Matrimonial law is unique to the law - it is as much the practice of psychology as it is the practice of law. Every case involves a war of nerves. Do we take the matter to court? When is the right time to settle? How do we properly negotiate - or litigate - a reasonable resolution? The fact is that, in most instances, the courts are not where you want your divorce to be resolved. When you make a decision for yourself, and negotiate a settlement, it's always better. In a courtroom, the outcome may be decided by who comes off as the most credible. Long Island's court community is small and closely-knit - the judges and attorneys all know each other well. In many instances we can anticipate a judge's decision before the first presentation is made. A court case will involve four participants - two litigants and two lawyers. And frankly it only takes one of them to impede a settlement. It's our job as attorneys to guide the process along constructively. It's also my job to identify marital assets, and then give an opinion on the range of what a court is likely to award, taking into consideration the cost of litigation. Then I'll ask, where are you willing to be in that range? Because, candidly, one's worst day in court could lead to the bottom range, and the best day in court could lead to the top. Despite what I said about anticipating outcomes, there are no guarantees.

I've done a lot of custody work. Custody is the most difficult aspect of divorce for any concerned attorney. The children involved can be and often are seriously affected by the bitterness engendered by such a dispute between their parents. There's a little phrase in divorce law - we seek to guard everyone's integrity. That's not a small thing, particularly in a custody case. Frankly the toughest cases involve those with more kids and fewer assets. There simply isn't enough to go around - no one comes away satisfied or pleased.

Still, it is rewarding work. After all, I've been doing it for 30 years now, and I love it. So much of my work has come from referrals, and that's very gratifying. Our firm has a broad and dynamic practice - we have two offices on Long Island. It works, and works well, because we have good technology, we communicate well and we support each other.