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Chapter 04 Vol. 15, Autumn 2026

The firm

Quillmere was founded in 2011 by two lawyers who had spent a decade defending employers at large firms and wanted to advise them earlier. Fifteen years on we are 31 people, 14 of them lawyers, in one office on Walnut Street.

founded
2011
people
31
lawyers
14
office
1

How we work

Five rules we keep

  1. The answer goes first.

    Every memo opens with what we would do. The reasoning follows for anyone who wants it, and most clients read the first paragraph only.

  2. Fixed fees where the work is knowable.

    If we can describe the work, we can price it. Hourly billing is kept for disputes, where the other side sets the pace.

  3. A partner reads everything that leaves.

    Associates draft and partners sign. No client receives advice that a partner has not read in full.

  4. We refer out what others do better.

    We do not handle benefits plans, immigration or union negotiations. We will introduce you to firms that do, and we take no referral fee.

  5. Settle what should settle.

    We try the cases that should be tried. The rest we settle early, and we will tell you which kind yours is in the first month.

People

Partners and counsel

  • Margit Halvorsen

    Founding partner

    Focus
    Restructuring and board matters
    Before
    Eleven years defending employers at a national firm
    Admitted
    PA, NJ, NY

  • Ezra Kettleby

    Founding partner

    Focus
    Investigations
    Before
    Former trial attorney with a state civil rights agency
    Admitted
    PA, DE

  • Priya Raman-Stowe

    Partner

    Focus
    Pay, classification and wage audits
    Before
    In-house employment counsel at a regional hospital system
    Admitted
    PA, NJ, MD

  • Colm Ferreira

    Partner

    Focus
    Disputes and negotiated exits
    Before
    Litigation associate, then a federal clerkship
    Admitted
    PA, NY, MA

  • Annelise Okonjo

    Partner

    Focus
    Multi-state compliance and hiring
    Before
    Head of people operations at a 700-person software company
    Admitted
    PA, VA, NC

  • Harriet Voss

    Of counsel

    Focus
    Handbooks and manager training
    Before
    Twenty years as a labor and employment partner
    Admitted
    PA, NJ

And 25 colleagues

AssociatesTwo to nine years in practice
8
Paralegals and investigatorsTwo certified workplace investigators
6
Compliance analystsState law tracking and audits
4
OperationsBilling, intake, conflicts and IT
7

Visit, or call

1418 Walnut Street, Floor 9Philadelphia, PA 19102Monday to Friday, 8:30 to 6:00 ET
Book a consultation(215) 555-0143
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