About Stephen J.
Stephen J. Pokiniewski took the long route through law school and into the courtroom. He earned his J.D. from Temple University Beasley School of Law in 1985. The degree set him on a steady course through Pennsylvania’s legal landscape and into roles that blended courtroom experience with firm leadership.
Early in his career he served as a clerk to the Honorable Leonard Sugarman, who was then President Judge of the Chester County Court of Common Pleas. That clerkship exposed him to the rhythms of trial court: scheduling, evidentiary rulings and the day-to-day work that shapes litigation from motion to verdict. It was a formative period that informed how he approaches cases as an attorney.
After his time on the bench, Pokiniewski moved into private practice. He rose to a partnership at Anapol Weiss, where he has been part of a trial-oriented practice. Partnership at a firm of that size requires both legal acumen and the ability to manage complex files. He has handled the practical demands of litigation, from discovery to trial preparation, and has worked alongside other litigators on significant matters brought in Pennsylvania courts.
Outside the office he maintains professional ties to several legal organizations. He holds memberships in the Pennsylvania Bar Association, the American Trial Lawyers Association, the Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association and the Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association. Those affiliations keep him connected to developments in trial practice and to a broader community of lawyers across the state and the country.
Colleagues describe him as methodical in the courtroom and straightforward at deposition. He draws on the procedural knowledge from his clerkship and the tactical work of private practice when advising clients and preparing cases for trial. He has spent decades practicing in Pennsylvania courts and brings that local familiarity to each matter he accepts.
He continues to practice through Anapol Weiss and remains active in trial practice and civil litigation in Pennsylvania. His current work involves managing litigation from initial filing through trial and post-trial proceedings.
