Feldman Shepherd is pleased to announce that partner Bethany R. Nikitenko has been elected as vice president of the Board of Directors of Philadelphia VIP. Nikitenko began her two-year term in February 2026.
Since 1981, Philadelphia VIP has helped low-income Philadelphians access pro bono legal services through volunteer lawyers. Nikitenko was appointed to the Board of Directors in 2024. She has served as a volunteer attorney for Philadelphia VIP since 2016. In 2022, she was honored as a Philadelphia VIP Champion of Justice in recognition of her work defending VIP clients in debt collection and tort/auto accident cases.
Nikitenko brings to the Board of Directors a long-standing commitment to volunteerism and helping people in need. In 2025, she was honored by The Legal Intelligencer with its Power Players Award for the instrumental role she played in shutting down Philadelphia’s for-profit eviction system following a string of eviction-related shootings. She is a past chair of the Philadelphia Bar Association Board of Governors. In 2018, she was honored by the Philadelphia Bar Association with its Craig M. Perry Service Award for her numerous volunteer activities, which have also included serving as a member of the Development Committee for Women Against Abuse and serving on the Executive Board of the Philadelphia Chapter of the American Jewish Committee.
At Feldman Shepherd, Nikitenko represents individuals and families who have been catastrophically injured by medical malpractice, auto and motor vehicle accidents, unsafe buildings, defective products and sexual abuse.
“My work with Philadelphia VIP has been among the most meaningful of my career. Access to justice should never depend on financial circumstances. I’m honored to step into this leadership role and to work alongside an extraordinary community of volunteers to expand access to legal services, deepen our impact, and ensure that more individuals and families have the advocacy, protection, and opportunity they deserve,” said Nikitenko.
“Bethany continues to inspire others with her selfless devotion to pro bono service” said Feldman Shepherd Co-Managing Partner Alan M. Feldman. “She will be a great addition to the leadership team at Philadelphia VIP.”
