Philadelphia family law attorney William J. Phelan, IV brings a host of experience and accolades to Cordell & Cordell.

Prior to joining Cordell & Cordell, Mr. Phelan was a partner at a small law firm where he appeared in over 100 hearings on behalf of his clients and his efforts secured results that have provided financial security and freedom for those who had very little hope until he took their case.

Mr. Phelan said he’s drawn to practicing family law because of the personal connection it allows him to build with his clients. Unlike other areas of the law, family law allows an attorney to truly connect with, and thus advocate for, a client.

“I enjoy working with my clients, who are usually in a difficult position in their lives, to help them reach a resolution that is not only in their favor, but also allows them to put their minds at ease and continue on with their daily lives,” Mr. Phelan said.

Mr. Phelan promises to provide his clients sound advice and peace of mind while also being a tenacious representative of their interests.

“My ability to empathize and identify with my clients allows me to realize what they are looking for in the outcome of a case,” Mr. Phelan said. “In addition, my work ethic and attention to detail enable me to thoroughly and efficiently explore an issue for my client so as to present the client with the best options available.”

This testimonial or endorsement does not constitute a guarantee, warranty or prediction regarding the outcome of your legal matter.  Past results afford no guarantee of future results and that every case is different and must be judged on its own merits.  Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Brackets indicate that a name has been changed. Ellipsis indicate that text has been removed.

Licenses & Admissions

Mr. Phelan is licensed to practice in Pennsylvania, Maryland, the District of Columbia, the U.S. District Court for Eastern Pennsylvania and the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

Education

Mr. Phelan graduated magna cum laude from The Catholic University of America where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Classical Civilizations and then a Master of Arts in Congressional and Presidential Studies (Politics). He earned his Juris Doctor, with a certificate in Law and Public Policy, from The Catholic University of America’s Columbus School of Law.

Professional Experience

Mr. Phelan was previously a partner with a small law firm where he represented individuals in family law, employment law, Social Security benefits, general civil litigation, and disability rights cases.

Mr. Phelan was appointed by D.C. Superior Court to serve on the Family Court’s Mental Health Panel and Mental Habilitation Panel, assisting individuals with disabilities in the civil court system, including those who have been involuntarily committed due to suspected mental health issues.

He was a former staff attorney for the American Bar Association Commission on Disability Rights, one of the nation’s premier organizations for disability rights and disability law.

Associations

Mr. Phelan is a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association, Family Law Section; the Doris Jonas Freed Matrimonial American Inn of Court; the District of Columbia Bar Association; and the Justinian Society, a legal organization comprised of attorneys and judges of Italian ancestry.

He sits on the board for Alpha Delta Gamma Capital City Alumni Association, Inc., an educational non-profit organization. He is also a member of the Young Professionals Network of Philadelphia.

In 2016, Mr. Phelan was appointed to the Board of Directors of Catholic Charities Appeal of Greater Philadelphia, a 501(c)(3).

Awards

• Mr. Phelan was recognized in 2014-15 as a Washington D.C. Rising Star in the family law practice area by Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters rating service of outstanding lawyers. In 2016, he was named a Philadelphia Rising Star.

• In 2016, Mr. Phelan received the Distinguished Lawyer Designation from the Expert Network.
  
• Who’s Who Among Law Professionals (Montclair), 2010-12
• G.P. Smith Award for Exceptional Dedication to Journal of Contemporary Health Law & Policy
• In 2016, the American Institute of Family Law Attorneys named Mr. Phelan one of the 10 Best Family Law Attorneys for Client Satisfaction in Pennsylvania.

Speeches, Seminars, & Publications

• Book review, The Ugly Laws: Disability in Public, The Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law, Vol. 41, No. 1 (2013)
• “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), Co-Editor; “Statistical and Other Information on Lawyers with Disabilities: A New Beginning Amidst Gaps and Unanswered Questions,” with John W. Parry
• “Outreach to Lawyers and Law Students with Disabilities Essential to Profession,” The Young Lawyer, Dec. 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
• “Political Gerrymandering After LULAC v. Perry: Considering Political Science for Legislative Action.” 32 Seton Hall Legislative Journal 89-121 (2007)
• “A Chronic Concern No More: How a Federal Medical Malpractice Cap Will Survive Under the Equal Protection Clause of the United States Constitution.” 23 Journal of Contemporary Health Law and Policy 168-199 (2006)