Megan E. Watson

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. Outside of my professional responsibilities, I am the proud mother of a son and daughter.

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)

United States Supreme Court

United States District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania

New Jersey

Guardian Ad Litem

Parenting Coordinator (under prior rules of civil procedure)

Child Advocate

BKW Family Law LLC/Berner Klaw & Watson LLP/Berner & Klaw
Philadelphia, PA 1999-Present

• Partner.  Practice includes all aspects of family law in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey, including divorce and custody mediation, arbitration and representation of plaintiffs in personal injury cases arising from domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse.

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

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

Custody Law and Practice in Pennsylvania, 4th Edition: Chapter 7
Megan E. Watson, Anna E. Mattis
Pennsylvania Bar Institute Press 2026

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)

PA Supreme Court hears arguments on LGBTQ+ parentage case
Lauren Rowello
The Philadelphia Gay News (September 2024)

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)

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

President, Philadelphia Volunteers for the Indigent Program Board

Member, Philadelphia Volunteers for the Indigent Program Board, Executive Board

Co-Chair, Philadelphia Volunteers for the Indigent Program Recruitment and Retention Committee

Best Lawyers in America 2025-2027* (Collaborative Law)
Best Lawyers®

Best Lawyers in America 2016-2027* (Family Law)
Best Lawyers®

Best Lawyers in America 2018-2027* (Family Law Mediation)
Best Lawyers®

Lawyer of the Year 2026* (Family Law Mediation) Best Lawyers®

Best Law Firms 2017-2025 (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: 2013-2026**
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® 2018-2025****
Martindale-Hubbell®

Law Firms List (BKW Family Law)
2025, 2026
Philadelphia Business Journal

Top Women-Owned Businesses 2013-2024 (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, 2024, 2025 (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.