The firm was started in 1970 by Lewis Wood Wetzel, and N. Brian Caverly, and has evolved into its current status of four partners. Bruce J. Phillips became associated with the firm in 1985, and John P. Rodgers in 1977.

Although all four partners are essentially general practitioners and have the experience and ability to practice in almost any area of the law and in all state and federal courts, each has his own areas of expertise:

Lewis Wood Wetzel emphasizes practice in the areas of: decedent’s estates & estate planning; real estate sales and purchase; commercial law & litigation.

N. Brian Caverly emphasizes practice in the areas of real estate; estate planning, elder law, drafting and probate; and in Social Security Disability and Workers’ Compensation law.

Bruce J. Phillips emphasizes practice in the areas of: personal injury litigation; commercial litigation and municipal law.

John P. Rodgers emphasizes practice in the areas of real estate, personal injury, workers’ compensation, civil rights and commercial litigation.

All four partners are title insurance agents as well as practicing attorneys, and this office handles and closes an estimated five hundred or more real estate transactions, settlements and related matters every year.

In addition to the practice of law, each of the partners are active in community matters. Lewis Wood Wetzel has served as a hearing officer for the Penna Labor Relations Board, Luzerne County and Municipal Solicitorships, Director or Luzerne County Legal Services, Wilkes-Barre Scranton International Airport Solicitor and President of Lafayette College Alumni Association.

N. Brian Caverly has been a member of the Luzerne County Planning Commission since 1983 and has been its chairman since 1999. He is a member of the Board of Directors and currently Vice President and Solicitor of the Angeline Elizabeth Kirby Memorial Health Center in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. He is also active as a founding member of the Board of Directors of The Historical and Preservation Society of the Greater Shickshinny Area. He is President of the Northwest Ranger Band Alumni Association and former President of the Kappa Chapter Board of Governors of Sigma Chi Fraternity at Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. In May , 2002, he was nominated and elected as one of the first group of Distinguished Graduates of Northwest Area High School in Shickshinny, Pennsylvania. Additionally, he is a frequent speaker at seminars and presentations on various areas of the law, including business entities title insurance issues, zoning and subdivision matters and estate planning.

Bruce J. Phillips has represented Courtdale Borough, Edwardsville Borough, Freeland Borough, Wilkes-Barre Township and Luzerne County. He has also represented the Zoning Hearing Boards of Edwardsville Borough, Hanover Township, and Wright Township. Attorney Phillips also represents former New York Jets Head Coach Walter Michaels, and a number of area businesses, including Pat & Dan DelBalso Ford; G.R. Fishing Surveying & Mapping Company; Kasarda’s Greenhouse & Floral Company; Keyco Distributors, Inc.; Mozip Sign Company; Michael J. Pasonick, Jr. and Associates, Inc.; SK Sales Company, Inc. and Whipple Bros., Inc.

John P. Rodgers has been a member of the Wilkes-Barre Law & Library Association since 1997. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Helping Hands Society in Hazelton, Pa., serves and solicitor for the Parking Authority of the city of Hazelton and Courtdale Borough. Prior to joining the firm he served as a law clerk in the Majority Chief Councel’s Office of the House of Representatives for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

The firm has more than thirty years of experience in all areas of state and federal law and prides itself in providing quality legal work in a prompt and efficient manner.