William J. Phelan IV - Philadelphia, PA

Overview

Awards and Honors

Education

Current Employment Position(s)

• Litigation Partner

Classes and Seminars

• “U.S. v. Rahimi: Examining a Federal Firearm Case and PFAs,” Pennsylvania Bar Association – Law in the Family podcast, Sep. 26, 2024
  
• “Love Reigns Supreme: Review of Recent Family Law Cases before the U.S. Supreme Court,” presenter, Cordell & Cordell Domestic Litigation Forum, Apr. 5, 2024
  
• “Legal Update – A Year in Review” at Pennsylvania Family Law From A to Z, virtual CLE, National Business Institute, Apr. 16, 2024
  
• “Child Custody and Support: Current Issues and Solutions” at Family Law Practice Tips 2024 virtual CLE, National Business Institute, Feb. 26, 2024 & Aug 20, 2024
  
• “Significant PA Appellate Court Cases 2023 – Webcast,” presenter, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Aug. 31, 2023
  
• “Pennsylvania Family Law 2022 Appellate Review,” presenter, Pennsylvania Bar Association Appellate Advocacy Committee’s Lunch & Learn Series, Jan. 26, 2023
  
• “Hot Topics in Disability Accommodations Law,” moderator, Pennsylvania Bar Institute online CLE, Aug. 2, 2022
  
• “How Appealing: Tips, Considerations, and Basics of Appeals for the Family Law Litigator,” presenter, Cordell & Cordell Domestic Litigation Forum, Apr. 15, 2022
  
• “Pennsylvania Divorce Law 101 – Restraining Orders,” virtual CLE presentation, mylawCLE.com, Nov. 1, 2021
  
• “Celebrating 30 Years of the Americans with Disabilities Act,” moderator, Pennsylvania Bar Institute online CLE, November 12, 2020
  
• Mr. Phelan appeared on RVN-TV’s program “Dr. Sue & You” on July 15, 2020, to discuss the various ways family law has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
  
• “Family Law Clients with Disabilities: Identifying Issues and Providing Solutions,” 42 Pennsylvania Family Lawyer 50-52 (2020)
  
• Mr. Phelan was on the faculty for the Pennsylvania Bar Institute’s 2018 Family Law Institute.
  
• “United States Supreme Court, Citing Federal Pre-Emption, Blocks State Courts’ Ability to Indemnify Non-Military Spouse for Decrease in Share of Military Pension upon Military Member’s Receipt of V.A. Disability Payments; Case Note: Howell v. Howell, 137 S.Ct. 707 (U.S. 2017),” 40 P
  
• “Recognizing and Respecting Disability Rights in Family Law Cases,” presenter, Doris J. Freed American Inn of Court, Feb. 13, 2018
  
• “Contempt of Court and Family Law Cases,” presenter, The Bucks County American Inn of Court, Nov. 27, 2017.
  
• “Issues on Qualifying for the Bar,” organizer and presenter, tenBroek Disability Law Symposium, National Federation of the Blind, Baltimore, MD, Apr. 19, 2012
  
• “How to Represent Social Security Claimants with Mental & Physical Disabilities,” moderator, ABA online CLE course, August 24, 2011
  
• “Kicking Down the Door to Employment I: Of Mentors and Schedule A,” presentation, American University Washington College of Law, “Assisting Law Students with Disabilities in the 21st Century,” Mar. 10, 2011
  
• “Goal III Report: A report on the status of the participation of persons with disabilities in the American Bar Association and its divisions, sections, and forums.” (eds. 2008-2012)
  
• “Comments from the American Bar Association on Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability; Accessibility of Web Information and Services of State and Local Government Entities and Public Accommodations,” to U.S. Dep’t of Justice, 35 Mental & Physical Disability L. Rep. 15 (2011)
  
• The Second National Conference on the Employment of Lawyers with Disabilities: A report from the American Bar Association for the Legal Profession (2009)
  
• “Best Practices for Recruiting, Hiring and Retaining a Diverse Legal Staff,” presentation, National Disability Rights Network, Training and Advocacy Support Center Annual Conference, Baltimore, MD, Mar. 16, 2009
  
• “Ignored No Longer: Contributions of the Common Law of Agency to Principal-Agency Theory and Congressional Leadership.” 45 Studies in Law, Politics, and Society, 235-254 (2008); presentation, Pennsylvania Political Science Association Annual Meeting, Kutztown, PA, Mar. 2007

Published Works

Articles

• Book review, The Ugly Laws: Disability in Public, The Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law, Vol. 41, No. 1 (2013)
  
• Co-Editor; “Statistical and Other Information on Lawyers with Disabilities: A New Beginning Amidst Gaps and Unanswered Questions,” with John W. Parry
  
• “Political Gerrymandering After LULAC v. Perry: Considering Political Science for Legislative Action.” 32 Seton Hall Legislative Journal 89-121 (2007)
  

Bar Admissions

• Pennsylvania
• New Jersey
• Maryland
• District of Columbia
• U.S. District Court Eastern District of Pennsylvania
• U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia

Other Affiliations

• Pennsylvania Bar Association, Family Law Section
• Pennsylvania Bar Association, Disability Services Committee, Chair (2020-2026)
• Pennsylvania Bar Association, Nominations Committee (2022, 2024)
• Pennsylvania Bar Association, Appellate Advocacy Committee
• Philadelphia Bar Association, Family Law Section
• American Bar Association, Family Law Section
• American Bar Association, Judicial Division, Appellate Judges Conference – Council of Appellate Lawyers
• Doris Jonas Freed Matrimonial American Inn of Court, President (2021-2022); Executive Board Member (2017-2023)
• District of Columbia Bar Association
• Brehon Law Society, Councilmember (2023 – Present)