Our Attorneys

BIO

Kathryn Wakefield is the founding attorney of Wakefield Law Group, PC and long-time resident of Shadyside where our practice is located. She has over 20 years of experience practicing law in Pittsburgh and the surrounding areas. She is tenacious and is committed to serving those in need.

Education

Kathryn earned her Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Communication at Pitt, after which she worked as a local newspaper reporter, covering many housing issues in Pittsburgh’s east end. She continued on to University of Pittsburgh School of Law/Katz Graduate School of Business where she earned a dual degree. Kathryn has been a landlord in Shadyside for 22 years, which is an education in and of itself.

Employment

Upon passing the Pennsylvania Bar Exam in 2000, Kathryn started her career at Klett Rooney Lieber & Schorling, a large firm that later merged with Buchanan Ingersoll, forming Buchanan Ingersoll Rooney. While at Klett Rooney, Kathryn worked in the firm’s bankruptcy and real estate departments. Upon leaving Klett Rooney, Kathryn worked in public service as an assistant county solicitor with the Allegheny County Law Department. She returned to private practice in order to hone her real estate skills and experience and has worked as a real estate attorney – either for others or for herself, ever since. For the past 15 years, Kathryn has grown her practice to encompass entity formation, real estate purchase, private equity, finance and closings, Act 135 Conservatorship cases, landlord/tenant, small business counseling/purchase and sale, fraudulent concealment/seller disclosure fraud, general contract counseling and litigation, small claims, arbitration, trial work, Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act, and contractor collection litigation.

Community Service / Affordable Housing

Kathryn serves as Chair of the Governance Committee on the Board of Oakland Planning and Development Corporation. She is a Co-Chair of the Board of the Wilkinsburg Land Bank and a member of the Shadyside Chamber of Commerce.

Karen has a well-rounded background in various legal disciplines, including transactional civil law, corporate law, real estate transactions, employment, civil fraud, RICO, bankruptcy, probate, family, administrative law and catastrophic loss, to name a few. She is proficient in large-scale electronic discovery, motion practice, brief writing and trial preparation, often sitting second chair at trials. Throughout her career, she has managed complex litigation, supervised legal staff, and liaised with clients, opposing counsel and the Court. She has earned the respect of Judges and often been allowed to speak on the record during motion adjudication.

Recognized for her strategic thinking, meticulous attention to detail, and ability to navigate intricate legal challenges, Karen continues to be a driving force in the legal field, contributing her expertise to litigation teams and independently managing high-profile cases.

Karen holds a Pre-Law and Political Science degree from Glassboro State College and has completed certified paralegal training at Omega Business Institute. Karen holds a Certification of Paralegal studies in New Jersey.

Karen enjoys spending time in her Pocono Mountain house with her husband of 33 years, two grown Sons and two rescue dogs, Jenna and Gordie. One of her Sons currently attends the University of Pittsburgh, the other is a graduate of Fordham University. When not working, she enjoys being outdoors in nature observing the wildlife and tending to her gardens. She is also a pretty good fisherman!

Nikki Mundaniohl is the firm’s Office Manager and Legal Assistant. She calendars upcoming court hearings and events, informs clients of dates and deadlines, assists with trial prep and routine pleadings, as well as keeping client files updated. Nikki brings her administrative experience from the insurance industry, as well as property management experience to the firm. She is on-site.