The Law Offices of William S. Braveman

William S. Braveman

William S. Braveman is an experienced trial attorney who takes pride in serving his clients with the zeal, the integrity and the responsiveness that they deserve. Prior to practicing privately, Mr. Braveman was a City of Philadelphia Law Department attorney for 12 years, and then the Employment Law Chair in the law firm of Forceno, Goggin and Keller. Mr. Braveman has extensive familiarity with the State and Federal Court systems, as well as the City’s administrative agencies.

In addition to having his own practice, Mr. Braveman is of counsel to the Anastasio Law Firm, in which he serves as Chair of the Employment Law section and also litigates the property tax reassessment appeals. The Anastasio Law Firm specializes in Real Estate Law and Family Law. Further, Mr. Braveman is of counsel to the firm of Robert Brand and Associates, which has obtained numerous multi-million dollar Personal Injury verdicts.

• Employment Law

  • - Discrimination Suits (Title Seven, ADA, ADEA, PHRA)
  • - Wrongful Termination
  • - Counseling and Litigation Avoidance
  • - PHRC and EEOC Representation

  Mr. Braveman has served as lead counsel on discrimination cases in all forums from complaint to verdict. As a Deputy City Solicitor in the Labor and Employment Unit of the City of Philadelphia’s Law Department, Mr. Braveman defended City employers in discrimination cases before administrative agencies (EEOC, Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations, and the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission), as well as in State and Federal Courts. The departments he represented in high profile cases included the Police Department, the Prisons, the Water Department, the Streets Department, the Fire Department, the Free Library and the Personnel Department.

• Family Law

  • - Child Abuse / Child Neglect / DHS Involvement
  • - Termination of Parental Rights
  • - Appeals of Indicated Reports of Child Abuse
  • - Child Custody/Visitation

  Mr. Braveman represented the Department of Human Services (DHS) in Family Court dependency proceedings at every stage, appearing in court an average of four days per week for over nine years, and arguing appeals before Superior Court. Mr. Braveman was counsel in dozens of appeals of indicated reports of child abuse and co-authored the training manual for DHS attorneys on such appeals. He represented DHS in arbitration hearings involving the discipline of DHS social workers, making him the only City Solicitor to have handled DHS cases in both Family Court and arbitration hearings. Mr. Braveman is a past co-chair of the Philadelphia Bar Association Dependency Committee. If you believe that you need an attorney in cases with DHS activity, Mr. Braveman is uniquely qualified to handle all cases involving DHS.

• Labor Law

  • - Labor Arbitrations
  • - Civil Service Hearings

  Mr. Braveman has handled hundreds of labor arbitrations and civil service hearings against the best big firm labor lawyers in the City wherein he represented numerous City agencies including the Police Department, the Prisons, the Fire Department and the Department of Human Services. Mr. Braveman currently represents all DC 33 school crossing guards and Department of Revenue Employees in their civil service hearings. He has presented the testimony of multiple agency Commissioners, including the Police Commissioner and the Prisons Commissioner. He handled the arbitration of the highest ranking police officer ever dismissed in the Department’s history, which was also the longest arbitration in the Department’s history with thousands of documents entered into evidence. If you believe that your disciplinary case requires a familiarity with the arbitration process or the general procedures of a City institution, Mr. Braveman’s experience handling complex arbitration cases and civil service matters will serve you well.

• Personal Injury Law

  • - Auto Accidents
  • - Slips and Falls

  Mr. Braveman has served as an arbitrator for the Court of Common Pleas for over a decade. In that capacity, he has heard numerous cases involving auto accidents and other forms of personal injuries. Mr. Braveman has a good understanding of the law surrounding personal injury such that he is well qualified to advise you on the strength of your case, and seek prompt and fair redress for the injuries which you have sustained.

• Guardianship Law

  Mr. Braveman served as counsel for the County Office of Mental Health in civil commitment (302) proceedings for over seven years. Since going into private practice, Mr. Braveman has handled numerous guardianship cases in Orphans' Court where a person is adjudicated to be incapacitated. If you believe that a relative does not have the mental capacity to make their own decisions, Mr. Braveman can aid you in having the Court appoint a guardian to manage their affairs and to keep them safe.