Ms. De Shong is one of Pennsylvania’s leading family law attorneys. She provides practical guidance and support for her clients, even those who may not be certain that divorce is appropriate for them. Ms. De Shong wants her clients to be fully informed of their legal rights and options without being pressured to divorce or separate. While she provides strong advocacy to her clients when required, Ms. De Shong recognizes that negotiation of a mutually satisfying outcome is more often in her clients’ emotional and financial best interests than costly litigation.

Ms. De Shong has been recognized by other attorneys as being a preeminent family lawyer and litigator. Since 2003, she has been a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML), a national organization of more than 1,650 highly skilled family law litigators and negotiators. Ms. De Shong is the AAML Pennsylvania Chapter’s immediate past president (2022-2023) and was named a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America, a national trial lawyer honorary society, in 2019. She has been selected by her peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America^® for family law since 2012. Additionally, Ms. De Shong has been named to the Pennsylvania Super Lawyers List for many years, to which no more than five percent of the attorneys in the Commonwealth can be named.

In 2022, she was named the Best Lawyers^® “Lawyer of the Year” for family law in the Philadelphia region. The “Lawyer of the Year” recognitions are awarded to individual lawyers with the highest overall peer feedback for a specific practice area and geographic region. Only one lawyer is recognized as the “Lawyer of the Year” for each specialty and location. Best Lawyers^® lists are compiled on an exhaustive peer-review evaluation. Lawyers are not required nor are they allowed to pay a fee to be listed. Additional details can be found at www.bestlawyers.com.

A past Chair of the Montgomery Bar Association Family Law Section and its Continuing Legal Education and Law Reporter Committees, Ms. De Shong lectures, writes, and plans courses on family law matters for the AAML Pennsylvania Chapter, the Montgomery Bar Association, the Pennsylvania Bar Institute, and the Pennsylvania Bar Association. She has also served on the Board of Directors of the Montgomery Bar Association.

A 1986 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Law School, Ms. De Shong received her undergraduate degree from Mount Holyoke College (B.A. 1983).

Speeches and Publications

• “American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Program – Hot Tips.” Co-speaker. Pennsylvania Bar Association Family Law Section Winter Meeting. January 14, 2022.
• “Equitable Distribution in Divorce.” Co-course planner, author, and moderator. Pennsylvania Bar Institute. June 17, 2021.
• “Case Law, Legislation & Rules Updates.” Moderator. Pennsylvania Bar Association Family Law Section Winter Meeting. January 14, 2021.
• “The ‘No Divorce’ Divorce – Possibilities and Pitfalls.” Author. Pennsylvania Bar Association Family Law Section. Pennsylvania Family Lawyer. Winter 2020 Edition.
• “Equitable Distribution in Pennsylvania.” Co-course planner, author, and moderator. Pennsylvania Bar Institute. June 11, 2019.
• “Exceptional Children: A Primer.” Author and Speaker. American Academy of Matrimonial Attorneys, Pennsylvania Chapter Annual Retreat. May 11, 2019.
• “Custody in Special Education.” Speaker. Exceptional Children Conference. Pennsylvania Bar Institute. October 8, 2018.
• “Maintaining Mental Health in the Age of Distraction, Demands, and Denial: Stay Safe and Smart.” Speaker. American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Pennsylvania Chapter Summer Meeting. July 12, 2018.
• “Charging Liens and Getting Paid + Fee Agreements (Ethics).” Co-Presenter. Family Law Institute 2018. Pennsylvania Bar Institute. April 17, 2018.
• “Big Changes to Alimony Under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.” Client Alert. November 2017.
• “Custody in Special Education.” Co-Presenter. Exceptional Children Conference. Pennsylvania Bar Institute. October 30, 2017.
• “Show Me the Money…As Permitted by Law!” Speaker. Pennsylvania Bar Association Family Law Section Summer Meeting. July 14, 2017.
• “New York Redefines the Term ‘Parent’ to Include Unrelated Third Parties.” Client Alert. September 2016.
• “What Should I Bring to My Divorce Consultation?” Client Alert. August, 2016.
• “Hot Tips from AAML Fellows.” Speaker. Pennsylvania Bar Association Family Law Section Summer Meeting. July 14, 2016.
• “Guiding the Plane.” Featured. Suburban Life – Montgomery. September 2015.
• “Premarital Agreements: Essential Information for Family and Estate Practitioners.” Panel Member. Pennsylvania Bar Institute Course. July 20, 2015.
• “Your Spouse Wants a Divorce? Avoid These 10 Self Destructive Responses.” Family Law Spotlight. February 2015.
• “Drafting Marital Settlement Agreements.” Contributor. Pennsylvania Bar Institute. October 2014.
• “Same Sex Marriage in Pennsylvania: A Guide.” Client Alert. May 2014.
• “Trial Advocacy Tips.” Co-Presenter. Pennsylvania Bar Association Conference. July 12, 2012.
• “You and Your Attorney: Your Next Big Relationship.” Client Alert. January 06, 2012.
• “I Just Got Engaged – Now What?” Client Alert. January 03, 2012.
• “How to Survive the Holidays.” Client Alert. December 22, 2011.