RABIN SCHUMANN AND PARTNERS - Key Persons
Amanda Laird Creegan, a partner in the firm, has exclusively practiced matrimonial and family law for over a decade. Ms. Creegan is committed to taking a practical and thoughtful approach when resolving her client's needs, whether representing an executive in the financial or technology sector, a start-up founder, actor, artist or spouse. Her experience serving as a matrimonial judicial law clerk coupled with her significant experience in drafting complex settlement, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements and regularly appearing in Supreme Court and Family Court allows her to identify issues most important to her clients and provide effective solutions.
Following her graduation from law school, Ms. Creegan served as the judicial clerk for the Honorable Thomas P. Zampino, J.S.C. (ret.), Chancery Division, Family Part (2010 - 2011) in Newark, New Jersey. During law school, she worked in the Seton Hall Law's Center for Social Justice, Family Law Clinic and was an intern at Sanctuary for Families, Center for Battered Women.
Ms. Creegan is admitted in both New York and New Jersey.
Education
Seton Hall University School of Law (J.D.)
Lehigh University (B.A.)
Job Titles:
- Founding Partner
- Partner
- Member or Chair of the Matrimonial and Family Law Committees
Bonnie E. Rabin, a founding partner in the firm, is a renowned trial and appellate lawyer who has concentrated exclusively in the field of matrimonial and family law for over 35 years. Ms. Rabin is recognized for her representation of high net worth and celebrity clients with discretion and the highest level of skill and sophistication. She has extensive experience with matters presenting financially complex issues, including those involving substantial assets, professional practices and closely-held family businesses, as well as complicated custody issues. Ms. Rabin is a well-known champion of the rights of parents and children in non-traditional families and has extensive experience navigating the law of reproductive rights, surrogacy and parentage.
Ms. Rabin's advocacy has led to several landmark decisions in both Federal and the highest courts of the State on issues relating to child custody, support, equitable distribution and the other financial ramifications of divorcing families, Hague Convention cases and contested adoption. Ms. Rabin is frequently appointed by the New York State Supreme Court to act as an Attorney for the Children.
Prior to entering private practice, Ms. Rabin spent ten years with the Juvenile Rights Division of the Legal Aid Society as a supervising Attorney in Charge of the Manhattan Trial Office, where she represented, supervised and trained other attorneys representing children in cases involving custody, adoption, paternity, termination of parental rights, abuse and neglect, etc.
Ms. Rabin regularly presents in the area of family law, custody, marriage equality, domestic violence, and children's rights under the auspices of law schools and the major bar associations and has been an Adjunct Professor of Law at Cardozo Law School.
Ms. Rabin has been a member or Chair of the matrimonial and family law committees and sections of the major bar associations, including the New York City Bar Association, the New York County Lawyers' Association, the New York State Bar Association and the New York Women's Bar Association, among others, and has been the Chair of the Children and the Law Committee of the New York City Bar Association.
Education
Antioch School of Law (J.D.)
State University of New York at New Paltz (B.A.)
Job Titles:
- Senior Counsel
- Member of the New York State
Ms. Fletcher brings both her extensive finance background and experience in structuring complex business and commercial transactions as well as banking and employment law to Rabin Schumann and Partners' litigation, matrimonial, and family law practice.
Ms. Fletcher became a member of the New York bar after a career in investment banking focused on international capital markets and mergers and acquisitions and practiced law in the areas of securities and mergers and acquisitions for Fortune 100 companies for over a decade before transitioning to the practice areas of corporate law, commercial transactions, compliance, and employment law over the last fifteen years. She has experience across a diverse range of industries including venture capital, media, entertainment, consumer goods, hospitality, and healthcare. She brings her extensive financial experience and practice knowledge to the negotiation of pre and post nuptial agreements, settlements, and matrimonial litigation.
Throughout her career, Ms. Fletcher also has worked extensively with non-profit organizations in structuring, governance, compliance, and fundraising operations and has provided pro bono representation to arts organizations in Boston, Philadelphia, and New York and continues to volunteer her expertise through the New York chapter of Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts.
