David is a seasoned litigator whose practice concentrates on family law exclusively. He strongly believes that the practice of law is about people – his clients. He understands that dealing with family law issues such as divorce, same sex dissolution, custody and child and spousal support are complex and challenging. David’s goal is to have his clients and their children emerge from the issues they are confronting emotionally and financially intact while he serves their best interests both inside and outside the courtroom.
While being a strong advocate, David is also sensitive to the personal and important decisions his clients have to make. He offers steadfast counsel to clients in matters concerning:
David writes and speaks frequently on divorce and other family law related topics. He has assumed leadership positions in the Philadelphia Divorce Bar, including chair of the Bar Association’s Family Law Section. He has also served as a council member of The Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Family Law Section. David has been a featured speaker on family law topics for the Pennsylvania Bar Institute, The Family Law Sections of the Pennsylvania, Montgomery and Philadelphia County Bar Associations, the National Business Institute, Temple University L.L.M. Program, Pennsylvania Psychological Association, Widener University Paralegal Institute, as well as other organizations. He has appeared on Comcast CN-8, Money Matters on multiple occasions.
An active member of the community, David donates his time and energy to assorted local charities, non-profit organizations, Philadelphia V.I.P., Homeless Advocacy Project and is an attorney mentor in Family Law.
Temple University School of Law, J.D.
University of Pennsylvania, B.A.
Pennsylvania
New Jersey
Fellow, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Pennsylvania Chapter
Member, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia and Montgomery County Bar Associations Family Law Section
Chair, Philadelphia Bar Association Family Section (2003-2004)
Chair Elect, Philadelphia Bar Association Family Section (2002)
Treasurer, Philadelphia Bar Association Family Section (2001)
Secretary, Philadelphia Bar Association Family Section (2000)
Co-Chair, Philadelphia Bar Association Family Section Special Events Committee (1999)
Co-Chair, Philadelphia Bar Association Family Section Custody Committee (1993-1998)
Volunteer Attorney, Philadelphia V.I.P. and Homeless Advocacy Project
Attorney Mentor, Family Law
Founding Member, Nicholas A. Cipriani Family Law American Inn of Court
Member, Temple Law School American Inn of Court
Stakeholder, Parenting Coordination in Pennsylvania
Council Member, Pennsylvania Bar Association Family Law Section
Clerkships
Law Clerk, Honorable William Witten Vogel, President Judge of the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas.
Named to “The Best Lawyers in America©” list for Family Law Arbitration (2021-2024)*
Named to “The Best Lawyers in America©” list for Family Law (2014-2024)*
Named to the “Pennsylvania Super Lawyers” list by Thomson Reuters for Family Law (2005-2023)*
Martindale-Hubbell “AV Preeminent” rated.*
Moderator, “Prenuptial Agreements,” American Academy Of Matrimonial Lawyers CLE program, The Pennsylvania Bar Association Summer Meeting, July 14, 2022
Profiled, “Philadelphia’s Legal Eagles,” Philadelphia Style, December 2021
Profiled, “Pandemic-proof Family Lawyers,” Suburban Life Magazine, December 2020
Author, “Holidays 2020: Custody, COVID-19 and Holiday Travel Do’s and Don’ts,” December 17, 2020.
