February 05, 2012Kathleen Donelli, who is a Collaborative lawyer and heads up our Matrimonial & Family Law group, was part of a panel discussion on February 5, 2012 entitled "Ethics and Professionalism Update 2012" in White Plains, New York at Pace University School of Law. The panel reviewed the Rules of Professional Conduct. After an overview and update, the panel used a hypothetical to examine issues including advertising, solicitation, client relations, conflicts of interest, dealing with represented and unrepresented parties, specialization, competence, prosecutorial abuse and civility.
January 10, 2012Kathleen Donelli, who chairs our Matrimonial & Family Law group, was the moderator of a program on January 10, 2012 sponsored by the Matrimonial Committee of the Westchester Women's Bar Association, entitled, "Impact of the Current Economy on Matrimonial Cases: House Sales, Foreclosures and Bankruptcies."
November 30, 2011Kathleen Donelli lectured on "Avoiding Ethical Dilemmas in Day-to-Day Practice" at the Marriott Hotel in Tarrytown, New York on November 30, 2011 for the Committee on Attorney Professionalism of the New York State Bar Association.
November 18, 2011Dolores Gebhardt, who is a member of our Appellate Practice and Matrimonial & Family Law groups, was the moderator of the bi-annual Continuing Legal Education program on Appellate Practice sponsored by the New York State Bar Association's Committee on Courts of Appellate Jurisdiction. Dolores also lectured at this program on "Special Considerations in Matrimonial Appeals". Click at Outline to see Dolores' written presentation for this program.
October 25, 2011Hon. Sondra M. Miller and Kathleen Donelli, members of our Matrimonial & Family Law and Collaborative Law groups, were invited and met with the New York State Law Revision Commission (“LRC”) at a Roundtable Meeting on Maintenance Awards in Divorce Proceedings on October 25, 2011 at Albany Law School in Albany, New York. Both Judge Miller and Kathleen had the opportunity to discuss the legislation that the New York State Legislature has directed the LRC to propose by December 31, 2011 on maintenance awards.
October 04, 2011Two of our partners have been selected Super Lawyers in the New York Metropolitan area. Kathleen Donelli has again been selected in the fields of Family Law/Collaborative Law/Appellate. Joe Brophy has again been selected in the fields of Personal Injury/Medical Malpractice, and, this year, in the field of General, Estate & Trust Litigation. Joe has also been selected as one of Westchester's top 25 lawyers. Super Lawyers is a listing of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have been recognized by their colleagues as having the highest degree of peer recognition and professional achievement.
July 12, 2011Dolores Gebhardt, who is a member of the firm's Collaborative Law and Matrimonial & Family Law groups, lectured on July 12, 2011 on "Basic Matrimonial Law" at the 2011 Summer Justice Academy for Young Women. The Summer Justice Academy is a unique, one-week, intensive immersion program introducing 40 minority and disadvantaged female high school students to different legal disciplines. Its mission is to inspire and empower these young women to pursue education leading to careers in law. The program was sponsored by the New York Chapter of the National Association of Women Judges and Pace Law School.
June 15, 2011Dolores Gebhardt was elected secretary of the White Plains Bar Association on June 15, 2011.
June 15, 2011Gail M. Boggio, Kathleen Donelli and Dolores Gebhardt were elected and then sworn in as directors of the Women's Bar Association of the State of New York.
May 21, 2011Dolores Gebhardt and Kathleen Donelli lectured on May 21, 2011 in Manchester, Vermont for the Women's Bar Association of the State of New York on the "New Matrimonial Laws: No Fault Divorce, Temporary and Post Divorce Maintenance Guidelines, Counsel & Expert Fees, Modification of Child Support And Orders of Protection." See Seminar Outline.
April 28, 2011
Hon. Sondra M. Miller was selected as the "Pace Setter" and received the "Above the Bar" award on April 28, 2011 in White Plains, New York.
