Kenneth J. Witzel, Member
724-269-2104
kwitzel@ozwitz.com
Ken has served as a trusted legal counselor, advisor and advocate for businesses and individuals for over 20 years. As an advocate, he has successfully represented clients in trial and appellate proceedings in state and federal courts, as well as in private arbitration. His cases have involved a broad range of matters, including breach of contract, unfair competition, commercial real estate, insurance coverage, trade secrets, non-compete and non-disclosure agreements, employment disputes, whistleblower claims and construction claims/defects.
For the past 15 years, much of Ken’s practice has focused on natural resources law and litigation. Many of his cases have been on the forefront of Pennsylvania and West Virginia oil and gas law. He has represented clients in disputes involving farmout agreements, interconnection agreements, leasehold acquisitions, oil and gas leases, oil, gas, and coal ownership rights, tax sale deeds, surface/mineral rights, rights of way, and investments in oil and gas drilling programs. Several of these cases have involved claims in the tens of millions of dollars.
Ken frequently counsels businesses and mineral rights owners on matters pertaining to their property interests and rights. He regularly writes and speaks on oil and gas topics.
Ken also serves as an arbitrator, and is on the American Arbitration Association’s National Roster of Arbitrators.
Prior to co-founding Ozdinec & Witzel LLC, Ken was a member at the law firm, Frost Brown Todd. Before that, Ken was with the law firm of Barnes Dulac Watkins, a boutique law firm with a strong natural resources practice, where he had been a principal for approximately 10 years.
Ken graduated from the Dickinson School of Law of the Pennsylvania State University in 1998, where he served as an Articles Editor for the Dickinson Law Review. Immediately after graduating from law school, he served as a law clerk for the Honorable Zoran Popovich of the Superior Court of Pennsylvania.
Law School
The Dickinson School of Law of the Pennsylvania State University, J.D., 1998
Honors: Dickinson Law Review (Articles Editor, 1997-1998; Associate Editor, 1996-1997)
Undergraduate
University of Utah, B.A, English, 1995
Honors: Dean’s List
bar admissions
Pennsylvania
West Virginia
United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia
United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida
Local & National Recognition
Recipient of the Eric W. Springer Professionalism Award from the W. Edward Sell American Inn of Court, January 2018
American Arbitration Association, Roster of Arbitrators
Hay-Sell American Inn of Court, Member
W. Edward Sell American Inn of Court, President, 2012-2014
Pennsylvania Bar Association, Shale Energy Law Committee
J. Reuben Clark Law Society, Member