wreaking financial havoc and ruin on senior citizens. The AARP estimated that 4 million senior citizens nationwide were being victimized by such practices,” said Lightman. “We not only brought individual and class action lawsuits, but were helpful in having laws be enacted regulating the sales of annuities to senior citizens.” These laws included such things as securities and insurance regulations that now impose suitability requirements in connection with such sales regulated by the SEC. As a practiced and reputable attorney at law, Gary P. Lightman is skilled in representing a variety of cases and matters. From foreclosures to senior citizen rights and consumer protection litigation, Lightman has proven his resourcefulness and aptitude at representing his client’s cases in an efficient manner.