As a student at Harvard Law School, Ms. Fletcher advocated for clients as a member of the domestic violence division of the Harvard Legal Aid bureau, was editor at each of the Black Letter Law Journal and Women's Law Journal, as well as a member of and vice president and treasurer of The Black Law Students Association.
Ms. Fletcher is a member of the New York State bar, admitted to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York, as well as a member of the New York State Bar Association and the New York City Bar Association.
Education
The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania (B.S., magna cum laude)
Harvard Law School (J.D.)
Gretchen Beall Schumann, a founding partner of the firm, has extensive experience in matters involving complex domestic and international aspects of family law in trial and appellate courts, with an excellent record of success in her litigated cases. Adept at handling sophisticated financial and child-related matters, Ms. Schumann is listed in Metro Super Lawyers as one of the Top 100 Attorneys in New York and Top 50 Women Attorneys in New York. She is rated by Chambers and Partners High Net Worth Guide and featured in The Spear's 500.
In addition to serving as a Neutral Evaluator for the New York Supreme Court Matrimonial Neutral Evaluation Program and as an expert on New York law for foreign courts, Ms. Schumann is a frequent presenter for legal, academic and corporate institutions here and abroad, including on aspects of the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act, electronic privacy and family law, cross-border enforcement of marital agreements, trust assets and divorce, jurisdictional disputes, equitable distribution of New York businesses, and trial advocacy. She has served as a commentator for print and other media and has authored chapters on New York family law practice for international publications.
Ms. Schumann is the former President and a current Director of the New York Women's Bar Association Foundation, Inc. and a past President of the New York Women's Bar Association (2010-2011). Ms. Schumann is also a fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers.
Ms. Schumann is admitted in both New York and New Jersey.
Education
Cornell Law School (J.D.)
Columbia College, Columbia University (B.A.)
Lindsay R. Pfeffer, a partner of the firm, is an experienced litigator representing clients in a broad spectrum of matrimonial and family law matters, including divorce, custody and parenting access, equitable distribution, parentage and spousal and child support, as well as pre- and post-nuptial agreements. Ms. Pfeffer has litigated cases presenting landmark issues impacting parents in the LGBTQ community, which have led to the development of new law. She is experienced in handling habeas corpus proceedings and international child abduction disputes, and in working with counsel in various jurisdictions on custody and prenuptial agreement matters.
Ms. Pfeffer brings skill, compassion and a creative problem-solving approach to matters involving complex financial and custodial issues. She regularly appears in New York's Supreme Courts, Family Courts and Appellate Courts.
Ms. Pfeffer was an attorney in the litigation department of a multi-practice Manhattan law firm, practicing commercial litigation, matrimonial and family law and employment law in state and federal courts for five years before focusing her practice exclusively on matrimonial and family law in September 2013.
Ms. Pfeffer has been named a "Rising Star" in family law by New York Super Lawyers every year since 2014. She is a member of the New York State Bar Association, the New York Women's Bar Association, the New York City Bar Association (serving as a member of the Sex & Law Committee) and the New York County Lawyers Association. She is also a Leadership Committee member of the Brandeis Women's Network of the Brandeis Alumni Club of New York City.
Ms. Pfeffer is admitted to the New York and New Jersey state bars, as well as the U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York and U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey.
Ms. Pfeffer earned her B.A., cum laude, from Brandeis University in 2005 and her J.D. from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in 2008, with a concentration in Constitutional Law and Rights. During law school, Ms. Pfeffer served as President of the Women Law Students Association and as Senior Articles Editor of the Cardozo Journal of International and Comparative Law.
Education
Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law (J.D.)
