Kennett Square Family Lawyers

Our firm is dedicated to providing you with convenient, trustworthy legal services whether you need a business contract, a will, legal action filed against an employer or have been injured in an accident.

Date of Birth - December 4, 1952 (Downingtown) Married - Wife: Beth E. Valocchi Children: Twin Daughters - May 26, 1989 Alexandra - American University Anastasia - St. Joseph's University Born and Raised in Downingtown One of Eleven Children Parents: Ben A. & Amina C. Valocchi Residence of E. Brandywine since 1985 Member of St. Joseph's Parish

Solo Practitioner handling Family Law, Criminal cases and Basic Estate planning.

Pamela Crowther is an experienced attorney whose practice involves criminal and civil litigation including family law, business litigation, constitutional challenges, securities enforcement and government compliance, health care fraud, criminal defense, and civil and criminal appeals. With over twenty years of experience, she is a seasoned litigator with clients who run the gamut from the individual seeking advice on custody to a large corporation facing product liability claim. Her practice covers a wide-range of civil and criminal matters in federal and state courts and before administrative tribunals. She has represented numerous corporations and individuals in product liability cases; complex commercial and...

Since 2009, Scott Matison has focused solely on matters of family law including, divorce, custody, support, abuse, adoptions and name changes. He handles property settlement agreements, prenuptial agreements, alimony matters and equitable distribution.

Mr. Matison practices in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and has experience handling cases with a variety of financial circumstances. He previously practiced family law for nationally recognized law firms in the Philadelphia area and New Jersey. With offices in both Philadelphia and Media, Mr. Matison is now using that experience to continue helping his clients in the most cost-effective manner.
Mr. Matison served as the co-chair of the...

Providing guidance and direction to Clients in Real Estate, Estate Planning, Family Law, Contracts, Business Transactions, Legal Conflicts and Litigation Matters. Representing clients in one or more of these matters to help them in their everyday personal and/or business life. I am focused on providing my clients with the individual attention and the high quality of performance they deserve while always maintaining the degree of integrity and confidentiality required for my client's protection. MY GOALS are my client's goals and that is to reach the objectives they are seeking in whatever area of law or matter I am working on...

Wayne Lyon is a versatile litigator, focusing his practice on complex civil litigation, with an emphasis in areas such as business litigation, wrongful death, insurance coverage litigation, and contract disputes. Wayne utilizes his unique analytical skill set to offer his clients efficient and effective representation. He has a uniquely diverse background with extensive experience representing clients in both the private and public sector. Wayne has represented insurance policyholders, insurers, risk retention groups and insurance professionals in complex insurance litigation and transactional insurance matters. He draws on this comprehensive, broad-based experience to offer his clients creative and effective solutions in all...

Daniel A. Pallen, Esq., graduated from Boston College in 2002. Prior to attending law school at the Dickinson School of Law, he earned a Masters Degree from American University in Washington, DC. He earned his law degree from the Dickinson School of Law of the Pennsylvania State University in 2007 and became a member of the Pennsylvania Bar in the same year. Prior to joining The Benari Law Firm, Mr. Pallen formerly practiced civil litigation an associate with a insurance defense litigation firm in Blue Bell, PA. Prior thereto, Mr. Pallen had practiced law as a Public Defender in the...

Petrelli Previtera, LLC is one of the top divorce and family law firms in the North East. From complex litigation to negotiated agreements, we work tirelessly to get the best results for our clients. While we are known for representing high net worth individuals and their spouses, we also represent everyday people from all walks of life. We are committed to providing the same high-quality service to each of our valued clients.
That is why our firm is constantly in contact with our clients to make sure that every question and concern is addressed from the very beginning to the...

John P. Attiani has over 20 years of experience representing individual and business clients. His areas of practice include family law (divorce, custody, alimony and spousal support, child support, equitable distribution and protection from abuse), business formation, contract disputes, bankruptcy and wills.