March 24, 2011As an Adjunt Professor at Hofstra University School of Law, Dolores Gebhardt teaches a course on Collaborative Matrimonial Law. On March 24, 2011, Dolores talked to Professor Yishai Boyarin's class at Hofstra, "Alternatives to Litigation", about her work and experiences in Collaborative Law.
March 23, 2011Kathleen Donelli spoke on March 23, 2011 in White Plains, New York to New York State Supreme Court Justices on the "New Matrimonial Legislation" at the New York State Judicial Institute at Pace. Click at Outline to see seminar materials.
February 05, 2011Kathleen Donelli was part of a panel discussion on "Ethics and Professionalism Update 2011" in White Plains, New York on February 5, 2011 at Pace University School of Law. The panel reviewed the Rules of Professional Conduct. After an overview and update, the panel used a hypothetical to examine issues including advertising, solicitation, client relations, conflicts of interest, dealing with represented and unrepresented parties, specialization, competence, prosecutorial abuse and civility.
February 04, 2011Hon. Sondra M. Miller, who has been a long-time proponent of "no fault" divorce and helped bring upon its passage in law last year, was interviewed by the New York Law Journal (2/4/2011) to comment on a recent ruling on the new law by Essex County Justice Robert J. Muller. Justice Muller is the second judge to rule that a trial is required if a party disputes whether, under the new law, a marriage has "broken down irretrievably." The article went on to say:
"Sondra Miller, the former Second Department justice who headed a commission appointed by former Chief Judge Judith S. Kaye to examine the state's matrimonial laws, disagreed with Justice Muller's conclusion stating that the 'irretrievably broken' language must be read in the context within which it was written. . . . 'It is quite clear,' Ms. Miller said, that the 'purpose' of the language referring to an oath provided by 'one party' was to 'avoid litigation.' 'It was not the intent of the Legislature and the bill's sponsors to avoid litigation on fault grounds only to substitute litigation upon the ground of irretrievable breakdown,' added Ms. Miller who is now chief counsel at McCarthy Fingar in White Plains. 'The statute was designed to avoid the expense and delay of full trials.'"
February 01, 2011Joel Martin Aurnou has been elected Co-Chair of the Appellate Practice section of the Westchester County Bar Association.
January 19, 2011Hon. Sondra M. Miller spoke at the Rockland County Courthouse in New City at the induction ceremony of newly elected Justice Linda J. Christopher.
January 10, 2011Dolores Gebhardt, as President of the Westchester Women's Bar Association, was a speaker on January 10, 2011 at the Richard J. Daronco County Courthouse in White Plains, New York at the induction ceremony of newly elected judges.
October 27, 2010
This year for the first time, two of our partners have been selected Super Lawyers in the New York Metropolitan area. Kathleen Donelli has been selected in the fields of Family Law/Collaborative Law/Appellate. Joe Brophy has been selected for the fourth straight year in the field of Personal Injury/Medical Malpractice. Super Lawyers is a listing of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have been recognized by their colleagues as having the highest degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Super Lawyers has a rigorous selection process; only five percent of all lawyers in each state are eligible for consideration, and far fewer are selected.
June 01, 2010Dolores Gebhardt was elected President of the Westchester Women's Bar Association (June, 2010). In her remarks at WWBA's annual banquet, in which WWBA celebrated its 35th Anniversary, Dolores spoke of the proud traditions of WWBA in assisting women in many different ways. She also spoke of the need to encourage more men to join WWBA. Dolores had this to say: “We began 35 years ago as a bar association of women who were concerned about issues concerning women and children. Now, I am proud to say, we are no longer an association of women. We are proud of the 67 men who have joined our ranks . . . . One of my goals as President will be to encourage and further develop the active participation of men in our bar association. I invite every male attorney in Westchester – if you have a wife, a mother, a sister or a daughter – if you love women, join us and help make a difference in their lives!” See WWBA’s site for a full description of Dolores’ comments and for more information about WWBA. During Dolores' term as President, this site will report on her important work for WWBA and women in Westchester County.
