EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA LAW SCHOOL J.D. May 1993
Executive Editor, University of Pennsylvania Law Review, 1992-1993
Associate Editor, University of Pennsylvania Law Review, 1991-1992
UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA B.A. May 1978
EMPLOYMENT
THE FEDERATED HUMANE SOCIETIES OF PENNSYLVANIA July 2018 to present
BRANDYWINE VALLEY SPCA March 2015 to present
General Counsel
PHILA. COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE 2006 to present
Associate Professor of Law & Forensic Medicine
DELAWARE COUNTY OFFICE OF THE SOLICITOR Dec. 2008 to present
Assistant County Solicitor
ST. JOSEPH’S UNIVERSITY June 2014 to present
Adjunct Professor of Law, Haub School of Business
ATTORNEY IN PRIVATE PRACTICE October 2008 to present
Attorney
FREELANCE WORK occasional, 2003 to present
Legal, Writing, Research, Editing
RUBIN FORTUNATO & HARBISON November 2005 to November 2007
Senior Attorney, Employment, Commercial Litigation
COZEN O’CONNOR January 1999 to September 2005
Labor & Employment, Commercial Litigation Department (made partner March 2001)
PEPPER HAMILTON, LLP June 1997 to December 1998
Associate, Labor & Employment and Commercial Litigation Departments.
WOLF, BLOCK, SCHORR & SOLIS-COHEN September 1994 - June 1997
Associate, Commercial Litigation and Labor & Employment Departments.
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF PA, September 1993 - August 1994
Law Clerk to the Honorable Donald W. VanArtsdalen.
WHARTON FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS CENTER Jan 1993 - Oct 1994
Editor, Richard Herring and Friedrich Kubler, The Allocation of Risk in Cross-Border Transactions, 89 Northwestern L. Rev. 942 (1995).
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF PA May 1991 - August 1991
Law Intern to the Honorable Thomas N. O’Neill, Jr.
ADDITIONAL EDUCATION & TRAINING
CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION ongoing since Fall 1993
numerous courses in various issues in Contracts, Employment Law, Securities Law, Evidence, Real Estate, Corporations, Ethics
ST. JOSEPH’S UNIVERSITY June 2015
Teaching Naked Workshop: Practical Applications of the Teaching Naked Cycle; Designing Assignments and Activities for Massively Better Classes
Full-day faculty workshop
ST. JOSEPH’S UNIVERSITY May 2015
How Teachers And Other Educators Can Protect Our Children
On-line module required of all faculty
DREXEL UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE ON INNOVATION September 2008
IN TRAINING AND TEACHING
two-day program featuring four three-hour courses
COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
PUBLICATIONS
Biswanger, Patricia, A Good Law, Poorly Enforced, Legal Intelligencer, Oct. 2013.
UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA LAW SCHOOL J.D. May 1993
Executive Editor, University of Pennsylvania Law Review, 1992-1993
Associate Editor, University of Pennsylvania Law Review, 1991-1992
UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA B.A. May 1978
EMPLOYMENT
THE FEDERATED HUMANE SOCIETIES OF PENNSYLVANIA July 2018 to present
- promote membership
- update and improve website
- work with Board of Directors to present Annual Conference in May 2019, also continuing education courses for Humane Society Police Officers, training program for new Humane Society Police Officers
BRANDYWINE VALLEY SPCA March 2015 to present
General Counsel
- provide legal advice related to employment law, animal welfare law, other areas to Executive Director and Board of the shelter
PHILA. COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE 2006 to present
Associate Professor of Law & Forensic Medicine
- teaching on-line courses in Evidence and Bioethics to candidates for Masters degree in Forensic Medicine.
DELAWARE COUNTY OFFICE OF THE SOLICITOR Dec. 2008 to present
Assistant County Solicitor
- focus on issues related to proposed Philadelphia Airport Redesign Plan and Capacity Enhancement Program; also Right-to-Know Law issues, open space acquisition, various real estate, planning matters, contract review
ST. JOSEPH’S UNIVERSITY June 2014 to present
Adjunct Professor of Law, Haub School of Business
- teaching business law to undergraduates.
ATTORNEY IN PRIVATE PRACTICE October 2008 to present
Attorney
- focus on complex commercial and employment litigation
FREELANCE WORK occasional, 2003 to present
Legal, Writing, Research, Editing
- Example: for United Cerebral Palsy Association, compiled extensive database of research into potential donors
- Example: proofreading, editing, BlueBooking of law review articles for law school faculty
- Example: editing, proofreading of copy of software company’s website and promotional literature
RUBIN FORTUNATO & HARBISON November 2005 to November 2007
Senior Attorney, Employment, Commercial Litigation
- litigation principally for major investment firm, including coordination of $15 million recovery effort.
COZEN O’CONNOR January 1999 to September 2005
Labor & Employment, Commercial Litigation Department (made partner March 2001)
- seasoned, accomplished and successful commercial litigator, including, in October 2004, successful defense of a renowned Philadelphia trial lawyer in a legal malpractice case - after four years of litigation and four days of trial, jury returned with a complete defense verdict in twelve minutes;
- significant practice in employment litigation defense; built a reputation for cost-effective, successful disposition of discrimination, ERISA, Equal Pay, and other cases; never lost a case at verdict or otherwise, and have settled very few, with a maximum pay-out of $35,000, average of $5,000;
- significant role in contract negotiations for large health insurer with state government entity; also representation of that insurer before the Pennsylvania Insurance Department.
PEPPER HAMILTON, LLP June 1997 to December 1998
Associate, Labor & Employment and Commercial Litigation Departments.
WOLF, BLOCK, SCHORR & SOLIS-COHEN September 1994 - June 1997
Associate, Commercial Litigation and Labor & Employment Departments.
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF PA, September 1993 - August 1994
Law Clerk to the Honorable Donald W. VanArtsdalen.
WHARTON FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS CENTER Jan 1993 - Oct 1994
Editor, Richard Herring and Friedrich Kubler, The Allocation of Risk in Cross-Border Transactions, 89 Northwestern L. Rev. 942 (1995).
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF PA May 1991 - August 1991
Law Intern to the Honorable Thomas N. O’Neill, Jr.
ADDITIONAL EDUCATION & TRAINING
CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION ongoing since Fall 1993
numerous courses in various issues in Contracts, Employment Law, Securities Law, Evidence, Real Estate, Corporations, Ethics
ST. JOSEPH’S UNIVERSITY June 2015
Teaching Naked Workshop: Practical Applications of the Teaching Naked Cycle; Designing Assignments and Activities for Massively Better Classes
Full-day faculty workshop
ST. JOSEPH’S UNIVERSITY May 2015
How Teachers And Other Educators Can Protect Our Children
On-line module required of all faculty
DREXEL UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE ON INNOVATION September 2008
IN TRAINING AND TEACHING
two-day program featuring four three-hour courses
COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
- Board of Directors, Autism Resource Council (ARC) of Pennsylvania (January 2019 to present)
- President, Board of Directors, Chester County SPCA (November 2013 to March 2015)
- frequent volunteer in Romanian orphanage for special needs infants and toddlers
- active in dog rescue and anti-puppy mill efforts
- many community affairs
PUBLICATIONS
Biswanger, Patricia, A Good Law, Poorly Enforced, Legal Intelligencer, Oct. 2013.