About Megan
I have always been interested in family law and am fortunate to have started my legal career as a summer law clerk with Joni Berner and Margaret Klaw over 20 years ago. I am particularly passionate about children, family and civility and enjoy helping clients resolve legal issues as quickly and amicably as possible. I am licensed in both in Pennsylvania and New Jersey and am here to help you with your family law matter. In my spare time, I serve on the boards at Philly VIP and Good Shepherd Mediation Program and am the proud mother of a son and daughter.
Education
Temple University School of Law
Philadelphia, PA
J.D. 1999
Muhlenberg College
Allentown, PA
B.A. in English, Minor in Women’s Studies 1996 (magna cum laude)
Bar Admissions
United States Supreme Court
United States District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
New Jersey
Court Appointments
Guardian Ad Litem
Parenting Coordinator (under prior rules of civil procedure)
Child Advocate
Work Experience
BKW Family Law LLC/Berner Klaw & Watson LLP/Berner & Klaw
Philadelphia, PA 1999-Present
Bar Association Activities
Pennsylvania:
Member, Pennsylvania Bar Association, Family Law Section (current)
Member, Philadelphia Bar Association, Family Law Section (current)
Philadelphia Bar Association Activities
- Investigator, Judicial Commission (current)
- Co-Chair, Civil Gideon Task Force, Family Working Group (current)
- Member, Civil Gideon Task Force (current)
- Chair (2012), Vice Chair, Treasurer, Secretary; Family Law Section
- Member, Family Law Section Executive Committee
- Co-Chair, Family Law Section Mentoring Committee
- Co-Chair, Family Law Section Support and Alimony Committee
- Member, Judicial Commission
New Jersey:
Member, New Jersey State Bar Association, Family Law Section (current)
Member, Gloucester County Bar Association, Family Law Section
Lectures / Trainings / Consulting
Temple University, Beasley School of Law, Adjunct Professor
Pennsylvanians for Modern Courts
Philadelphia Volunteers for the Indigent Program
Pennsylvania Bar Institute
NALS of Philadelphia, f/k/a Philadelphia Legal Secretaries Association
The Philadelphia Association of Paralegals
Panelist, American Bar Association Advisory Panel
Half Moon Seminars
Philadelphia Bar Association Bench Bar Conference 2006, 2007, 2010
Earle Mack School of Law at Drexel University
Temple University School of Law
Free Library of Philadelphia
Publications
Zoom for Hearings
Berner Klaw & Watson LLP Blog (December 2020)
Custody-Divorce-Support-Working with a Lawyer
Pennsylvanians for Modern Courts (2019)
Divorce Practice in Philadelphia
Philadelphia Volunteers for the Indigent Program (2009 – 2017)
Role of Schools in Transgender Bathroom Laws
The Legal Intelligencer (online Family Law column, July 2016)
Seeing the Whole Client
Philadelphia Lawyer Magazine (Spring 2015)
Impact of the ACA on Family Law Cases
The Legal Intelligencer (online Family Law column, March 2015)
Perspectives on Building a Women-Owned Law Firm
Joni Berner, Margaret Klaw, Megan Watson
The Legal Intelligencer (Women in the Profession Supplement, April 2014)
Professional New Year’s Resolutions
Megan Watson, Judy Stouffer
The Legal Intelligencer (online Family Law column, January 2014)
What Happened to the Best Interests of the Children?
The Legal Intelligencer (online Family Law column, December 2013)
Whose Child is This? Second-Parent Adoption in Pennsylvania
Margaret Klaw, Megan Watson
Philadelphia Lawyer Magazine (Cover Story, Fall 2001)
Press
People in the News (PA Bar Fiebach Award)
Aleeza Furman
The Legal Intelligencer (October 2020)
How to Boost Your Firm’s Online Visual Identity
Beth Blinebury
American Bar Association (May 2020)
COVID-19 Drives Increase in Family Law Matters
Erica Silverman
American Lawyer Media – The Legal Intelligencer – Law.com (July 2020)
Will a Philly woman lose her home because of Family Court delays?
