Bradley Scott Dornish

Being a landlord of residential rental properties can be very rewarding, but also has the potential to be a legal minefield. If you are a landlord in Western Pennsylvania, you will find no better counselor, adviser, and attorney than Brad Dornish. One of his major strengths is that he is a fellow landlord, and he comes from a family of real estate investors. While he has a deep understanding of the law, Brad’s advice is always ‘real world’ and not theoretical or esoteric. He does not hide behind vague generalities and hand waving, but offers you concrete, actionable courses of action. When you speak with Brad, you know that you are receiving sound, ethical advice. Brad’s integrity and principles are above approach: he is tough but fair. We are long-term real estate investors who utilize a shorter mortgage term to realize value and cash flow. We have had an excellent attorney/client relationship with Brad for over half a decade. When we were first starting out in rental real estate, we were in frequent contact with Brad and his team. His staff is knowledgeable and responsive. They are always available to help us and were never condescending. As we became more experienced, we did not need to consult with him on every transaction, but he was our “go-to” guy for problematic situations. For example, we recently had several challenging situations where renters signed leases, gave us money, and then decided not to move in. Brad’s steady hand and unambiguous advice allowed us to navigate these troubled waters successfully. As a landlord, you must use a lease that complies with the requirements of the Plain Language Consumer Contract Act. Brad has authored a “Plain Language” lease that, while just, protects every right the landlord has. We have used his lease in over 30 rental transactions without a problem (knock on wood). Brad ensures that his lease is up-to-date. For example, he recently sent us a new edition of his “Plain Language” lease that incorporates the latest Act 129 provisions. Given the ever-changing landscape of real estate law, it is a great comfort that, as a landlord, you are always current and up-to-date. Brad is particularly conversant on recent developments regarding Allegheny County property tax appeals. Brad is a major player in the City of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, and Commonwealth real estate rental arenas, and is very active in the Pennsylvania Residential Owners Association (PROA), providing a wealth of information and knowledge. Brad lectures and writes for his fellow attorneys, and is the attorney that other lawyers and real estate professionals go to when they have a complex rental issue. In summary, we recommend Brad and his team with enthusiasm, and without reservation, which is the highest recommendation that we give. We appreciate the opportunity to publically applaud such an accomplished professional.

I am a new real estate investor in the area and he has advised us well in our business and it was easy to have his his staff help us create our entities quickly. Though, it has only been half a year of support from him, it has been great. He & his staff responses within a day. Email communication is prompt as well.