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.

Melissa presents on mediation in Abu Dhabi, UAE

On April 28, 2023, Melissa co-presented on the topic of international family mediation, cross-jurisdictional mediation, and U.S. mediation practice before approximately 130 family lawyers from across the globe at a conference in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. Melissa was joined by co-panelists from Australia, England, South Africa, and Singapore.

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 to Present to American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers

Melissa will present at the AAML's annual Maryland-Virginia-D.C. retreat on April 15th, where she will speak about Golan v. Saada, the most recent Hague Abduction Convention case decided by the U.S. Supreme Court in June 2022. The case was remanded, and has had some significant further proceedings. The case itself is still ongoing. Read more about the case on Melissa's International Family Law Blog.

Melissa co-presents on representing children in their parents international abduction cases

On October 18th, Melissa, a seasoned child's attorney and author of the American Bar Association's handbook on representing children in domestic and international cases, co-presented with James Netto of London, England for the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts on the ins and outs of representing minor children in their parents' international parental child abduction case.

Melissa presents to the Beverly Hills Bar Association on the Hague Child Abduction Convention

Melissa is honored to present to the Beverly Hills Bar Association on Thursday, October 13, 2022 on the topic of the Hague Child Abduction Convention. Melissa will run through the ins and outs of this treaty, including what it is, and what it is not.

Melissa works with Canadian Institute to organize advanced mediation training

Melissa is honored to be included in the organization of an international family mediation training with the Family Dispute Resolution Institute of Ontario (Canada). The two-day training will be June 16 and 17, 2022, and held virtually. It will include a range of advanced topics from international law, Canadian law and procedure, advanced mediation skills and considerations, children's issues, and intercultural considerations, among other topics. Registration is found here.

Melissa to Teach at University of Bologna Summer Program

Melissa is among a skilled lineup of international faculty who will be teaching at the University of Bologna School of Law's annual summer program on Transnational Litigation. The program will be held from July 18-23, 2022. Melissa will be lecturing on two consecutive days on topics ranging from the U.S. perspective on international parental child abduction to recognition and enforcement of foreign family law judgments in the United States.

Melissa Honored to Present for Hague Child Protection Anniversary

Melissa has been invited to speak at the 25th anniversary celebration for the Hague Child Protection Convention. The Child Protection Convention is a multilateral treaty covering a broad range of civil measures to protect children in cross-border situations. The United States signed this treaty in 2010, but has not yet ratified it. Melissa sat as an observer on the Uniform Law Commission's Drafting Committee, which updated the Uniform Child-Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act which would implement this treaty, when ratified, at the state level in the United States. You can view Melissa's presentation on the Hague Conference's YouTube channel here.

Melissa to present at AFCC Conference

Melissa is honored to present alongside James Netto from the International Family Law Group in London at this fall's Association of Family and Conciliation Court's Conference. Melissa and James will bring their perspectives, advice, and practical experience to a discussion about representing children in their parents' high-conflict international disputes, including international parental child abduction cases. Melissa and James are both experienced child's counsel, and have represented numerous children as their attorney in Hague Child Abduction Convention cases.

Melissa co-hosts online forum for Mediate.com

On Friday, May 7, 2021, Melissa co-hosted an online forum for Mediate.com to discuss standards, ethics, and new technologies for mediators who conduct their mediation process remotely, and for trainers who support mediators by offering educational courses. Melissa discussed the work she did as chair of a Mediate.com Sub-Committee examining the cross-jurisdictional issues that arise in online mediation. You can learn more about this forum here.

Melissa Serves as Panelist at D.C. Bar's Judicial and Bar Conference

Melissa moderated an expert panel on Thursday, April 22, 2021 that discussed the impact of COVID on the D.C. Superior Court family bench and bar, and co-presented on a panel on Friday, April 23, 2021 that examined COVID and international parental child abduction cases.

Melissa lectures about Hague Abduction Convention to Maryland lawyers

Melissa lectured to lawyers with the Montgomery County Bar Association in Spring 2021 where she addressed the complex issue of international parental child abduction, the different laws a lawyer must know, and the ins and outs of the Hague Abduction Convention.

Melissa to Participate in Panel for UNM Law

Melissa participated in an international law panel to discuss her career as a private international lawyer, focused on family law, with students who are interested in pursuing international law as a career path.

Melissa presents at ABA Symposium

Melissa was honored to present on a panel at the American Bar Association - Family Law Section's inaugural Family Law Quarterly symposium on April 8, 2021. She presented on a panel that discussed the impact of COVID on the the family courts in the United States, and she focused on its impact on complex international family law cases. You can see more information about symposium at this link. Melissa's article with Professor Robert Spector on COVID and international parental child abduction cases was published in the Family Law Quarterly in mid-2021. The FLQ is a scholarly journal published by New York Law School.

Melissa Guest Lectures at Rutgers Law

Melissa was honored to guest lecture for Professor Maritza Rodriguez's Family Law Class at Rutgers Law School during the Spring 2020 semester. She spoke on the topic of mediation and dispute resolution and its importance in the field of family law, including in international cases.

Melissa guest lectures at Georgetown Law

Melissa was honored to Guest Lecture for Professor David Stewart's Private International Law class at the Georgetown University Law Center on October 15, 2020. She discussed complex multi-jurisdictional custody cases and the recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments in the United States. Prof. Stewart is one of the titans of private international law. This was Professor Kucinski's second time guest lecturing at Georgetown.

Melissa to teach for Maryland Judicial College

Melissa will be co-lecturing in February 2021 on the topic of international custody cases to the Maryland Judicial College. The online webinar will cover topics ranging from the Uniform Child-Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act, the interplay between domestic custody cases and the Hague Child Abduction Convention, and child abduction prevention.

Melissa presents for Inter-American Bar Association

Melissa was honored to present for the Inter-American Bar Association at its annual conference on September 30, 2020. She presented on the issue of family law during the COVID-19 pandemic. She was joined by colleagues from Brazil and Argentina. You can learn more about the IABA here.

Melissa presents on international child relocation

Melissa presented an online webinar to lawyers in the New York State Bar on September 16, 2020 on the complex considerations in international child relocation cases. This was the second of 2 webinars Melissa presented to the NYSBA on international family law issues in 2020. You can learn more about the CLE here.

Melissa presents to the NY State Bar on legal updates

Melissa presented a webinar for the New York State Bar Association on Friday, May 15, 2020 summarizing the top international family law cases and updates of the past year. You can also find all the current international family law updates on MK Family Law’s International Family Law blog.

Melissa presents to University of Zielona Gora in Poland

On May 11, 2020, Melissa was honored to present on the topics of international child custody and parental abduction matters from the U.S. perspective to law faculty and students of the University of Zielona Gora in Poland for its 32nd research seminar meeting.