Atty. James V. Corbelli
Area of Emphasis Jim Corbelli is a shareholder in the Litigation and Energy and Natural Resources groups of Babst Calland. Mr.
Profile Summary
About James V. Corbelli at a glance
James V. Corbelli is a business, litigation, and energy attorney based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, practicing at Babst Calland. Admitted to practice in Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Bar Association. Educated at University of Pittsburgh (J.D., 1989) and University of Maryland (B.A., 1986). Recognitions include Best Lawyers in America — Commercial Litigation (2026), Best Lawyers in America — Energy Law (2026), and Best Lawyers in America — Litigation - Environmental (2026). Serands clients in Pittsburgh, PA and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About
- Area of Emphasis Jim Corbelli is a shareholder in the Litigation and Energy and Natural Resources groups of Babst Calland
- Mr. Corbelli is past co-chair of the Firm’s Litigation Group
- He has acted as lead trial counsel in a wide variety of complex commercial, intellectual property, toxic tort, environmental and natural resource, and energy litigation cases
- Mr. Corbelli has extensive environmental litigation experience representing clients before the Environmental Hearing Board in Pennsylvania and appellate courts
- In administrative proceedings, he has represented clients challenging permit decisions, contesting civil penalties and compliance orders, providing litigation support for regulatory matters, and defending against challenges brought by citizens’ groups, among other matters
- Mr. Corbelli also has considerable experience in disputes related to trade secrets, covenants not to compete and other restrictive covenants
- He has frequently been involved in requests to federal and state courts for injunctive relief
- He has also actively assisted clients to avoid litigation and positioned clients to prepare for litigation
- Background Mr. Corbelli graduated cum laude from the University of Maryland with a B.A. in 1986, where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and a member of the Honors Program in the History Department
- He received his J.D., magna cum laude, from the University of Pittsburgh in 1989 and was elected for membership in the Order of the Coif
- Mr. Corbelli served as Notes Editor of the University of Pittsburgh Law Review, where he was also published
- Mr. Corbelli currently teaches a course on pre-trial practice and strategy at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law
- Memberships and Affiliations Mr. Corbelli is admitted to practice before all Pennsylvania courts, the United States District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Pennsylvania, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
- He has also been admitted pro hac vice in numerous state and federal courts
- Mr. Corbelli is a member of the Allegheny County, Pennsylvania and American Bar associations
- Mr. Corbelli has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® for Commercial Litigation and Litigation – Environmental since 2024 and for Energy Law and Litigation – Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy) in the 2026 edition
- He was also named the Best Lawyers® 2024 Litigation – Environmental “Lawyer of the Year” in Pittsburgh, Pa
- Mr. Corbelli was selected to the 2005 and 2010-2017 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers lists (Thomson Reuters) and has achieved the highest rating from Martindale-Hubbell for his legal ability and general ethical standards
- Publications/Presentations Mr. Corbelli has frequently lectured and written on issues such as trial strategy, expert witnesses, trade secrets and restrictive covenants, discovery, energy litigation and environmental litigation
Practice Areas Explained
James V. Corbelli's Areas of Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases James V. Corbelli handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.
Business attorneys advise founders and growing companies on entity formation, contracts, financing, M&A, and dispute resolution.
James V. Corbelli is one of 501,317 business attorneys indexed nationally. Browse business attorneys in Pennsylvania →
Civil litigation attorneys for breach of contract, business disputes, civil rights, and class action lawsuits.
James V. Corbelli is one of 454,532 litigation attorneys indexed nationally. Browse litigation attorneys in Pennsylvania →
Energy attorneys for oil & gas, renewables, utility regulation, and energy sector transactions.
James V. Corbelli is one of 36,230 energy attorneys indexed nationally. Browse energy attorneys in Pennsylvania →
Jurisdictional Context
Why local counsel matters in Pennsylvania
Practicing law in Pennsylvania. Legal matters in Pennsylvania are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Pittsburgh are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate Pennsylvania state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in Pennsylvania brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in Pennsylvania courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.
Looking for additional Pennsylvania attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Pittsburgh or all attorneys in Pennsylvania.
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