Pennsylvania Lawyers

FEATURED TWICE ON “SUPER LAWYERS” COVER - HONORED AMONG WORLD’S “INSPIRATIONAL PEOPLE” - DESCRIBED AS "FIERCE" One of only two lawyers in the U.S. to be selected by an international non-profit organization featuring “Inspirational People” around the world (including Nobel prize winners, business leaders), NiaLena is the only criminal defense lawyer ever featured on the Super Lawyers cover in Philadelphia Magazine and also in the Super Lawyers 20th Anniversary Edition Cover and in the Cover Story entitled “The Essence Of Being A Good Lawyer” and was also featured by Super Lawyers in an article entitled "Fierce". She is also honored repeatedly...

Anthony (or Tony, as he is known around the office) is our trial specialist. Since passing the Pennsylvania Bar Exam in 2011, he has focused his entire career on being an amazing trial attorney. Tony studied at Drexel University’s Thomas R. Kline School of Law. While in law school, he was a member of Drexel’s National Trial Team. He competed in four national competitions, and was a member of Drexel’s first Regional Championship team. Following law school, Tony joined The Law Offices of Jonathan Wheeler, where he would quickly have a chance to test his trial skills. Since his first day at...

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...

Joseph Alexander Paletta was born and raised in the Pittsburgh area. After graduating cum laude from Washington & Lee University in Virginia in 1982, he returned to Pittsburgh, achieving his Juris Doctor from Duquesne University Law School in 1985. His father, Leonard J. Paletta, was a highly respected trial lawyer in Pittsburgh in the 1950s, ‘60s, and ‘70s, and was the inspiration for Joseph becoming a lawyer. In fact, a Paletta has maintained a law office in the Frick Building, the heart of the Pittsburgh legal community, for almost 50 years.

Attorney Paletta has been engaged in the...

Raymond Lahoud, a Partner at Norris McLaughlin, PA, and Chair of its Immigration Law Practice, focuses primarily on immigration law and deportation defense for individuals and corporations in New Jersey and Pennsylvania (Easton, Bethlehem, Allentown, and the surrounding region). His practice includes Citizenship, U.S. Non-Immigration Visas, E Visas, E-3 Visas, H-1B Visas, H-2B Visas, L Visas, O Visas, P Visas, Q Visas, R Visas, TN Visas, U.S. Immigration Visas, EB5 Investor Visas, Exceptional Ability Immigrant Visas, Extraordinary Ability Immigrant Visas, K-1 Visas, K-3 Visas, Multinational Manager/Executive Immigrant Visas, Outstanding Professor/Researcher Immigrant Visas, PERM Labor Certification, Family Petitions, Adjustment of Status,...

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...

With my background in accounting as well as law, I can share my unique background and experience when working with individuals, families and small and mid-size businesses in the areas of estate planning, taxation, corporations and business planning, business acquisitions and sales, succession planning, business exit strategies and real estate.

Attorney Gabriel Levin is known as a tenacious fighter who protects his client's interests as though they were his own; he has tried hundreds of cases and handled all types of personal injury matters and prides himself on helping victims. Every case is meticulously prepared for trial. Trying cases to juries is what Mr. Levin enjoys the most. Clients know that Gabriel Levin is a very responsive attorney, keeps client fully informed, and always gets back to them in a timely manner. Mr. Levin has continuously been named as a Super Lawyer and was also named to the...

The area of my chosen practices that I am truly the most passionate about is assisting the elderly. I have helped many clients who are facing the most financially difficult times of their lives to have certainty as they enter their golden years. I am up to speed in the latest techniques and in fact have had other lawyers refer their cases to me.

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...

Philadelphia personal injury lawyer Jay L. Edelstein was born in 1955 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He attended Washington & Jefferson College where he received his B.A. in 1976. He went onto Widener University School of Law (formerly Delaware Law School), receiving his J.D. in 1979. Mr. Edelstein is the firm’s founder and is a successful and a well-respected third generation attorney who focuses his practice of law on the following areas: Personal injury litigation, auto injury, sexual abuse cases, slip and fall, dog bites, construction law and litigation involving common carriers. He was admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar...

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...

