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Additions

Posternock & Apell announced that Denver Leigh Watson and Jessica Lenhart joined Advokids, the firm's special education department.

Watson joined the firm as director of educational services, and Lenhart joined the firm as education consultant.

Watson has experience of more than 20 years in the field of education and working with individuals with disabilities.

She was a teacher of students with disabilities and is also a child study team case manager as well as a certified learning disabilities consultant and evaluator in New Jersey.

In addition to these positions, Watson was part of the administration team at a private school for students with special needs and has experience in the areas of curriculum development, professional learning communities, assessment design and instructional technology.

She is certified by the New Jersey Department of Education Learning Disabilities as a teacher-consultant, supervisor of instruction, certified teacher of students with disabilities, certified teacher of English, and a certified elementary teacher.

Lenhart is a former special education attorney who spent her early career representing schools in due process hearings and on appeal.

She worked with educators on implementing student services under the IDEA, Section 504, FERPA and HIPAA.

She transitioned to a position with United Way and worked in support of a community school initiative. Most recently, Lenhart worked at a small charter school in North Carolina.

The Advokids special education team of Posternock Apell is made up of special education lawyers, paralegals and educational advocates who believe children of all ability levels should have the same chances for success in school as their peers.

Advokids began as the special education practice at Posternock Apell, then partnered with educational advocates to offer tiers of support and services tailored to what students need.

Speakers

Shemtob Draganosky Taylor partner Andrew D. Taylor moderated a session at the Pennsylvania Bar Association 2019 family law section winter meeting.

Held Jan. 19 in Pittsburgh, the session, titled “Lawyers Never Lose Their Appeal,” featured four attorneys who conducted mock oral debates before a panel of three Pennsylvania Superior Court judges.

The judges provided feedback on the arguments and tips for effective oral advocacy. Taylor practiced family law exclusively for over 15 years. He is experienced in all aspects of Pennsylvania family law, including equitable distribution, alimony, child support, child custody and abuse matters.

He regularly argues appeals before the Pennsylvania Superior Court involving complex family law issues and has argued before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

Active in the Montgomery County legal community, Taylor is a frequent speaker and writer who served as a course planner for the Montgomery Bar Association's annual Toby L. Dickman Seminar and other bar association events.

Elected and Appointed

Feldman Shepherd Wohlgelernter Tanner Weinstock Dodig attorney James P. Faunes was elected vice president of the Hispanic Bar Association of Pennsylvania.

HBAPA is committed to the social, economic, professional and educational advancement of Latino/Hispanic attorneys, law students and community members.

The association works collaboratively with other specialty, county, state and national bar associations to promote the administration of justice and the social, professional and educational advancement of Latinos.

At Feldman Shepherd, Faunes' practice focuses on medical malpractice cases.

Announcements

The Legal and Pennsylvania Law Weekly are looking for verdicts and settlements to report. If you're a plaintiffs or defense attorney who has obtained a verdict or settlement in Pennsylvania county or federal court recently, email Zack Needles at [email protected].