Meet the Attorneys
Carl B. Zacharia
Carl is a partner for Zacharia & Brown with offices in McKeesport and McMurray. His practice focuses on assisting families deal with the legal and financial issues associated with the costs of long term and nursing home care. He also has nearly 20 years of experience in sophisticated Estate Planning issues and strategies for both Pennsylvania and Florida residents.
In addition to Pennsylvania, Carl has been actively licensed to practice law in the State of Florida since 1995. He has many years of experience in both the state and federal court systems. He received his undergraduate degree from Washington and Jefferson College and his law degree from Duquesne University School of Law, where he was a published member of the Duquesne Law Review and where he served as an associate recent decisions editor. He is an extensive and frequent lecturer on estate planning and elder law topics. Carl also teaches on the subjects of Elder Law and Estate Planning for Penn State University and other area colleges.
Carl lives in Peters Township with his wife Gayle and their two children Jeremy and Gabrielle.
Areas of Practice:
- Elder Law – Pennsylvania and Florida
- Estate Planning - Pennsylvania and Florida
- Estate Administration - Pennsylvania and Florida
Bar Admissions:
- Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
- Supreme Court of Florida
- United States Supreme Court
- U.S. District Court Western District of Pennsylvania
- U.S. Court of Appeals 3rd Circuit
- U.S. Court of Federal Claims
- United States Federal Circuit Court of Appeals
Education:
- Duquesne University School of Law, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1994 J.D.
- Washington and Jefferson University, Pennsylvania, 1982 B.A.
Christine Brown Murphy
Christine is a partner of Zacharia & Brown, and provides advice and counsel to a variety of clients and their families in the areas of Medicaid planning and Eligibility, Veterans' Benefits and related Estate Planning and Estate Administration issues.
Christine is admitted to practice law in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court as well as the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Pittsburgh and her law degree from Duquesne University Law School, where she was a member of the Women's Law Association, as well as Secretary of the Health Care Law Society from which Christine received the Distinguished Service Award. Christine is a member of the Allegheny County Bar Association.
Christine is also an extensive and frequent lecturer on estate planning and elder law topics, and can be heard every Saturday morning at 7:00 am on 104.7 FM.
Christine resides in Peters Township with her husband, Peter and their two children, Brendan and Julia.
Areas of Practice:
- Elder Law
- Estate Planning
- Estate Administration
Bar Admissions:
- Pennsylvania
- U.S. District Court Western District of Pennsylvania
Education:
- Duquesne University School of Law, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 2002 J.D.
- University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1999 B.A.
Colleen D. Bratkovich
Colleen is an Associate at Zacharia & Brown and practices in the areas of Medicaid Planning and Eligibility, Veterans’ Benefits, and related Estate Planning and Estate Administration issues.
Colleen is admitted to practice law in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. She is also accredited by the Veteran’s Administration to represent Veterans in their claims before the Department. Colleen received her undergraduate degree from the Pennsylvania State University and her law degree from Duquesne University where she was a member of the Women’s Law Association, a student member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association, a member of Phi Alpha Delta law fraternity, and the recipient of the 2006 CALI award for excellence in the area of Estates and Trusts.
Prior to her legal education Colleen worked in the Cardiothoracic Services Unit at St. Francis Hospital in Pittsburgh and in the Member Services and Network Development departments at Three Rivers Health Plans in Monroeville, now part of United Health Plans.
Colleen resides in Harrison City with her husband David.
Areas of Practice:
- Elder Law
- Estate Planning
- Estate Administration
Bar Admissions:
- Pennsylvania
Education:
- Duquesne University School of Law, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 2008 J.D.
- The Pennsylvania State University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 2000 B.S.
Thomas A. McCaffrey
Tom is an associate of Zacharia & Brown, and provides advice and counsel to a variety of clients and their families in the areas of Estate Planning, Trusts and Estate Administration and all related areas of law. Tom is admitted to practice law in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, as well as the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania and U.S. Court of Appeals 3rd Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court. Tom received his undergraduate degree from Duquesne University and his law degree from Detroit College of Law at Michigan State University. He also received a Master of Science degree in taxation from Robert Morris University. His legal experience includes service as Estate and Gift Tax Attorney with the Internal Revenue Service in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and legal experience in the general law practice in both Detroit, Michigan and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with specialties in Wills, Trusts, Estates, Probate, Guardianships and Estate Planning with law firms in Detroit, Michigan and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Areas of Practice:
- Estate Planning
- Estate Administration
- Trust Administration
- Probate and Guardianships
Bar Admissions:
- Pennsylvania
- U.S. District Court Western District of Pennsylvania
- U.S. Court of Appeals Third Circuit
- U.S. Supreme Court
Education:
- Robert Morris University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 1979-1981 - Master of Science in Taxation
- Detroit College of Law (Michigan State Law School) Detroit, Michigan 1965-1969 J.D.
- Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 1961-1965 B.A.
