Lori A. Walker, JD, MBA, MS.Ed

– FAMILY LAW ATTORNEY –

Lori A. Walker, Attorney at Law, specializes in divorce and custody litigation and mediation and represents families from a variety of backgrounds.  Her family law experience includes all aspects of divorce, child custody, child support and spousal support.  Lori’s exceptional legal advocacy has earned her the recognition of her peers in prestigious publications including Super Lawyers’ Pennsylvania Rising Star list in 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018 and 2017 as well as top 10 Female Family Lawyers under 40 in the State of Pennsylvania.

Lori’s clients appreciate her passion and commitment to family law.  Her experience allows her to address even the most complicated and emotional cases with confidence and poise. Because each family is unique, Lori believes that her job is to determine your particular needs are and develop a legal strategy that is right for you. She prides herself on finding creative legal solutions for complicated family law concerns.

EDUCATION & COURT ADMISSIONS

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. During law school, Lori interned for the Honorable Judge Paul Panepinto, where she took part in research for complex mass tort litigation cases. Additionally, she worked at the Farm Worker Legal Aid Clinic at Villanova University School of Law, where she successfully represented clients with their family law and immigration matters.

Prior to attending law school, Lori received her M.B.A. in Management, graduating with highest honors, and her B.S. degree in Marketing from Saint Joseph’s University. She also received her Board Certified Coaching Certification in the designation areas of Executive, Corporate, Business and Personal Coaching. Lori also received her Master’s Degree from the University of Pennsylvania, which has provided further education and training to help navigate through challenging situations with her custody, divorce and support clients.

Lori is trained in the divorce and custody mediation process. She completed the 40-hour training course in Family Law Mediation, appearing on the roster of mediators for Custody Cases in Chester County and Montgomery County. Lori is a member in good standing of the Pennsylvania and New Jersey State Bar and is admitted to practice law in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, the U.S. District Court of New Jersey and the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

EXPERIENCE

Lori gained extensive family law experience at Petrelli Law, P.C., where she devoted her practice primarily to family and matrimonial litigation matters in divorce, custody, spousal support, child support, post and pre-nuptial agreements and divorce and custody mediation.  Prior to joining Petrelli Law, Lori worked in the area of collaborative and amicable divorce.  Lori began her professional career as an associate attorney at Dilworth Paxson, LLP, a large regional firm in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She started her time there as a summer associate attorney working on matters pertaining to real estate law, media law, corporate and business governance and business formation and dissolution.  As an associate attorney, Lori worked in the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Department, where she defended trade creditors in aspects of complex Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases.

LEADERSHIP

Co-Chair, American Bar Association, Family Law Section, Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee, 2023-2025
Board Member of American Bar Association, Law Practice Management Section, Ethics and Professionalism and Lawyer Professionalism, 2023-2024
ABA Section of Family Law Liaison to the ABA Standing Committee on Professionalism for the 2024-2025
Council Member At-Large, American Bar Association, Family Law Section, 2018-2020
Liaison from the American Bar Association Section of Family Law to the ABA Commission on Women, 2021-2023
Vice-Chair, American Bar Association, Family Law Section, Law Practice Management & Technology Committee, 2020-2023
YLD Council Liaison to Family Law Section, American Bar Association, Family Law Section, 2016-2020
Co-Chair, American Bar Association, Young Lawyer’s Committee, Family Law Section 2016-2018
Co-Chair, American Bar Association, YLD, Family Law Committee, 2017-2018
Co-Chair, American Bar Association, YLD, Solo, Small Firm & General Practice Committee 2015-2016
Co-Chair, American Bar Association, YLD, Solo, Small Firm & General Practice Committee 2014-2015
Vice-Chair, American Bar Association, YLD, Public Education Committee 2013-2014

MEMBERSHIPS

Pennsylvania Bar Association
Philadelphia Bar Association
Montgomery County Bar Association
Delaware County Bar Association
Chester County Bar Association
Justinian Society
Beta Gamma Sigma Honors Society
Delta Sigma Pi Co-Ed Professional Business Fraternity

AWARDS & HONORS

Super Lawyers, Pennsylvania 2024, 2023, Super Lawyers Rising Star, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018 & 2017
Silver Client Champion Best in Client Service Award by Martindale-Hubbell
Top 10 under 40, Pennsylvania Family Law Attorneys, National Academy of Family Law Attorneys
Top 40 under 40, Pennsylvania Trial Attorney, National Advocates
10 Best Female Pennsylvania Family Law Attorneys, Client Satisfaction Award, American Institute of Family Law Attorneys
Suburbanlife Magazine, Top Divorce / Family Lawyer, 2022
Superb AVVO Rating of 10
Summa Cum Laude Graduate
Beta Gamma Sigma Honoree

ARTICLES

What is Divorce Mediation and Why it Might be Good for You, Mediate.com, 2019.
Meet the Leaders of the American Bar Association Family Law Section, 2016.
Top Ten Family Attorneys near Philadelphia, PA Area, 2016.
7 Ways to Successfully Prove Yourself as a Young Lawyer. ABA: 101 Practice Series, Breaking Down the Basics, 2014.

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

“Evolution of Dissolution—Respectful Resolutions of Family Conflicts”  ABA: CLE Program Family Law Section Conference, May, 2024
Virtual Office. ABA: CLE Program Family Law Section Conference, October 14, 2023
Technology Hot Tips and Updates. ABA: CLE Program Family Law Section Conference, April 22, 2023.
Delegate Your Way to Freedom: Hire a VA, ABA: Teleconference, February 9, 2023.
Work Smarter: How to Run a Paperless, Remote-Work Law Practice. ABA: Teleconference, February 10, 2022.
Securing Your Virtual Law Practice and Ethical Considerations. ABA: CLE Program Family Law Section Conference, April 23, 2022.
Common Malpractice Pitfalls and What to do When you Realize a Mistake is Made.  ABA: Teleconference, February 18, 2021.
Shared Parenting Time Legislation – Does Fair Mean Equal? ABA: Teleconference, April 23, 2018.
Addressing and Breaking Through Judicial Bias Inside and Outside the Courtroom. ABA: CLE Program, Oct. 7, 2017.
Hit the Ground Running: Tackling The First Year Whether as an Associate or Hanging Your Own Shingle. ABA: CLE Program, May 6, 2016.
Practicing Law While Breaking the Confines of Implicit Bias in and Outside the Courtroom. ABA: CLE Program, May 17, 2015.
Taking Down the Shingle: Legal, Tax and Ethical Considerations for Unwinding a Law Firm Practice. ABA: CLE Program, Jan. 20, 2016.

JURISDICTIONS ADMITTED TO PRACTICE

Pennsylvania
New Jersey
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania
U.S. District Court of New Jersey

FAMILY

Lori resides in West Chester, Pennsylvania.  Lori has strong Philadelphia roots, growing up in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, attending the Academy of Notre Dame de Namur for high school, St. Joseph’s University for her undergraduate and graduate business studies and Villanova University School of Law for her Juris Doctor Degree and University of Pennsylvania for her Master’s Degree.