Krauss Shaknes Tallentire & Messeri LLP

Firm Details

Website: www.kstmlaw.com

Number of partners: 6

Number of lawyers: 12

Firm Overview

Since the firm’s founding in 2019, KSTM has been dedicated exclusively to the practice of matrimonial and family law. The lawyers are leaders in their field and have been involved in some of the highest-profile matrimonial law disputes in New York State and Connecticut. KSTM is often sought after to advise high-net-worth and celebrity clients in sensitive and complex family matters.

Clients and peers remark that “each member of the firm exhibits the highest level of professionalism and integrity” and “zealously represents their clients while remaining respectful and composed.”

The firm believes that every client has a unique story that requires an individual approach. There is no “one size fits all” in the work they do. KSTM lawyers listen to their clients, learn their stories, understand their needs, and fight to achieve the best results possible.

The lawyers are skilled negotiators and tough and experienced litigators. They achieve negotiated resolutions whenever possible, and they are ready to litigate whenever necessary.

Most importantly, KSTM attorneys see themselves as more than just counselors at law. They are guides who help their clients navigate life’s most difficult crossroads. That is the firm’s commitment.

Main Areas of Practice

KSTM represents clients in all aspects of matrimonial and family law, including divorce proceedings, domestic and international custody disputes, pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements, and international child abductions under the Hague Convention.

The firm has particular experience in:

• Serving clients in the private equity and hedge fund space
• Valuing and dividing closely-held businesses
• Protecting pre-marital and inherited assets
• Navigating complex contested custody proceedings
• Litigating issues surrounding same-sex marriages and parental rights
• International child abductions under the Hague Convention
• Litigating Family Court matters, including paternity cases, child abuse and neglect, and domestic violence-related disputes
• Advising on parent coordination, including executing parent plans and resolving co-parenting disputes

KSTM attorneys represent clients in all types of marital and non-marital agreements, including prenuptial and post-nuptial agreements, domestic partnerships, cohabitation agreements, and separation agreements, as well as the modification and enforcement of such agreements.

KSTM also represents clients in highly contested interstate and international custody disputes, including proceedings under the UCCJEA and the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. Founding partner Valentina Shaknes and partner Justine Stringer submitted an amicus brief in Golan v. Saada, a Supreme Court case that had a significant impact on international child custody disputes, particularly for women and children who are facing domestic abuse.

KSTM attorneys have achieved landmark victories in federal district and appellate courts. Among other successes, the firm’s attorneys have created significant new law protecting the interests of parents and children suffering from domestic violence, and secured a landmark decision in New York’s highest court that overturned longstanding prejudicial rules toward same-sex parents in child custody matters.

Whenever possible, the firm’s attorneys seek alternatives to litigation and advocate for its clients in securing out-of-court resolutions through mediation, arbitration, collaborative law, and other forms of alternative dispute resolution.

Offices

New York Office

Empire State Building

350 Fifth Avenue, Suite 7620

New York, NY 10118

Connecticut Office

777 W. Putnam Ave, Suite 300

Greenwich, CT 06830