Attorney Profiles

Vern Anastasio provides Real Estate focus to the Law Office of Lawrence Avallone. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Anastasio was in private practice, representing real estate developers, homeowners and commercial clients with zoning matters, property transactions, condominium conversions and construction issues.

Mr. Anastasio also served as a Staff Attorney at the Redevelopment Authority of the city of Philadelphia, where he managed real estate acquisitions, dispositions and dealt with all major eminent domain matters. He authored the Authority's 2006 Real Estate Disposition reforms and is a freelance contributor to the Philadelphia Inquirer on matters dealing with zoning, development and city government. Mr. Anastasio was a Mayoral appointee to the Mayor's Gaming Task Force on casinos, is a member of the Dean's Advisory Council at Drexel University's School of Nursing, Chair of the Bella Vista Land Use Committee, founder of the Bella Vista United Civic Association, former Board Member of Muggshots Coffee, Inc., and former Chair of the 9th Street Italian Market Renovations Committee.

Anastasio is a former Legislative Aide to Philadelphia City Council, former Administrator of the Philadelphia Fair Housing Commission and former Chief of Staff in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Mr. Anastasio has moderated several city-wide forums on real estate development and zoning reform, helped dozens of entrepreneurs secure proper permits to start small businesses and recently served as a Special Adviser to the Dougherty For State Senate campaign in 2008. Anastasio sought the Democratic nomination in 2007 to become the youngest elected District Council Member in the City of Philadelphia, earning endorsements from numerous individuals and organizations including Tom Knox, Americans for Democratic Action, the Philadelphia Chapter of the National Organization for Women and all major Unions representing the Philadelphia building trades.

Mr. Anastasio is a graduate of LaSalle University (B.A. 1991), Emerson College (M.A. 1994) and Widener University School of Law (J.D. 2005). He lives in the Bella Vista section of Philadelphia.