Samantha Melamed
Philadelphia Media Network – Philly.com (July 2018)
Domestic Violence and Custody in Pennsylvania
Judy Malmon
Thomson Reuters – Super Lawyers® Magazine (December 2017)
In It for the Long Haul
Nancy Henderson
Thomson Reuters – Super Lawyers® Magazine (June 2016)
Two Philadelphia Law Firms . . . to Receive Prestigious Philadelphia Bar Foundation Awards
Philadelphia Bar Association (November 2009)
Boards/Prof. Memberships/Community Service
President, Philadelphia Volunteers for the Indigent Program Board (current)
Member, Philadelphia Volunteers for the Indigent Program Board, Executive Board (current)
Co-Chair, Philadelphia Volunteers for the Indigent Program Recruitment and Retention Committee
Board of Advisors Member, CORA-Good Shepherd Mediation (current)
Board of Advisors Member, Pennsylvanians for Modern Courts (current)
Volunteer, Philadelphia Volunteers for the Indigent Program (current)
Volunteer, Support Center for Child Advocates (current)
Arbitrator, Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas
Volunteer, Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Volunteer Mediation Program
Executive Committee Member; Member, The Nicholas Cipriani American Inn of Court
Member, The Thomas S. Forkin Family Law American Inn of Court (NJ)
Member, Washington Township, NJ Board of Education
Board Member, Co-Chair, Young Women’s Initiative of Women’s Way
Committee Member, Lucretia Mott Society of Women’s Way
Board Member, North Philadelphia Schools Advisory Council, Inc.
Board Member, Temple Law Alumni Association Executive Committee
Recognition
Best Lawyers in America 2016-2024* (Family Law)
Best Lawyers®
Best Lawyers in America 2018-2024* (Family Law Mediation)
Best Lawyers®
Best Law Firms 2017-2024 (BKW Family Law, f/k/a Berner Klaw & Watson)
Philadelphia – Family Law & Family Law Mediation – Tier 1
U.S. News & World Report-Best Lawyers®
PA Super Lawyer: 2013-2023**
PA Super Lawyer: Rising Stars Edition 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012***
Super Lawyers®, part of Thomson Reuters
Top 50 Women PA Super Lawyers 2020**
Super Lawyers®, part of Thomson Reuters
AV Preeminent® 2018-2024****
Martindale-Hubbell®
Top Women-Owned Businesses 2013-2023 (BKW Family Law, f/k/a Berner Klaw & Watson)
Philadelphia Business Journal
Top Law Firms by Pro Bono Hours 2016-2017; 2021 (Berner Klaw & Watson);
2023 (BKW Family Law)
Philadelphia Business Journal
H. Robert Fiebach Award 2020 (Berner Klaw & Watson)
Pennsylvania Bar Association – Women in the Profession Commission
Brennan Award 2013-2015; 2017; 2020 (Berner Klaw & Watson)
Philadelphia Volunteers for the Indigent Program
Pro Bono Roll of Honor 2012, 2013, 2015-2019 (exemplary pro bono work) First Judicial District of PA
Business Integrity Award 2017 (Berner Klaw & Watson)
Independence Business Alliance
Client Choice – Boutique Family Law Firm of the Year in Pennsylvania 2016
CorporateINTL
Distinguished Advocate Award 2015
Support Center for Child Advocates
Pro Bono Publico Award 2007, 2015
Court of Common Pleas – Family Division, Domestic Relations
First Judicial District of PA
Pro Bono Publico Award 2010 (Berner Klaw & Watson)
Court of Common Pleas – Family Division, Domestic Relations
First Judicial District of PA
Citizens Bank Pro Bono Award 2009 (Berner Klaw & Watson)
Philadelphia Bar Foundation
Exceptional Service Award – Kids Come First Foster Parent Associations 2007
Local Chapter of National Foster Parent Association
NOTE: No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.
*Best Lawyers is the oldest and most respected peer review publication in the legal profession, partnering with U.S. News & World Report, the leading rankings publication in the U.S., to rank lawyers and law firms in the United States.
**Chosen by nominations from PA lawyers, research of periodicals, databases and interviews; all nominees’ background and experience are researched as well. Also, profiled for pro bono service in 2016 Super Lawyers magazine and quoted in 2017 Super Lawyers magazine article on Domestic Violence and Custody in Pennsylvania.
***No Rising Stars publication in 2009.
****Peer rated for highest level of professional excellence.