Brandeis University, 1988
BA, Economics
Temple University School of Law, 1991
Juris Doctorate
Villanova University School of Law, 2008
Graduate Tax Program, Certificate in Estate Planning
Mediation Matters, 2016
Mediation Certification
American Academy of Matrimonial Attorneys, 2018
Certificate for Completion of Arbitration Training
Parenting Coordination Certification, 2019
Rochelle Grossman (“Shelly”) brings 30 years of family law experience as a litigator, mediator, arbitrator and Family Court Master to the Center for Family Resolution. She spent the first 15 years of her legal career in private practice becoming a strident advocate for litigants throughout every area of family law. In 2006 Shelly left her practice having been appointed as a Family Court Master in the Court of Common Pleas of Chester County, Pennsylvania. During her more than 14-year tenure as a Master, Shelly presided over hundreds of equitable distribution matters from preliminary hearings through settlement conferences and trials bringing the vast majority to settlement. Having addressed and resolved complex issues in the valuation of businesses, pensions, and real estate, she has earned a reputation as a critical thinker and even-handed adjudicator. As part of her responsibilities, Shelly served as a Custody Conciliator making court-approved recommendations over custody disputes including physical custody schedules, legal custody decisions, school selection, vacation/holiday schedules, and appointment of therapists.
While serving as a Master, Shelly founded the Family Arbitration and Mediation Center in 2017 with the sole purpose of offering alternative dispute resolution (ADR) options such as arbitration, mediation, and parenting coordination in a private setting. In 2020, she merged the Center with a startup Chester County law firm which afforded her the opportunity to grow her ADR services as while continuing to represent clients with passionate advocacy. Her years of experience as a Court Officer and divorce lawyer have provided her with both a broad-based perspective in her role as a neutral or advocate as well as an appreciation for the nuances required to guide parties to resolution. Her years of experience as a Court Officer and divorce lawyer have enabled her to approach legal matters with both a broad-based perspective in her role as either a neutral or advocate as well as an appreciation for the nuances required to guide parties to resolution.
Shelly has dedicated her time and efforts to improving the practice of family law by authoring articles for the American Bar Association’s Family Advocate and Pennsylvania Family Lawyer. She, along with Alita Rovito, Esquire, co-authored the chapter on the Equitable Distribution Trial in Slicing Up the Pie, published by the Pennsylvania Bar Institute. Shelly is a frequent lecturer on divorce, equitable distribution, and other family law topics. She completed the Arbitration training course offered by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers in 2018, is a certified Mediator and Parenting Coordinator, and holds a graduate tax certificate in Estate Planning.
Shelly is a member of the Doris Jonas Freed Inn of Court, past Chair of the Rules Committee of the Family Law Section of the Pennsylvania Bar Association and has served as Chair of the Family Law Section of the Montgomery Bar Association.
When not handling family law disputes, Shelly serves on the board of the Chester County Child Access Center which provides free custody supervision to enable parents and children to see and connect with each other. Additionally, she served as, president of the Brandywine Valley chapter of CISV, a children’s international peace education organization.