April 01, 2010Kristen L. Mackay (n/k/a Pennessi), a member of our Business Litigation and Matrimonial & Family Law groups, was featured in a "Practitioner Profile" in the April, 2010 newsletter of Pace University School of Law. The article also spoke of Kristen's involvement with Judge Miller on the Post-Miller Commission for Change. "Since June 2007, Kristen has also served as a representative on the Post-Miller Commission for Change. As a representative, Kristen attends monthly meetings and participates in forums to develop best practices and effect reform in the matrimonial and family law systems in an effort to reduce trauma, delay and cost to parties, children and families." Click at Report to see the recommendations of the Matrimonial Commission chaired by Judge Miller.
June 01, 2009Dolores Gebhardt was elected Treasurer of the Westchester Women's Bar Association.
March 09, 2009Kathleen Donelli has been appointed by the Presiding Justice of the Appellate Division, Second Department, the Hon. A. Gail Prudente, to serve on the Grievance Committee for the Ninth Judicial District.
December 05, 2008Kathleen Donelli lectured on Ethics & Professionalism at the Marriott Hotel in Tarrytown, New York on December 5, 2008 for the Committee on Attorney Professionalism of the New York State Bar Association.
September 01, 2008Kristen L. Mackay (n/k/a Pennessi) has joined the firm as an associate and is a member of our Business Litigation and Matrimonial & Family Law groups.
June 17, 2008Hon. Sondra M. Miller was interviewed by the New York Law Journal as a spokesperson for various state and local bar groups who lobbied Albany legislators for an amendment of divorce law to permit "no fault" divorce. Judge Miller, who is also the Director of the Office of Family Services for the Office of Court Administration, organized the event in Albany, to remind legislators of the need to change the divorce laws and to highlight the near-unanimous support that the no-fault option has among bar groups. In her interview, Judge Miller also spoke of the difficulties the no-fault option faced in the current legislative session, since no-fault divorce is just one of a myriad of items vying for attention. In the interview, Judge Miller said: "They are not focused on this issue. And we, as a group, are at a disadvantage because we are not lobbyists."
March 01, 2008Dolores Gebhardt was featured in the Westchester Business Journal’s March 2008 supplement, “Working Women of Westchester.” In her interview, Dolores had this to say about her background and experiences: "My grandfather was a union shop steward and I naturally gravitated toward labor law. I graduated from the Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations and Hofstra Law School and immediately went to work as a field attorney at the National Labor Relations Board. I switched to matrimonial law after I went through my own divorce. It was a painful, difficult experience and I believed that I could prevent what happened to me from happening to clients of mine."
January 03, 2008Kathleen Donelli lectured on January 3, 2008 in New York, New York on "Protecting Assets Before a Divorce” for the Planned Giving and Endowments Department of UJA Federation of NY. For lecture materials, click on Seminar Outline.
November 08, 2007Hon. Sondra M. Miller was a keynote speaker on November 8, 2007 for The Family & Divorce Mediation Council of Greater New York (FDMCGNY) at its 25th anniversary gala celbration in New York, New York. FDMCGNY is a not-for-profit group dedicated to the constructive resolution of traditional and non-traditional family disputes.
November 01, 2007Dolores Gebhardt and Hon. Sonda M. Miller authored an article in the Pace Law Review, Justice Abandoned: Forty Years of Stalemate in Actions for Divorce on the Ground of Abandonment, 27 Pace Law Review 605 (2007). Click on Article to see this publication.
October 23, 2007Joel Martin Aurnou and Joseph J. Brophy lectured on October 23, 2007 for the Westchester Women's Bar Association in White Plains, New York on "Expert Witnesses in Matrimonial Cases: Direct and Cross-Examination." For lecture materials, click on Seminar Outline.
October 11, 2007Dolores Gebhardt and Hon. Sondra M. Miller spoke at a forum in New York City at the Association of the Bar of the City of New York on October 11, 2007, entitled "The Need for No-Fault Divorce."
