Paul Thomas Rushton

His clients come from numerous industries including architects, engineers, physicians, dentists, lawyers, insurance and investment brokerage, construction, water bottling, landscapers, hunting and lake clubs, restaurants, bars, advertising, manufacturing, technology, real estate investments, education, stone, timber, and oil and gas. He is known in legal and business circles for his thoroughness, attention to detail and for constantly considering ways to further his clients’ goals.

In addition to his practice, Paul is active in the Business Law Section of the Pennsylvania Bar Association through his work on the Section’s Council, Executive Committee, Title 15/Business Associations Committee, and Closely Held Business Committee. He currently serves as the Chair of the Section and as the Chair of the Section’s Closely Held Business Committee. Paul is also a frequent contributor to the Sections’ newsletter and a presenter for educational initiatives sponsored by the Section. He was appointed and commissioned as a member of the Pennsylvania Corporation Bureau Advisory Committee several years ago and has served on the Committee since that time.

Paul also energetically looks for ways to give back to his community. He is a member of the Board of Trustees of Misericordia University, the Board of Directors of the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business and Industry, the Board of Directors of the Greater Wilkes-Barre Growth Partnership, the Board of Directors of The Institute, and the Board of Directors of the United Way of Wyoming Valley, as well as various committees of those organizations. He has addressed groups of students at his alma maters, Heights Elementary School, G.A.R. Memorial High School, and Susquehanna University, as well as the Regional Workshop of Future Business Leaders of America and the Great Valley Technology Alliance Business Plan Competition.

Named a Rising Star by Law and Politics, Attorney Rushton was recognized by the Times Leader as one of the area’s “Top 40 Under Forty” professionals.

A cum laude graduate of Susquehanna University, Paul earned his law degree from the Dickinson School of Law of the Pennsylvania State University, where he served as an Associate Editor of the International Law Journal.

Industry Experience

• Architects and Engineers

• Medical practices, hospitals, health centers, and related businesses

• Dental practices

• Lawyers

• Water bottling

• Insurance and investment brokerage

• Construction (including federal, commercial, and home improvement contractors)

• Restaurants, Bars, and related businesses

• Tire sales, service, and retread business

• Advertising and promotional products

• Technology

• Real Estate, including real estate investors

• Stone, timber, oil, and gas

• Manufacturing

• Day Care

• Education

• Water haulers

• Landscapers

• Hunting Clubs

• Lake Clubs

Presentations

•“Heirs, Hearts & Heartbreak: Planning for Life Events That Impact Your Family Business”(co-presenter), February 2026, Family Business Alliance Seminar.

•“Business Succession and Transition Options - Key Issues, Developments and Recommendations” (co-presenter), 2025 PBI Business Law Institute.

•“Preparing for the ‘Fork in the Road’- Tips for Evaluating and Selecting a Business Succession and Transition Option for a Family-Owned Business”, September 2025, Family Business Alliance Seminar.

•“Governing the New Normal: Recent Law Changes and M&A Developments Warrant Reconsideration of Governance Documents and Practices by Closely-held Businesses” (co-presenter), August 2025, Wilkes University Continuing Education Seminar.

•“Key Concepts and Developments for Disputes arising in M&A Transactions” (co-presenter), July 2025 CJE/CLE Webinar for Pennsylvania Superior Court and Staff Attorneys.

• “Year End Checklist - Legal Tasks for 2024 that Your Business May Have Overlooked”, December 2024, Family Business Alliance Webinar.

• “Negotiating Key M&A Provisions” (co-presenter), 2024 PBI Business Law Institute.

• “What’s New (or at least more prevalent) for Closely Held Businesses - New Reporting Requirements and M&A Trends for Closely Held Businesses” (co-presenter), September 2024, Wilkes University Continuing Education Seminar.

• “Recent Developments in Mergers and Acquisitions and Corporate Finance” (co-presenter), August 2024 CJE/CLE Webinar for Pennsylvania Superior Court and Staff Attorneys.

• “Don’t Put Off Until Tomorrow - Suggested Steps to be Taken in Advance of the Sale of a Closely Held Business” (co-presenter), Evergreen Wealth Solutions Podcast, 2024.

• “Exit Strategies Unleashed: Selling Your Business Like a Pro” (co-presenter), Stone House Retirement Income Planners’ Blue Collar Wealth Podcast, 2024.

• “Corporate Transparency Act 101 - An Overview of the CTA’s Reporting Requirements”, February 2024, Family Business Alliance Webinar.

• “Back to the Drawing Board: Recent Law Changes and M&A Developments Warrant Reconsideration of Governance Documents by Closely-held Businesses” (co-presenter), 2023 PBI Business Law Institute.

• “What’s New (or at least more prevalent) in the M&A Market for Closely-Held Businesses and What Should Business Owners Do About It”, September 2023, Presentation for Business Lending Department for Local Bank.

• “Commercial Dispute Appeals, The Sequel: Amendments to Title 15 and Why They’re Important” (co-presenter), July 2023 CJE/CLE Webinar for Pennsylvania Superior Court and Staff Attorneys.

• “Recent Developments and Suggested Considerations for Oil and Gas Royalty Owners” (co-presenter), Wyalusing Community Room and Community Foundation (Montrose, Pennsylvania), 2023.

• “A Deep Dive on Family Limited Partnerships and Limited Liability Companies” (co-presenter), Stone House Retirement Income Planners’ Blue Collar Wealth Podcast, 2023.

• “Too Close for Comfort: Equity Offer and Governance Agreement Considerations for Closely Held Businesses in Transition” (co-presenter), 2022 PBI Business Law Institute.

