Pittsburgh attorney sports celebrity clientele

Pittsburgh attorney Jay Reisinger has become a heavyweight in the field of sports law.

The Mt. Lebanon resident, a partner in the firm of Farrell, Reisinger and Stallings, LLC, was part of the legal team that represented baseball slugger Sammy Sosa when he testified before Congress in 2005 regarding performance-enhancing drugs. Reisinger also has worked with Andy Pettitte regarding the pitcher's admission last year of having used human growth hormone. Now, Reisinger has been reunited with James E. Sharp as part of the legal team for Alex Rodriguez, who tested positive for steroid use in 2003 and since has admitted to using the banned substance.

"He has emerged as a star in the industry and is perhaps the hardest-working guy, in addition to his ability, that I've seen in my 40 years in sports," said Tom Reich, the highly regarded sports attorney and agent. "He is an animal and, at the same time, he's able to successfully juggle a young family with three children at home.

"The guy that he's been working with on recent cases, Sharp, he's a legend, so it's quite a terrific combination."

For all of his respect within his profession, and his association with high-profile clients, the 39-year-old Reisinger shuns the spotlight.

"Quite frankly, if you were not from Pittsburgh, I would not have called you back," he said during a telephone interview this week. "My philosophy is just if you don't say anything, it's impossible to be misquoted."

Reisinger honed his competitive skills as a wrestler at Mt. Lebanon, and as a lacrosse player at Allegheny College. He was born in Boston, but his father, a physician, moved the family to Mt. Lebanon when Jay was in second grade. His parents still reside in Mt. Lebanon, as do Reisinger, his wife, and their three children.

Jay's two younger brothers, 37-year-old Patrick and 33-year-old Michael, also live and work in Greater Pittsburgh.

"Growing up, the three of us as brothers were extremely close," Michael Reisinger said. "That was the way we were raised. That's the way we've continued to live. We have dinner once a week together with our families and the parents. It's a little more difficult when Jay is busy with arbitration, but his wife and family still come over.

"Family always has come first with Jay. The success he's enjoyed as an attorney pales in comparison to his successes as a loyal brother, father and husband."

Thomas J. Farrell, Reisinger's partner, shares Reisinger's philosophy regarding publicity.

"That's our default position," he said. "It's nice to see yourself in the papers and a lot of lawyers seek publicity. It helps business. But Jay's emphasis is client-first, and usually that means keep quiet about things."

There are exceptions. When Pettitte reported to spring training last season, after having been identified in the Mitchell Report as a user of human growth hormone and admitting one-time use, the pitcher had a news conference.

"It made us uneasy, frankly," Farrell said, speaking of himself and Reisinger. "But he (Pettitte) insisted on it to clear the air. The team (New York Yankees) wanted him to do it and it ended up working very well."

Rodriguez had a similar news conference last week.

Agent Steve Reich has watched Reisinger's ascent over the past 15 years.

"I've known him since he started practicing law with my father, and he's a very bright guy," Reich said. "He's tireless and relentless. He's got a very good way about him. He's no-nonsense, but he's also a people person. And he's had some good results."

Reisinger had no grand plan in signing on with the Sam Reich firm while he attended law school at Ohio Northern University.

"Actually, I got the job out of sheer luck, while in law school," he said. "I was just paying the summer bills."

A certified agent with the Major League Baseball Players Association, Reisinger often finds himself representing players in salary arbitration cases.

"We've have some good, healthy battles," said Larry Silverman, senior vice president and general counsel for the Pirates, who has squared off with Reisinger in arbitration cases, including for pitcher John Grabow. "I like to think I'm prepared, too. We fight pretty good. But I like Jay. I really do."

Silverman also gives Reisinger high marks for handling clients such as Pettitte.

"He was in Washington when Pettitte decided in a deposition to not necessarily back Roger Clemens' story and certainly things turned out a little better for Andy than Roger," Silverman said. "I think Jay deserves some of the credit for that."

Farrell, a former assistant U.S. Attorney for Pittsburgh, has found that he and Reisinger complement each other well.

"I know the criminal end and Jay knows the sports law end," Farrell said. "We've worked together on Sammy Sosa's matter, the Andy Pettitte matter, and now, the A-Rod matter."