Admitted to practice in Pennsylvania, Mr. Attiani is a member of the Pennsylvania and Montgomery Bar Associations. He is active in the Family Law Section of both the Montgomery and Pennsylvania Bar Associations. He is a trained mediator and a Collaborative Family Law Affiliate. He also serves as an arbitration panelist and custody mediator for the Montgomery County Court...

Karen Ulmer is the founder of Karen Ann Ulmer P.C., a law firm handling family law, estates and probate,. Ms. Ulmer is a family law attorney, author, and speaker who handles complex custody litigation including relocation cases, custody with a narcissist, grandparent visitation and custody and stepparent custody. In addition, she represents high net worth divorce matters involving businesses, investments, commercial real estate, pensions, military cases, and other litigated divorce issues. In addition to her trial experience, Ms. Ulmer has significant training in mediation and has settled many cases out of court and served...

Dawn Padanyi is a graduate of Mount Holyoke College and Syracuse University College of Law where she was the Co-Director of the Grant Opportunity Program and a member of the Community Development Law Clinic While at Syracuse, Ms. Padanyi was chosen to receive two grants to perform legal work at the local and state level. Ms. Padanyi is a Pennsylvania and Massachusetts licensed attorney. She is a member of the Bucks County Bar Association as well as the Pennsylvania Bar Association. She is also proud to be selected to serve on the Board of Directors for the Bucks...

Your family is unique. When you need a family law attorney, you want someone who appreciates the differences that make your family special. You want a family lawyer who will help your family through all life’s changes and guide you towards the best possible outcome. Melinda represents families from a variety of backgrounds. Her family law experience includes all aspects of divorce, child custody, child support, and domestic violence law.

Ms. Previtera is a member of the bar in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

April M. Townsend is an attorney licensed to practice in Pennsylvania and New Jersey for over a decade. She handles all aspects of family law, including divorce, equitable distribution, support, custody and adoption. She also assists clients with estate planning and estate administration. April received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Maryland in College Park, MD where she double-majored in Government & Politics and Criminal Justice and graduated with honors. She received her Juris Doctor from the James E. Beasley School of Law at Temple University, admitted as a Conwell Law Scholar. While in law school, April began...

I became a lawyer because I like helping people resolve their differences. Although I practiced family law with a large Center City firm early in my career, I went out on my own in 1988 and never looked back. I founded our firm on the principle of providing superior service at reasonable rates for our clients while providing a flexible and supportive work environment for our employees. For twenty years and counting, we are proud to have maintained this model. While handling many custody, divorce, protection from abuse and support trials throughout my career, my practice now focuses on...

Matthew Mobilio founder of Mobilio Wood, graduated from Penn State University and Penn State Dickinson School of Law. After law school he completed a clerkship with the Honorable Richard A. Gray. He then worked for a firm in Williamsport where he built from scratch the firms' divorce and custody practice. He was then given the opportunity to move back to the Lehigh Valley where he and his wife grew up and he spent several years practicing as a trial lawyer defending insurance companies against personal injury claims. Attorney Mobilio is pleased...

Wendy J. Ashby, Esquire prides herself on the responsiveness she provides to each and every client. Her philosophy of service is to pursue the most efficient resolution of each matter. Ms. Ashby is recognized for the creativity she brings to her legal strategies and negotiations. She is also revered for the aggressiveness in which she will fight for her clients' entitlements. Ms. Ashby has devotedly pursued the practice of law in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey since 1992 in the areas of Wills/Estates, Elder Law, Mediation, Family Law and Adoptions. Ms. Ashby is the owner of the...

I am passionate about family law issues and write about them routinely for The Legal Intelligencer’s online family law column. If you need help with adoption, custody, divorce, name change, protection from abuse or support issues in either Philadelphia or surrounding Pennsylvania counties – or Burlington, Camden and Gloucester counties in New Jersey – I’m here for you, either as an advocate or mediation coach. I co-chair the Philadelphia Bar Association’s Equitable Distribution Committee, and have been named as a Super Lawyer in Pennsylvania and listed on the First Judicial District’s Pro Bono Roll of Honor for exemplary pro bono...

