Arthur T. Donato Jr.
Sole Proprietor
Location: Media, Pennsylvania , Pennsylvania
Phone: (610) 565-4747
Email: Email Me
Since 1980, Mr. Donato has represented individuals and corporate entities in complicated criminal cases in both state and federal court. He is a member of the American, Pennsylvania, and Delaware County Bar Associations, the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, the Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association, and holds an AV Preeminent® rating from Martindale-Hubbell®, which is the highest available rating. He was a founding member and past president of both the Delaware County and Pennsylvania Associations of Criminal Defense Lawyers. Mr. Donato was privileged to serve on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court Criminal Procedural Rules Committee from 1992 to 1998. He is a Fellow of the American Board of Criminal Lawyers, Fellow of the American Bar Foundation and a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers.
Mr. Donato was awarded a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Villanova University in 1977, a Juris Doctor from the Delaware Law School of Widener University in 1980, and was awarded a Master of Arts in Philosophy from Villanova University in May of 1990, during which time he concentrated his writing in the field of Ethics and Personal Responsibility.
Since 1981, Mr. Donato has been a visiting lecturer at Villanova University speaking on "Use of the Insanity Defense in Criminal Prosecutions" and currently is an instructor in the Sociology and Criminal Justice Departments teaching "Sociolegal Aspects of Criminal Procedure" and "The Supreme Court and its Influence on American Society." Mr. Donato frequently lectures at continuing legal education seminars, speaks to community organizations, and testifies before legislative bodies on a variety of criminal justice issues.
Areas of Practice
Criminal Law - Federal (White Collar Crime)
Environmental Law
Criminal Law
Federal & State Crimes
Fraud Defense: Mail, Wire, Tax, Securities, Bank, Medical & Health Care
Public Corruption
Environmental Crimes involving Clean Air and Water Violations
Assault
Sex Crimes/Rape
Child Abuse
Homicide
Homicide/Aggravated Assault by Motor Vehicle
Vehicle Offenses
Grand Jury Proceedings
Violent Crime Defense
Litigation Percentage
100% of Practice Devoted to Litigation
Bar Admissions
Pennsylvania, 1980
U.S. District Court Eastern District of Pennsylvania
U.S. Court of Appeals 3rd Circuit
U.S. Supreme Court
Education
Widener University School of Law, Wilmington, Delaware, J.D. - 1980
Villanova University, Villanova, Pennsylvania, M.A. – 1990 Major: Philosophy
Villanova University, Villanova, Pennsylvania, B.S. – 1977 Major: Economics
Classes/Seminars
Instructor, "Sociolegal Aspects of Criminal Procedure," Villanova University, Sociology Department, 1990 - Present
Instructor, "The Supreme Court and Its Influence on American Society," Villanova University, Sociology Department, 1990 - Present
Visiting Lecturer, "Use of the Insanity Defense in Criminal Prosecutions," Villanova University, 1981 - Present
Visiting Lecturer, "Preparation of Psychiatric/Psychological Reports in Criminal Cases," Norristown State Hospital, Forensic Psychiatry/Psychology
Recent Trends in Criminal Law
Should Defendant Testify; Preparation
Use of Psychiatric and Psychological Experts
Insanity as a Defense to Criminal Prosecutions
Cross-Examination of an Informant
Cross-Examination Techniques
Five County Seminar - Criminal Procedures
Criminal Justice System in Delaware County
Ethical Issues in the Practice of Criminal Law
Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure
Civil Rights
Techniques and Strategies in Criminal Trial Advocacy
Role of Supreme Court and Judicial Review
Evidentiary Issues Panel
Federal Criminal Practice
The Key to Professional Felicity
Honors and Awards
Outstanding Service Award, President of Student Body, Villanova University, 1977
Two Years of Service Award, Radnor Fire Co., 1976
Elected to Outstanding Young Men in America, 1976 - 1977
Nominated to Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities, 1977
Outstanding Service Award, Delaware County Bar Association, 1987
Outstanding Service Award, Delaware County Bar Association, 1988
Nicholas D. Vadino, Jr. Memorial Award, Significant Contributions by a Young Lawyer to the Organized Bar, 1989
Award of Appreciation, Delaware County Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 1989
Liberty Award Presented by the Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 1990
Man of the Year, Lawyers Club, Delaware County Bar Association, 1993
Award of the Officers and Directors, Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 1995
President's Award - Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 1998
The Honorable Paul R. Sand President's Award of the Delaware County Bar Association, 2011
The Charles P. Gelso President's Award of the Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 2011
Best Law Firms - Pennsylvania - U.S. News and World Report, 2014
Listed in "The Best Lawyers in America"
AV Preeminent® Rating, Martindale-Hubbell®
Fellow, American Board of Criminal Lawyers
Professional Associations and Memberships
Delaware County Bar Association, Member
Pennsylvania Bar Association, Member
American Bar Association, Member
American Bar Foundation, Fellow, 2004 - Present
American Board of Criminal Lawyers, Fellow, 1990 - Present
American College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow, 2004 - Present
Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Member
Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association, Member
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Member, 1990
Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Co-Founder; Past President
Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Co-Chairman, Lawyers Assistance Strike Force, 1990 - Present
Delaware County Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Founder; President, 1986 - 1989
Delaware County Bar Association Committees, Member, Criminal Legal Education Rules, Trial Practices, Civil Rights
Pennsylvania Supreme Court Criminal Procedural Rules Committee, Member, 1992 – 1998
American Law Institute – Model Penal Code – (Sex Offenses), Advisor
Past Employment Positions
Malady & Donato, Partner, 1984 - 1996
Prodoehl, Malady & Donato, Partner, 1983 - 1984
Prodoehl, James & Donato, Associate, 1980 - 1983
Law Offices of Eugene J. Malady, Law Clerk, 1977 - 1980
Office of the District Attorney for the County of Delaware, Pennsylvania, Intern, 1979
Law Offices of G. Bradley Rainer, Law Clerk, 1979
Languages
English