Brandeis University (B.A., cum laude)
Matt Rohrer, an associate of the firm, has focused his practice on family and matrimonial law since beginning law school. He has experience in a range of matters, including custody, parenting time, and child and spousal support, as well as experience with special issues arising with international and LGBTQ-headed families. His experience working in numerous public interest roles prior to joining the firm allows him to listen to clients' stories with an attentive ear and an empathetic mind. Mr. Rohrer previously worked with the firm as a Summer Associate.
During law school, Mr. Rohrer served as a student attorney at Emory's Barton Child Law and Policy Center and as the Director of the Emory LGBTQ Legal Services Clinic, the first university-sponsored legal effort devoted to issues of sexual orientation and gender identity in the region. He was an extern with the Fulton County Office of the Child Attorney as well as a judicial extern for the Honorable Rebecca Crumrine Rieder in the Fulton County Superior Court Family Division, both in Atlanta, Georgia.
Mr. Rohrer received his B.A. from Tufts University in 2017 and his J.D. from Emory University School of Law in 2022, graduating as a Pro Bono Scholar for his commitment to working on behalf of indigent and under-represented groups.
Mr. Rohrer is awaiting admission in New York.
Education
Emory University School of Law (J.D.)
Tufts University (B.A.)
Natalie N. Diratsouian, an associate of the firm, has devoted her practice to matrimonial and family law since graduating law school. Ms. Diratsouian prioritizes her clients' needs, while taking a practical approach at every step. She has extensive experience both drafting and negotiating agreements and litigating a range of matters, including pre-judgment and post-judgment issues relating to custody, parenting time, child support, spousal support, equitable distribution and relocation issues.
Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Diratsouian was associated with a law firm in Bergen County, New Jersey, where she worked exclusively with the Chair of the Matrimonial Department. Prior to entering private practice, she served as the Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable Peter J. Melchionne, P.J.F.P., the Presiding Judge of the Family Part of the Superior Court of New Jersey, Bergen County.
During law school, Ms. Diratsouian served as Notes and Comments Editor of the New York Law School Law Review and affiliate of the Diane Abbey Law Center for Children and Families. She was a General Counsel Summer Associate at Credit Suisse Securities, LLC, and a judicial extern for the Honorable Donald R. Venezia, J.S.C. (Ret.) of the Family Part in Bergen County, New Jersey.
Ms. Diratsouian is fluent in Armenian.
Ms. Diratsouian is admitted in both New York and New Jersey.
Education
New York Law School (J.D., cum laude)
The College of New Jersey (B.A.)
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Chairman of the White Plains Democratic City Committee
Tim James, a partner in the firm, is a 1978 cum laude graduate of Princeton University and a 1987 graduate of the NYU School of Law.
Following five years as a litigator at Weil, Gotshal & Manges and Szold & Brandwen, Mr. James served as Senior Legislative Assistant to Rep. Jerrold Nadler and then as Director of Government and Community Relations and Associate Counsel of the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation. From 1999 to 2005, Mr. James was Court Attorney to Judge Debra Samuels.
Mr. James has concentrated in matrimonial and family law since 2005, when he joined a predecessor to Rabin Schumann & Partners LLP. He has extensive litigation experience in New York's trial and appellate courts, in matters including, but not limited to, divorce, child custody and visitation (including in nontraditional family situations), equitable distribution of marital property, spousal maintenance, orders of protection, adoption and international child abduction (Hague Convention).
Mr. James is Chair of the White Plains Democratic City Committee and a member of the Executive Committee of the Westchester County Democratic Committee. He is a former member of the Rye City Human Rights Commission, Manhattan Community Board 2 and the Board of Directors of the Lower Hudson Valley chapter of the New York Civil Liberties Union. He served as a member and as Chair of the Board of Trustees of the White Plains Public Library. He is a member of the New York State Bar Association, the New York City Bar Association, the Women's Bar Association of New York and the New York County Lawyers Association.
Mr. James has co-authored numerous scholarly articles published in the annual "Special Matrimonial Law Section" of the New York Law Journal.
Education
Princeton University (B.A. cum laude)
New York University School of Law (J.D.)