Leona Zelda Goldshaw

Leona specializes in special education law and represents children and their families facing challenges under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1972, and Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972. She helps families to advocate for their children’s needs in special education, school discipline, gifted education, test taking, and other education matters in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and steps in when it becomes necessary to do so.

She brings to her practice more than twenty years of experience pursuing legal excellence for her clients, complex commercial litigation experience in federal and state court, and a passionate devotion to public interest advocacy and social justice. Prior to joining our firm, Leona worked for seven years at a national law firm where she concentrated her practice on complex litigation in a wide range of matters including contract disputes, employment matters, consumer rights litigation and commercial litigation. Leona also previously represented tribal clients throughout the country.

Leona served as a law clerk to the Honorable R. Barclay Surrick of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. She received a J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 2004 and graduated cum laude and Order of the Coif (top ten percent). Leona served as an editor of the University of Pennsylvania Law Review.

Prior to attending law school, Leona advocated on behalf of immigrants seeking political asylum and victims of discrimination for six years in Philadelphia and New York for the Anti-Defamation League, the New York Immigration Coalition and other advocacy groups.

Leona has three school-aged children and understands the challenges parents face when advocating for their children.