For the past 27 years, Patricia Hennessey has earned the respect of her clients, adversaries, colleagues and matrimonial judges as one of the pre‑eminent matrimonial trial and appellate lawyers in the New York metropolitan area.
Since 1987, she has tried and argued appeals in numerous cases involving complex equitable distribution and support issues and emotional and delicate issues involving child custody. She is particularly respected for the calm and wise counsel that permits her to settle the large majority of her matters without extensive court involvement.
A 1979 New York University Law School graduate, where she achieved the rare and doubly prestigious honors as both a Root‑Tilden Scholar and Arthur Garfield Hays Civil Liberties Fellow, Ms. Hennessey began her career as federal court antitrust litigator at Kaye Scholar Fierman Hays & Handler, before turning her full attention to matrimonial and family law in 1987. She is a 1976 graduate of Hampshire College and was the first director of the Civil Liberties and Public Policy Program at Hampshire in the early 1980s. She has several publications in matrimonial law, including as the co‑author of “Is The Law Male?”, Chicago‑Kent L. Rev. (1994) with NYU Law Professor Sylvia Law and “Valuation of Property in Marital Dissolutions,” 23 ABA Family Law Quarterly 339.
Ms. Hennessey has been an adjunct professor at New York University School of Law, Columbia University Law School and Cardozo Law School. She has lectured at widely bar associations, (including at the annual meeting of the American Bar Association) and at law schools, including Yale, Columbia and New York University. She has served as Co‑Chair of the Matrimonial Committee of the Westchester Women’s Bar Association. She has achieved an “AV Preeminent” rating from Martindale Hubell, the highest possible rating in legal ability and ethical standards every year for more than 11 years.
1980 - New York and U.S. District Court, New York
1986 - U. S. Tax Court
1986 - United States Supreme Court
1976 - Hampshire College, B.A.
1979 - New York University School of Law, J.D.
Since 1987, she has tried and argued appeals in numerous cases involving complex equitable distribution and support issues and emotional and delicate issues involving child custody. She is particularly respected for the calm and wise counsel that permits her to settle the large majority of her matters without extensive court involvement.
A 1979 New York University Law School graduate, where she achieved the rare and doubly prestigious honors as both a Root‑Tilden Scholar and Arthur Garfield Hays Civil Liberties Fellow, Ms. Hennessey began her career as federal court antitrust litigator at Kaye Scholar Fierman Hays & Handler, before turning her full attention to matrimonial and family law in 1987. She is a 1976 graduate of Hampshire College and was the first director of the Civil Liberties and Public Policy Program at Hampshire in the early 1980s. She has several publications in matrimonial law, including as the co‑author of “Is The Law Male?”, Chicago‑Kent L. Rev. (1994) with NYU Law Professor Sylvia Law and “Valuation of Property in Marital Dissolutions,” 23 ABA Family Law Quarterly 339.
Ms. Hennessey has been an adjunct professor at New York University School of Law, Columbia University Law School and Cardozo Law School. She has lectured at widely bar associations, (including at the annual meeting of the American Bar Association) and at law schools, including Yale, Columbia and New York University. She has served as Co‑Chair of the Matrimonial Committee of the Westchester Women’s Bar Association. She has achieved an “AV Preeminent” rating from Martindale Hubell, the highest possible rating in legal ability and ethical standards every year for more than 11 years.
“Cross-Examination: Selected Problems – Some Easy Rules That Are Not So Easy to Apply”
Sponsor: American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML)
“Matrimonial Law: A Case Law Update”
Sponsor: Supreme Court Appellate Division First Department
“Matrimonial and Family Law: The Changing Economy and Critical Issues – What You Need to Know: Drafting for Bankruptcy Considerations”
Sponsor: New York State Bar Association
”How to Litigate a Child Custody Case”
Sponsor: New York County Lawyers
“Drafting Custody and Visitation Provisions”
Sponsor: New York State Bar Association
“Matrimonial Case Law Update: A Review of Developing Issues in Matrimonial Law”
Sponsor: Supreme Court Appellate Division First Department
“The United States Supreme Court’s Troxel Decision and its Impact on Non-Parental Visitation”
Sponsor: American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML)
“Handling Your First Contested Divorce Case”
Sponsor: New York State Bar Association
“Recognizing Estate Planning and Real Estate Issues in Matrimonial Matters”
Sponsor: New York State Bar Association
“Selected Recurring Issues in Matrimonial Practice: Successfully Handling the Challenges”
Sponsor: New York State Bar Association
“The Expanding World of the Matrimonial Lawyer: New Cases, New Procedures and New Areas of Law: Discovery”
Sponsor: New York State Bar Association
“Handling A Child Custody Case: Intake to Trial”
Sponsor: New York State Bar Association
“Matrimonial and Family Law Update: “Double Dipping” When a Professional License/Practice is in the Case”
Sponsor: New York State Bar Association
“Practical Skills Seminar: Basic Matrimonial Practice”
Sponsor: New York State Bar Association
“Presenting Valuation Evidence At Trial and For Appeal”
Sponsor: New York State Bar Association
“Show Me the Money: Discovery and Treatment of Hidden Assets”
Sponsor: American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML)
“The ABCs of Drafting Prenuptial Agreements and Other Matrimonial Agreements”
Sponsor: New York State Bar Association
“Understanding Child Support and Custody: Significant Decisions Under the CSSA”
Sponsor: Practicing Law Institute
“The Construction of a Prenuptial Agreement”
Sponsor: Association of the Bar of the City of New York
Mr. Aronson has also lectured on the following topics:
The Rules, Procedures, and Techniques of Matrimonial Motion Practice
Matrimonial Agreements and Tax Aspects of Maintenance, Support, and Property Distribution
Litigating Maintenance and Child Support in High Income Cases; Direct Testimony of Mothers and Fathers
Custody: Litigation’s Stepchild; How to make a record for both the Trial Court and the Appellate Court
Tax Returns and Net Worth Statements
“Presenting Valuation Evidence At Trial and For Appeal”
Location: New York State Bar Association
Guest Lecturer: David Aronson
“Show Me the Money: Discovery and Treatment of Hidden Assets”
Location: American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML)
Guest Lecturer: David Aronson
“The ABCs of Drafting Prenuptial Agreements and Other Matrimonial Agreements”
Location: New York State Bar Association
Guest Lecturer: David Aronson
“Understanding Child Support and Custody: Significant Decisions Under the CSSA”
Location: Practicing Law Institute
Guest Lecturer: David Aronson
“The Construction of a Prenuptial Agreement”
Location: Association of the Bar of the City of New York
Guest Lecturer: David Aronson
We are committed to excellence, professionalism, integrity, and good citizenship. Our reputation for fulfilling those commitments has been earned over decades, and is recognized by our clients, our peers, and the judiciary before whom we practice.
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