MATTHEW TRAPANI devotes his legal career to representing the seriously injured and their families across Pennsylvania.

Attorney Trapani handles a variety of serious personal injury cases including auto and truck accidents, premises liability, liquor liability violations, sexual abuse and wrongful death litigation. Licensed to practice in all of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties, Trapani has litigated against some of the largest insurance companies in the U.S., and effectively negotiated substantial settlements for his clients. Recently, attorney Trapani was inducted into the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. The forum is a group of attorneys, made up of less than 1% of all lawyers in the...

I am a Certified Pennsylvania Workers' Compensation Law Specialist representing injured workers and their families in all areas of Pa. Workers' Compensation Law throughout the State of Pennsylvania.

I was raised in a union household. My mother served as President of a Pennsylvania Statewide Teacher’s Union and as member of their board of directors for 25 years.

After graduating with honors from Georgetown University in 1983 and The University of Pittsburgh School of Law in 1987, I was a law clerk for The Honorable Genevieve Blatt at the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania. Judge Blatt was the first woman elected to statewide...

Lynn E. Roberts III, attorney at law, has counseled small businesses and larger corporations for over seven years. As a business and corporate attorney with bar memberships in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Lynn’s passion is to counsel business owners needing to start, grow, and protect their businesses. Recognized as a Top 40 Under 40 Attorney, Mr. Roberts adds extensive experience in intellectual property rights, partnership disputes and corporate law.

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...

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...

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...

One of Philadelphia’s best known and well respected Workers’ Compensation attorneys, Richard A. Jaffe has been representing injured workers and other disabled individuals for over 35 years. He concentrates his practice on Workers’ Compensation and Social Security Disability. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and Tulane Law School, he is licensed to practice in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey. He started the firm in 1994 and since then has aggressively fought for the rights of the injured worker in hundreds of cases in the Southeastern Pennsylvania area. He is an active member of the Workers’ Compensation Section of PaAJ,...

J.T. Herber, III primarily practices in the fields of criminal defense and civil litigation, including personal injury. His criminal defense practice includes the representation of clients facing felony and misdemeanor charges, as well as serious traffic violations in the Courts of Common Pleas throughout central and eastern Pennsylvania. Attorney Herber previously served as an Assistant District Attorney in Schuylkill County. In civil cases, J.T. represents plaintiffs and defendants in a wide range of civil disputes, including personal injury and wrongful death cases, as well as real estate, commercial, construction, landlord-tenant, and collections matters. Despite being...

Representing clients in Philly and the surrounding counties, including Criminal Defense, Civil Rights, & Business.

A Fellow of the prestigious American College of Real Estate Lawyers and listed in the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers, Mr. Schwager maintains an active general business, commercial litigation, and transactional practice with particular emphasis in the areas of real estate, property tax assessment appeals, mortgage foreclosure and creditors' rights, business formation and governance, and business litigation. Mr. Schwager served as the 126th president of the Pennsylvania Bar Association and as chair of the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. He has been named a Super Lawyer each year since 2010, the only real estate practitioner in Northeastern Pennsylvania...

Lauren Wimmer is a top rated Philadelphia criminal defense attorney. Founder of Wimmer Criminal Defense, PC, she defends clients in federal and state courts for charges such as aggravated assault, homicide, robbery, Driving Under the Influence (DUI/DWI), drug crimes and weapons offenses. Ms. Wimmer is on the SuperLawyers Rising Star list, which recognizes the top up-and-coming attorneys in the state 40 years old or younger. She is a member of the Nation’s Top One Percent by the National Association of Distinguished Counsel, a Lawyers of Distinction Member, America's Top 100 Criminal Defense Attorneys, National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40,...

David Cedar is the co-founder of Williams Cedar and prior founding member of the Cedar Law Firm, Merovitz & Cedar, L.L.P. and Merovitz, Cedar and Gruber., L.L.C. He is a graduate of Rutgers State University, School of Law, Camden (1992). He is admitted to practice in the bars of Pennsylvania (1993) and New Jersey (1992), along with various district courts and the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. David Cedar was appointed by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Certified Civil Trial Attorney (2001) a honor awarded to less than 1% of all attorneys...