About MK Feeney

MK is a straight shooter who gets results. She has been described as “more action than talk”, and she is not afraid to think creatively and consider all options to solve any problem, no matter how intimidating or complex.


A former homicide prosecutor, MK has extensive trial experience, and is very much at home in the courtroom, having tried over one hundred jury trials and several hundred bench trials. However, despite her expertise and reputation as a fierce opponent, MK strives as much as possible to work with parties and counsel to resolve cases without the need for litigation. This is because she understands that when parties can come to a resolution on their own, they are more likely to be satisfied with the outcome, and less likely to need to litigate issues in the future.


MK also understands that going to court is extremely stressful, and that ongoing relationships between parties should be respected and preserved as much as possible. Contentious trials do not serve that end. However, despite all best efforts, if a case cannot be resolved without litigation, MK is more than ready to fight to protect your interests in court.


MK graduated from Seton Hall University School of Law with honors, and has been a member of the Pennsylvania bar since 1993. She has won numerous awards for her advocacy and her pro bono work. MK is a member of the Nicholas Cipriani Inn of Court, which is an association of family law attorneys who meet monthly to learn and discuss all aspects of family law in order to keep up with the most current legal developments.


MK has been a presenter on various topics in many continuing legal education (CLE) programs, and has presented to judges in a program for continuing judicial education (CJE). She has also appeared on the ID Discovery channel to discuss one of the several high-profile cases she prosecuted which was the subject of an episode of the show “Homicide City”.


MK serves as an arbitrator for the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, where she hears civil cases as part of a three-person arbitration panel, and attempts to resolve them prior to trial.


MK is also a trained mediator, having completed programs accredited by the Association for Conflict Resolution. She has both general mediation training, and specific training in the areas of divorce and custody.

Training


Divorce and Custody Mediation, Good Shepherd Mediation Program, accredited by Association for Conflict Resolution,  certificate earned November, 2017


Basic Mediation, Good Shepherd Mediation Program,  accredited by Association for Conflict Resolution, certificate earned March, 2014


Memberships


Member, Nicholas A. Cipriani, American Family Law Inn of Court, 2014 -present


Member,  Philadelphia Bar Association

• Family Law Section, member; Co-Chair, Legal Rights of Comtemporary Families Committee

• Probate and Trust Section, member

• Solo and Small Firm Section, member


Member, Pennsylvania Bar Association

• Family Law Section, member

• Solo and Small Firm Section, member

• Elder Law Section, member


Member, Commission on Judicial Retention and Selection, Philadelphia Bar Association

Investigator, 2014-2021

Pro Bono Publico Award, Court of Common Pleas, Orphans' Court, October,  2016

• Awarded by the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania for providing outstanding pro bono legal counsel for litigants in the Orphans' Court Division of the Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia County, and helping to promote access to justice for all citizens.


Outstanding New Volunteer Award, Philadelphia VIP , March, 2015

• In recognition of exceptional commitment to equal access to justice for all, especially in complex custody litigation.


Prosecutor’s Award, Philadelphia Coalition for Victim Advocacy, 2004,

• In recognition of outstanding service to victims of crime and to the community and the City of Philadelphia. 

Continuing Legal Education Lectures


Course Planner and Moderator, "Parentage Update: The Case of Glover v. Junior”, The Philadelphia Bar Association, June, 2024, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania


CLE Lecturer, “When a Child is Being Abused”, The Nicholas A. Cipriani Inn of Court, September, 2022, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania


CLE Lecturer, “Dependency: Family Finding Initiative and Implications”, 

 The Nicholas A. Cipriani Inn of Court, May, 2022, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania


CLE Lecturer, “Substance Abuse, Testing & Monitoring in Custody Cases”, The Nicholas A. Cipriani Inn of Court, January, 2020, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania


CLE Lecturer, “Arbitration, Collaborative Law and Mediation”, The Nicholas A. Cipriani Inn of Court, October, 2020, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania


CJE Lecturer, “Parties with Diminished Capacity – The Challenges Presented for Family  Court Judges”, Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, Judicial Education Division, March, 2017, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania


CLE Lecturer, “Elder Divorce: When Your Client’s Capacity is Questionable”, The Nicholas A. Cipriani Inn of Court, November, 2016, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania


CLE Lecturer, “The Jury Selection Process in Criminal Cases”, Pennsylvania Bar Institute, April, 2016, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania


CLE Lecturer, “Ethical Issues in Closing Arguments“,  Pennsylvania Bar Institute’s 27th 

Annual Criminal Law Symposium, June, 2010, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania


CLE Lecturer, “Probation and Parole”, Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, November, 2010, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Media


Homicide City, Season Three, Episode 5, "Winter’s Bones”.

ID Discovery Channel, original air date October 13, 2020.


“Homicide City" is an immersive dive into the city of Philadelphia’s darkest tales. It chronicles unforgettable murder cases from the Philadelphia streets, unveiled through the perspectives of veteran detectives, reporters, and the families of the victims..


In “Winter’s Bones”, the skeletal remains of a young woman, Rosella Atkinson, are discovered on the edge of a high school football field three years after she disappeared. It would take years of tireless detective work, a forensic sculptor, coincidence, and some luck to identify the victim and to finally reveal the killer's identity and bring him to trial. 


MK prosecuted this challenging cold case, ultimately obtaining justice for Rosella Atkinson almost twenty years after she was murdered. MK appears in this episode to discuss the investigation and successful prosecution of Brian Hall, as well as the unique and instrumental contribution of noted forensic sculptor, Frank Bender.


You can watch “Homicide City” on the ID Discovery Channel, and on various popular online streaming services.




Publications


The Philadelphia Lawyer is the quarterly magazine of the Philadelphia Bar Association.


MK was interviewed in the Summer 2023 edition of the Philadelphia Lawyer for an article spotlighting women-owned solo and small law firms.


MK's article about pro bono legal work was featured in the Spring 2024 edition of the Philadelphia Lawyer.


You can read both articles here:




Articles