Deborah L. Lesko has a passion for helping people achieve equitable and healthy resolutions to legal issues and conflicts, a passion for confident and strategic legal planning, and a passion for helping people achieve their goals through expert and caring legal services. She has had the privilege of serving the legal needs of individuals and families since becoming an attorney in 1983.

Deborah’s focus of her practice is in adoption law (including private & agency adoption, relative and step-parent adoption, domestic and international adoption); estate planning (including wills, trusts, powers of attorney, living wills) estate administration (probate, trusts, inheritance tax); family and divorce law (including prenuptial agreements, cohabitation agreements, custody, support, and equitable distribution of property); and mediation (alternative dispute resolution).

She has received numerous court appointments to serve as counsel for children or parents in adoption matters, and has served as a court appointed Parent Coordinator.

Through 2007, Deborah was partner in the firm of Shields & Lesko, PC: She then founded The Law and Mediation Offices of Deborah L. Lesko, P.C. in November 2007. Deborah is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Law in 1983, and a graduate of Pennsylvania State University with a Degree in Accounting in 1979.

A sought-after speaker, Deborah has provided course planning, written materials, and teaching for attorneys through The Pennsylvania Bar Institute, The National Business Institute, and the Allegheny County Bar Association. In addition, she is a regular teacher/presenter for numerous professional and community organizations, having presented seminars for The Children’s Home Of Pittsburgh And Lemieux Family Center, Adoption Connection, PA, Catholic Charities Diocese of Greensburg, A Labor of Love, and many community and church organizations for senior citizens, adopting parents, and divorce support groups, as a public service to educate and encourage others.

Deborah is a member of numerous professional organizations, including:

Pennsylvania Bar Association
Allegheny County Bar Association
American Academy of Adoption Attorneys
Adoption Rules Committee for Orphans’ Court, Allegheny County, (Chair 2007-2008)
Allegheny County Bar Association Task Force on Adoption (1992)
Allegheny County Bar Association Adoption Committee (Chairperson 1994)
Allegheny County Bar Association Family Law Division
Allegheny County Bar Association Alternate Dispute Resolution Committee
Pennsylvania Council of Mediators
Peacemakers Mediation Services – Executive Director and Founder

Other activities have included: Women Without Walls Ministry (Past Executive Director, a ministry dedicated to the unity of Christians of all denominational and ethnic backgrounds); Teacher of numerous Bible Study classes at South Hills Assembly of God; Guest teacher/speaker for various churches; Teacher/speaker for Women Without Walls Ministry Downtown Bible Study; Hillcrest Christian School Board Member (1984-1987); Recipient of 2002 Award from Pittsburgh Women 2000 for her outstanding work in breaking down racial barriers; Church Board Member at South Hills Assembly of God (2010-2014); Awardee of Tribune Review 2020 Best of the Best attorneys in Allegheny South of Pittsburgh Community Choice.