Our Attorneys
BIO
Wakefield Law Group, P.C., is located at 5823 Ellsworth Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15232. Kathryn Wakefield is the founding attorney, recently joined in practice by a senior attorney with complimentary experience. The firm has experienced paralegal and administrative staff to assist clients and lower legal costs. Kathryn practices law in Pittsburgh and for the surrounding area.
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. She is tenacious and is committed to serving those in need.
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. After 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 member of the Board of the Wilkinsburg Land Bank and also sits of the Board of the Shadyside Chamber of Commerce.
Dana L. Fruzynski, Esq.
Education
Dana earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Communications at the University of Pittsburgh. She was an avid rower for Pitt and traveled extensively through Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. After one last hurrah of backpacking though Asia, she returned to the University of Pittsburgh School of Law focusing on Community Development Law and Non-Profit Organizations.
Employment
Upon graduation from Pitt School of Law in 1997, Dana clerked for the Court of Common Pleas in Armstrong County. After her clerkship ended, she worked to further the goals of the Community Reinvestment Act with ESB Bank. Community reinvestment work led her to the Northside Leadership Conference where she became actively involved in the development of housing for first time homebuyers and individuals of low and moderate incomes. She ultimately became Executive Director of the organization and worked tirelessly to improve the lives of Northside residents through real estate development, workforce development, corporate partnerships, and planning and advocacy. In a plot twist, Dana made the decision to jump into the restaurant development market in 2004 with her husband and very good friends to bring the Harris Grill to life and became a restauranteur. She became General Counsel and Chief Financial Officer for the small restaurant group that at its peak had three locations within the City of Pittsburgh.
Experience
Dana’s practice area includes business formation, nonprofits, contracts, commercial real estate, employment law, liquor licenses, and immigration.
Community Service
Dana has served on countless non-profit Boards in the last twenty years. Shadyside Chamber of Commerce, Pennsylvania Restaurant and Lodging Association, Treasurer (Western Chapter), Visit Pittsburgh (Personnel Committee) and the Pittsburgh Midwife Center (Capital Campaign Committee).
Nikki Mundaniohl is the firm’s Legal Assistant and Notary Public. She calendars upcoming court hearings and events, informs clients of dates and deadlines, assists with trial prep, as well as keeping client files updated. Nikki brings administrative experience in the insurance industry, as well as property management experience to the firm. She is on-site.
