Senior Attorney

Lea E. Anderson

Pittsburgh Office North Hills Office

Education

Undergrad: West Virginia University, B.A., Psychology, 1976, magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi

Law School: West Virginia University College of Law, J.D., 1979, Phi Delta Phi

Areas of Focus

Introduction

Biography

Lea leads the firm’s Family Law practice, which includes the Collaborative process, and is a member of our Estate Planning and Administration Group, the Business Law Group, and the Mediation & ADR Group.

Since 2007, Lea has concentrated her family law practice in the methods of out-of-court alternative dispute resolution, which include mediation and collaborative law. Each process reaches resolution by settlement customized to address the needs of each separate case. Collaborative law focuses the parties on maintaining healthy relationships with children and extended family during and after the divorce. With over 80 hours of focused mediation training, Lea will help mediating parties find the solution right for them.

While Lea is dedicated to the collaborative process, she also recognizes that, at times, court is inevitable. She is an experienced litigator in traditional divorce matters, including equitable distribution, support and alimony issues, custody matters, property negotiation and settlement of marital claims (including real estate matters). Drafting and enforcing pre-marital agreements is also an important component of her family law practice.

In addition to her family law focus, her estate planning practice serves an array of needs, including the drafting of wills, testamentary, irrevocable and living trusts, advance health care directives, living wills and durable powers of attorney and compliments the needs of her family law and business clients.

While Lea’s practice primarily focuses on Estate Planning and Administration and Family Law, she is also experienced in the formation and representation of small businesses, the purchase and sale of businesses, contract and lease negotiations, resolution of employment conflicts and family succession planning. In addition, she is experienced in the hiring and termination of employees, severance agreements and mutual releases.

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Supreme Court of the United States

Supreme Court of Pennsylvania

Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia

United States District Court of Western Pennsylvania

United States District Court of Northern District of West Virginia

United States District Court of Southern District of West Virginia

American Bar Association

Pennsylvania Bar Association

West Virginia Bar Association

Allegheny County Bar Association: Family Law Section (Chair), Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee, Founder and Past Chair of the Collaborative Law Committee

Collaborative Law Association of Southwestern Pennsylvania (CLASP): Founding Member, Past Member of Executive Committee and Past Education Committee Chair

International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (IACP)

Matrimonial Inn of Court, Pittsburgh Chapter, Past Chair

Pittsburgh Foundation, speaker

Pennsylvania Bar Institute, presenter

West Virginia University College of Law Visiting Committee, 2006-2013

Mediation Council of Western Pennsylvania

Best Lawyers in America: Collaborative Law, Family Law and Estates & Trusts Litigation — since 2010

2013 Top-Rated Lawyer for Estate Planning, Family Law and Elder Law: American Lawyer Media and Martindale-Hubbell

Allegheny County Bar Foundation Fellow, Class of 2008

Giving2Grow: Co-Founder

Southminister Presbyterian Church: Elder and Member Endowment Committee
Awards
News

& Insights

Breaking Up After 40 years of Marriage is Hard to Do: Successfully Navigating the Gray Divorce

By: Lea E. Anderson

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Six GRB Law Attorneys Named Best Lawyers in America 2022
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Collaborative Law: An Attractive Alternative to Litigating Family Disputes

By: Lea E. Anderson

Read More
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