Our Paralegals

Joanne Wildgen

            Joanne Wildgen is Purcell, Mulcahy, Hawkins, Flanagan & Lawless's Senior Paralegal and has more than twenty-four years of experience. She has been with the firm since the spring of 1989.  Joanne graduated from Douglass College at Rutgers, and received her teaching certificate from Kean College. Joanne has completed courses in paralegal studies, accounting and mathematics at Raritan Valley Community College and Rutgers University. She has taken several courses offered by the National Business Institute and New Jersey's Continuing Legal Education Board.

            Joanne has experience in a wide array of legal areas. Her areas of practice throughout the years have been in Environmental Insurance Defense, Complex Insurance Coverage Litigation, and more recently with a concentration in Wills, Trusts and Estates and Real Estate. 

Brad Takeall 

            Brad Takeall has a strong litigation background. He began working at the firm in March of 2010.  As a litigation paralegal, Brad assists the firm's associates and partners in all phases of civil litigation practice areas including school board law, personal injury, insurance coverage, insurance defense, sexual harassment and general litigation. Brad reviews contracts, obtains discovery, drafts motions and briefs, prepares arbitration statements and assists in trial preparation in both state and federal courts. 

Michelle Blackwelder

            Michelle Blackwelder joined the firm in 2008. Michelle works primarily in the personal injury and litigation practice groups.  Michelle has a degree in Applied Science and Paralegal Studies. She has completed several courses offered by New Jersey's Legal Education Board including seminars on school law, medical records and mastering trials. Michelle is also a member of several professional associations and is a New Jersey Public Notary.           

Stacy Cleary 

            Stacy Cleary joined the firm in 2008. Stacy attended the University of Scranton from 2000-2005 part-time and then graduated from DeSales University with a B.S. in Criminal Justice, after attending part-time from 2005 to 2007.  She received her Legal Assistant Certification in May 2002 from Allied Medical & Technical Careers. Stacy primarily works on cases involving personal injury, premises liability, construction defect litigation and consumer fraud. She has taken courses with the National Business Institute and the New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education.  Stacy is a member of the Paralegal Association of New Jersey, the Middlesex County Bar Association, and several associations in Pennsylvania.

Danielle Figaro           

            Danielle Figaro joined the firm in 2007 in the personal injury department, and now works as a litigation and transactional paralegal.  Danielle graduated from Delaware State University in 2004 with a B.A. in Broadcast and Print Journalism and a minor in English Literature. She earned her Paralegal Certification from Fairleigh Dickinson University in 2006. She is a member of the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA). Danielle is also a New Jersey Public Notary.