Robert I. "Bob" Whitelaw

Robert I. Whitelaw served as managing partner of Obermayer Rebmann Maxwell & Hippel LLP for 30 years and currently serves as co-chairman of the firm’s Litigation Department.

Mr. Whitelaw has over 40 years of experience practicing law at Obermayer. He has extensive experience in a wide variety of issues relating to marriage and family law, including division of property, alimony, tax matters, child custody, visitation and support, prenuptial agreements, adoption and paternity. He is an experienced advisor and litigator in partnership and corporate matters with respect to formation, succession and dissolution. He also has a comprehensive background in probate, fiduciary and administration of estates.

Mr. Whitelaw joined Obermayer in 1970 as an associate in the firm’s Fiduciary Department. He was made partner in 1978, became managing partner in 1986, and has held the position of co-chairman of the Litigation Department since 1983.

Mr. Whitelaw is a fellow with the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. He is also a member of the Family Law, Litigation and Probate sections of the American, Pennsylvania and Philadelphia Bar Associations and the Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association. He served as President, Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and is a former Vice President (July 2008-July 2011) and Secretary (July 2007-July 2008).

His civic activities include: Former Chairman of the Board, Prince Music Theater; Trustee, Anna Vincent Scholarship Trust; arbitrator, the American Arbitration Association; instructor, Main Line Paralegal Institute; author and lecturer, Pennsylvania Bar Institute; lecturer, Dickinson Law Forum; member, board of directors, Big Brothers and Sisters of Philadelphia (President 1996-98) and panel member of the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.

Mr. Whitelaw has been named in Best Lawyers in America from 1995 to the present and was named as the “Philadelphia Best Lawyers Family Lawyer of the Year” for 2010. He has consistently been named as one of the "Ten Leaders of Greater Philadelphia Matrimonial and Divorce Law" (2005-present). He is named to the Pennsylvania Super Lawyers® list as seen in both Philadelphia magazine and Pennsylvania Super Lawyers magazine (2004-2016). He is also listed as one of the Top 100 Philadelphia attorneys and Top 100 Pennsylvania attorneys (2004-2007).