Gabrielle C. Sereni joined Raffaele Puppio in 2010 as a Partner and Chair of the Special Education Department. She represents school districts, charter schools, private schools and intermediate unites in special education matters from the administrative level through all levels of appeal.
Prior to joining Raffaele Puppio, Gabrielle handled special education law matters as an associate at Wisler Pearlstine, LLP in Montgomery County, PA. She then served families on the federal court level for an additional five years as a Senior Shareholder with McAndrews Law Offices in Berwyn, PA, leading to several precedential decisions from the Third Circuit Court of Appeals which she had argued. She has also prepared Memoranda presented to the United States Supreme Court and is a frequent lecturer and sought-after authority across Pennsylvania on special education issues.
A former teacher in the Delaware County public school system, Gabrielle enjoyed a federal clerkship after law school with the Honorable Robert F. Kelly, Sr., United States District Judge. In addition, she clerked for the Honorable Frank T. Hazel of the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas and the Honorable Stephen P. McEwen, President Judge Emeritus of the Superior Court of Pennsylvania. Early in her legal career, Gabrielle was an intern with the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office.
Every year from 2013-2020, Gabrielle was named a to Pennsylvania Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters, published annually in Philadelphia magazine, representing the top 5% of all lawyers in the Commonwealth. Every year from 2006 – 2011, She was listed among the same publication’s Super Lawyers Rising Stars, representing the top 2.5% of Pennsylvania lawyers under the age of 40 or with less than 10 years of experience. In 2019, She was named Best Lawyer 2019, Readers’ Choice, by the Delaware County Daily Times.
Gabrielle obtained her Bachelor of Arts from St. Joseph’s University in 1992, Masters in Education from the University of Pennsylvania in 1993, and Juris Doctorate from Villanova Law School in 1999.
Gabrielle volunteered her time as Legal Advisor for the Pennsylvania Association for Gifted Education from 2010 through 2013. She resides in Delaware County with her three sons.
Education:
- Villanova University School of Law, J.D. 1999
- University of Pennsylvania, Masters in Education, 1983
- St. Joseph’s University, B.A. 1992
Experience:
- Raffaele & Puppio, L.L.C. (2011 – Present)
- McAndrews Law Offices, Senior Shareholder (2005 – 2011)
- Wisler Pearlstine, LLP (2000 – 2005)
Court Admissions:
- Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
- United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
- Third Circuit Court of Appeals
Professional Associations & Memberships:
- American Bar Association
- Delaware County Bar Association
- Pennsylvania Bar Association
Honors & Activities:
- Concord Township Historical Society (2014 – Present)
- Pennsylvania Association for Gifted Education, Legal Advisor (2010 – 2013)
- St. John’s Preschool Board of Directors (2007 – 2010)