• “Coming and Going: Considerations for Use and Contents of Employment and Separation Agreements”, 2022 NEPA SHRM Legal Update.

• “Business Law 2022” (co-presenter), October 2022 CJE/CLE Webinar for Pennsylvania Superior Court and Staff Attorneys.

• “Avoiding and Overcoming the “OOPS!”: Practical Solutions for Common Governance Errors in Closely-Held Businesses” (co-presenter), 2021 PBI Business Law Institute.

• “Jumping Through Hoops - Crafting Enforceable and Assignable Non-Competition and other Restrictive Covenants”, 2021 NEPA SHRM Legal Update.

• “Choice of Entity and Governance Agreement Considerations for Closely-Held Businesses”, Wilkes University Small Business Development Center (SBDC).

• “Tale of the Tape - Comparing and Contrasting the Business Transition Options for Closely-Held Business Owners” (co-presenter), 2020 PBI Business Law Institute.

• “Preparing for and Effectuating the Sale of a Closely-Held Business”, 2019 PBI Business Law Institute (also presented at the THINK Center of the Greater Wyoming Valley Chamber).

• “Forming an Entity for a Veteran-Owned or Reservist-Owned Small Business in Pennsylvania”, Wilkes-Barre Connect Honor Boots to Business Reboot Event, THINK Center of the Greater Wyoming Valley Chamber.

• “Practice Tips for Properly Structuring and Conducting Effective Internal Corporate Investigations”, THINK Center of the Greater Wyoming Valley Chamber.

• “Non-Competition and other Covenants for the Protection of an Employer’s Trade Secrets and other Interests”, King’s College Family Business Forum.

• “Successfully Negotiating and Drafting Acquisition Agreements in Pennsylvania”, National Business Institute (2005).

• “HIPAA Essentials for Employers”, SHRM.

• “Choice of Entity Considerations for Medical Practices”, Wilkes University Continuing Learning Seminar.

• Presentation concerning internal corporate investigations at a Northeastern Pennsylvania Chapter Institute of Internal Auditors seminar held in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

• Gave presentations to groups of contractors in Wilkes-Barre, Scranton, and Hazleton on the Pennsylvania Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act.

• Appeared as a guest on the radio show “Remodeling Roundup” on WILK to discuss the requirements of Pennsylvania Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act and answer questions from listeners regarding such requirements.

• Appeared on “Remodeling Roundup” to discuss the EPA’s Lead Rule and the requirements imposed upon certain contractors by such Rule.

• Participated in a panel discussion on the subject of acquisitions at the King’s College Family Business Forum.

Publications

•“Don’t Put Off Until Tomorrow - Recommended Actions to be Taken in Advance of the Sale of a Closely Held Business”, as published in the Winter 2025 Newsletter for the Business Law Section of the Pennsylvania Bar Association.

•“Stop ‘Dragging’ Your Feet - Recent Developments in M&A Market Warrant Consideration of More Sophisticated “Drag-Along” Provisions by Closely Held Business Owners”, as published in Summer 2024 Newsletter for the Business Law Section of the Pennsylvania Bar Association (also appeared in 2024 Times Leader Attorney Showcase publication.)

• “One ‘Size’ Does Not Fit All - Recent Labor and Legal Developments Suggest More Judicious Use of Non-Competition and other Restrictive Covenants”, as published in Summer / Fall 2022 Newsletter for the Business Law Section of the Pennsylvania Bar Association.

• “More than a Handshake Required - Practical Tips for Efficient Compliance with the Contractual Requirements of Pennsylvania’s Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act”, as published in Winter 2021 Newsletter for the Business Law Section of the Pennsylvania Bar Association (also appeared in 2021 Times Leader Attorney Showcase publication).

• “Utilizing the Calm Before the Storm - Suggested Steps to be Taken in Advance of the Sale of a Closely-Held Business”, as published in Newsletter for the Business Law Section of the Pennsylvania Bar Association (also appeared in Times Leader publication).

• “New Committee Formed with Focus on Closely-Held Businesses”, as published in Newsletter for the Business Law Section of the Pennsylvania Bar Association.

• “Title Isn’t Everything: Corporate and Tax Issues for Real Estate Investors to Consider Prior to Purchasing an Investment Property”, as published in Newsletter for the Business Law Section of the Pennsylvania Bar Association (also appeared in Times Leader publication).

• “No More Excuses - Changes to Pennsylvania Associations Code and Realty Transfer Tax Rules Eliminate Justifications for Continued Ownership of Real Estate through General Partnerships”, as published in Newsletter for the Business Law Section of the Pennsylvania Bar Association (also appeared in Times Leader publication).

• “HIPAA Security Rule Compliance: Why Act Now?”, as published in Winter 2004 RJG Health Law Newsletter.

• “OIG 2004 Work Plan Targets Physician and Ambulatory Facility Billing Practices”, as published in Fall 2003 RJG Health Law Newsletter.

• “LLC vs. S Corp: Factors to Consider in Selecting the Best Form of Professional Entity for your Medical Practice”, as published in Winter 2003 RJG Health Law Newsletter.

Honors

• Paul earned the distinction of being named as a “Rising Star” from Philadelphia Magazine in 2006, 2014 and 2015.

• In April, 2010, Paul was recognized by the Times Leader as one of the area’s “Top 40 Under Forty”.

Personal Interests

• Golf

• Traveling

Reviews

“I used RJG for every legal service from setting up my tax licensing to setting up my LLC and found them to be extremely knowledgeable, helpful and friendly especially Paul Rushton. They are a great firm.” - Client Review from Lawyers.com