Kathleen Donelli

Phone:

914-681-6006

Fax:

914-681-8728

Email:

[email protected]

Bar Admissions

New York, 1986
Connecticut, 1985
U.S. District Court Southern District of New York, 1987
U.S. District Court District of Connecticut, 1989
U.S. Court of Appeals 2nd Circuit, 1993

Education

Pace University School of Law, White Plains, New York
- J.D. - 1985
- Honors: cum laude
Boston University
- 1970
The City University of New York
- B.A. - 1975
Manhattanville College
- M.A.T. - 1980

Kathleen Donelli is a partner of the firm and concentrates her practice in the areas of Appellate Practice, Collaborative Law and Matrimonial & Family Law. Kathleen 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). Tropea established that courts should determine if a custodial parent should be permitted to relocate with a child based on the "best interest" of the child. Kathleen frequently lectures on ethics and a variety of matrimonial and family law issues. Kathleen is a member of the Board of the New York Association of Collaborative Professionals, an association dedicated to resolving matrimonial and custody disputes without court intervention.

Kathleen is an adjunct Professor of Law at Elizabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University and a member of its Board of Visitors.

Kathleen is a Past President of the Westchester Women's Bar Association and the White Plains Bar Association. She is the Co-Chair of the Collaborative Law Committees of the Westchester Women's Bar Association and the Women's Bar Association of the State of New York. She is a former Member of the Grievance Committee for the Ninth Judicial District. Kathleen has also been recognized as a New York Super Lawyer in the area of Family Law.

Areas Of Experience

Advice on and preparation of Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements
Preparation of all documents incident to an action for divorce, child custody (including child relocation disputes) and related matters
Advice and negotiations regarding prospective settlements of contested matters
Separation Agreements, Stipulations of Settlement and Uncontested Divorces for clients at all income and asset levels
Litigating all aspects of Family Court Proceedings and Divorce Actions, including Orders of Protection, Paternity Disputes, Temporary Support Awards, Restraining Orders, Domestic Violence issues, Orders of Protection, Exclusive Occupancy of the Marital Residence, Maintenance, Child Support, Equitable Distribution of Marital Property and Establishing Separate Property Claims
Dispute Resolution Processes, including collaborative law and fee dispute arbitration
Trials and Appeals of Supreme and Family Court matters, including child relocation disputes involving Tropea, the case which established the prevailing law in New York on child relocation.

Published Cases

Ms. Donelli won a landmark Court of Appeals custody decision, Tropea v Tropea, 87 N.Y.2d 727 (1996), which established the rule in New York State for custodial parents who seek to relocate. Ms. Donelli’s reported cases in the area of matrimonial law include: Seruya v. Seruya, 107 A.D.3d 972 (2d Dep’t 2013); Amari v. Molloy, 293 A.D.2d 431 (2d Dep’t 2002); Amari v. Molloy, 180 Misc. 2d 664 (Kings Co. 1999); Amari v. Molloy 8/8/00 NYLJ, page 23, col. 5 and Frayne v. Frayne, 234 A.D.2d 545 (2d Dep’t 1996). In the area of commercial litigation, Ms. Donelli’s reported cases include: Jaffer v. Miles, 134 A.D.2d 572 (2d Dep’t 1987); 1185 Avenue of the Americas Associates v. The Resolution Trust Corp., 22 F.3d 494 (2d Cir. 1994) and Route 22 Associates v. Cipes, 204 A.D.2d 705 (2d Dep’t 1994).

Published Works and Presentations

New Matrimonial Laws: No Fault Divorce, Temporary & Post Divorce Maintenance Guidelines, Counsel & Expert Fees, Modification of Child Support & Orders of Protection, Women's Bar Association of the State of New York, May 22, 2011
New Matrimonial Legislation, New York State Judicial Institute at Pace, March 23, 2011
New Divorce Legislation - No Fault Divorce, Maintenance Guidelines, Counsel & Expert Fees, Modification of Child Support, Westchester Women's Bar Association, October 14, 2010
Protecting Assets Before a Divorce, UJA Federation of NY, January 03, 2008
Collaborative Law and the Role of Law Guardians, Pace University School of Law, October 21, 2006
Equitable Distribution in Matrimonial Actions, Westchester Women's Bar Association; Northern Westchester Shelter, October 03, 2006
Family and Matrimonial Law Series, Northern Westchester Shelter, October 03, 2006
Tax Issues Related to Divorce, The Bank of New York, May 09, 2006
Initial Contact with Matrimonial Clients, Pace University School of Law, February 08, 2006
Letters of Engagement, Pace University School of Law, February 04, 2006
Retainer Agreements and Fee Disputes, Pace University School of Law, February 04, 2006
Divorce Law in New York State, Pace University School of Law's Women's Justice Center, July 27, 2004
Equitable Distribution, Westchester Women's Bar Association; Northern Westchester Shelter; Victims Assistance Services, March 18, 2004
Letters of Engagement and Fee Dispute Arbitration, Pace University School of Law, February 07, 2004
Pendente Lite Motions: Temporary Support and Relief Pending a Divorce Judgment, Pace University School of Law's Women's Justice Center, June 12, 2003
Children’s Records Law in New York: Access to Mental Health Records, Lorman Education Services, June 05, 2002
Child Support and Maintenance, Pace University School of Law's Women's Justice Center, May 28, 2002
Taking and Defending Depositions, Westchester Women's Bar Association, April 24, 2002
The Constitionality of New York's Grandparent Visitation Statute in Light of Troxel v. Granville, 27 Westchester Bar Journal 19, May 06, 2000
Landmark Decision Removes Burden from Parent Needing to Relocate, Legal Notes, Fall 1996, October 06, 1996
The Drafting of Relocation Clauses and the Challenge It Presents, The Matrimonial Strategist, Vol. XIV, Number 4, May 1996, May 01, 1996
Dirks v. SEC: New Guidelines for Tippee Liability under Rule 10b-5, 4 Pace Law Review 631 (1984), May 06, 1984

Professional And Community Involvement

Adjunct Professor of Law, Elizabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University
Listed as New York Super Lawyer in the area of Family Law
Former Member, Grievance Committee, Ninth Judicial District
Member of the Matrimonial Practice Advisory and Rules Committee, chaired by the Hon. Jeffrey Sunshine, J.S.C.
Co-Chair, Collaborative Law Committee, Westchester Women's Bar Association (WWBA)
Co-Chair, Collaborative Law Committee, Women's Bar Association of the State of New York (WBASNY)
Recipient, New York State Bar Association Ruth Shapiro Award for promoting women in the legal profession (2014)
Recipient, “Leading Matrimonial Attorney” Above The Bar Award (2010)
Recipient, Alumni Leadership Award, Pace University School of Law (2005)
Past President, Westchester Women's Bar Association (2003-2005)
Member, Hall of Fame, YWCA of White Plains and Central Westchester (2004)
Past President, White Plains Bar Association (1998-2000)
Member, Board of Visitors, Elizabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University
Articles Editor, Pace Law Review (1984-85)
Board Member, New York Association of Collaborative Professionals

Pro Bono Activities

Recipient, Alumni Leadership Award, Pace University School of Law, 2005
Past President, Saint Bernard’s Center For Learning, Inc.
Past Vice-President, YWCA Northern Westchester
Member, Board of Visitors, Pace University School of Law
Articles Editor, Pace Law Review, 1984 to 1985