Jillian is dedicated to helping people and making a difference in people’s lives through zealous advocacy. Prior to beginning her legal career, Jillian graduated from the University of Pittsburgh where she earned her undergraduate degree in History. After graduation, Jillian attended Drexel University School of Law. During her time in law school, Jillian served on Drexel Law Review. Jillian also interned with the Montgomery County Public Defenders where she represented indigent people and learned the criminal system under the supervision of an attorney. Jillian also got the opportunity to participate in the Civil Litigation Clinic where she interned with Philadelphia Legal...

Kathryn L. Sullivan never backs down, even with the most difficult of cases. President Theodore Roosevelt’s famous quote — Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far — resonates with her in practice. She works as hard as possible to resolve her client’s cases efficiently and cost-effectively, bringing a willingness to work with the other party’s attorney amicably and collaboratively. However, if litigation is unavoidable, Kathryn loves nothing more than to be in the courtroom. She works relentlessly and without intimidation to protect her client’s best interests. Always the first attorney to arrive at the courthouse, Kathryn...

Within his family law practice, William Kirby values his client relationships above all else. That’s why he does everything in his power to find optimal solutions for their legal matters involving divorce, separation, custody, support, and more. Clients quickly see that William sincerely cares about them and that they can be confident in his advice. William serves a wide range of clients including celebrities facing high-asset divorces. Bill is a passionate, appreciative, and motivated person who is dedicated to empowering individuals and families with the right information. “When my clients come to see me, they are often experiencing a life-defining moment. How...

Attorney Rick is a member of the State Bar of Pennsylvania and is admitted to practice in the United States District Courts for the Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts of Pennsylvania. Attorney Rick has tried cases in state court, before administrative agencies, and before arbitration panels. He regularly appears before the local magisterial district courts as well as the Montgomery, Berks, and Chester County Courts of Common Pleas. Attorney Rick is also admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States. Chad previously volunteered for several years with the VITA organization, a pro bono program that offered free...

Lori A. Frio-Walker, Esquire, devotes her practice primarily to all aspects of family and matrimonial law matters. Lori gained family law litigation experience in divorce, custody and support matters at Petrelli Law, P.C. Prior to working at Petrelli Law, P.C., Lori worked in the area of collaborative and amicable divorce. Lori received her J.D. degree from Villanova University School of Law and was the Editor-in-Chief of its Women’s Law Forum and Associate Editor of its Journal of Catholic Social Thought. Lori began her professional career as an associate attorney at a large regional firm in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....

Joseph D'Annunzio's diverse work background makes him stand out as an extraordinary Attorney. With over 44 years of legal experience, he instills the confidence needed to provide successful outcomes for each client. His career path began upon receiving his license to practice law in October of 1976. He landed his first legal occupation as an Assistant Public Defender for the Montgomery County Public Defenders Office in 1976, where he represented indigent clients charged with crimes. During his years as a Public Defender, he pursued his dreams of having his private Firm. He succeeded in opening his office in his hometown of...

For over 25 years, I have helped many clients with a variety of legal matters. I understand the stress and anxiety that a client goes through in the midst of these life changing events. My practice focuses on Divorce, Custody, Support, Bankruptcy and Estate Planning as well as Estate Administration. I have extensive trial experience, but I am committed to helping each client resolve their matters out of court whenever possible. Focusing on each client's particular needs and desires, in addition to a deep commitment to client service, is the foundation of my practice. Listening and working together with the client...

Susan M. Gibson is an experienced family law attorney and litigator with almost ten years of litigation experience. Susan focuses her practice in all areas of family law, including divorce, custody, child support, equitable distribution, alimony, and spousal support. Susan has extensive experience litigating family law matters throughout the Philadelphia five-county area and she currently focuses her practice in Bucks and Montgomery Counties. Susan uses her years of experience to zealously advocate for her clients, seeking settlement whenever possible, but always prepared to litigate any matter if settlement is not possible. Susan strives to develop and maintain...

