James H. Richardson jhrichardson@elderkinlaw.com (814) 520-8970, (814) 456-4000, ext. 322 Concentration: Matrimonial and Family Law and Litigation, Commercial, Business Law, Estate Planning and Probate, and Real Estate Former CEO and Managing Partner of the Elderkin Law Firm Mediation and Collaborative Law Education: Dickinson School of Law, Penn State University, Juris Doctor (Law Review; Abel Klaw Advocacy Award) Franklin & Marshall College, Bachelor of Science Admissions and Professional Association: Bar of the Supreme Court of the United States of America United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania All Courts of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Fellow, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers: - Membership Chairman, Pennsylvania Chapter (2002-2005) - Board of Examiners, Pennsylvania Chapter (2003-2006; 2014-2020) - Pennsylvania Chapter President (2019-2020) International Academy of Collaborative Professionals Appointed as an ADR Neutral for the United States District Court for the Western District of PA (2015-present) American Bar Association - Family Law Section (1983-present) Pennsylvania Joint State Government Commission Advisory Committee on Domestic Relations Laws (2018-present) Pennsylvania Bar Association: - Family Law Section (1981 to present); - Family Law Section Board of Directors (1994-1997; 2013 to 2016) - Family Law Section Rules Committee (2015 to present) - Family Law Section Bankruptcy Committee Chair (1991-1997) - Code of Evidence Committee (1995-2000) - Committee on Legal Ethics and Professional Responsibility (1994 to present) - Collaborative Law Committee (2014 to present) - Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee (2014 to present) - Judicial Evaluation Committee, Investigation Division (2016 to present) Collaborative Professionals of Northwest Pennsylvania - Board of Directors (2020 to present) Pro Bono Award, May 2004, from the Pennsylvania Bar Association Erie County Bar Association: - Treasurer and Executive Committee 1996-1997 - Family Law Committee (Chair 1983, 1984, 1990, 1991, 1998, 1999, 2006, 2007) - Fee Dispute Committee Mediator (1995 to 1999) - Bankruptcy Committee 1981 - 1998 - Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee 1985 - 1992 - Budget and Finance Committee 2005 - Business Practice Committee 2005 - CPA/Legal Committee 2005 Outstanding Pro Bono Award, May 2004, jointly from the Erie County Bar Association and the Legal Aid Volunteer Attorneys Program Pennsylvania "Super Lawyer," Philadelphia Magazine, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 Martindale-Hubbell "AV" rating Community Involvement: Shriner's Hospital for Children, Erie Unit - Board of Directors, 1993-Present - Chairman 2001 to 2002 - Vice-Chair 1999-2000 - Treasurer 1996-1998 - Emeritus 2003 to present Shriners International - Imperial Donor Relations Committee, 2007 to 2016 - Imperial Captain of the Guard Aide, 2009 to 2010, and 2011 to 2012 - Imperial Outer Guard Aide, 2009 to 2010 Mid Atlantic Shrine Association - Donor Relations Committee Chair, 2007 to 2011 - Parliamentarian, 2010 to 2011 Pennsylvania Shrine Association, President 2009-2010 Zem Zem Shrine Temple, 1977 to present; - Potentate 2010 - Divan 2006 to 2010 - Membership Chair 2006 - Donor Relations Chair, 2003 to 2009, and 2011 to present - Hospital Representative 1993 to present - Potentate's Aide 2000 to 2005 Scottish Rite Mason, 33rd Degree,Valley of Erie - Trustee (2014 to present) Scholarship Foundation of Erie Scottish Rite Bodies, Inc. - Incorporator and Legal Counsel, 1992 to 1995 - Trustee, 2000 to present Tyrian-Commonwealth Lodge No. 362 (WM in 2015; Treasurer 2016 to present) Boy Scouts of America, French Creek Council - Executive Committee, 1984-2009 - Silver Beaver Award 1998 - President's Award 1993 - District Award of Merit 1994 - Scout Master 1999-2002 Daniel Carter Beard Masonic Scouter Award, December 2003 UPMC Hamot Medical Center Board of Corporators, 2010 to present Allied Pediatric Health of Erie Board of Directors, 2010 to 2015 West Ridge Fire Dept., Volunteer Solicitor for over 30 years Northwestern Legal Services, Board of Directors, 1982-1992; President 1989-1992 Legion of Honor, Order of DeMolay, Erie Chapter, 1989-Present; Dean, 2015; Secretary and Treasurer, 1993-2005 Lake Erie Ballet Company, Board of Directors, 1993-1996, Treasurer 1994-1996 Gannon University Professional Advisory Council for paralegal program, 1989-1999 UpJohn Healthcare Services/Home Health Care Services, Professional Advisory Committee, 1985-1996 Presbyterian Church Elder Soccer Coach 1993 to 1995 Baseball Coach 1991 to 1992 Presentations: Featured speaker at a seminar on April 27, 2018 entitled "Tax Aspects of Family Law." In addition to focusing on historical tax topics, the seminar reviewed and contrasted certain applicable provisions of the recent Tax Reform Act (i.e. the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017). Course planner and moderator for the Ethics and the Family Law sessions of a Judicial Forum that was presented on November 1, 2017. Participating in the forum were six Judges of the Courts of Common Pleas of Erie, Crawford and Warren Counties, including two President Judges. Organized, moderated and presented a panel seminar entitled "What Every Family Lawyer Needs to Know About Lawyer and Judge Discipline" at the Pennsylvania Bar Association Family Law Section's Annual Summer Meeting in 2012. The panel included the Chief Disciplinary Counsel of the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, as well as the Chief Counsel to the Judicial Conduct Board of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Frequent author and lecturer on family law and ethic issues for the Pennsylvania Bar Association, the Pennsylvania Bar Institute and the Erie County Bar Association Frequent lecturer on Endowment, Wills, Gifts, and Estate Planning for Shriners Hospitals for Children Publications: Morgan v. Morgan: "Sua Sponte, the Pennsylvania Superior Court Awards Counsel Fees for Obdurate, Vexatious and Dilatory Conduct," Pennsylvania Family Lawyer, September 2015 issue, at page 133 Mazurek v. Russell: "Pennsylvania Superior Court Determines that Father is not in Contempt for Failing to Pay Agreed-Upon Post-Secondary Education Expenses", Pennsylvania Family Lawyer, October 2014 issue, at page 149 In Re Neal: "Federal Circuit Court Determines that a Separation Agreement Resulted in a Fraudulent Transfer in Bankruptcy Court Because Wife had not Received a Reasonably Equivalent Value of Marital Assets", Pennsylvania Family Lawyer, December 20, 2013 at page 189 Darby v. Darby, "Lump Sum Personal Injury Settlement Constitutes Income for Support Calculations," Pennsylvania Family Lawyer, June 1997 "The Erie County Custody Mediation Process," Pennsylvania Family Law, June 1997 "Expert Witness Fees: Proposals for Changing Pennsylvania," 83 Dickinson Law Review 315 (1979) "Disqualification - 'Screening' to Rebut the Automatic Law Firm Disqualification Rule," 82 Dickinson Law Review 625 (1978) *Links: American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Collaborative Professionals of Northwest Pennsylvania (http://www.cpnwpa.org) Return to Staff Directory Ask a Question 456 West 6th Street Erie, Pennsylvania 16507 (814) 456-4000 2021 © Elderkin Law Firm All Rights Reserved · Disclaimer Powered by Epic Web Studios