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Doris Jane Dabrowski

Employee benefits Attorney at Philadelphia, PA

4.4   7 reviews

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About Doris

Learn Doris’s areas of practice.

5
Practice areas
  1. Employee benefits
    35%
    set precedent in U.S. Court of Appeals to secure credit for pre-break service accrued before the effective date of ERISA; settlement in U.S. District Court reinstated long term disability benefits; secured pension and disability benefits through plan appeals; advised claimants about COBRA

    33 years, 200 cases

  2. Employment and labor
    25%
    counseling and advocacy for federal, state and local government employees; negotiation and enforcement of employment agreements, arbitration of employment issues

    46 years, 300 cases

  3. Administrative law
    20%
    compliance with government regulations, administrative agency appeals, and appeals to courts from final decisions of agencies

    46 years, 100 cases

  4. Elder law
    15%
    powers of attorney, wills, advance medical directives, living wills, nursing home admissions, pension claims, rights of beneficiaries to benefit funds

    48 years, 300 cases

  5. Medicaid and medicare
    5%
    representation of medical providers and patients to appeal decisions of government agencies

    41 years, 100 cases

From initial counseling through appeals, Doris Dabrowski gives personal attention to the legal concerns of individuals, small businesses and professional practices in Pa. and N.J.   Her appellate advocacy set legal precedent in the United States Court of Appeals and the Merit Systems Protection Board.    She is an arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association, National Arbitration and Mediation, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), the United States Court of Appeals for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas. 

She draws on her breadth of knowledge of health, disability, employment and elder law as well as civil procedure to help clients achieve their goals through counseling, negotiations, life care planning, alternate dispute resolution processes, litigation and appeals.  

Licensed for 47 years
State NJ
Status Active
Acquired 1978
Updated 03/07/2023
State PA
Status Active
Acquired 1975
Updated 02/26/2023

We have not found any instances of professional misconduct for this lawyer.

Contact Doris

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Doris Jane Dabrowski
1500 Walnut St.
Suite 800
Philadelphia, PA, 19102

Reviews

4.4 / 5.0
  7 customer reviews
5 Star
 
86%
4 Star
 
0%
3 Star
 
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2 Star
 
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1 Star
 
14%
Posted by Amalia | October 27, 2020
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Knowledgeable and efficient attorney.
Doris has provided excellent services. The way they greeted me made me feel like a very important client. She is a real professional. She is well informed and smart. She answered all of my concerns about my federal lawsuit. She has been diligent throughout. She negotiated on my behalf and was tough when needed demonstrating professionalism and personal attention to all details of the Agreement. Overall, it was a pleasant experience! I would highly recommend Doris.
Read less
Posted by Ed | January 15, 2016
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Pension case
Doris did an unbelievable job of helping me. She is very thorough and nonsense and very detailed. I believe she wouldn't take a case unless she thinks she can help someone. I'm very thankful for her help in my matter.
Posted by jackie | December 21, 2011
Doris is an Exemplary Employee Attorney
Ms. Doris Dabrowski is very honest, upfront and thorough in her assessment of my situation. She was honest enough to refer me to another exemplary employer attorney to handle a portion of my situation, an unemployment comp benefits situation, since it would have cost her more money to drive the distance for the hearing. How many lawyers would do that? Not only did Ms. Dabrowski refer me to the more local lawyer, but that lawyer, in turn, was as thorough, detailed, dedicated and honest as Doris. I decided not to follow through on my employer situation with Doris, but if I would have, there is no doubt Doris would have done a superb job assisting me either way to determine if I had a case. I felt comfortable and protected by both Doris and her referral attorney Jana Barnett; that hearing assisted by Ms. Barnett was quite favorable given her keen detail and tenacity in protecting and representing her clients.Thank you both so very much for the wonderful devotion and compassion you provide for employees. God bless you.
Read less
Posted by Joe | September 22, 2010
Doris Dabrowski Helped Me
I received bad fiduciary advice from my penison plan administrator and retired based on this advice. Months after retiring I received my monthly pension plan statement and it was much lower than expected. I knew I needed a lawyer that was an ERISA expert to help me fight the pension determinatiin with my former employer. I found Doris via the internet. We had an initial consultation where I told her I wanted to fight the case but did not want to waste my money if she thought my case did not have merit. After reflection, Doris advised me that she believed my case had merit and I engaged her to help. Doris helped my file an ERISA compliant pension appeal and she wrote an opinion memo to the pension plan administrators. She also worked behind the scenes discussing my case with my former compay's lawyers. In the end, the pension plan administrator found in my favor and my pension amount was significantly increased. I do not believe my former company would have found in my favor if not for the expert assistance provided by Doris Dabrowski. I am very satisfied with Doris's work on my behalf and would be very happy to use her services again and to recommend her to anyone.
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Posted by Alison | August 11, 2010
review, Doris Dabrowski
I have been a client of Doris Dabrowski for approximately 12 years. She has worked with me on matters including mortgage processing and filing, will and related document preparation, and general legal advice. She is conscientious, well informed, listens to the client's needs, and has reasonable rates. i would recommend her without reservation
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Posted by anonymous | August 3, 2010
excellent lawyer
I felt that Doris was very knowledgeable and trustworthy. She gave me information to work on and prepared me for the hearing in the best possible way. She handled my case very well and i was pleased with her service
Posted by anonymous | November 19, 2021
This review is from a potential client who consulted with this attorney.
| Consulted Attorney
Unprepared
Despite sharing detailed documents and information on our needs to Ms. Dabrowski prior to our meeting we felt that she was unprepared. We researched the issues we wanted to discuss and quickly realized she could not provide the legal guidance we needed based on her responses. Her comments about our situation were inaccurate, reinforcing the fact that she had not spent time preparing for our meeting. Despite this, we were charged $350 for a consultation, which we disputed, and were told she was not contractually obligated to prepare in advance or spend any minimum amount of time with us.
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Response from Doris Dabrowski February 16, 2022
For in-person consultations, I schedule a definite appointment time to which I devote full attention. A client has an option of bringing documents in paper or cd-rom or a USB drive to the meeting. Alternatively, a client may transmit documents in a pdf format via email before the meeting. Unfortunately, the person posting this comment apparently assumed that I would devote substantial time prior to the scheduled consultation to analyze voluminous documents. For remote consultations conducted by phone or email, clients send pertinent information by email attachments or delivery of documents to my office.
Read less
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Cost

