Linell Lukesh joined Raffaele Puppio in 2021. Linell concentrates her practice as a litigator in general liability, utility, non-profit, municipal and education law. As a seasoned litigator with over 25 years of experience, she has successfully defended clients in product liability, premises liability, property damage, construction litigation, restaurant liability, toxic torts, defamation, subrogation, workers' compensation and employment claims on behalf of insureds and self-insured companies. She litigates cases throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and New Jersey state courts and has represented clients before administrative tribunals such as the Public Utility Commission. She is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania, New Jersey state courts and the U.S. Federal court in the Middle District of Pennsylvania.
Ms. Lukesh provides balanced, customized litigation plans for her clients and emphasizes the importance of frequent reporting and communication with her clients to obtain a successful outcome. She has successfully represented her clients at arbitrations and jury trials.
Ms. Lukesh’s education law practice includes representing clients in a range of matters including defending due process claims on behalf of educational institutions and has handled various matters under Title IX. She also provides counseling and risk management to third party vendors providing special education services to autistic children. She represents educational institutions and school administrators in a variety of administrative proceedings.
In her employment law practice Ms. Lukesh successfully defends claims of wrongful termination for employers and also assists employers with drafting and revising employment manuals.
In the area of non-profit law Ms. Lukesh brings years of direct experience in operating a non-profit organization for over 15 years. The non-profit continues to provide comprehensive services to low income and special needs children including health, social services, and education and special education services. Ms. Lukesh uses her experience to represent organizations in obtaining state charity status, obtain Federal tax exempt status, draft governing documents, detail fiduciary duties for board members, draft employment policies and procedures, draft employment contracts and review and negotiate leases.
In her utility practice, she represents national utility companies in property subrogation, protection of easement rights, construction disputes and the application of the provisions of the Underground Utility Line Protection Law.
Ms. Lukesh also frequently serves as an arbitrator for the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Arbitration Program.
Linell received her Juris Doctorate from Temple University School of Law. Her undergraduate degrees in accounting, psychology and elementary education are from Wilkes University where she graduated magna cum lude.
When she is not engaged in representing her clients, you will find Linell involved in activities with the Professional Organization of Women of Excellence Recognized (P.O.W.E.R.) a network of professional women from all backgrounds and industries, networking and sharing their experiences to help each other. Ms. Lukesh also devotes her time to her own non-profit organization which is preserving and restoring an 1849 lighthouse located on its own island in the middle of the Long Island Sound under the National Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000.
Linell’s professional associations include the Pennsylvania Bar Association where she is an active member on the Membership Development Committee and the Education Law sections. She also is active in her hometown bar, Luzerne County, and serves as a member of the Pennsylvania Solicitors’ Association.
Education:
Temple University School of Law
Wilkes University
Court Admissions:
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
Professional Associations & Memberships:
Pennsylvania Bar Association
Pennsylvania Borough of Solicitor’s Association
Philadelphia Bar Association
Luzerne County Bar Association
American Bar Association