Portrait of Paul J. Fanelli

Paul J. Fanelli

Attorney

Paul Fanelli counsels architects, engineers, design-build entities, owners, and businesses through the legal and practical challenges that arise on complex construction projects. He helps clients anticipate risk, navigate disputes, and protect their interests from project inception through closeout.

Paul’s practice centers on construction and commercial litigation, where he represents clients in mediation, arbitration, and state and federal courts. He handles a wide range of disputes involving project delays, inefficiencies, payment issues, and contract performance. His experience includes prosecuting and defending mechanics’ liens, construction liens, and bond claims, as well as addressing employment and labor concerns connected to construction projects.

In addition to dispute resolution, Paul provides day-to-day project counseling to clients. He drafts and negotiates construction contracts, change orders, and closeout agreements, helping clients maintain momentum while minimizing exposure. His practical, solutions-oriented approach allows him to align legal strategy with business objectives and deliver efficient, cost-effective outcomes across construction, real estate, and broader commercial matters.

    Education

    • Widener University Commonwealth Law School (J.D.)
    • Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania (B.A.)

    State Bar Admissions

    • Pennsylvania
    • New Jersey

    Court Admissions

    • United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
    • United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
    • United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
    • United States District Court for the District of New Jersey

Firm Highlights

  • Podcasts
    Artful Donations: Exploring Museum Exchange
    In this episode of The Legal Canvas, host Caryn Keppler welcomes Robert Wainstein and Michael Darling, co-founders of Museum Exchange, the first digital platform dedicated to facilitating art donations to museums and nonprofit institutions across North America. Together, they explore how technology is transforming the way collectors, artists, estates, and cultural organizations connect through charitable giving. Robert and Michael explain the inspiration behind Museum Exchange, the challenges they set out to solve, and how the platform has grown into a network of more than 400 museums. They walk listeners through the donation process—from evaluating artwork and matching donors with institutions to handling logistics, documentation, and tax considerations. Along the way, they discuss the realities of museum collecting, why many donations are declined, and how thoughtful placements can help preserve artists' legacies while expanding access to important works of art. The conversation also explores Museum Exchange's work with living artists, artist estates, hospitals, universities, and smaller regional museums, as well as the launch of the Charis Foundation for the Arts, a nonprofit designed to steward significant collections before placing them with institutions that can best benefit from them. Robert and Michael conclude by sharing their vision for the future of charitable art transactions and how Museum Exchange is helping reshape philanthropy in the arts for generations to come.