Melissa Again Named Among Top Lawyers in Washingtonian

Melissa was named to the Washingtonian Magazine’s Top Lawyers in Divorce and Family Law. The list is compiled annual by editorial staff, in consultation with practitioners throughout the D.C. metro area.

Melissa Assumes Role of President of AAML DC Chapter in January 2026

Founded in 1961, the AAML was created to "encourage the study,  improve the practice, elevate the standards and advance the cause of matrimonial law, the end that the welfare of the family and society be preserved".  To become a member of this organization, one must endure a rigorous application process, sit for a national examination, and be interviewed by leadership within the organization.  Therefore, the AAML prides itself on admitting the very best family lawyers, who, above everything else, comport themselves with the highest ethical standards. In January 2026, Melissa will assume the role of President of the District of Columbia Chapter of the AAML for a 2-year-term.

Melissa named Top Attorney by Bethesda Magazine

Bethesda Magazine has published its annual rankings of Top Attorneys. Melissa was ranked among the Top Attorneys in 2025 in the field of Alternative Dispute Resolution. In addition to serving as an expert and consulting on international family law cases for lawyers and their clients, Melissa also routinely serves as a neutral in these complex cross-border cases.

Melissa Co-Chairs International Programming at ABA Meeting

The American Bar Association - Family Law Section held its annual fall meeting in Montreal, Quebec last week. In addition to its normal agenda, the section hosted a full day of pre-conference programming focused on international family law issues. Four panels explored the various complicated issues inherent in representing an international family, ranging from how to create a family across borders, movement of children, protecting assets, and many other topics. Melissa was proud to co-chair the day’s programming with Bruce Hale.

Melissa Named in 2026 Edition of Best Lawyers in America®

Melissa was again named to the Best Lawyers in America® (2026 ed). This year, she not only received the honor in the area of Family Law for the District of Columbia, but also in Family Law Mediation. Best Lawyers involves a nomination process along with a peer review for all those lawyers named to the annual list.

Melissa designated to Mediation Network in MENA region

Melissa Kucinski is proud to be a new member of The Mediation Hub: MENA. This amazing network advances mediation as a critical dispute resolution process in the MENA region by bringing experts together to develop, lead, and mobilize awareness about mediation. You can find Melissa’s profile here.

Melissa Reappointed Member of ULC Joint Editorial Board

Melissa has been reappointed as one of only two members from the American Bar Association to the Uniform Law Commission’s Joint Editorial Board on Uniform Family Law. This austere body is critical to the formation of family law within the United States. The ULC’s work is grounded in a multi-year process that often starts with these Joint Editorial Boards who propose potential new acts that the Board determines would improve the law throughout the country. This Board has proposed and fostered such projects as the Uniform Judicial Interview of Children Act, the Uniform Child Abduction Prevention Act, and the Uniform Family Law Arbitration Act. The Board also monitors state enactment and interpretation of the ULC’s acts and puts forth guidance, when needed, to ensure the proper understanding of its acts. It has done this on several occasions, most recently in November of 2024 when it added to the literature on the distinction between custody jurisdiction principles in the United States under one of its acts (the UCCJEA) and the Hague Abduction Convention. You can learn more about the Uniform Law Commission and its Joint Editorial Board on Uniform Family Law here.

Melissa Ranked in Band 2 by Chambers & Partners for HNW Family/Matrimonial Law

Melissa was ranked by Chambers & Partners in its High Net Worth rankings for Family/Matrimonial Law in the District of Columbia. Melissa is only one of 8 lawyers ranked in the District in this annual guide on the top lawyers. Chambers & Partners provides rankings after a rigorous review process, including an application, interview, and referee feedback.

Melissa Quoted by Spears Magazine on Legal Risks in Relocation

Melissa was quoted by the Spears Magazine in a recent article that explored the legal risks of international relocation, including moving with children, and the Washington Declaration, a set of principles adopted by the Hague Conference on Private International Law to provide clarity on what courts should consider in these complex cases. You can read the article here.

Melissa Ranked by Chambers and Partners in Mediation

MKFL is pleased to announce that Melissa Kucinski has earned a Band 2 ranking in the 2025 Chambers USA Nationwide Guide in the area of Mediation. In speaking with Chambers USA, colleagues shared the following thoughts on Melissa:

“Melissa is knowledgeable in jurisdictional matters.”

“Melissa is second to none in terms of her knowledge of international family law. She has a wonderfully reassuring manner which enables her to gain the confidence of parties in mediation.”

“She does a fantastic job as a mediator, she offers suggestions and plants creative seeds that are able to settle a case. She offers creative solutions; she's certainly invaluable.”

“Melissa is the top international family lawyer in the US.”

“Melissa has a wonderful temperament, is very responsive, and is definitely on top of things.”

Melissa’s law and mediation practice focuses exclusively on working with family lawyers and their clients when there is an international element to the family law dispute.

