Kathleen Donelli

Kathleen Donelli is a partner at Goldschmidt & Genovese, LLP, a law firm located in White Plains and New York City, New York. She primarily works from the White Plains office and provides legal assistance to clients in the surrounding areas, including Westchester County. Her practice focuses on 

·       Appellate practice

·       Collaborative law

·       Matrimonial law

·       Divorce/separation

·       Child custody disputes 

·       Domestic violence

One of Ms. Donelli's notable achievements occurred in 1996 when she won a groundbreaking custody decision in the New York State Court of Appeals case Tropea v. Tropea. This case established the principle that courts should consider the best interest of the child when determining whether a custodial parent should be allowed to relocate with the child. Ms. Donelli is highly regarded for her experience in this area and often speaks on ethics and various issues related to matrimonial and family law.

In addition to her legal practice, Ms. Donelli is actively involved in the legal community and academia. She serves as an adjunct professor of law at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University and holds the position of co-chair on its board of visitors. Ms. Donelli has held leadership roles as the past president of the Westchester Women's Bar Association and the White Plains Bar Association. She is also the current co-chair of the Collaborative Law Committees of the Westchester Women's Bar Association.

Throughout her career, Ms. Donelli has contributed to legal publications, sharing her insights and legal acumen. She has written on topics such as matrimonial laws, collaborative divorce and divorce legislation. Her commitment to professional and community involvement is evident through her membership in various legal associations, including the New York Association of Collaborative Professionals and the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals.

In recognition of her accomplishments, Ms. Donelli has received several prestigious awards, including the Ruth Shapiro Award from the New York State Bar Association for her efforts in promoting women in the legal profession. She has also been rated as a Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished* attorney and has a “Very Good” ranking on Avvo. Her extensive experience, dedication to clients and involvement in professional associations have solidified her reputation as a reputable and accomplished attorney in matrimonial and family law.

Ms. Donelli holds a Juris Doctor from Pace University Elisabeth Haub School of Law, where she graduated cum laude. She also holds a Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) degree from Manhattanville College and a Bachelor of Arts from The City University of New York.

*AV®, AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished and Martindale-Hubbell Notable are certification marks used under license in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell® is the facilitator of a peer-review rating process. Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™ fall into two categories – legal ability and general ethical standards.