JERNER LAW GROUP, P.C. - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• Managing Partner
• Member of the Attorneys and Staff
• Managing Partner and Founder of Jerner Law Group
• Member of the American Bar Association

Ben is a member of the American Bar Association, the Pennsylvania Bar Association, the Pennsylvania Bar Association's LGBT Rights Committee, the Philadelphia Bar Association, the National LGBTQ+ Bar Association, the National LGBTQ+ Bar Association Family Law Institute, and the National LGBT Bar Association's Transgender Law Institute. Ben has served on the boards of directors of the Women's Law Project, the Mazzoni Center, the Philadelphia Bar Association's Committee on the Legal Rights of Lesbians and Gay Men, the Gay and Lesbian Lawyers of Philadelphia, and the National LGBTQ+ Bar Association. Ben served as lead counsel in the Pennsylvania same-sex marriage case In re: Burgi-Rios. Ben has presented for the Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Equality Forum, the National LGBT Bar Association's Lavender Law, the Mazzoni Center's Transhealth Conference, Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders, Thomas Jefferson University: Jefferson Medical College, the Delaware Valley Legacy Fund Advisory Council, the Pride Center of New Jersey, and Philadelphia Family Pride. Benjamin L. Jerner is the managing partner and founder of Jerner Law Group, P.C. He has practiced law in Philadelphia for over 20 years, concentrating his practice on estate planning, probate and estate administration, adoption and legal issues affecting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender clients. Practice Areas Estate Planning, Probate and Estate Administration, Transgender Legal Issues, Adoption

Job Titles:

• Legal Assistant
• Member of the Attorneys and Staff
• Paralegal

Christine Hoff has worked as a legal assistant for over thirty years. Chris joined the firm in 2013. She conducts intake calls and works as a paralegal regarding estate planning, estate administration, and name change matters.

Job Titles:

• Member of the Attorneys and Staff
• Partner

Jennifer Dumin, a partner with the firm, has over 15 years' experience handling all aspects of family law. She has a special focus on meeting the specific needs of the LGBTQ+ community....

Job Titles:

• Associate
• Member of the Attorneys and Staff
• Associate With Jerner Law Group

Kenneth R. Pugh is an associate with Jerner Law Group, P.C. Ken's practice is focused on estate planning, estate administration, and tax law in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and includes preparation of wills, trusts, and powers of attorney. Additionally, he works with clients to help structure their charitable giving to achieve specific tax goals and assists clients in responding to Statutory Notice of Deficiency letters from the IRS. Ken works closely with Jerner Law Group, P.C.'s family law department to help blended and nontraditional families, particularly those in the LGBTQ+ community, plan for the future. Ken is very familiar with confirmatory adoptions and gestational carrier agreements and how such adoptions and agreements intersect with the estate planning process. Ken earned his J.D. and LL.M. in Taxation from Villanova University's Charles Widger School of Law. During law school, he participated in the Villanova Federal Tax Clinic where he represented low-income taxpayers in controversies with the Internal Revenue Service. Before attending law school, Ken worked as a research biochemist in the medical field. His scientific endeavors have allowed him to develop the rigorous attention to detail that he now uses to help clients achieve their planning goals. Practice Areas: Estate Planning, Probate and Estate Administration, Transgender Legal Issues

Job Titles:

• Member of the Attorneys and Staff
• Paralegal

Krista Sholly-Burns performs a variety of client relations functions at Jerner Law Group, P.C. These include answering telephone calls and welcoming clients into to our office with friendliness and compassion. Krista also...

Job Titles:

• Member of the Attorneys and Staff
• Partner

Rebecca is an Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Fellow of the Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys, an organization of nearly 500 highly vetted attorneys dedicated to the competent and ethical practice of adoption and assisted reproduction law. Rebecca is a founding member of the National LGBTQ+ Bar Association Family Law Institute, an organization that allows experienced LGBT family law practitioners to discuss cutting-edge legal strategies for representing members of the LGBT community. Rebecca sits on the Executive Committee of the Family Law Section of the Philadelphia Bar Association and she is the former co-chair of the LGBT Rights Committee of the Philadelphia Bar Association. Rebecca has been nationally recognized as one of the "Top 40 LGBT Attorneys Under 40" by the National LGBTQ+ Bar Association. Rebecca currently serves on the Editorial Board of the New Jersey Lawyer Magazine and on the Executive Committee of the Nicholas Cipriani American Inn of Court. Rebecca is a board member of Philadelphia Family Pride and the Philadelphia LGBTQ Bar Association. Rebecca Levin Nayak is a partner with Jerner Law Group, P.C. whose practice is focused on assisted reproduction law, adoption law and mediation. Rebecca also handles cases involving legal parentage issues. Rebecca treats each client with sensitivity and compassion while fiercely advocating for their interests at the negotiating table and in the courtroom. Rebecca takes pride in finding practical and efficient solutions to complex problems. Practice Areas Adoption, Assisted Reproductive Technology Law and Mediation

Job Titles:

• Member of the Attorneys and Staff
• Paralegal

Susan Stathakes is a paralegal who works on estate planning and name change matters. She joined the firm with over 25 years' experience in corporate communications, marketing, and education. She has also...

Job Titles:

• Member of the Attorneys and Staff
• Intake Coordinator / Paralegal

Sue Cosandier joined the firm in 2005 after working for more than twenty years as a Marketing Assistant in the defense industry. Sue is the firm's Intake Coordinator and works as a...