We are proud to share that James J. Ruggiero, Jr., Esq., founding partner of Ruggiero Law Offices, has been named to The Morning Call's 2026 Top Lawyers of the Lehigh Valley. This recognition celebrates the attorneys who have earned the trust and respect of clients, peers, and the communities they serve across our region — and we couldn't be more honored that Jim is part of this year's list.
For Jim and our team at the Center Valley office, this honor is especially meaningful. The Lehigh Valley is home to so many of the families, business owners, and retirees we are privileged to walk alongside through some of life's most important decisions — from building a first estate plan, to caring for aging parents, to passing a family business on to the next generation. Being recognized by this community is a humbling reminder of why we do this work.
Jim founded Ruggiero Law Offices in 1990 and has spent more than 35 years building a practice rooted in personal attention and deep technical knowledge. In addition to this year's Top Lawyers selection, he has been repeatedly named a Top Attorney by Main Line Today and Philadelphia Magazine, was honored with the Five Star Wealth Manager Best in Client Satisfaction Award for five consecutive years, and is one of a small group of attorneys nationwide to hold both the Accredited Estate Planner® (AEP®) designation and certification as an Estate Planning Law Specialist (EPLS) — the only estate planning specialty designation accredited by the American Bar Association.
That credentialing matters because estate planning, elder law, and Medicaid planning in Pennsylvania involve real complexity — the 5-year Medicaid look-back, PA inheritance tax tiers, the 2015 changes to the Power of Attorney law, federal estate tax exemption changes on the horizon — and families deserve guidance from someone who has spent a career mastering it. Whether you're in Chester County or the Main Line or across the Lehigh Valley, our team is here to make that complexity feel manageable.
Most of all, thank you. Thank you to the clients and families who have trusted us with your stories and your legacies. Thank you to the financial advisors, accountants, and fellow professionals who continue to refer the people you care about to our firm. And thank you to The Morning Call and the readers who voted — we are grateful to be counted among the Lehigh Valley's Top Lawyers for 2026.
If you'd like to talk with Jim or any member of our team about your estate plan, your aging parents' needs, or the future of your business, we'd love to hear from you. Call today, or reach out through our contact page to schedule a conversation.