Melissa Ranked by Superlawyers for 2025

Melissa was again rated by Superlawyers, receiving three separate rankings in the 2025 list. This is Melissa’s tenth consecutive year being rated as a Washington DC Superlawyer. She also again received the rankings of Top 100 DC Superlawyers and Top 50 Women Superlawyers in Washington, DC. She received those rankings for a fifth consecutive year.

Superlawyers is a peer-influenced and research-driven ranking, selecting the top 5% of attorneys to its list each year.

Melissa to Sit on Panel at Sold-Out International Family Law Conference

Melissa will be co-presenting at the Expatriate Law International Family Law Conference in France next week. Her panel will focus on “the impact of allegations of abuse on our children and financial cases.” Melissa will share her perspective on this critical topic as an international family mediator.

Melissa named among Top Family Lawyers by Doyles Guide

Doyles Guide is a leading directory of lawyers, initially published in Australia, which has now expanded its rankings to the United States. Melissa has been named among its top family lawyers in its first published rankings in Washington, D.C. You can view the rankings and learn more about Doyles Guide here about Doyles Guide here.

Melissa Collaborates with New York State Judicial Institute

Melissa is collaborating with the New York State Judicial Institute in designing a comprehensive curriculum for New York judges in all aspects of international family law. The NYSJI provides cutting-edge educational programming for judges throughout the state in all disciplines of the law. With the Institute’s dedication to an international family law curriculum, New York judges will be some of the most highly trained in the country in this complicated and far-reaching area of practice.

MKFL named Tier 1 Family Law Firm in DC by Best Lawyers

MKFL is named among the Best Law Firms, Tier 1, in Washington, D.C. in the field of family law. The rankings include client feedback, peer reviews, industry leader interviews, and detailed analysis of law firm data. MKFL is proud to be one of 18 D.C. firms ranked in the field of family law and one of only 11 that achieved the Tier 1 ranking.

MKFL Celebrates 11th Anniversary & 3rd as an International Family Law Consulting Boutique

Since re-envisioning her practice 3 years ago to exclusively help families with the most complicated international issues, Melissa has been invited to some of the biggest stages across the globe to participate in the conversations that most impact international families.

A leader in some of the most prestigious international family law bars; invited to high level diplomatic meetings in The Hague; providing advice and testimony to the U.S. Congress, Maryland General Assembly, and the U.S. Department of State; appointments as Reporter for a Uniform Law Commission Drafting Committee and to its Joint Editorial Board on Uniform Family Laws; appointments as an adjunct professor at GW Law and UC Law San Francisco; guest lecturer at the University of Bologna and Georgetown Law; invited to train judges in Florida, California, Maryland, and New York; authoring innovative articles in some of the most esteemed peer reviewed journals; co-authoring a seminal textbook in the USA on international family law; speaking on some of the most complicated topics to some of the most dynamic and skilled family lawyers.

Melissa has been in the places that matter for international families, improving laws, consulting on cases, and training the decision-makers. She is honored by the trust she has been given by so many. Here is to the next three years as MKFL continues to grow as a premiere international family law boutique firm, consulting on and resolving disputes exclusively for international families.

Melissa Testifies before U.S. Congress

On September 10, 2024, Melissa testified before the U.S. Congress Subcommittee on Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations on the International Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act (ICAPRA). ICAPRA was enacted in 2014, and is now 10 years old. It highlights certain tools that the U.S. government can use in addressing international parental child abduction, mandates that the U.S. Department of State publish an annual report on countries to which children are taken from the United States by a parent, and established the Prevent Abduction program. Melissa provided testimony, buttressed by a written statement, that focused on raw data already published, and the need for more, to establish the inherent problems in legal systems for the operation of existing laws in these cross-border family disputes. She proposed more discussion on complementary legal issues, such as international family relocation laws, abduction prevention research, and the recognition and enforcement of U.S. custody orders overseas, including through the Hague Child Protection Convention, which is not yet ratified by the United States. You can watch the recording of Tuesday’s hearing at this link and read the witnesses’ written testimony at this link.

Melissa named in Best Lawyers 2025 for Family Law

Melissa has been selected by her peers for inclusion in the 31st edition of The Best Lawyers in America® for her expertise in Family Law in Washington, DC. She has been recognized in this publication since 2018.

Melissa served as Head of Delegation at 8th Special Commission

From October 10 - 17, 2023, the Hague Conference on Private International Law hosted its 8th meeting of its Special Commission, to discuss the practical operation of two of its seminal treaties in international family law - the Hague Abduction Convention and the Hague Child Protection Convention. This meeting is limited to Contracting States, a few select advisors to the Hague Conference, and delegates from Observer Organizations to the Hague Conferences. The International Law Institute appointed Melissa to serve as its Head of Delegation to this meeting in The Hague. The Conclusions & Recommendations from the 8th Special Commission can be found by clicking here.

