Tag Archives: New York

Attorney Spotlight: New York—Norman Heller

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Stacy D. Phillips ●

This edition of Attorney Spotlight highlights one of my revered New York City colleagues in Blank Rome’s Matrimonial & Family Law group, Norman Heller.

Norman S. Heller
Partner

A graduate of Haverford College and Boston University School of Law, Norm has been practicing law for over 40 years and does incredible work for his clients. Before entering the world of matrimonial law, Norm worked as an appellate attorney and later a trial lawyer in the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office, handling various felony cases and matters while making a name for himself in the profession. Norm then began to practice matrimonial law, where he found himself representing clients in complex divorce, custody, and equitable distribution matters in the states of both New York and Connecticut.

As a lawyer, Norm is and always has been the consummate professional. No matter the situation or client he is working with, Norm is the pinnacle of how a lawyer should conduct him or herself. Norm treats his clients and fellow lawyers with respect, always exuding confidence, and maintains his reputation for fairness with a good nature, even in the heat of a difficult legal battle.

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Attorney Spotlight: New York

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Stacy D. Phillips ●

This edition of Attorney Spotlight highlights one of my honored New York City colleagues in Blank Rome’s Matrimonial & Family Law group—Lois Liberman.

Lois J. Liberman
Partner

A graduate of Wellesley College and the University of Buffalo Law School, Lois boasts more than 30 years of experience in family law, and that experience is proven through the incredible work she does for her clients. Lois is an absolutely exceptional attorney, with a personality that displays a brilliant and empathetic nature, along with an exceedingly practical approach that supports her clients within each individual situation they are facing. 

Lois began working in family law fairly early in her career and has always found herself to be the type of person that anyone could tell their full life story, and Lois would be there to listen. The practice of family law comes naturally to her and the qualities of Lois’ character shine through her legal practice. 

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Love Hurts When You Ignore Your Prenup

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New York Law Journal, June 21, 2023 ●

Alan R. Feigenbaum ●

Summer is, or should be, a time for all things beautiful. Part of that beauty is encapsulated in the joy of summer, non-professional reading. But if there was ever a case to be made that professional reading should be added to your summer reading list, look no further than Judge Jeffrey A. Goodstein’s page turning decision in LSS v. MS, Sup. Ct. Nassau Cty. (NYLJ May 19, 2023).

The decision, which is factually intricate, and replete with poignant legal analysis, reads like a short story—a marriage story, in fact, although without the suffocating cliches that permeate Noah Baumbach’s “Marriage Story.”

Indeed, this marriage story involved a 47-month marriage with two parties who entered the marriage with “significant assets,” and, among other things, a dispute over $1,230 worth of electronics purchased from Best Buy. But that is not the subject of this article, although that aspect of the litigation is, believe it or not, addressed in the decision.

The decision reminds divorce lawyers that we cannot control what happens after a prenuptial agreement is signed. Life happens after a prenuptial agreement is signed, and LSS v. MS shows what can happen as a consequence of disregarding the mandate of a prenuptial agreement.

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Attorney Spotlight: New York

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Stacy D. Phillips ●

This edition of Attorney Spotlight highlights one of my honored New York City colleagues in Blank Rome’s Matrimonial & Family Law group—Marilyn B. Chinitz.

Marilyn B. Chinitz
Partner

A graduate of New York University and the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law of Yeshiva University, Marilyn has more than 35 years of experience in family law and arrived at Blank Rome in 2007. Marilyn focuses her skills as a lawyer to empower her clients to rise above the personal difficulty that they face in matrimonial disputes, and to gain their own perspectives on what is important in their lives. 

Marilyn is my reliable “bookend” at the firm. We are both naturally very driven professionally but we both also care deeply about community and giving back. Ironically, even though we are on opposite ends of the country, we have occasionally been referred the same client with different matters at the same time or even the same client for one matter. Marilyn finds that she can sometimes represent clients who are the kings and queens of their world, be they hedge fund managers or founders of global businesses. Nevertheless, no matter their accomplishments, divorce and emotional pain are something else entirely, and Marilyn is prepared to guide them through the difficulties in life that may be alien to them. 

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