Melanie J. Wender

Brett Zeitlin is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law. Brett, who practices law in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Brett is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Jennifer W. Karpchuk represents companies and individuals in various matters related to state and local taxation, with an emphasis on the minimization of state and local tax obligations. She has extensive experience handling state and local tax matters, including those related to: corporate income taxes, franchise taxes, gross receipts taxes, excise taxes, personal income taxes, sales and use taxes, business privilege taxes, and real estate taxes. Jennifer serves in a number of leadership rol...

David J. Colleran is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs, Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs and Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs. David J., who practices law in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which David J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

For more than 40 years, Bernard Smalley, Sr. has devoted his legal career to advocating on behalf of victims of corporate or professional negligence. He has secured for his client’s scores of seven-figure recoveries through his combination of intellect, perceptiveness, and warmth. As a young man, Mr. Smalley cut hair in his father’s West Philadelphia barber shop, where he met William H. Hastie, the first African-American to become Chief Judge of a Federal Court of Appeals in the U...

Margaret A. Joy is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Real Estate Law. Margaret A., who practices law in West Chester, Pennsylvania, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Margaret A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Eric Borjeson is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Workers' Compensation Law - Claimants. Eric, who practices law in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Eric is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Richard G. Poulson has been representing labor unions since the inception of his career. His practice includes collective bargaining, interest and grievance arbitration and employment-related litigation. Rick specializes in advising and representing police, fire, paramedic and other uniformed employees regarding municipal affairs and public employment. Hailing from a proud labor tradition – his father was a Philadelphia firefighter and his mother was a teacher – Rick’s labor...

Michael McKenna has been a partner in Margolis Edelstein since 1983 and has served as the firm’s Managing Partner since 1995. Before joining Margolis Edelstein in 1982, Michael was Assistant General Counsel for the Pennsylvania Manufacturers’ Association Insurance Company. He handles files, publishes, and speaks on a broad array of insurance and tort topics. As Managing Partner, Michael oversees all operations in a firm which has grown during his tenure from two to nine offices. M...

John J. McAleese III is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Environmental. John J., who practices law in Radnor, Pennsylvania, has been recognized since 2003. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which John J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Lee B. Balefsky is senior counsel and former head of the Mass Tort Department in which he was involved in lawsuits dealing with a wide range of products and toxic substances, from pharmaceuticals to defective medical devices, from asbestos to denture creams containing zinc. Balefsky was a member of the Plaintiffs Steering Committee involved in all transvaginal mesh cases nationwide and he served as liason counsel in the Philadelphia Mass Tort Pelvic Mesh program. He had great success in other...