About Us

Todd Stewart has been practicing in the energy sector for over 25 years and concentrates his practice in the areas of alternative energy development, administrative litigation involving utilities and energy suppliers, and government relations. Todd has advised clients on a broad range of issues involving energy project development. Todd also represents clients before the Pennsylvania General Assembly as a registered lobbyist. Todd has represented utilities, project developers and off takers, electric generation suppliers, natural gas suppliers and others before the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (Pa. PUC), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and other state and federal agencies.

 Todd Stewart is licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania, New York and Ohio.

Judith Cassel focuses her practice on administrative and commercial law.  She represents companies before governmental agencies as well as assisting companies with their licensing, compliance, and litigation needs.  Judith has spent over 20 years in highly regulated industries such as petroleum, natural gas, electricity, and medical marijuana.  Starting as an executive for Mobil Oil Corporation and later as Vice President of regional petroleum, electricity, and natural gas companies, Judith has negotiated mergers and acquisitions, reorganized operations, and refinanced companies.

Judith has represented manufacturers, utilities, retailers, solar developers and electric generation supplier clients with matters before the: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (Pa. PUC), Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (Pa. DEP), Insurance Department’s Underground Storage Tank Indemnification Fund (USTIF). Judith has assisted clients with applications, licensing, regulatory compliance, large commercial collections, entity formation, refinancing, contract negotiations and drafting, sales and leasing transactions, grant funding, and litigation.

Judith Cassel is licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and Ohio.

Dennis combines expertise in administrative law with extensive litigation, trial and appellate experience. He is the only person to have been appointed chief counsel to both Pennsylvania resource agencies, the Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. During his nearly 28 years of Commonwealth service, he litigated and argued complex cases at trial and on appeal before administrative tribunals and state and federal courts, prosecuted selected criminal matters as a Special Deputy Attorney General, and developed expertise in the defense of Section 1983 actions and in regulatory takings.

He uses his extensive knowledge of government and the courts to offer sound advice, creative solutions, and effective strategies for clients with matters that concern all facets of environmental law. Dennis was law clerk to Commonwealth Court Judges Joseph T. Doyle, Bonnie Brigance Leadbetter and Renee Cohn Jubelirer. He received his J.D. from the Dickinson School of Law and his B.S. from the Pennsylvania State University.

Dennis Whitaker is licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania.

Micah focuses his practice on land use, administrative, and commercial law. He has represented clients in nascent industries in navigating the often complicated and convoluted local land use process ranging from negotiating agreements with municipalities through representation at zoning hearing boards and other municipality approval boards to appealing decisions from local governmental bodies. Micah has also successfully assisted clients nationwide with competitive grant application writing. Additionally, he has experience with regulatory compliance, entity formation, commercial collections, contract drafting and negotiations, and administrative and commercial litigation.

Micah is licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and North Carolina.

Melissa Chapaska focuses her practice on appellate advocacy, administrative law, regulatory matters, and complex litigation.
She represents individuals, businesses, associations, governmental entities, and other institutional clients before state and federal courts and administrative agencies, with particular experience in matters involving administrative actions, statutory and constitutional challenges, public utility and energy law, government procurements, public record disclosure issues, and complex litigation.

Melissa advises clients at all stages of litigation and appeal, including developing appellate strategy, briefing complex legal issues, and challenging or defending administrative decisions. Her practice spans Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and federal courts, and she regularly handles matters involving regulated industries and government agencies. Prior to joining HMS Legal in 2015, Melissa participated with the Harrisburg Civil Law Clinic as a Certified Legal Intern and Clinic Leader. Melissa also interned with the United States Department of Justice, Executive Office for Immigration Review and the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry where she was involved with researching and analyzing complex administrative and regulatory legal issues.

After more than 34 years practicing in Pennsylvania state government, Linda joined HMS Legal in July 2026. She represents clients in regulatory matters, including litigation before state courts and administrative agencies.

Linda served 20 years with the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, including 19 years as Director of Hearings and Appeals. Previously, she was a Senior Deputy Attorney General with the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, representing state agencies and employees in state and federal courts. She began her career with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry’s Unemployment Compensation Board of Review.