Meet Diana C. Schimmel

Diana C. Schimmel is a partner of Petrelli Previtera Schimmel, LLC and chairs the firm’s adoption sub-practice group. In addition to guiding families through the adoption process, Diana focuses her practice on other areas of family law. She has represented couples and families in legal matters including divorce, custody, support, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, enforcement and modification of agreements, same sex rights, domestic violence, and paternity.

We're honored that Diana has decided to join us for the 2018 Make Divorce Healthier Symposium. On April 24, she'll be co-leading a roundtable discussion entitled, "A Modern Family: Problems and Solutions from the Estate and Family Law Perspective." In anticipation of the event, we asked Diana for an interview...

What is your business and where is it?
I am a founding member of Petrelli Previtera Schimmel, LLC. Petrelli Previtera Schimmel, LLC is a law firm dedicated exclusively to the practice of family law including: divorce, child custody, child support, alimony and spousal support, grandparent’s rights, adoptions, domestic violence, enforcement and modification of existing orders, same-sex family rights and prenuptial/postnuptial agreements. Our main office is located in Center City Philadelphia on beautiful Rittenhouse Square. We also have offices in West Chester, PA, Norristown, PA, Voorhees, NJ and Princeton, NJ.

What motivates you to make divorce healthier?
As a family law attorney for almost ten years now, I have seen the damage that a divorce can do to a family, particularly children. I also have a background as a child advocate attorney with the Defender Association of Philadelphia. Having children as clients provided me with a unique perspective that I have carried into my private practice work in the divorce arena. I have also seen how an interdisciplinary approach utilizing all ancillary fields, can help some of the inevitable impact divorce can have.

Why did you decide to help organize Make Divorce Healthier Symposium?
I have been a big fan of the work that Main Line Family Law Center has done and am always impressed by their passion to work in creative ways with families. When I first heard about the symposium it sounded exciting and novel; not like the typical CLE we usually attend. It was the first time I had heard of all the cross-disciplines coming together and I knew I had to be a part of that. At the inaugural symposium, I was asked to lead a round table and I knew that this year I had to do more.

What do you hope to take away from Make Divorce Healthier Symposium?
I hope to take away a deeper understanding of my fellow ancillary professionals’ perspectives and find some useful tools to integrate the best divorce approach. Just as we as lawyers want therapists, mediators, financial planners, etc. to understand our field and perspective, I want to learn the same from others. I want to breakdown stereotypes and learn how to best help our clients towards a common goal. I hope to share my own perspective from work in the divorce field and educate others on how I run my practice and what I have found that works for my clients.

Anything else to know about your practice?
I grew up in Wynnewood and have an intimate knowledge of the Greater Philadelphia Area and its people. Our firm is made up of three partners, three associates and some dedicated support staff. We focus exclusively on family law and are masters in our field on top of the cutting edge developments in a modern family evolutionary time.

Click below to see who else is making divorce healthier and reserve your seat at the symposium!

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See the full symposium program