Home > Attorneys > Wendy Beetlestone

Biography

Ms. Beetlestone, a commercial litigator, graduated from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 1993 where she served as Articles Editor of the Law Review from 1992-1993 and the Associate Editor from 1991-1992.  She received her B.A. with honors from Liverpool University in 1984.  From 1993-1994, Ms. Beetlestone served as law clerk to the Honorable Robert S. Gawthorp of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.  After completing her clerkship, Ms. Beetlestone was an associate at a prominent Philadelphia law firm from 1994-2001 and was a partner from 2001-2002. 

In 2002, Ms. Beetlestone left private practice to accept an appointment as General Counsel of the School District of Philadelphia.  Ms. Beetlestone was General Counsel of the School District from 2002-2005 where she provided legal advice, guidance and counsel to the School District and its governing body, the School Reform Commission and led the 19 lawyers in the office of the General Counsel who serve the School District. 

Since returning to the private sector, Ms. Beetlestone has continued her commercial litigation practice and has also developed a practice serving education clients including public school districts, private schools and government educational entities.

Ms. Beetlestone is included in Best Lawyers in America (2008). She has received the highest possible ranking from Martindale Hubbell. LEADERSHIP Philadelphia recently named Ms. Beetlestone one of the 101 key "Connectors" in the Philadelphia area.

Education

University of Pennsylvania Law School, Philadelphia, PA, 1993
J.D.
Articles Editor, University of Pennsylvania Law Review, 1992-1993
Associate Editor, University of Pennsylvania Law Review, 1991-1992

Liverpool University, UK, 1984
B.A. (Honors)
Welfare and National Union of Students Officer, 1983
Editor-in-Chief, The Gazette, 1982
Honorary Life Member, Guild of Undergraduates

Clerkship

The Honorable Robert S. Gawthorp, United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Law Clerk, 1993 - 1994

Honors and Awards

Leadership, Inc., Philadelphia, PA, Class of 2001
40 Under 40 Minority, Executive Award, 2001
Leadership, Inc. "Connector," 2006
Selected as a Best Lawyer in America in Education In 2007, Ms. Beetlestone was selected for inclusion in "The Best Lawyers in America."

Publications

Commentary:  No Child Left Behind's Accountability and Access Provisions:  An Inherent Tension Within Supplemental Educational Services Programs, 216 Ed. Law. Rep. [807] (April 19, 2007)(with Owen F. Lipsett)

"There and Back Again:  One Lawyer's Journey Practicing Both Inside and Outside the Firm," The Legal Intelligencer - Top Lateral Hires, February 6, 2006

"Women Lawyers Can Succeed as Both Mothers and Partners," The Legal Intelligencer, January 6, 2006

"Unique Issues Posed by Defamation Suits Involving Statements Made Via the Internet," THE LAW JOURNAL NEWSLETTERS; THE INTERNET NEWSLETTER, Vol. 7, No. 4, July, 2002

"Slip-and-Fall Lawyer" Not Libelous, LDRC LIBEL LETTER, June, 1998

Representative Cases

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. Chester Upland School District, et al., No. 496 M.D. 2005, slip op. (Pa. Commw. October 16, 2006)

Successful representation of the Department of Education which sought to place into receivership a school district on the grounds that the governing body of the district had mismanaged the financial affairs of the district, had paid insufficient attention to the educational needs of the children and had failed to fulfill various statutory mandates.

Disciplinary Consent Orders, School District of Philadelphia (2002)

Developed successful legal strategy to streamline the student discipline process in The School District of Philadelphia.

Moore v. Radian Group, Inc., 233 F. Supp.2d 819 (E.D. Tex. 2002)

Secured dismissal of a case in which a provider of private mortgage insurance was sued by mortgagors seeking class action status on allegations that certain relationships between the provider and lenders violated the Real Estate Settlement Practices Act (RESPA).

Paul v. Philadelphia Magazine (Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, May 1998)

Dismissal on a motion for compulsory nonsuit of a case brought by a prospective mayoral candidate against a magazine for alleged defamation.

Professional Associations and Memberships

Board of Trustees, Philadelphia Bar Foundation, 2005 - Present
    Treasurer, 2007-2008
50th Anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education Celebration (Philadelphia Bar Association and School District of Philadelphia), Committee Co-Chair, 2004
Raising the Bar Campaign (Philadelphia Bar Association and Philadelphia Bar Foundation), Committee Co-Chair, 2006
Education Law Association, 2006-2007
Legislative Liaison Committee Co-Chair (Philadelphia Bar Association), 2008

Community

Board of Trustees, Philadelphia University, 2006 - Present
Board of Directors, Mann Center for Performing Arts, 2002 - Present
Member, Forum of Executive Women, 2004 - Present

Teaching / Lecturing

"Students' Use of Online Social Networks:  Freedom of Speech Versus Discipline" - Education Law Association Annual Conference, 2007

"No Child Left Behind's Accountability and Access Provisions:  An Inherent Tension Within Supplemental Educational Services Programs" - Education Law Association Annual Conference, 2007

"The Nuts and Bolts of Special Education Law" - The Philadelphia Association of Paralegals Education Conference, 2006

Lecturer in Law: Public Education Law, University of Pennsylvania Law School, 2005

Bar Admissions

Pennsylvania
New Jersey
The United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
The United States District Court for the District of New Jersey
The United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania