Below is a roundup of the recent awards, recognitions, and other important accomplishments of Blank Rome’s Matrimonial & Family Law attorneys from around the country.
Stacy D. Phillips and Kristina Royce Named 2022 Top Family Lawyers by Daily Journal
March 2022 –Stacy D. Phillips and Kristina Royce, who also serves as co-chair of the firm’s Matrimonial and Family Law practice group, were named 2022 Top Family Lawyers by the Daily Journal. In this inaugural listing by the Daily Journal, Stacy and Kristina were two of 20 family law attorneys based in California recognized as leading attorneys on matrimonial and family law matters, including marriage, adoption, divorce proceedings, child custody arrangements, and family court proceedings and related negotiations.
Morgan Fraser Mouchette Interviewed by Shondaland on Discussing Privacy with Your Partner
March 2022 –Morgan Fraser Mouchette was interviewed for the article, “How to Have the Privacy Talk with Your Partner,” which was published in Shondaland on March 23, 2022. “People have different definitions of privacy and different expectations,” she said, “and making sure that you’re on the same page about what you expect from your partner in terms of how you’ll be treated and what you consider to be private is a conversation people usually don’t have until sometimes too late.”
Alan R. Feigenbaum Served as Panelist for Strafford CLE Webinar
March 2022 –Alan R. Feigenbaum and Blank Rome Trusts & Estates Partner Sean R. Weissbart served as panelists for “Protecting the Economic Rights of Cohabitants: Property Division, Inheritances, Custody, Cohabitation Agreements,” a live 90-minute Strafford CLE webinar with interactive Q&A, on March 10, 2022. The panel discussed how to mitigate the unique legal and economic issues that arise for an unmarried couple if the relationship ends or when one needs to make legal decisions for the other. They discussed cohabitation agreements, property rights and division, custody, and even touched on the Economic Rights of Unmarried Cohabitants Act being considered by the Uniform Laws Commission.
Kristina Royce and Katie Pandolfini Authored Article for Daily Journal
March 2022 –Kristina Royce and Katie Pandolfini authored the article, “What’s Yours May Not Be All Yours: IP and Family Law,” in the Daily Journal on February 16, 2022. In their article, Kristina and Katie discuss how tangible assets and intangible assets, such as intellectual property, can constitute community property under California law, as determined in Marriage of Worth, 195 Cal. App. 3d 768, 773 (1987).
Alan R. Feigenbaum Authored Article for New York Law Journal
March 2022 –Alan R. Feigenbaum authored the article, “Breaking the Glass Ceiling That Surrounds the Marital Residence in Divorce,” which was published in the New York Law Journal on March 4, 2022. “Whether it was fate or luck, on the same day that this author began a deep dive into Judge Richard Dollinger’s recent decision in D.R.D. v. J.D.D., 2021 NY Slip Op 21337—which directed the pendente lite sale of a marital residence—I also read the ‘Modern Love’ piece by Jordana Jacobs in the New York Times titled ‘Our Kinder, Gentler, Nobody-Moves-Out Divorce.’ While neither writing has any direct connection, both center on the singular asset that shapes the trajectory of so many divorces time and again: the marital residence,” he wrote.
Michelle M. Gervais Recognized in Women We Admire’s Top 100 Women Leaders of Tampa for 2022
March 2022 –Michelle M. Gervais has been recognized in The Top 100 Women Leaders of Tampa for 2022 by Women We Admire. Women We Admire awards this recognition to women who are “leading companies and driving change across nearly all industries including educational technology, healthcare, insurance and financial services, retail, media and more. They continue to break barriers into new territories that will allow those who follow after them to lead successful and meaningful careers.” The awardees featured are dedicated to creating success for their organizations every year. Michelle’s recognition was also reported in an article in Sports Expert Law, on March 14, 2022.
Lois J. Liberman Hosted Recipe for Re-Launch Webinar
March 2022 –Lois J. Liberman hosted the webinar, “Recipe for Re-Launch,” which is part of the “Look Ahead with Lois Liberman: A Women’s Salon Series,” on March 2, 2022. Lois spoke with three experts who have their fingers on the pulse of what works today—Selby Drummond, Chief Brand Officer, Bumble; Jean Godfrey-June, Beauty Editor, Goop; and Ashley Schafer, Image Consultant & Personal Stylist. They provided their keen insights and practical advice to develop individual recipes for re-launches—and perhaps even complete reinventions.