Melissa to Represent International Law Institute in Meetings in The Hague

Melissa will represent the International Law Institute and serve as its delegate at upcoming meetings in The Hague, Netherlands in October, 2023. The Hague Conference on Private International Law will host its 8th Special Commission Meeting to discuss the practical operation of two of its family law conventions - the Hague Abduction Convention and the Hague Child Protection Convention. These meetings, held approximately every 5-6 years, are attended by delegates from Member and Non-Member States and Observer Organizations. The International Law Institute holds observer status with the Hague Conference, and has a seat at this meeting, and has appointed Melissa as its representative.

The International Law Institute is a non-profit organization dedicated to building resilience and economic empowerment through the rule of law for human development around the world. It’s website is: www.ili.org.

Melissa named in BestLawyers for 2024

Melissa was again named among the Best Lawyers by the publication "The Best Lawyers in America".

Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Their methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.

Melissa to serve as Reporter for new Uniform Act on Judicial Interviews of Children

Melissa has been appointed to serve as the Reporter for a new Drafting Committee in the U.S. Uniform Law Commission. The Drafting Committee is charged with drafting a uniform or model act addressing custody, visitation, parentage, and related proceedings (including Hague Abduction Convention cases) in which other law permits or requires the child's views to be heard. With the guidance of a Chair, Vice Chair, Advisors, and Observers, Melissa will be primarily responsible for researching and drafting the act for consideration by the committee, in accordance with the committee's policy decisions, including notes and comments.

The Uniform Law Commission was established in 1892 to provide "states with non-partisan, well-conceived and well-drafted legislation that brings clarity and stability to critical areas of state statutory law." It's most notable work in the family law field include the Uniform Child-Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA) and the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (UIFSA).

Melissa Listed among SuperLawyers in Washington, DC

SuperLawyers has again listed Melissa Kucinski on its list of the Top 50 Women SuperLawyers in DC for 2023 and its list of the Top 100 D.C. SuperLawyers for 2023. SuperLawyers evaluates lawyers annually, and measures its candidates against twelve indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement as part of its selection process.

Melissa Co-Chairs Conference in New York

On Tuesday, May 2, 2023, Melissa co-chaired a conference for the New York State Bar Association on advanced issues in the Hague Abduction Convention. Melissa routinely serves as expert and consultant on issues of international parental child abduction. Melissa co-chairs the NYSBA's International Family Law committee.

Melissa presents on Supreme Court case to AAML

Melissa presented on the recent Hague Abduction Supreme Court case of Golan v. Saada to the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers at the annual retreat of its D.C., Maryland, and Virginia chapters. The AAML is a national organization of leading family lawyers with nearly 1500 fellows. Fellowship is secured through a rigorous application process and an examination and interview. Melissa is proud to be a fellow from the District of Columbia. This year's annual chapter retreat was held in Cambridge, Maryland and hosted by the Maryland Chapter of the AAML, who invited Melissa to speak. This is the second presentation she has given on an international family law topic to a chapter of the AAML this calendar year.

Melissa named Interruptor on International Law

Melissa was named an Interruptor on International Law by interruptrr.com. Melissa has joined a list of leading women in the field of international law who are interrupting an otherwise male-dominated profession by showcasing her expertise in the field of international family law. See the list of extraordinary international law interruptors here.

Melissa named Top Lawyer by Washingtonian Magazine for 2022

For the second year in a row, Melissa was named a Top Lawyer by Washingtonian Magazine.

Washingtonian "surveyed all of [its] past Top Lawyers, asking them to nominate those they consider to be the best among their peers. From there, [the magazine] conducted more of [its] own reporting and research" in order to select this year's honorees.

MK Family Listed as a 2023 Best Lawyers firm

MK Family Law is honored to be included among the distinguished group of law firms that made the Best Lawyers Tier 1 ranking for 2023. "The 2023 rankings incorporate more than 12.2 million evaluations of more than 115,000 individual leading lawyers from more than 22,000 firms. More than 2,000 firms received a national ranking this year. Achieving a tiered ranking in U.S. News – Best Lawyers^® "Best Law Firms" signals a unique combination of quality law practice and breadth of legal expertise. Ranked firms, presented in three tiers, are recognized on a national and regional-based scale. Firms that received a tier designation reflect the highest level of respect a firm can earn among other leading lawyers and clients from the same communities and practice areas."

Melissa appointed co-chair of AAML's International Law Committee

Melissa has been appointed as the Co-Chair of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyer's International Law Committee. The AAML is a membership organization that requires the highest standards in practice and ethics for family lawyers throughout the United States. Membership requires an extensive application, recommendation, and examination process, followed by an invitation to join.

MK Family Law named a 2023 Best Lawyers Law Firm

MK Family Law, PLLC was named among the 2023 Best Lawyers Law Firms in Washington, D.C. in the practice area of family law.