Meet William S. Braveman

 

photo of William Braveman William S. Braveman is an experienced trial attorney who takes pride in serving his clients with the zeal, integrity, and responsiveness that they deserve. He is presently designated counsel for numerous employee organizations with thousands of members, including Local 696, the largest local of AFSCME District Council 33. Prior to practicing privately, Mr. Braveman was a City of Philadelphia Law Department attorney and City Solicitor for 12 years, and then the Employment Law Chair in the law firm of Keller and Goggin, P.C. 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 firm of Robert Brand and Associates, which has obtained numerous large results, including a $20 million verdict.

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Practice Areas

  • Discrimination Suits (Race, National Origin, Ethnicity, Ancestry, Gender, Sex, Sexual Harassment, Age, Color, Disability and Religion)
  • Wrongful Termination
  • Counseling and Litigation Avoidance
  • PHRC and EEOC Representation
  • Contract and Severance Agreement Review/Negotiation
  • Civil Service Hearings
  • Labor Arbitrations
  • Disciplinary Hearings
  • Merit System Protection Board Hearings
  • Work Injuries
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.
  • Labor Arbitrations
  • Civil Service Hearings
  • Disciplinary Hearings
  • Union Elections/Organizations
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 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.

  • Child Abuse / Child Neglect / DHS Involvement
  • Appeals of Indicated Reports of Child Abuse
  • Child Custody/Visitation
Mr. Braveman was a lawyer for 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 a DHS lawyer 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.

  • Auto Accidents
  • Slips and Falls
  • Work Injuries
  • Bicycle Accidents
  • Property Defects
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 co-counseled numerous cases in which multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements were obtained for his clients. Mr. Braveman has a solid 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 Hearings in Orphans Court
  • Mental Health Civil Commitments
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.

Biography

Keller and Goggin, P.C.

Employment Law Chair

Mr. Braveman handled all employment law matters of discrimination, wrongful termination, and other employment issues. He also handled various phases of the firm's plaintiff's personal injury civil litigation practice wherein numerous multi-million dollar verdicts were obtained in 2008 and 2009. He also represented DC 33 employees in Local 696 (Department of Revenue) and Local 1956 (School Crossing Guards) before the Civil Service Commission.

City of Philadelphia Law Department

Deputy City Solicitor

For more than a decade, Mr. Bravemen served as an attorney in the Health and Human Services Unit, the Child Welfare Unit, and the Labor and Employment Unit of the City of Philadelphia Law Department.

As an attorney for the County Office of Mental Health, he represented the County in thousands of hearings before the mental health review officers, as well as the appeals, one of which went to the Superior Court and the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

As a City of Philadelphia employment law attorney in the Labor and Employment Unit, Mr. Braveman defended all city agencies in labor arbitrations and civil service hearings concerning the disciplinary actions taken against employees. He also served as lead counsel in defending city employers in the State and Federal Courts as well as the administrative agencies.

Temple Legal Aid

Attorney Intern

Mr. Braveman advocated for abused women who sought protection from abuse orders issued by the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Family Court.

Law Clerkships

Clerk to Chief Judge John F. Geary of the United States District Court, District of New Jersey
Clerk to Civil Trial Judge Mark I. Bernstein, Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas
Clerk to Civil Motions Court Judge Joseph D. O'Keefe, Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas

Volunteer Work

Philadelphia Volunteers for the Indigent Program
Support Center for Child Advocate Attorney
Taney Youth Baseball Association Coach
Employment Anti-Discrimination Taskforce Co-Chair, Philadelphia Bar Association
Board Of Governors, Philadelphia Bar Association
Lawyer Referral Information Service Co-Chair, Philadelphia Bar Association
Legal Line, Philadelphia Bar Association
Law Education and Participation
Election Day Attorney Monitor
Save the Sam Eric Committee
First Judicial District Pro Bono Honor Roll 2009 - present
Philadelphia Cares
R.W. Brown Community Center
AIDS Task Force
Committee of 70
Women in Need
NYU Catholic Center Soup Kitchen
Magee Rehabilitation Center
Covenant House
Fairmount Youth Soccer
Palumbo Youth Soccer Coach and Program Coordinator
Student Public Interest Network Co-Founder
Lutheran Settlement House
Democratic City Committee
South Philadelphia High School Mock Trial Coach
Chosen 300 Ministries
William Way LGBT Community Center

Professional Associations

Philadelphia Bar Association Member

Philadelphia Bar Association Board of Governors

Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association

Justinian Society of Philadelphia

Louis D. Brandeis Law Society

Daniel B. Allanoff Foundation

Pennsylvania Bar Association Member

Montgomery County Bar Association Member

Philadelphia Bar Association Lawyer Referral and Information Service Panel Attorney and Committee Member

Certified Arbitrator for the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas

Past Bella Vista United Civic Association Board Member

Past Co-Chair of Philadelphia Bar Association Dependency Committee

Past Philadelphia Bar Association Family Law Section Member

Past Philadelphia Bar Association Public Interest Section Member

Past Philadelphia Bar Association Probate and Estate Section Member

National Employment Lawyers Association Member

Education

 
 

New York University

While attending New York University for his undergraduate degree, Mr. Braveman was awarded a Trustee Scholarship, majoring in Economics and minoring in Speech and Communication. He was presented the Chancellor's Service Award for Leadership for a wide variety of community activities which included charity work through his fraternity, orientation leadership through his dormitory, and Business/Sales Manager of the NYU radio station, WNYU.

Temple University Beasley School of Law

While attending Temple University Law School, Mr. Braveman's grades qualified him for Dean's List. Also, he coached South Philadelphia High School's mock trial team through Law Education and Participation (LEAP) and was a founding member of the Student Public Interest Network (SPIN), which continues to raise thousands of dollars each year to subsidize law-related internships to public high school students.

Testimonials

"Personable, Professional and Responsive"

J.S.

Mr. Braveman represented my husband through an employment discrimination case with the PHRC. He provided us with excellent counsel, based on his extensive knowledge

of employment/discrimination law. He was prompt in carrying out our requests, persistent in his efforts to move the process along, and extremely timely in returning our phone calls. It was a pleasure working with Mr. Braveman and we are happy to recommend his service to future clients.

"I could not have had anyone better!"

A.N.

Will Braveman is a true fighter for the little guy. He was totally focused on seeing justice accomplished for me in spite of the fact that there was little financial gain for him to be had. He went

far above and beyond my own expectations in providing me with excellent representation. He exhibited patience and listened to everything I had to say. Will thoroughly investigated all the facts in my situation and meticulously assembled them together into a well organized presentation. All of my phone calls were promptly returned. Nothing was too much trouble for this man! He spent a great amount of time prepping not only myself but other witnesses in my case as well. While he could be bold and aggressive he always demonstrated diplomacy and professionalism in his conduct. No stone was left unturned. In his eyes, I was a human being not just a client. He made me feel at ease and was so very down to earth. I have worked with and around many attorneys in my various jobs over the years. Never have I witnessed an attorney more dedicated and committed to his client than Will Braveman!

"Skilled litigator...strong advocate"

K.D., Family Law Attorney

I worked with William Braveman at the City of Philadelphia Law Department. He is a skilled litigator who is a strong advocate for his clients. He is professional and works hard to get the best results for his clients.

"Excellent attorney"

B.M., Personal Injury Attorney

Will is an excellent attorney. I have known Will since prior to becoming a lawyer. He has always exemplified what it means to be an attorney. He is intelligent, thoughtful, and offers great counsel. I highly recommend Will.