Partner

Patrick Morgan

Attorney Patrick E. Morgan began practicing law in August 2008 as a contract employee with Ellis & Winters, LLC in Raleigh. In January 2009, Mr. Morgan began his own practice handling criminal and traffic cases. Since that time, Mr. Morgan has continued to build his practice, focusing on criminal, traffic and family law in Durham, Orange, Chatham and Wake counties. He has recently partnered with his wife, Attorney Valeria Cesanelli, to form Morgan & Cesanelli Law.

Mr. Morgan currently attends court in Chapel Hill, Hillsborough, Durham, Pittsboro, Siler City, Raleigh and other counties as needed. He has special training in defending DWI cases. Mr. Morgan is fluent in Spanish, and proudly works to serve the legal needs of the Hispanic, as well as, English-speaking community. In addition, Mr. Morgan takes court-appointed cases in Orange and Chatham counties, where he proudly and vigorously represents people who cannot afford a private attorney. Mr. Morgan is an advocate for all people, regardless of race, religion, or sexual orientation, and is devoted to seeking justice and equality for all.

In his free time, Mr. Morgan enjoys spending time with his wife and children, working in the garden, hiking, camping, grilling out, and listening to music. An avid sports fan, Mr. Morgan roots for the Tar Heels and other ACC teams in basketball, football, soccer and other collegiate sports.

Partner

Valeria Cesanelli

Attorney Val Cesanelli handles family law cases for our firm, with a focus on child custody cases and matters arising out of the process of separation and divorce, such as separation agreements and questions of spousal and child support. Val also handles other family related cases, such as paternity actions, legitimations, name changes and changes in birth certificates, as well as provides drafting services of powers of attorneys and simple wills.

Val is as much a litigator as she is a counselor at law for her clients. As a mother of three children and three stepchildren, Val is both professionally and personally very aware of the complex issues involved in the process of separation and divorce. Val draws from her background in the social sciences to ran a practice that is not only compassionate and committed to the best interest of her clients, but that also seeks to minimize both the financial as well as the emotional turmoil  that oftentimes accompanies divorce. By providing her clients with strategic legal planning at the outset of the divorce process, Val offers her clients ongoing counseling in legal matters regarding the wellbeing of both the divorcing and the divorced families. 

Outside the office, Val frequently provides pro bono legal services to the broader community. She is particularly interested in the issues concerning the immigrant community that affect a large portion of her clients. If you are a member of an organization that would enjoy having Val and Patrick talk to your members about their legal rights, please don't hesitate to email Val! Reach her at valeria@morgancesanelli.com. 

Activities & Affiliations

• North Carolina Bar Association, Member

• North Carolina Advocates for Justice, Immigration Section Secretary

• El Centro Hispano, supporting member, pro bono attorney

• Apex Chamber of Commerce, Member.

Bar Admissions

• North Carolina

Education

University of North Carolina School of Law
Juris Doctor, 2009

Universidad de Buenos Aires
B.S./M.S. Sociology, 1997