Blank Rome Welcomed Matrimonial and Family Law Partner Sophie Jacobi-Parisi in New York
March 2022 –Sophie Jacobi-Parisi has joined Blank Rome’s nationally recognized Matrimonial & Family Law practice group as a partner in the New York office. Sophie focuses her practice on a wide range of matrimonial and family law matters, with notable experience in navigating complex custody cases. Prior to joining Blank Rome, Sophie was a partner at Warshaw Burstein LLP.
Lois J. Liberman Interviewed for Bloomberg Law Podcast on COVID-19 Vaccine Battles in Custody Cases
February 2022 –Lois J. Liberman was interviewed for the Bloomberg Law Podcast episode, “Covid Vaccine Battles Erupt in Custody Cases,” by host June Grasso. In the episode, Lois discussed coronavirus vaccination battles breaking out in custody cases between divorced or separated parents. She explained the increase of vaccination discussions in custody cases, how the court gets involved, and various recent examples of disputes.
Kristina Royce Authored Article for Worth
February 2022 –Kristina Royce authored the article, “Develop Financial Intimacy in Your Relationship: Tips for Newly Engaged Couples,” which was published in Worth on February 15, 2022. “Valentine’s day has come and gone, and in its wake, newly engaged couples are preparing to embark on one of life’s great journeys—marriage. But having a successful marriage in 2022 involves more than falling in love and finding your soulmate. It requires familiarity with the innermost workings of your partnership, including your finances. While this may make your relationship feel more like a business arrangement, couples are wise to have their eyes wide open when it comes to money,” she wrote.
Morgan Fraser Mouchette, Ernestine J. Mings Spoke at GSBA & MBBA’s Inaugural Family Law Symposium
February 2022 –Morgan Fraser Mouchette and Ernestine J. Mings served as speakers for the Garden State Bar Association (“GSBA”) and Metropolitan Black Bar Association’s (“MBBA”) Inaugural Family Law Symposium, which was held on February 9, 2022, as an online event. Morgan and Ernestine spoke in the session, “Navigating the Black Divorce,” which was presented in two segments. Morgan’s segment, “Prenuptial Agreements & the Pre-filing Divorce Process,” explored client expectations, proper intake practices, immigration considerations, and the filing process overview in New York and New Jersey. Ernestine, who organized the Symposium as a Co-Chair of the Family Law Section of the MBBA, spoke at the second segment, “Post-Commencement and Pre-Trial Considerations,” which explored best practices and key topics to consider after commencing the divorce action.
Stacy D. Phillips Interviewed for ABA Journal Podcast on COVID-19’s Impact on Divorce
January 2022 –Stacy D. Phillips was interviewed in the ABA Journal’s Asked & Answered podcast by host Stephanie Francis Ward on divorce trends during the COVID-19 pandemic, on January 31, 2022. In the podcast, discussed how the pandemic tore many couples apart and accelerated her law practice, which includes both domestic and international clients.
Kristina Royce Featured as Guest for Beverly Hills Bar Association’s Family Law Section Program
January 2022 –Kristina Royce was a featured guest for “Direct Examination with Dan & Lauren,” presented by Family Law Section of the Beverly Hills Bar Association on January 12, 2022, via livestream.
Marilyn B. Chinitz Interviewed by New York Daily News on Tips for a Happy Divorce
January 2022 –Marilyn B. Chinitz was interviewed for the article, “Key to a Happy Divorce? Prenup, Lawyers Say,” which was published in New York Daily News on January 1, 2022. “Lawyers who are smart tell their clients, ‘You are better off settling,’” she said. “People are so overcharged with emotion, they don’t see the true costs.”
Alan R. Feigenbaum Authored Article for New York Law Journal
December 2021 –Alan R. Feigenbaum authored the article, “Welcome to the Tipping Point: ‘House Rules’ in Contested Custody Litigation,” which was published in the New York Law Journal on December 28, 2021. “After reading Judge Richard Dollinger’s July 2021 decision in E.E.C. v. S.S., 2021 NY Slip OP 21258 (Sup. Ct., Monroe Cty), [I] was reminded of the Victoria Kann children’s book titled ‘Pinkalicious.’ The seminal quote from Kann’s book—delivered by a Mom to her daughter in the book—is as follows: “You get what you get, and you don’t get upset,” he wrote.
Lois J. Liberman Published Blog Post on Love Bytes
December 2021 –Lois J. Liberman authored the blog post, “Mastering the Art of the Holiday Pivot,” which was published on Love Bytes on December 23, 2021. “It may feel like Scrooge had something to do with the Omicron variant, as many of us are finding long-awaited vacation plans and holiday gatherings scuttled—due to a positive test result, exposure to someone with COVID-19, or the sudden onset of symptoms. The current reality this holiday season is that you will need to be prepared to pivot on the fly,” she wrote.