Tamara Mitchel

tmitchel@kristensenpc.com

(914) 431 7299

About Tamara Mitchel

A Harvard-trained attorney, Ms. Mitchel has decades of experience in family law. Having worked as a partner in esteemed matrimonial firms in New York, she also serves as a leader and board member of legal and community committees and organizations, including county and state bar associations' family law sections, and not-for-profit organizations providing legal and other services to victims of domestic violence.

Ms. Mitchel has earned the highest respect from bar associations, legislatures and non-profit legal services organizations, fellow lawyers, mental health professionals, law enforcement and her clients. She has received numerous certificates, professional awards and listings in peer-rated organizations to the present, for her valuable services, dedication and contributions to the practice of New York family law in general as well as to victims of domestic violence and their families.

Ms. Mitchel has been a frequent lecturer, prolific writer and founding member of an organization that promotes services and safe spaces for intimate partner abuse victims. Ms. Mitchel has been described by her clients as a tenacious advocate, puzzle master, guiding light, manager of a daunting process with clear vision and deliberate execution, a professional in all aspects of the word. Ms. Mitchel continues to pursue new opportunities to use her insights, sense of justice and compassion, drive and determination on behalf of the law and service to clients and the community.

Ms. Mitchel has an undergraduate degree magna cum laude in Slavic Languages and Literatures from Harvard College, a JD cum laude from Harvard Law School, and was a professional opera soloist, primarily in Europe, before devoting herself to the practice of law.

Honors & Awards

Selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America, Family Law, by peer review, each year from 2018 through 2023.
Selected for inclusion in the New York Metro Super Lawyers list each year from 2013 through 2022.
Included in Marquis Who’s Who for Professional Excellence in Law, 2017-2018.
Pro Bono Volunteer Award, Legal Services of the Hudson Valley, October 2017.
The Diane White Legal Advocacy Award, in recognition of commitment to the mission of the Pace Women’s Justice Center, dedication to providing justice to victims and survivors of domestic violence and access to the legal system for all women, that has made a difference in the lives of so many women and their children, October 19, 2011.

U.S. House of Representatives Congressional Proclamation, for seeking justice for victims of the domestic violence through private practice, lectures, writing, support of the Pace Women’s Justice Center and leadership in helping women escape the terror of domestic violence and bringing abuse to the attention of the public and the court, Hon. Nita M. Lowey, October 19, 2011.
New York State Senate, Proclamation, for numerous years of service to the Community and State for long and sustained commitment to the maintenance of high standards in the profession, Hon. Suzi Oppenheimer, State Senate- 37^th District, October 19, 2011.
New York State Senate, Proclamation, for exemplary service on behalf of the community, proclaiming October 19, 2011, as Tamara A. Mitchel, Esq. Day, Hon. Andrea Stewart-Cousins, State Senate – 35^th District.
Certificate of Distinguished Service, Westchester County, Office of the County Executive, for generous giving of time and effort while providing an invaluable service to the Citizens of Westchester County, and in recognition of being honored by the Pace Women’s Justice Center for support of the Center’s mission and work, October 19, 2011.
Certificate of Distinguished Service, Westchester County, Office of the County Executive, for Outstanding Service as Supervising Attorney for the White Plains Family Court Domestic Violence Legal Program, April 2002.

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND POSITIONS

New York State Bar Association, Family Law Section

Co-Chair Custody Committee, by appointment, 2015 to present
Member by appointment, Executive Committee, 2008-present
Member, Committee on Legislation, 2008 - 2015

Westchester County Bar Association, Domestic Relations and Family Law Section

Chair, by election, 2014 – 2016
Member, Executive Committee, by election (through 2016), 2008-present
Continuing Legal Education Co-Chair, 2015-2017
Editor in Chief of Domestic Law Review, 2008-2014

New York State Bar Foundation

Chair of the Fellows of the Ninth Judicial District, June 2021 to present. Elected Fellow of the Foundation in 2018.

Pace Women’s Justice Center, Friends of Gail Executive Advisory Board

Member, 2005 (founding) -present.

New Dawn Family Resource Center, Inc

Founding Board Member and Officer of not-for-profit corporation providing support in Northern Westchester County to victims of intimate partner violence, human trafficking, elder abuse, domestic violence, sexual assault and teen dating violence, 2018 (founding) – present.

Westchester Women’s Bar Association Foundation:

Member, Board of Directors, by appointment, 2013 – 2018
Officer, Board of Directors (Secretary) by appointment, 2015-2018

Other Positions

Member, New York Association of Collaborative Professionals, 2010 to 2020.
Member, International Academy of Collaborative Professionals, 2010 to 2017.
Member, Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, 2012 to present.
Member, Resource Committee, Summer Justice Academy for Young Women, co-sponsored by the New York Chapter of the National Association of Women Judges and Pace Law School, 2011-2014.
New York State Bar Association Standing Committee on Children and the Law, past Member 2011.
Post-Miller Commission Committee for Change. Formed to implement and administer the reforms proposed by the New York State Matrimonial Commission Report of 2006, former Member, 2008-2009.
Board of Directors, Hope’s Door (formerly Northern Westchester Shelter), past Member.Zoning Board of Appeals, City of Rye, New York, past Member.
Zoning Board of Appeals, City of Rye, New York, past Member.
Member in Good Standing, New York State Bar Association (Family Law Section), Westchester County Bar Association (Domestic Relations/Family Law Section), Westchester Women’s Bar Association (Matrimonial Section), Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York.
Harvard-Radcliffe Club of Westchester, Lifetime Member; Former Member of Schools and Scholarship (college application interviewing) Committee, 1992 through 2011, Former Member and Secretary of Board of Governors.
Harvard College Fund Class of 1978, Former Co-Chair for Participation.