June 01, 2007Kathleen Donelli has been appointed by Mayor Delfino to serve as a member of the City of White Plains Judicial Review Committee.
April 17, 2007Kathleen Donelli lectured on "How to Handle a Custody Case" on April 17, 2007 at the Holiday Inn in Mount Kisco, New York for the Family Law Section of the New York State Bar Association.
April 02, 2007Hon. Sondra M. Miller has joined the Board of Directors of Legal Services of the Hudson Valley.
April 01, 2007In the aftermath of the recent bribery conviction of former state Supreme Court Justice Gerald P. Garson, there has been substantial media coverage of the manner in which matrimonial and family law cases are litigated in the court system, including the role of law guardians, who act as attorneys for the children. Kathleen Donelli was interviewed by The Institute for Judicial Studies for Judicial Reports (http://www.judicialreports.com) on this issue. “I’ve found them to be very instrumental for settling cases in matrimonial court,” said Kathleen. She also said that, “[s]ince the Miller Commission there has been an emphasis on the law guardian’s duty to interview the child and communicate the child’s situation to the court." Click at Report (PDF) to see the recommendations of the Matrimonial Commission, which was led by Judge Miller, who serves as the firm's Chief Counsel.
April 01, 2007Hon. Sondra M. Miller In the aftermath of the recent bribery conviction of former state Supreme Court Justice Gerald P. Garson, there has been substantial media coverage of the manner in which matrimonial and family law cases are litigated in the court system. Judge Miller, who headed the Matrimonial Commission formed by Chief Judge Judith S. Kaye, was interviewed by The Institute for Judicial Studies for both her observations on the case and efforts to implement the recommendations of the Matrimonial Commission. For excerpts of that interview, click at Interview. Click at Report to see the recommendations of the Matrimonial Commission.
February 03, 2007Kathleen Donelli lectured on February 3, 2007 in White Plains, New York at Pace University School of Law on "Ethics and Professionalism".
Kathleen Donelli has joined the Board of Directors of Legal Services of the Hudson Valley.
Kathleen Donelli was elected Vice Chair of the Board of Visitors of Pace University School of Law.
November 17, 2006Kathleen Donelli lectured on Ethics & Professionalism at the Marriott Hotel in Tarrytown, New York on November 17, 2006 for the Committee on Attorney Professionalism of the New York State Bar Association.
Charles F. Crames has joined the firm as counsel and is a member of our Trusts and Estates, Taxation, and Matrimonial and Family Law groups.
October 24, 2006Hon. Sondra M. Miller lectured on Ethical Considerations and Attorney Fees as part of an all-day program in Tarrytown, New York on October 24, 2006 entitled "Probate and Administration of Estates" for the Trusts & Estates Law Section of the New York State Bar Association.
October 21, 2006Kathleen Donelli lectured on October 21, 2006 on "Collaborative Law" at the Annual Law Guardian Training Program in White Plains, New York at Pace University School of Law. For lecture materials and/or Power Point presentation, click on Outline.
Kathleen Donelli lectured on October 3, 2006 on "Equitable Distribution in Matrimonial Actions" at the law firm of Boies Schiller & Flexner LLP in Armonk, New York at a program sponsored by the Northern Westchester Shelter and Westchester Women's Bar Association. For lecture materials, click on Seminar Outline.
Kathleen Donelli lectured on September 27, 2006 on "Women & the Art of Negotiation: Practice Points for Success" at Pace University School of Law in White Plains, New York, sponsored by Westchester Women's Bar Association and Pace.
May 09, 2006Howell Bramson and Kathleen Donelli lectured on "Tax Issues Related to Divorce" on May 9, 2006 at The Bank of New York in White Plains. For lecture materials, click on Seminar Outline.
April 28, 2006Kathleen Donelli lectured on Ethical Issues in Matrimonial Cases at the Marriott Hotel in Tarrytown, New York on April 28, 2006 for the Family Law Section of the New York State Bar Association.
Kathleen Donelli lectured on March 6, 2006 at St. John’s University School of Law on "Introduction and Overview to Collaborative Law".
