Some say divorce can be more traumatic than death. While both involve loss, death can bring finality, whereas divorce lingers, particularly when children are involved. Parties must learn to move past anger, resentment, and distrust, while at the same time function as a parent, co-parent, or employee. Some may need to learn skills to re-enter the workforce. Many divorces are contentious, resulting in exorbitant legal fees, particularly if the cases go to trial. Mediation and collaborative divorce can provide an alternative to the contentious divorce, with parties having a hand in crafting a solution they can live with, rather than allowing a third person (a judge) to decide their fate and the fate of their children. To the extent parties cannot seem to agree on issues concerning the children, the use of parenting coordinators, both during and after a divorce, relieves the burden from parents who often disagree. This seminar will address alternative dispute resolutions to the legal process, the appropriate time to engage in those alternate dispute resolutions, and the benefits to mental health care practitioners in being educated in the processes to better guide their clients going through marital difficulties.
Rower LLC is a New York law firm dedicated to matrimonial and family law. Whether working with a couple to join their lives through a prenuptial agreement or dissolve their union through a divorce, we offer each client compassion and individualized attention, helping clients through complicated and often sensitive family law matters. We are zealous advocates, compassionate counselors, and trusted advisors. As mediators and parenting coordinators, we are skilled at reaching creative settlements, and in court are fearless litigators. Whether we are: 1) negotiating complex financial divorces through the courts, collaboratively or through mediation; 2) addressing contentious parenting issues through the courts, mediation, or parenting coordination; or 3) drafting prenuptial agreements, we work thoughtfully and meticulously to achieve our clients’ objectives.
Speakers
Louisa DeRose, partner
Louisa, who joined Rower LLC as partner in January of 2019, is no stranger to handling high stress, high conflict, high-stakes situations. Louisa’s first job after graduation from New York University as an undergraduate was working with mentally ill inmates at Rikers Island, New York’s largest jail complex. Upon graduating with honors from New York Law School, Louisa worked as an assistant district attorney at the Queens County District Attorney’s Office handling misdemeanor and felony cases.
Transitioning to family law, Louisa first practiced matrimonial law in a boutique Manhattan firm and then joined her family’s Queens-based law firm, DeRose & Surico. While her practice focuses on matrimonial and family law matters, the thorough knowledge of, and experience in complex transactional real estate law that Louisa gained at DeRose & Surico helps Rower’s clients find solutions to the many real estate issues that often crop up in divorce matters.
Louisa trained as a litigator, but having recognized that settling divorces and related issues outside of the courtroom can often be in a family’s best interest, Louisa trained as a mediator at the Ackerman Institute for the Family. She is as adept at helping her mediation clients collectively work towards making the best choices for their future, as she is fighting for her clients’ rights in the courtroom.
Outside of her professional activities and spending time with her husband and two children, Louisa enjoys cooking, reading fiction and taking long walks with her dogs.
Leslie Stewart Sullivan, partner
Leslie, who has been with Rower LLC since its inception, has advocated for clients in the
courtroom the entirety of her legal career and brings a unique set of skills to the
firm. Following law school, Leslie was a civil defense trial lawyer in Atlanta, Georgia, handling all aspects of litigation from inception to resolution. She gained valuable experience arguing motions before trial and appellate courts and successfully serving as lead counsel in both bench and jury trials. Leslie demonstrates an innate ability to strategically plan and develop cases with the client’s end-goal in mind. While Leslie has significant courtroom experience, she also advocates for alternative dispute resolution when the client’s needs wil l be better met in that forum.
Rower LLC has been deeply enriched by Leslie’s decision to return to the work place after
having raised her two children and moving to New York. With over twenty years combined experience in the legal and non-profit industries and a passion for helping others, Leslie is especially equipped to help Rower LLC’s clients through the divorce process.
Leslie received her BBA in finance from the University of Georgia and her JD from Georgia State University. Before entering law school, Leslie worked at a financial institution managing corporate clients. During law school, Leslie received the American Jurisprudence Award in Research Writing and Advocacy; served as a graduate research assistant for a trust and estates professor, where she helped edit articles for publication; was active in the International and Comparative Law Society, where she served as treasurer; and was a member of the National Moot Court Team. Following law school, Leslie was active in the Litigation Section of the Atlanta Bar Association, the Lawyers’ Club, and the Junior League of Atlanta, which fostered her interest in helping others through difficult times.
Leslie serves as the First District Representative on the Executive Committee of the Family Law Section of the New York State Bar Association. She is a trained mediator and parenting coordinator. Her talents include organizing and managing cases and servicing clients’ needs with thoughtfulness, compassion and a particular understanding of the financi al issues many divorcing couples face. Staying true to her southern roots, she remains dignified, even in the midst of fiercely passionate arguments and negotiations.
Leslie grew up in Georgia, but now makes Manhattan her home. A recent empty nester, she spends most weekends in Central Park where she enjoys exercising, and she has been excited to see Broadway return. She continues her passion of helping others by serving meals to the homeless through Hope for New York.
Sarah B. Hechtman, counsel
Sarah has been a matrimonial and family law attorney for more than 15 years. In addition to her skills as a litigator, Sarah is an experienced mediator and collaborative lawyer who is committed to helping clients resolve their family disputes in as peaceful and dignified a way as possible. Acknowledging that “one size does not fit all,” Sarah seeks to help clients
resolve their matters in the way that works best for them, whether through negotiation or
litigation.
Sarah is experienced in handling complex divorce cases involving substantial financial assets as well as highly contested child custody issues. She has successfully negotiated and drafted pre- and postnuptial agreements and has represented clients in numerous family offense, child support enforcement, and grandparent visitation proceedings. Additionally, she practices in the area of fertility law, assisting intended parents, gestational surrogates, and biological donors in navigating the legal issues implicated in the use of assisted reproductive technologies.
Before practicing exclusively in the area of family law, Sarah gained valuable litigation
experience as a prosecutor for the New York County District Attorney’s Office where she
specialized in cases involving domestic violence and sex crimes, and as a civil rights lawyer prosecuting class action cases on behalf of children. It was her commitment to the welfare of children and families that led her to train in alternative methods of resolving family law disputes. She has extensive training as a mediator and mediates matrimonial cases for the court system, as well as privately. She is a member of the New York Association of Collaborative Professionals, an interdisciplinary group of legal, psychological, and financial specialists committed to the resolution of family law disputes outside of the court system.
Sarah’s clients have described her as an “oasis of sanity” and “the silver lining” in an
otherwise unpleasant situation. She believes that her appreciation of each client’s unique
circumstances enables her to effectively tailor her representation to individual needs. Her
natural understanding for varying perspectives makes her a compassionate and effective
mediator, as well as a formidable advocate.
Sarah is a member of the American Bar Association, the New York State Bar Association,
the Westchester County Bar Association, and the Women’s Bar Association of the State of
New York, co-chairing its Reproductive Rights Committee. She serves as a mentor and
career counselor for students at her alma mater, Harvard College, from which she received a bachelor’s degree in psychology. She also holds a master’s degree in public policy from the London School of Economics and Political Science and received her JD from Columbia Law School. Sarah lives in Westchester County with her husband and children (and dog), loves to hike and bike, and is obsessed with true crime podcasts.