LECTURES AND SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

Accredited Continuing Legal Education Lectures

New York State Bar Association

Lecturer, Critical Areas in Matrimonial Law II: Drafting Pendente Lite, Modifications and In Limine Motions: Ethics and Motions, April 2018
Lecturer, “Family Court Trial Institute II: Support Hearings, Enforcement and Downward Modification,” May 2017
Lecturer, “Family Court Trial Institute: Orders of Protection,” October 2016Lecturer, Practical Skills, Family Court Practice, “Ethics in Matrimonial and Family Law,” April 2015
Lecturer, Practical Skills, Family Court Practice, "Introduction to Equitable Distribution and Maintenance," October 2013
Chair, Practical Skills, Basic Matrimonial Practice, October 2012
Lecturer, Practical Skills, Family Court Practice, "Family Offense Proceedings – Article 8," April 2012
Chair, Practical Skills, Basic Matrimonial Practice and Speaker on Matrimonial Actions; Jurisdiction; Grounds; Separation; Annulment and Dissolution, October, 2011.
Chair, Family Court Practice: Custody, Child Protective Proceedings and Ethics, April 2011
Lecturer, Practical Skills: Basic Matrimonial Practice, Motions and Pre-Trial Interventions; 2010
Lecturer, Practical Skills: Family Court Practice, Ethics and Professionalism, 2009
Lecturer, Practical Skills: Basic Matrimonial Practice, Motions and Pre-Trial Interventions; 2007

The Ninth Judicial District Committee to Promote Gender Fairness in the Courts, Westchester Women’s Bar Association, Westchester County Bar Association and Pace Women’s Justice Center

Representing Victims of Domestic Violence: How to Navigate when a Family Court Matter becomes a Supreme Court Divorce, March 24, 2016

Pace Law School Center for Continuing Legal Education

Divorce Law and Domestic Violence – How the Amended Domestic Relations Law Benefits Victims of Domestic Violence (co-sponsored by the Pace Women’s Justice Center, the Westchester Women’s Bar Association and the Ninth Judicial District Committee to Promote Gender Fairness in the Courts), March 29, 2011
Divorce Law and Domestic Violence, March 2009

The Fifteenth Annual Domestic Violence Conference, Sponsored by the Appellate Division, First Department; Fordham Law School; Lawyers Committee Against Domestic Violence; New York State Judicial Committee on Women and the Courts

Legislative Update: Divorce and Child Support Reform Laws, March 2011

New York Association of Collaborative Professionals and the Pace Women’s Justice Center

Domestic Violence and the Collaborative Practitioner: the Complexity of Power in Relationships, 2009

The Ninth Judicial District Committee to Promote Gender Fairness in the Courts, Westchester Women’s Bar Association, Pace Law School and Pace Women’s Justice Center

Domestic Violence and Financial Exploitation in Matrimonial Cases, 2007

Westchester Women’s Bar Association/Pace Women’s Justice Center Moderate Means Panel and the Northern Westchester Shelter Survivor’s Law Project

Nuts and Bolts of Matrimonial Law, 2006

Pace Women’s Justice Center, Family Law Lecture Series

“Custody and Child Support,” Spring 2006
“Nuts and Bolts of Divorce in New York State and Self-Help Clinic - How to File an Uncontested Divorce,” Spring 2006
“General New York Divorce Law”, Spring 2005; “New York Divorce Law,” Fall 2004

PUBLICATIONS

Editor-in-Chief, Domestic Law Review, Westchester County Bar Association, Family Law Section, 2008 - 2014.
“Jurisprudence: Due Process Concerns for the Underrepesented Domestic Violence Victim,” Buffalo Women’s Law Journal, Vol. XIII, p. 173, Fall 2006, co-author with Rebecca Fialk.
“Current Issues in Law Enforcement Response to Family Offenses: A Domestic Violence Manual,” manual for police on domestic violence law, dynamics, and best practices, originally published by Westchester County, October 2001, and subsequent printing, author.
“Ethical Considerations for Victims’ Attorneys in Integrated Domestic Violence Courts,” presented at Creative Courts – Creative Responses,” Pace Women's Justice Center Think Tank on Domestic Violence Integrated Courts, November 2001, author.

Accredited Continuing Legal Education Materials authored:

Representing Victims of Domestic Violence: How to Navigate when a Family Court Matter becomes a Supreme Court Divorce,” co-authored, for the Ninth Judicial District Committee to Promote Gender Fairness in the Courts, Westchester Women’s Bar Association, Westchester County Bar Association and Pace Women’s Justice Center, 2016.
“Ethics in Matrimonial and Family Law,” Update, for New York State Bar Association, 2015.
“The New Child Support Modification Laws of 2010,” for the New York State Bar Association, October 2011.
“Divorce Law and Domestic Violence – How Recent Amendments in Domestic Relations & Other Laws Benefit Survivors of Domestic Violence,” co-authored with Jane Aoyama-Martin, Esq., Executive Director, Pace Women’s Justice Center, and Emily P. Ruben, Esq., Attorney-in-Charge, Legal Aid Society, Brooklyn Neighborhood Office, for the Pace Law School Center for Continuing Legal Education, March 2011.
“Current Issues in Custody Matters Involving Domestic Abuse: Cautionary Considerations for the Matrimonial Attorney,” for the Pace Law School Center for Continuing Legal Education, March 2009.
“Ethics for Family Court Practice,” co-authored with Nancy D. Kellman, Esq., for the New York State Bar Association, March 2009.