When a person seeks out an attorney to help them through the gauntlet of a divorce, a custody battle or some other highly charged family law matter, they need an individual who can use a combination of legal knowhow, shrewdness and old-fashioned backbone to achieve the best possible outcome to their case.
When a client hires an attorney from the Law Offices of Michael Kuldiner P.C., they benefit from the wisdom of not just one individual but a dedicated team of seasoned attorneys who take a personalized approach to helping clients move forward with their lives on the best possible footing. From beginning to end, these attorneys aggressively fight for their clients, while also acting as counselors and compassionate supporters.
Michael Kuldiner, who founded the practice in 2004, has established a winning track record using his in-depth knowledge of family law, problem-solving skills and willingness to fight for clients’ rights. This has not only endeared him to a growing list of clients but also helped him earn numerous “top attorney” distinctions from respected publications and organizations across the country. He has rooted his practice in traditional litigated divorce and related family law matters, though he is also certified in the field of collaborative divorce. In addition, he is a licensed title agent and real estate broker, which can be helpful to clients in matters pertaining to real estate law.
Kuldiner’s firm has expanded its legal expertise in the years since its founding. Considering his previous success as the firm’s sole practitioner, Kuldiner added three more attorneys—namely, Michael J. Petro, Shauna Quigley and Dara Burns—to accommodate rising demand.
When Petro joined the firm in 2014, he brought more than a decade of experience in litigating divorce, family law and civil matters in Bucks, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties. Petro clerked for the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas and also practiced law for a medical malpractice defense firm in Fort Washington before becoming a solicitor for the Office of Chief Counsel for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
“When you work with people on issues pertaining to family law, you’re not only their attorney but their counselor and sometimes even their psychologist,” says Petro. “You’re often helping people get through the most challenging time in their lives, so there is a lot of emotion involved. Our job is to manage that and help them make decisions that go beyond emotion.
“I think I’m good at walking clients through the process and explaining everything to them in a straightforward way,” he continues. “We do a lot of good for clients here. We cater to them and are never too busy to pick up a phone and answer a question or let them know where things stand with their particular case.”
Born and raised in Philadelphia, Petro graduated from Villanova University School of Law and Temple University. He is an active member of the community, having served on the board of directors for schools and other public organizations. In addition, he has enjoyed coaching youth sports for more than a decade.
Quigley joined Kuldiner’s firm as an associate in December 2015. She focuses primarily on divorce, property distribution, support, custody and protection from abuse, though she can also help clients in areas such as estate administration and civil litigation. Prior to joining the firm, Quigley practiced law at a general practice firm in Bucks County, where she specialized in family law and civil litigation. In Kuldiner’s firm, she saw an opportunity to help clients dealing specifically with family law issues.
“I decided to focus on family law because I wanted to help people get on with their lives,” she says. “It’s a very personal aspect of the law, because you’re often getting into the very essence of a person’s life—and it’s usually one of the most stressful times in a person’s life.
“I feel I am a strong advocate to help clients resolve their issues, and I can step up and aggressively fight, when needed,” she continues. “My goal with each case is to help the client get into a place where they can move forward, confident in their future.”
Quigley graduated from the University of Delaware in 2006 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. She then worked as a judicial law clerk for the Hon. Eugene Maier in the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia and later received her law degree from Widener University School of Law. Born and raised in Northeast Philadelphia, Quigley currently resides in Ivyland with her husband and their two young daughters, ages 3 and 6.
Most recently, Kuldiner’s firm added Burns, an attorney with more than a decade of experience in civil litigation and family law. At the Law Offices of Michael Kuldiner P.C., she continues to practice in areas of family law, including divorce, custody, adoption and protection from abuse. In addition, she has expertise in real estate, civil litigation and estate planning.
“I never imagined doing anything but practice law,” says Burns, received her B.A. in communications from Bloomsburg University and graduated cum laude from North Carolina Central School of Law. “I worked in the business world for a short time, and that only reaffirmed my desire to go to law school. When someone is going through a difficult time, it requires you—their attorney—to hear them and listen to what they are trying to tell you. It also requires you to explain to them what is relevant to them as a legal matter and focus on that matter to get the best possible outcome.”
Burns began her family law practice as the staff attorney for the Network of Victim Assistance, also known as NOVA, a legal services program based in Jamison. Prior to relocating to Bucks County in 2008, Burns was a litigation associate at one of the nation’s top law firms in Washington, D.C., where she focused her practice on securities litigation, government investigations and antitrust matters. Before joining Kuldiner’s firm, she practiced family law at a firm in Montgomery County.
As an active member of the community, Burns is a member of NOVA’s Public Affairs Committee, actively lobbying lawmakers on the behalf of crime victims in Bucks County. She also volunteers her time and expertise to Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania, providing legal assistance to parties in matters of protection from abuse.
“No matter which attorney in our firm a client hires, they benefit from the resources of our entire team,” says Kuldiner. “We are constantly collaborating and discussing cases, so clients are confident that we are working together to achieve the best possible results. We never back down and we always provide aggressive representation to achieve the resolution our clients seek.
“For me, it doesn’t matter if I’m working on a multimillion-dollar divorce for a high-profile executive or a simple custody case for an average Joe,” he continues. “My clients are my No. 1 priority, and they know their case is important to everyone in the firm. Whether I’m in the courtroom or at the negotiating table, I’m always thinking proactively and taking a personalized approach to finding the possible result to the issues my clients face.”
Law Offices of Michael Kuldiner P.C.
215-942-2100
www.phillyesquire.com
922 Bustleton Pike
Feasterville, PA 19053
44 E. Court Street
Doylestown, PA 18901
516 DeKalb Street
Norristown, PA 19401
Photograph by Jeff Anderson
