With experience in family, divorce, prenuptial, post-nuptial, and paternity law, Phyllis Federico has thrived as a founding partner of Schmidt & Federico, P.C., since 1994. Her responsibilities include handling high-conflict disputes with an emphasis on business valuation and custody litigation, and ensuring clients get the most effective solutions and advice possible. Over the years, Ms. Federico has garnered a reputation for being strong, compassionate, and fearless. She loves being able to use her voice to fight for those without one.
One of Ms. Federico’s greatest professional achievements was starting a pilot program, Child Focus Facilitation, in the Middlesex probate and family court. She considers her involvement with the program to be the most rewarding thing she does as a lawyer, because she is providing services to people who otherwise couldn’t afford them. It is very important to her that middle and lower income families have access to high-caliber legal support. Some of her other highlights include co-editing the “Massachusetts Divorce Law Practice Manual,” co-authoring the “Massachusetts Family Law Source Book,” authoring numerous articles on family law, and lecturing at Boston College Law School and Suffolk University Law School.
Ms. Federico prepared for her endeavors by earning a JD from Suffolk University Law School in 1985 and a Bachelor of Arts from Binghamton University, State University of New York, in 1982. She then became admitted to practice before the commonwealth of Massachusetts and the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, and certified as a mediator and conciliator. To keep in touch with her peers and any professional developments, Ms. Federico joined prominent organizations like the Massachusetts Bar Association, the Massachusetts Family and Probate Inns of Court, and ABA. She has also served on the board of trustees of Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education and the family law section of the Boston Bar Association. She is a fellow of the Boston Bar Foundation.
As a testament to her hard work and dedication, Ms. Federico has been named a Super Lawyer by Boston Magazine since 2004. The magazine further honored her as one of the top 50 female attorneys. Additionally, she was named a New England Super Lawyer, one of the Best Lawyers in America by Naifeh & Smith, and a AV Preeminent Attorney in the Judicial Edition of Martindale-Hubbell.
When Ms. Federico isn’t working, she enjoys spending time with her family. She and her husband, David McDermott, have one child, Elle McDermott.
