Cordell & Cordell Philadelphia Lead Litigator William J. Phelan, IV was recently elected President of the Doris J. Freed Matrimonial Inn of Court.
Doris Jonas Freed Inn of Court is part of The American Inns of Court, which is a national organization loosely modeled after the traditional English Inns of Court. The purpose of The American Inns of Court, as originally conceived by then Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Warren Burger, and later approved by the Judicial Conference of the United States is to promote the goals of legal excellence, civility, professionalism, and ethics.
The Doris Jonas Freed Inn of Court is a specialty inn of court focusing solely in matters of family law. It consists of a collegial group of judges, and practicing attorneys, from Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery County, Pa., who meet regularly to discuss and debate issues relating to substantive issues in family law, ethics, and professionalism. The Mission of the Doris Freed Inn of Court is to follow in the great tradition set by its namesake to be active practitioners of family law, while also pursuing scholarly interests, and service to the community.
Mr. Phelan earned his Juris Doctor, with a certificate in Law and Public Policy, from The Catholic University of America’s Columbus School of Law. During law school, Mr. Phelan served as a Senior Editor for The Journal of Contemporary Health Law & Policy.
Mr. Phelan is a member of several professional legal organizations, including the Pennsylvania Bar Association, the Delaware County Bar Association, the District of Columbia Bar Association, and the Brehon Law Society.
In 2020, Mr. Phelan was appointed President of the Board of Directors of Catholic Charities Appeal of Greater Philadelphia. He served on this Board since 2016. Catholic Charities Appeal provides donated funds to services throughout the Philadelphia region to benefit over 180 ministries and programs, helping initiatives such as domestic violence support, childcare, retirement living, and homelessness prevention and assistance.
Mr. Phelan was selected to serve on the La Salle Leadership Council, a select group of alumni who volunteer to help further the mission and strategic objectives of his alma mater, La Salle College High School.
He sits on the board of advisors for Alpha Delta Gamma Educational Foundation, a national education non-profit organization, as well as the board of directors for Alpha Delta Gamma Capital City Alumni Association.