With a distinguished record of professional and community service, Mary Cushing Doherty has more than 35 years of legal experience in the area of family law. She concentrates her practice on all aspects of marital dissolution and family law issues including divorce, child support, custody, spousal support and alimony, premarital agreement asset protection, complex property division, and more. Ms. Doherty is an experienced and certified Arbitrator and Mediator. She strives for the amicable resolution of divorce when possible; however, she is a zealous litigator when it serves the best interests of her clients.

Ms. Doherty has been an award-winning Course Planner...

Jennifer Dumin has represented thousands of clients in family law matters, including custody, child and spousal support, and divorce in Philadelphia and the surrounding counties over the last seven years. Ms. Dumin earned her Juris Doctorate from the Temple University Beasley School of Law in 2006. Her undergraduate studies in child and family development and her graduate studies in social work provide for an attorney sensitive to the emotional issues inherent in this area of the law.

Julie Marburger focuses her practice in the areas of Family Law and Real Estate Law. She spends most her time handling divorce, custody and support cases for her clients.

Julie spent most of her youth in the southern part of the US. She grew up outside of Atlanta, Georgia and attended college at the College of Charleston in Charleston, South Carolina. Julie graduated from CofC with a double Bachelor of Arts in Historic Preservation & Community Planning and Art History. She then attended the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia, where she obtained a Masters of Historic Preservation. Julie attended law...

I love our practice because I care so deeply about my clients and their families. I handle all types of family law matters, and my approach to each case varies greatly, depending on my client’s needs and preferences. The range goes from playing a supportive role for those clients who wish to negotiate their own agreements to serving as a zealous advocate in the courtroom for those who need to submit their disputes to a judge for resolution. In addition to practicing law, I speak and write about family law issues. My first book, KEEPING IT CIVIL: The...

Ms. Calalang focuses her practice on helping clients with their domestic relations matters. She has strong leadership roles as the 2023 Co-Chair of the Women in the Profession Committee, 2022 Chair and 2021 Vice Chair of the Philadelphia Bar Association's Board of Governors, the 2020-2022 Co-Chair of the Solo and Small Firm Committee of the Philadelphia Bar Association, and the 2019 Chair of the Family Law Section (FLS). She is also a member of the FLS Executive Committee, Co-Chair of the FLS Custody and Diversity Committees, and a founding member of the Diversity Inclusion Scholarship Committee. She often...

Patrick Schaeffer is a graduate of Albright College in Reading, PA earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and History. While attending Pennsylvania State University Dickinson School of Law in Carlisle, PA, Attorney Schaeffer worked at the school’s Family Law Clinic as both a Certified Legal Intern and Research Assistant.

Attorney Schaeffer is a member of the York and Lancaster County Bar Associations as well as the Pennsylvania Bar Association. As an Associate Attorney with Trinity Law, Attorney Schaeffer concentrates his practice in the family law matters of divorce, support, and child custody as well as non-profit and tax...

Brian A. Coverdale has been working with the firm since 2010 and is a partner with the firm, practicing in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

A staunch advocate of his client's rights, Brian is prepared to represent his client's interests to the maximum extent possible. Brian takes a customized approach to handling all of his cases and formulates a targeted legal strategy to fit each client's individual needs. With his divorce and family law clients, Brian takes a pragmatic approach to help his clients reach the best result possible, without paying unnecessary legal fees. By way of this approach, Brian ensures...

My practice focuses on civil, criminal and family law litigation with over 20 years of tested experience throughout southeastern Pennsylvania and Maryland. I have successfully tried civil and criminal jury trials, contested family law hearings, administrative proceedings and appeals. My passion is assisting individuals and small businesses with their legal issues.

Many moons ago, I earned an Ivy League degree in philosophy from Columbia University, and then my law degree from the University of Miami. While in law school, I was involved in graduate student government and was a contributing author and editor of the University of Miami...