Rates
  • Retainer Sometimes
Payment methods
Cash, Check, Credit Card

Resume

AVVO RATING 10.0 (Superb)

Work Experience

  • proprietor
  • Dabrowski law firm
  • 1983 - Present
  • Attorney
  • Tabas & Rosen
  • 1977 - 1983
  • Attorney
  • Delaware County Legal Assistance
  • 1975 - 1977

Education

  • Rutgers School of Law
  • JD
  • 1975

Legal Cases

  • Kelley v. Dept of Interior
  • reinstatement and back pay ordered
  • Complainant v. Perez
  • settled
  • Doe v. Unum
  • summary judgment and remand to plan
View all legal cases

Associations

  • American Guild of Organists
  • Philadelphia chapter executive committee
  • 2015 - Present
  • American Arbitration Association
  • arbitrator
  • 2015 - Present
  • National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys
  • member
  • 2012 - Present
  • National Employment Lawyers Association
  • past president, Eastern Pa. chapter
  • 1993 - Present
  • Philadelphia Bar Association
  • Public Interest section executive committee
  • 2000 - 2002
View all associations

Languages Spoken

  • English

Honors and Awards

  • Pa. Super Lawyers
  • Thomas-Reuters Business
  • 2014
  • Who's Who
  • Marquis publications
  • 2010

Publications

  • Aspen Publishers
  • Mandatory Disclosures Required by ERISA
  • 2000

Speaking Engagements

  • Your Employer's New Family
  • Plans sponsored by governments and religious organizations
  • 2014
  • Medicaid: From Qualifying Clients to Applying for Benefits
  • Medicaid Law
  • 2013
  • Continuing Legal Education
  • Impact of the Affordable Care Act on Employee Benefit Plans
  • 2013
  • Women in the Profession Committee retreat
  • Stereotyping: perception and punishment
  • 2010
  • Elder Law Committee meeting
  • ERISA rights and remedies
  • 2008
  • Litigating Employment Discrimination Cases
  • ERISA litigation
  • 2007
  • Sole and small firm practice management committee program
  • Attorney's Fee Awards under Federal Fee Shifting Statutes
  • 2004
  • program meeting
  • Remdies of State and Local Government Employees
  • 1999
  • Representing Federal Employees
  • Constitutional and Statutory Rights of Federal Employees
  • 1997
View all speaking engagements

Attorney endorsements

Received (6)
Given (2)
Endorse Doris
Employee benefits Attorney | Jan 15
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"Doris Dobrowski is a superfine advocate on pension and benefits issues. I have known Doris for about 7 years. She and I have discussed issues relating to ERISA, pensions, health benefits, long term disability, as well as New Jersey state pensions, including PERS and TPAF. Doris is sensible and levelheaded. I trust her judgment. I am also impressed with her willingness to fight for her clients for as long as it takes. I compare notes with her on fringe benefits issues. As such, I am taking this opportunity to provide a hearty endorsement to Doris Dobrowski, Esq."
Employment and labor Attorney | Jan 26
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer. Great Employment/ Employee Benefits advocate!"
Employment and labor Attorney | Jan 06
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I have conferred with Attorney Dabrowski on complex employment matters and have worked with her on a program to educate attorneys. She is extremely knowledgeable, wise, and warm--the ideal attorney for any client."
Employment and labor Attorney | Dec 09
Relationship: Worked together on matter
"I have referred many cases to Doris. Her attention to detail is impeccable and she is extremely knowledgeable about the law."
Employment and labor Attorney | Aug 31
Relationship: Worked together on matter
"I endorse this lawyer's work. She will go over the facts with a fine tooth comb and find issues where most lawyers would not. She is well worth retaining."
Employment and labor Attorney | Aug 03
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"Doris has a tremendous knowledge of ERISA issues, and we have jointly represented employment and ERISA clients. She is my 'go to' person on these matters."
View more endorsements
Employee benefits
Workers compensation