If someone had told me when I was a law student that I was destined to become a divorce and family lawyer one day, I would not have believed them.  Now, almost twenty years later, I cannot imagine practicing in another area of law.

I began my legal career as a litigation associate in the New York City offices of Weil Gotshal & Manges, LLP, one of the world's largest international law firms.  While I knew early on that “Big Law” would not be my permanent home, my time practicing in this arena was invaluable.  It is where, as a young attorney, I learned critical and fundamental lawyering skills from several renowned corporate litigators, such as conducting legal research, legal writing and basic negotiating skills.  It is also where I learned the importance of applying meticulous attention to detail in all legal matters.  

While my time at Weil served a valuable purpose, I soon realized that on a personal level something was missing for me.  And after working on several pro bono matters (including one in particular, where I successfully represented a 15 year-old Eritrean refugee seeking to gain political asylum in the United States), I came to understand what that was.  I realized that I would only find meaning and personal satisfaction practicing law in a role where I was counseling and representing people rather than corporations.  This realization ultimately drew me to the practice of divorce and family law, a practice area which demands not only mastery of sophisticated and nuanced legal concepts, but also the ability and patience to understand and appreciate complicated human relationships and family dynamics, and a desire to help people navigate challenging and often very stressful personal circumstances.

In 2003, I transitioned into the practice of divorce and family law, joining one of the largest family law boutiques in New York City.  During my approximately ten years there, first as an associate and then as a partner, I honed my craft under the tutelage of some of New York City's most prominent divorce lawyers.   After my first child was born, my wife and I relocated to Connecticut, where I was born and raised and where I have deep family roots.  Before co-founding the Family Law Firm Healy + Eliot, I was very fortunate to spend approximately five years as an associate, and then as a partner, at a prominent family law boutique in Fairfield County, Connecticut.

If I am fortunate enough to work with you, my goal as your lawyer, counselor, and advocate, will be to expertly guide you through what may at times be a difficult and stressful process and ultimately help you achieve your version of a successful result.  A big part of my job will be to listen to you and make sure that I fully understand your primary goals and concerns, as I appreciate that a “successful outcome” is something that can take different forms for different people.  For some, a successful outcome is a favorable court decision after a hard-fought litigation. But for many, a successful outcome means reaching a fair and equitable negotiated settlement, which is tailored to the unique needs of a particular individual or family, and which allows divorcing parties to emerge from the process having kept legal fees to a minimum and with important family relationships in-tact.  Should we work together, we will zero in on what a successful outcome looks like to you so that together we can map out and implement a well thought out strategy that allows you to achieve that outcome.

I appreciate that you will likely have very real and potentially daunting concerns about critical issues such as the health and well-being of your children and your financial health and future and that you will have many questions that need answering.  While there may be difficult decisions that you will need to make during this process, if I am your lawyer I will ensure that you will make such decisions well-informed, with a full and complete understanding of the law, and with the benefit of candid assessments of the risks or benefits of pursuing various options.  You will have my ear, along with a commitment to offering you my patience, compassion, diligence, and hard work.

 

Distinctions, Honors and Awards

• Connecticut Super Lawyers® as listed in New England Super Lawyers®, 2019-2020
• National Academy of Family Law Attorneys Top 10 Family Law Attorneys in Connecticut, 2017
• New York Super Lawyers® list in the area of Family Law, 2015
• New York Super Lawyers® Rising Stars® list in the area of Family Law, 2013-2014

 Education

• Fordham University School of Law, New York, NY
• Juris Doctor 2000
• Honors/Activities: Deans List; Archibald R. Murray Public Service Award
• University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
  
  • B.A. Psychology, May 1996

 

Professional Associations and Memberships

• Connecticut Bar Association, 2015- Present (Family Law Section)
• Fairfield County Bar Association, 2015 - Present (Family Law Section)
• New York County Lawyers Association, 2004 - Present (Family Law Section)
• New York Bar Association, 2001 - Present (Family Law Section) 
• Westport-Weston Bar Association, Chairman 2018 - Present 

Bar Admissions

• Connecticut
• New York