Profiled, “A Balanced Approach,” Suburban Life Magazine, July 2020
Author, “Navigating Covid-19: Quarantine questions that every married couple may face,” Philadelphia Business Journal, May 6, 2020
Quoted, “Split families make pacts, duel over custody amid virus,” AP News, April 7, 2020
Moderator, “Parenting Coordination in Philadelphia: What Attorneys Should Know,” The Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee of the Family Law Section of Philadelphia Bar Association, April 1, 2019
Presenter, “Valuing Antiques and Collectibles,” Pennsylvania Bar Institute presentation, March 20, 2019
Co-course planner and moderator, “Parenting Coordination – Get Your Parenting Coordination and Domestic Violence Training Under The New Parenting Coordination Rule,” Pennsylvania Bar Institute, February 11th and 12th, 2019
Co-author, “Valentine’s Day: Nothing says I love you like a pre-nup,” with Monica Mandell, Philadelphia Business Journal, February 9, 2018
Presenter, “21st Century Extended Family Law Issues: The Demographics and Fragility of Modern Families,” PBI Family Law Institute, April 2017
Presenter, “How We Make Decisions: Neuroscience and Heuristics, With a Focus on Dealing With These Complex Issues in Family Law Cases,” American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, March 2017
Presenter, “Real Estate Assets and Liabilities in Support and Equitable Distribution Proceedings,” Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants Divorce Conference, October 2015
Presenter, Annual Meeting of the Pennsylvania State Trial Judges Conference, July 24, 2015
Presenter, “Custody Law Updates,” Pennsylvania Bar Association Family Law Section’s Summer Meeting, July 11, 2015
Presenter, “Drafting Marital Settlement Agreements,” Pennsylvania Bar Family Law Institute, April 23, 2015
Quoted, “Same marriage, Round 2,” Chicago Tribune, October 23, 2012
Presenter, “Valuing Antiques and Collectibles,” Pennsylvania Bar Institute, April 10, 2014, March 27, 2012
Presenter, “Custody Practice in Philadelphia County,” PBI’s Philadelphia County Domestic Relations Program, November 2013
Guest, “Interview on Halle Berry Custody Relocation Case,” Fox News, Mike Jerrick, April 2013
Author, “Get Divorced: What Family Lawyers Need to Know About Jewish Divorce,” Pennsylvania Family Lawyer, Volume 35, Issue No. 1, March 2013
Presenter, “Fault and No-Fault Divorces,” Drexel University’s Earle Macke School of Law, February 2013
Author, “Marital Miss: How to Protect Your Business Before You Tie the Knot,” Philadelphia Smart CEO, November 2012
Author, “I saw mommy kissing Lou from accounting; office parties and cheating,” Philadelphia Business Journal, December 11, 2012
Author, “PreNup: Is It For You?,” prettypearbride.com, Fall 2012
Author, “10 Practical Tips for Finding the Right Family Lawyer,” Main Line Media News online and Main Line Suburban Life, November 30, 2011
Presenter, PBI/PBEC, Disasters—Planning Ahead, 2006
Presenter, “Family Law Updates,” Philadelphia Bench Bar Conference, October 23, 2003
Presenter, “Custody Law Update,” PBI/PBEC, June 25, 2003
Presenter, “Child Custody and Visitation Issues in Pennsylvania,” National Business Institute
Author, “Case Note on Gowdy v. Kesserling,” Pennsylvania Family Lawyer, Vol. 19, No. 2, June 1997
Presenter, “Custody Relocation Update, The Burdens of a Move,” Philadelphia Bar Association Family Law Section, Fall 1996
Presenter, “5 County Domestic Relations Practice,” Philadelphia Family Law Section CLE, October 16, 1996
Presenter, “Practical Tips on Family Law,” PBI/PBEC, June 15, 1995
Presenter, “Partial Custody—Grandparent and Third Party Rights,” PBI/PBEC
Presenter, Widener Law School Paralegal Institute and American Institute for Paralegal Studies, Inc., March 8, 1995
Quoted, “Same Marriage, Round 2,” The Chicago Tribune, October 23, 2012
Quoted, TODAY Show’s NBC Website, LifeInc, regarding prenuptial agreements, by Geoff Williams, Reuters
Quoted, “Who Gets Custody of Your Child’s Education,” Little Rock Family, September 1994
Author, “Interviewer—Custody a View from the Bench,” Philadelphia Lawyer Magazine, Vol. 57, No. 2, Summer 1994
Author, “Family Law—The Right Moves,” Philadelphia Lawyer Magazine, Vol. 57, No. 2, Summer 1993
Quoted, “Prenups aren’t impossible to break, but…” TODAY Show’s NBC Website, LifeInc