February 08, 2006Kathleen Donelli lectured on February 8, 2006 at Pace University School of Law on "Initial Contact with Matrimonial Clients". For lecture materials, click on Seminar Outline.
Kathleen Donelli lectured on February 4, 2006 at Pace University School of Law on "Ethics and Professionalism". For lecture materials, click on Seminar Outline.
January 01, 2006We are pleased to announce that Judge Sondra M. Miller, retired from the Appellate Division, Second Judicial Department, as of January 1, 2006, has joined our Firm as Chief Counsel. Judge Miller is a member of the Firm's Business Litigation and Matrimonial & Family Law groups and will lead the Firm's appellate practice.
January 01, 2006We are pleased to announce that Dolores Gebhardt has been named a partner of the Firm. Dolores will continue to practice in the areas of Business Litigation and Matrimonial and Family Law.
We are pleased to announce that Deborah Yurchuk McCarthy has been named a partner of the Firm. Deborah will continue to practice in the areas of Business Litigation, Surrogate’s Court Litigation, Bankruptcy and Matrimonial and Family Law.
December 09, 2005Kathleen Donelli lectured on Professional Ethics at the Marriott Hotel in Tarrytown, New York on December 9, 2005 for the Committee on Attorney Professionalism of the New York State Bar Association.
November 03, 2005Kathleen Donelli was an honoree at Pace University School of Law's Alumni Leadership Awards Dinner on November 3, 2005. Click at photograph for a photo from the event.
August 01, 2005Michelle L. Santoro has joined the firm as an associate and is a member of our Business Litigation and Matrimonial and Family Law groups.
May 14, 2005Kathleen Donelli was elected to the Board of Directors of the Women's Bar Association of the State of New York.
April 28, 2005The Firm co-sponsored the Fourth Annual "Take our Children to Work Day" on April 28, 2005, a program hosted in White Plains, New York by the United States District Court, Southern District of New York. One of our partners, Kathleen Donelli, President of the Westchester Women's Bar Association, spoke to approximately 60 children attending the program about the importance of our jury system.
February 05, 2005Kathleen Donelli lectured on February 5, 2005 at Pace University School of Law on "Ethics and Professionalism". For lecture materials, click on Seminar Outline.
November 13, 2004As part of the 75th Anniversary celebration of the YWCA of White Plains and Central Westchester, Kathleen Donelli was selected and honored as one of Westchester County's outstanding women. The YWCA gives this honor to women who, by their achievements, commitment and leadership, have inspired others while making the community a better place to live and whose actions exemplify the YWCA's mission: to empower women and eliminate racism. To celebrate the YWCA's 75th Anniversary and the award recipients' leadership, a gala was held on November 13, 2004 at the Surf Club in New Rochelle. Gloria Steinem was the guest speaker. The Westchester District Attorney, Jeanine Pirro, was the honorary Chairperson. As a special honorary, Kathleen was inducted into the YWCA Academy.
July 27, 2004Kathleen Donelli lectured on July 27, 2004 in White Plains, New York for Pace University School of Law's Women’s Justice Center on “Divorce Law in New York State". For lecture materials, click on Seminar Outline.
March 10, 2004Kathleen Donelli co-chaired a luncheon of the Girl Scouts of Westchester*Putnam on March 10, 2004, held at Abigail Kirsch-Tappan Hill in Tarrytown, New York, celebrating that organization's 25th anniversary.
Kathleen Donelli lectured on March 9, 2004 and March 18, 2004 in Elmsford, New York on “Equitable Distribution" as part of a program offered by the Westchester Women's Bar Association, in partnership with the Northern Westchester Shelter and Victims Assistance Services. For lecture materials, click on Seminar Outline1 and Seminar Outline2.
February 07, 2004Kathleen Donelli lectured on February 7, 2004 at Pace University School of Law on "Ethics and Professionalism". For lecture materials, click on Seminar Outline.
