Michelle is a Founding Member of Sommer & O’Donnell, LLC, based in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, with over two decades of legal experience. She specializes in all facets of family law, including divorce, separation, custody, support, grandparent’s rights, pre-marital agreements, adoption, step-parent adoption, paternity, and name changes. Michelle’s philosophy employs a client-centric approach to resolving sensitive family matters, guiding the families through sensitive legal matters while striving to minimize litigation.
In addition to her family law practice, Michelle has extensive experience in estate planning and administration, advising clients on wills and trusts, living wills, powers of attorney, guardianship, estate litigation, probate, and estate administration. Her practice spans from Bedford and Huntingdon counties in the west to Chester and Lehigh counties in the east, with frequent appearances across Central Pennsylvania and throughout the Commonwealth.
Before pursuing a legal career, Michelle served as Special Assistant to the Minority Whip of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1994 to 2001 after her graduation from West Chester University. Michelle earned her Juris Doctor from Widener University School of Law in 2004 and began her legal career as an Assistant District Attorney in York County, where she argued cases before the Pennsylvania Superior Court. In 2006, she joined Abom & Kutulakis, L.L.P., quickly rising to become a partner in only three short years, before co-founding her boutique family law firm with Brandon O’Donnell, Esquire, in 2016. Shortly after, they expanded their practice by opening satellite offices in Franklin and York counties to better serve their clients.
Residing in Mechanicsburg, Michelle enjoys an active lifestyle with her husband and three dogs, who participate in hunting and performance events.
