Sarah S. Oldham
Rutkin, Oldham & Griffin, LLC
5 Imperial Avenue
Westport, CT 06881
Phone: (203) 227-7301
Fax: (203) 222-9295
 
 
Education
Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT, B.S., cum laude
Southern Connecticut State University, M.S.
University of Connecticut School of Law, J.D., (with Honors), Law Review
 
2011-11-28 07:49:53

When we meet prospective clients, we are careful to manage expectations. There are lawyers out there who will promise the moon. For us it is simply a matter of wanting to h ave realistic expectations.

That said, at this point in our career, our practice is at a very high level. We believe we are among the best in the business, and our work speaks for itself.

I am a former mental-health practitioner, so I have certain insights and approaches that differ from those of other matrimonial lawyers. I talk to psychologists and psychiatrists in ways that many lawyers don't, and usually can't. Remember that we in our profession are counselors-at-law as well as attorneys-at-law. I take both of those roles very seriously.

There are many sophisticated and well-educated people in the communities we serve, and they recognize and understand even the most subtle and nuanced forms of abuse, psychological and otherwise. In fact, there's a level of sophistication in all cases today that most of us lawyers did not see even ten years ago.

Our expertise of course includes the identification and valuation of complex financial assets as well. Pension issues, stock-options and private, illiquid investments are often central to many of our cases today. In that respect, our cases are generally very complicated. So we are highly selective.

As a fellow of American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, we must all pledge that we will represent our clients as the best advocates that we can be – but we will never pursue a course of action that damages or adversely impacts children who are involved in the case, even if our client desires that course of action. I think that's important for any client to understand.

As trial attorneys Arnie and I complement one another very well. We are both extremely well prepared. And I know it's been very valuable for all of our clients to have the representation of both a man and a woman - we are always cognizant of the balance of power in any relationship, before the court and throughout the process of a case.

I've made family law my life. And I believe that we are committed to our clients in a way that few firms are. I'm proud of that.

"I am a former mental-health practitioner, so I have certain insights and approaches that differ from those of other matrimonial lawyers."