Biography
With nearly 50 years of experience as an attorney, David S. DeRose has practiced real estate and estate planning law. Incredibly giving of his time and knowledge, David has served in a wide variety of teaching and leadership positions. He has extensive firsthand experience in real estate and zoning matters, serving as Solicitor for numerous area zoning boards. He has represented the boards for the City of Latrobe since 1989, the Borough of Ligonier since 1987, and the Township of Unity since 1992. In addition, David served as Solicitor for the Treasurer’s Office of Westmoreland County from 1992 – 2011 and served as Solicitor for the Westmoreland County Recorder of Deeds Office from 1977 – 1981. He is a former instructor of real estate law at Pennsylvania State University, Westmoreland County Community College, and paralegal program at St. Vincent College and also served as judicial law clerk for the Honorable Donetta W. Ambrose from 1982 – 1991.
A member of the Westmoreland Bar Association (WBA) and Pennsylvania Bar Association, David has been an active contributor. For over 35 years, David has served as Chair of the Westmoreland County Bar Association Building Committee and is a founding member of the Lawyers Abstract Company of Westmoreland County and served on its Board of Directors from 1987 -1994 and again from 2022 to present. He previously served for seven (7) years on the Westmoreland County Bar Association Board of Directors and is a past president of the Association. He is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the Westmoreland Bar Foundation and serves as its Chair. In 2019, David was recognized by the Westmoreland Bar Association as a recipient of its President’s Award for professionalism and service to the Bar Association. David is a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s House of Delegates, which is the body charged with setting the policies for this statewide association.
David has previously served on the Board of Directors for the Westmoreland County Girl Scouts Council and Monsour Hospital. Since 1992, he has been the Chairman of the Latrobe Youth Commission, a group of citizens appointed by the Court to informally adjudicate non-violent criminal offense committed by children, to counsel the children and/or their parents, and to rehabilitate through community service and other projects. He was also a member of the Excela Health Golden Hour Committee whose purpose is to educate on the importance of a quick medical response to the symptoms of a heart attack. Further, he is currently a Board Member of the Latrobe Area Hospital Charitable Foundation, of Adams Memorial Library in Latrobe, and Redstone Highlands Senior Care. He also serves on a Citizen Advisory Committee to the Union Mission of Latrobe.
David received his B.A., with high distinction, from Pennsylvania State University in 1973 and his J.D. from Duquesne University in 1976, where he was editor-in-chief of Juris Magazine. He lives in Latrobe with his wife, Johnette, and their Chocolate Labrador Retriever, Sammy. They have two sons, Nathaniel, who is a practicing attorney now residing in Pittsburgh, and Christopher, who is currently in the entertainment industry in Los Angeles, California. In his spare time, David enjoys traveling with his family, gardening, attending Penn State football games, and visiting with his grandson, Henry.
Bar Admissions
- Pennsylvania, 1976
- U.S. District Court Western District of Pennsylvania, 1976
- U.S. Supreme Court, 1988
- U.S. Court of Appeals 3rd Circuit, 1997
Education
- J.D., Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University(formerly Duquesne University School of Law), Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1976
- B.A., Political Science, magna cum laude, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 1973
Honors and Awards
- BV – Distinguished by Martindale-Hubbell®
- President’s Award for Professionalism, WBA 2019
- Pennsylvania Super Lawyer, 2020 – present
Classes/Seminars
- Former Instructor, Real Estate Law, Pennsylvania State University
- Former Instructor, Real Estate Law, Westmoreland County Community College
- Former Instructor, Paralegal Program, St. Vincent College
Professional Associations and Memberships
- Pennsylvania Bar Association
- House of Delegates Westmoreland Bar Association
- Past President, 2012-2013
- Westmoreland Bar Foundation
- Chair, 2024-25
- Westmoreland County Bar Association
- Building Committee Chair 1998 – Present
- Association for Conflict Resolution
- Lawyers Abstract Company of Westmoreland County
- Founding Member
- Board of Directors, 1987-1994, 2022 – present
- Treasurer’s Office of Westmoreland County, Solicitor
- Westmoreland County Girl Scouts Council
- Board of Directors
- Monsour Hospital
- Board of Directors, 1993 – 1997
- Latrobe Youth Commission
- Chairman, 1992 – present
- Latrobe Area Hospital
- Past Member, Golden Hour Committee
- Latrobe Planning Commission, 1984 – 1986
- Latrobe Zoning Hearing Board, 1987 – 1989
- Latrobe Hospital Charitable Foundation
- Board of Trustees
- Adams Memorial Library
- Board of Directors
- Redstone Highlands
- Board of Directors
Pro Bono and Community Activities
- Citizen Advisory Committee, Union Mission of Latrobe
- Fraternity – Phi Beta Kappa
Ancillary Businesses
- Solicitor – City of Latrobe Zoning Board (1989 to present)
- Solicitor – Township of Unity Zoning Board (1992 to present)
- Solicitor – Borough of Ligonier Zoning Board (1987 to present)