Melissa Invited to Experts Meeting in London

Melissa was invited to a meeting of experts at the University of Westminster School of Law in August 2025 in London. She was asked to present on the topic of preventing international parental child abduction by making mediation a more accessible tool to families. While in England, Melissa will be attending the World Congress on Family Law and Children’s Rights at the University of Cambridge.

Melissa Wraps Up Term as Reporter of New Uniform Act

Melissa is approaching the end of her term as the Reporter of the Uniform Law Commission’s newest act, the Uniform Judicial Interviews of Children Act. This new act provides critical guidance to judges who interview children in their parents’ private disputes, such as custody cases and parental child abduction cases. The Reporter is the primary drafter of this act, guided by a committee of Commissioners (appointed by their State governments), Advisors, and Observers. This new act was put before the Uniform Law Commission at its annual meeting in Santa Fe, New Mexico in July 2025 for its final line-by-line reading.

Melissa Helps Plan Meeting on International Child Relocation

Melissa is honored to be part of a Planning Committee that is organizing an invitation-only meeting in Washington, D.C. to discuss the progress and global perspectives on international child relocation. The event is a look back at the Washington Declaration, a set of guidelines published 15 years ago by the Hague Conference on International Law (HCCH) on the issue. The Planning Committee is comprised of a small group of experts from the HCCH, the Embassy of Canada to the United States, and the International Academy of Family Lawyers (of which Melissa is an active fellow and serves its global Board of Governors).

Melissa to be Guest Speaker at Annual Child Abduction Conference Hosted by Top London Chambers

Melissa has been invited to speak on tips and traps in US-UK child abduction cases at the annual conference of 1KBW Chambers. 1KBW Chambers is a pre-eminent family law chambers in London specializing in financial and children’s matters and expert in international family cases. 1KBW’s annual child abduction conference features the expertise of the Chambers and devotes its conference proceeds to the work of Reunite, a nonprofit who has long supported families in cases of international movement of children.

Melissa is honored to be included among the extraordinary lineup of speakers, and to connect with her colleagues in London in late January.

Melissa Co-Authors Article for American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Journal

The Journal of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (JAAML) was established in 1984 and features peer reviewed articles, reviews, and editorials covering all aspects of the Family Law profession. The Journal is published by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and issued semiannually. The most recent issue focuses exclusively on international family law topics. Melissa Co-Authored the article “To Return or Not To Return – That Is The Question: Tensions Between Non-Refoulement and Orders of Return Under the Hague Abduction Convention.”The article focuses on the potential conflicts, in the United States, when a parent travels into the United States with their child and seeks asylum, and the non-traveling parent seeks the child’s return home using the Hague Abduction Convention.