Michael Patrick Fenerty

An attorney in the Philadelphia office of Willig, Williams & Davidson, Michael Fenerty concentrates his practice in Domestic Relations and Family Law matters and in Estate Planning, Wills and Probate matters. He counsels and represents domestic relations clients in matters including divorce and equitable distribution, custody and support, adoptions including step-parent and second parent adoptions, and he prosecutes and defends clients in protection from abuse matters. He also represents clients in estate planning and probate matters.  Mr. Fenerty is also an accomplished litigator and has successfully practiced in many areas of the law in addition to his present concentration in the Family Law and Estates areas.  Mike or his colleagues can assist you with all of your legal needs.  His direct dial number is.

Mr. Fenerty is member of the Philadelphia Bar Association’s Family Law Section. He  was elected to and has served on the Family Law Section's Executive Committee since 2010.  Mike also serves on the Family Law Section's Adoption Committee as he feels that his duty as a Family Law attorney is to build stronger and more functional families rather than engaging the legal system to achieve the opposite result. 

Mike is also a member of the Nicholas J. Cipriani Family Law American Inn of Court in Philadelphia County.  The Cipriani Family Law American Inn of Court is a group to which the area's more prominent family law attorneys and judges are invited to join for the purpose of developing a better understanding of the law and the issues facing the court, attorneys and parties in domestic relations matters.  In 2010, Mike was awarded the organization’s highest attorney ranking of “Master of the Bar.”  In February 2011, Mike chaired a presentation to the Inn of Court on the Custodial Rights of Grandparents and Third Parties under Pennsylvania's comprehensive new Custody Act which took effect in January 2011.

In December 2010, Mr. Fenerty was a presenter and panelist at the Pennsylvania Bar Institute's continuing legal education seminar, "Handling Your First Divorce Case."  He also authored portions of the companion publication, "Your First Divorce Case", (Pennsylvania Bar Institute, December, 2010).

In furtherance of his firm’s social mission and its tradition of giving back to the profession and the community, Mike serves as pro bono corporate counsel to several non-profit organizations. These include the Olde Richmond Civic Association of which Mike was a founding member and for which he served as president; The Ladies of Port Richmond breast cancer awareness and prevention charity which has raised more than $750,000 for research and to provide access to mammograms in local hospitals; and The Friends of Pops Playground in Philadelphia. Mike has also accepted pro bono court appointments as a Guardian Ad Litem or Child Advocate in complex custody cases in order to protect the interests of children whose families are in crisis. In 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 he was honored as a member of the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania's Pro Bono Honor Roll.

Mike is graduate of Villanova University School of Law where he was honored with the Wapner Newman Wigrizer Award for Excellence in Trial Advocacy. As an undergraduate student at LaSalle University, he was member of the Alpha Epsilon Rho Honor Society and graduated with honors.  Mike is most proud of being a graduate of The Northeast Catholic High School for Boys in Philadelphia.  He has served several terms on the Northeast Catholic Alumni Association's Board of Governors.  Mike has adopted North's motto "Tenui Nec Dimittam" which translates from Latin to mean "I have taken hold, I will not let go" as the motto of his practice.  In doing so, he prides himself on carrying his client's cause through the legal process to a successful conclusion. 

Mike is an active father and coaches youth sports in his community.  He serves on the Board of Directors of the Taney Youth Baseball Association in Philadelphia.  He annually serves as the head coach of a baseball team and he is the Comissioner of Taney's Tee-Ball League which is the largest in the Delaware Valley.  Mike also coaches youth soccer.  In 2012, he was awarded the "Soccer Coach of the Year" Award by the Bridesburg Cougars organization.

Education

• Villanova University School of Law, J.D., 1994
• La Salle University, B.A., Cum Laude, 1988

Experience

• Willig, Williams & Davidson, Associate, 2006-Present
• Mulvey & Flanagan, Associate, 2002-2006
• Law Offices of Michael Patrick Fenerty, Principal, 1998-2002
• Lavin, Coleman, Finarelli & Gray, Associate, 1994-1997

Court Admissions

• New Jersey Supreme Court, 1994
• Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 1994
• United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, 1996

Professional Affiliations

• Philadelphia Bar Association, Member, 1994 - Present
• Pennsylvania Bar Association, Member, 1994 - Present
• American Bar Association, Member, 1994 - Present
• Nicholas J. Cipriani Family Law American Inn of Court, Member, 2007 - Present
• Brehon Law Society, Member, 1994 - Present
• Olde Richmond Civic Association, President, 2007 - 2010; Pro Bono Corporate Counsel, 2007 - Present
• The Ladies of Port Richmond Breast Cancer Charity, Pro Bono Corporate Counsel, 2005 - Present
• The Friends of Pops Playground, Pro Bono Corporate Counsel, 2009 - Present
• Taney Youth Baseball Association, Board of Directors, 2011- Present
• Northeast Catholic High School Alumni Association, Board of Governors, 2003 - 2006
• Ancient Order of Hibernians - Division 87, Member
• Philadelphia Irish Society, Member

Honors

• Pro Bono Honor Roll, First Judicial District of Pennsylvania, 2008-2012
• Wapner Newman Wigrizer Award for Excellence in Trial Advocacy
• 2012 Friend of the Firefighters Award from IAFF Local 22 in recognition of providing excellent representation to its members.

Articles & News

• What Everyone Should Know About Child Custody & Child Support Procedure in the Philadelphia Family Court, Domestic Relations Branch
  April, 2011
• Philadelphia Family Law Attorney Michael P. Fenerty Elected to Executive Board of Philadelphia Bar Association Family Law Section
  January 19, 2011