Allen A. Drexel
Attorney Profile
Top Rated Family Law Attorney in New York, NY
Selected to Rising Stars: 2011
Allen concentrates his practice on family law issues, including divorce, equitable distribution of business and financial assets, spousal and child support, contested child custody cases, paternity proceedings, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, and same-sex family law matters.
After graduating from Stanford Law School, Allen served as law clerk to the Honorable A. Joe Fish, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas. He went on to practice general commercial litigation at Simpson Thacher LLP and then transitioned into the field of family law, where he has now practiced exclusively since 2003. Immediately prior to forming Drexel LLC, Allen practiced family law at Hogan & Hartson LLP, where he represented individuals in matters involving substantial estates and novel legal issues.
Allen has delivered numerous CLE presentations and written on matrimonial law issues. He is a member of the Executive Committee of the New York State Bar Association’s Family Law Section, Co-Chair of the Section’s LGBT Rights Committee, and a member of its Legislation Committee. From 2005-08, Allen co-chaired the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Rights Committee of the New York City Bar Association, and he has been cited in the New York Times, the New York Law Journal, New York Magazine, The Daily Beast, Bloomberg BNA Family Law Reporter, Above the Law, and other publications regarding family law issues. In 2017 Allen was recognized with Martindale-Hubbell's AV Preeminent rating for the "highest level of professional excellence."
- 100%Family Law
Alimony & Spousal Support, Child Support, Custody & Visitation, Divorce, Domestic Violence, Paternity, Prenuptial Agreements, Marital Property, Mediation & Collaborative Law, Same Sex Family Law
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2013 - 2021
- Rising Stars: 2011
Additional Sources of Information About Allen A. Drexel
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About Allen A. Drexel
First Admitted: 2001, New York
Professional Webpage: https://www.gdblaw.com/Allen-Drexel
Honors/Awards
- Honoree for pro bono service, 2007, 2009, Empire State Counsel
- New York Metro Super Lawyers Rising Star, 2011
- New York Metro Super Lawyers, 2013-2019
- Career award for "tireless efforts on behalf of the LGBT community", Arthur S. Leonard Prize, New York City Bar Association, 2016
- Honoree for pro bono service, Empire State Counsel, 2009
- 2017-2020, AV Preeminent rating, Martindale-Hubbell
- Selected for inaugural issue of National Law Journal's "Trailblazers in Divorce, Trusts & Estates", National Law Journal, 2016
- AV Preeminent rating, Martindale-Hubbell, 2018
Bar/Professional Activity
- Co-Chair, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Rights Committee, New York City Bar Association, 2005 - 2008
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
- Member, Family Law Section, Legislation Committee, New York State Bar Association, 2008 - Present
- New York City Bar Association, 2001 - Present
- Co-Chair, Membership Committee, New York State Bar Association Family Law Section, 2018-Present
- Member, Executive Committee of the New York State Bar's Family Law Section, New York State Bar Association, 2012 - Present
- Member, Family Law Section, New York State Bar Association, 2006 - Present
- Member, Matrimonial Law Committee, New York City Bar Association, 2017-Present, 2010-2013
- Member, Family Law Section, American Bar Association, 2005 - Present
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas
Educational Background
- Dartmouth College, A.B., Magna Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa, 1991
- University of Sussex, M.A., 1992
Scholarly Lectures/Writings
- Scholarly Writing, Project Co-Coordinator and Lead Drafter, 1,324 Reasons for Marriage Equality in New York State, New York City Bar Association and Empire State Pride Agenda report, 2007
- Advancing Equality Through Financial & Legal Planning, Panel Discussion, hosted by Bernstein Global Wealth Management (May 2, 2012)
- Life After Windsor: Where Are We Now?, Presentation to New York County Lawyers’ Association, Matrimonial Law Section (September 10, 2013)
- Scholarly Writing, Co-Author, Children’s Best Interests: Divorce Law, Same-Sex Marriage Debate, New York Law Journal, 2006
- Scholarly Writing, Author, Before Paris Burned: Race, Class, and Male Homosexuality on the Chicago South Side, 1935–1960, Creating A Place For Ourselves: Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual Community Histories 119, 1997
- CLE Presentation, Marriage Equality in New York: The New Legal Landscape for Same-Sex Couples, New York City Bar Association, 2011
- CLE Presentation, What Passage of the Marriage Equality Law Will Mean for Same-Sex Couples in New York: A Multidisciplinary Forum, New York City Bar Association, 2011
- CLE Presentation, Same-Sex Marriage in New York – What Every Practitioner Needs to Know, New York State Bar Association, 2011
- Presentation, Matrimonial Law Committee – New York State Bar Association, 2011
- CLE Presentation, Love Among the DOMAs: Conflict of Law Issues Affecting New York LGBT Families & Domestic Partners, New York City Bar Association, 2007
- CLE Presentation, Planning for Same-Sex & Unmarried Couples: Probate, Property & Family Law, New York City Bar Association, 2009
- CLE Presentation, Beyond Ozzie & Harriet: Representing Non-Traditional Couples in the Paterson Era, New York City Bar Association, 2008
- CLE Program, Chair, Culturally Competent Lawyering for At-Risk LGBTQ Youth: Advocating Effectively in Foster Care & Juvenile Detention Systems, New York City Bar Association, 2008
- Marriage Equality - The Paper Anniversary: Updates on Case Law & Developments, CLE Presentation, New York City Bar Association, June 25, 2012
- Presentation regarding (i) impact on same-sex spouses of federal Defense of Marriage Act and inconsistent recognition of same-sex marriages outside New York state, and (ii) related planning issues, New York City Bar Association, Matrimonial Law Committee, September 8, 2011
Pro bono/Community Service
- Same-Sex Civil Union Dissolution, 2010
- Cave Canem Foundation, Board of Directors (2018-present; Secretary, 2019-present), 2018
- Prenuptial Agreement, 2010
Last Updated: 7/8/2021