Niles Benn

Niles is a graduate of Temple University, where he majored in Business and Accounting and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree. He is a 1972 graduate of the Dickinson School of Law where he was Chairman of the Legal Aid Society and a member of the Moot Court Board. He has been admitted to practice before all of the Courts of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and the Supreme Court of the United States. He is a member of the York County Bar Association and the Pennsylvania Bar Association.

Niles concentrates his practice in media law, business and corporate law, real estate transactions, and medical professionals. He had been member of the Libel Defense Resource Center and the Newspaper Association of America serving on both the Employee Relations Committee and the Legal Affairs Committee. He is also an Affiliate Member of the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association and has lectured on their behalf on numerous occasions both in America and overseas. He has served as Co-Chairman of the Fee Dispute Committee for the York County Bar Association since 1996 and acts as a Mediator for the Realtors Association of York and Adams Counties. Additionally, he is Co-Chairman of the Bar/Press Committee for the Pennsylvania Bar Association serving in that capacity since 2016.

Since 1978, Niles served as a Board Member of Holy Spirit Hospital located in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, and from 1995 to 2000 he was Chairman of the Board of the hospital. Niles was elected as the first Chairman of the Board of Holy Spirit Health System in 2000 and served in that position until 2011. The Holy Spirit Health System encompasses seven separate corporate entities. Niles had served as Chairman of the Board of the American Cancer Society, Pennsylvania Division, Inc. from 1988 to 1990 and was also a former Member of the National Board of the American Cancer Society. In 1984, Niles received the Volunteer of the Year Award from the American Cancer Society, Pennsylvania Division, Inc. and in 1993 received the National Award from the American Cancer Society the St. George Medal for Outstanding Contributions to the Control of Cancer.

The surgical wing of The Ortenzio Heart Center of Holy Spirit Hospital has been named “The Niles S. Benn, Esquire Cardiac Surgery” floor, for his years of volunteered service as Chairman of the Health System.

Niles has been an adjunct professor at York College of Pennsylvania, where he teaches Legal, Ethical, and Global Environment of Business since 2012. Additionally, Niles is an accomplished sculptor, specializing in bronze and marble, and has shown his pieces in juried competitions as well as public exhibits. His works appear in private residences, offices and public facilities. Niles has served as Vice Chairman of the Foundation Board of The Harrisburg Area Community College and was Chairman of the Allocations Committee and a member of the Finance Committee. Currently, Niles is a members of the board of trustees of HACC and serves as Assistant Secretary of that board as well as a member of the Human Resources Committee. Additionally, Niles is a board member of Keystone Kidspace, an organization that is constructing an interactive children’s museum in York, Pennsylvania.

Niles has had the privilege of serving as lead counsel in various media lawsuits that have had national attention including Dover’s “Intelligent Design” Trial in which he represented two reporters from different newspaper publications. He also was successful in securing public records that were archived for more than thirty years with respect to a Civil Rights murder and the investigation of a public official that led to that individual’s resignation from office. Most recently, he had argued a case involving the release of time response logs under Pennsylvania’s Right to Know legislation on behalf a media client. Because that case was argued at the Appellate level it resulted in new law being created affecting the entire state.

Niles is an AV Rated Attorney and has attained this status through a strenuous Peer Review Rating process that is managed and monitored through the Martindale- Hubbell Peer Review rating system. It is the highest rating in legal ability and ethical standards.