January 22, 2004Kathleen Donelli, as President of the Westchester Women's Bar Association, was a speaker on January 22, 2004 at the Richard J. Daronco County Courthouse in White Plains, New York at the induction ceremony of newly elected judges.
June 12, 2003Kathleen Donelli lectured on June 12, 2003 in White Plains, New York for Pace University School of Law's Women’s Justice Center on “Pendente Lite Motions: Temporary Support and Relief Pending a Divorce Judgment." For lecture materials, click on Seminar Outline.
Kathleen Donelli was elected President of the Westchester Women's Bar Association.
June 04, 2003Kathleen Donelli was elected to the Board of Directors of The Westchester County Association, Inc.
April 01, 2003Dolores Gebhardt authored an article (“Awards of Attorney’s Fees: Call a Spade a Spade, and You May Get Paid”) for the Spring, 2003 newsletter for the Westchester County Bar Association. Click here to view this article.
February 01, 2003Kathleen Donelli lectured on February 1, 2003 at Pace University School of Law's on "Ethics and Professionalism". For lecture materials, click on Seminar Outline.
January 01, 2003Joel Martin Aurnou has joined the firm as Counsel.
November 19, 2002Kathleen Donelli lectured on November 19, 2002 in White Plains, New York for the White Plains Bar Association on “Letters of Engagement.” For lecture materials, click on Seminar Outline.
November 13, 2002Kathleen Donelli lectured on November 13, 2002 in White Plains, New York for the Westchester Women's Bar Association on "Letters of Engagement and Fee Dispute Arbitration." For lecture materials, click on Seminar Outline.
June 05, 2002Kathleen Donelli lectured on June 5, 2002 in White Plains, New York for Lorman Education Services on “Children’s Records Law in New York: Access to Mental Health Records.” For lecture materials, click on Seminar Outline.
May 28, 2002Kathleen Donelli lectured on May 28, 2002 in White Plains, New York for Pace University School of Law's Justice Center on “Child Support and Maintenance." For lecture materials, click on Seminar Outline.
April 24, 2002Kathleen Donelli lectured on April 24, 2002 in White Plains, New York for the Westchester Women's Bar Association on "Taking and Defending Depositions." For lecture materials, click on Seminar Outline.
February 02, 2002Kathleen Donelli lectured in White Plains, New York on February 2, 2002 as part of a panel discussion on "Ethics and Professionalism" for Pace University School of Law's Continuing Legal Education program.
November 27, 2001Dolores Gebhardt lectured on November 27, 2001 for the Westchester Division of the Pace Women's Justice Center on "Current Trends in Equitable Distribution" as a part of the Family Law Lecture Series.
November 01, 2001Kathleen Donelli was elected a fellow of The American Bar Foundation.
Kathleen Donelli is a member of the Board of Visitors of Pace University School of Law.
November 01, 2001Dolores Gebhardt has joined the firm as an associate. She will be primarily working in the Business Litigation and Matrimonial and Family Law practice groups.
June 19, 2001Kathleen Donelli lectured on June 19, 2001 for Lorman Education on Access to Children’s Medical Records.
February 01, 2001Kathleen Donelli was elected Vice-President of the Westchester Women's Bar Association.
March 28, 1996Kathleen Donelli, who won a landmark New York State Court of Appeals custody decision in Tropea v. Tropea, 87 N.Y.2d 727, 665 N.E.2d 145, 642 N.Y.S.2d 575 (1996) and frequently lectures on child relocation issues, was interviewed by the New York Times (3/28/1996) on child relocation cases. In the interview, Kathleen, who represented the mother in Tropea, said that Tropea should not be read as endorsing the traditional view of custody disputes that a mother should always triumph. She then had this to say:
"'More and more fathers are gaining custody of their children,' Ms. Donelli said, pointing to a 1993 Court of Appeals decision that blocked a father with custody from moving to New Jersey with his new wife to ease their commute to their jobs. 'Now there is less of a burden for a custodial parent to gain permission to relocate,' she added."
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