Melissa Appointed to Uniform Law Commission Role

Melissa was appointed as the Reporter of a new Uniform Law Commission Study Committee that is exploring the feasibility of drafting a new law on child participation in custody proceedings. The Study Committee will begin its work in early 2022, with a goal of concluding in late 2022. At that time, it will make a recommendation on whether a new law could and should be drafted on this very important topic.

Melissa listed in Washingtonian's Top Divorce Lawyers

Melissa was listed among the D.C. area's top family law attorneys in the Washingtonian Magazine's December 2021 ranking. She is one of only 17 lawyers in the city who are listed. She is the only lawyer who focuses her practice on international divorces and custody disputes on the list. The Washingtonian ranks family lawyers annually.

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 elected to Board of Governors of IAFL

On Friday, September 17, 2021, Melissa was elected to the Board of Governors of the International Academy of Family Lawyers. Her term begins at the conclusion of the organization's meeting in February 2022. The IAFL is an organization of skilled professionals that work to improve the administration of justice in family law throughout the world. IAFL membership is by invitation only and after a rigorous application process. Melissa was invited to be a fellow of the IAFL in March 2017, and has actively served on its Dispute Resolution committee since that time.

Melissa appointed co-chair of the ABA's International Family Law Committee

At the conclusion of the American Bar Association's Annual Meeting in August 2021, Melissa became co-chair of the ABA International Law Section's International Family Law Committee. This committee is highly regarded as one of the leading U.S. voices in international family law. Melissa previously co-chaired this committee from 2007 to 2009. During her prior tenure, she organized two successful international family law conferences for the ABA, as well as two international family mediation trainings. The committee also received several awards for its work in the section and the field of international family law. Melissa will be co-chairing the committee with Michael Coffee.

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 honored to co-chair NYSBA committee

Melissa has been appointed to co-chair the New York State Bar Association - International Section's Family Law Committee. The New York State Bar has been the voice of the legal profession in the State of New York for over 140 years. Its International Section is the face of New York lawyers globally, and has memoranda of understanding with numerous foreign bar associations.

Melissa co-authors comprehensive text on International Family Law

On July 16, 2021, West Academic released its newest text, Kucinski, Hale, & Coffee's Family Law Across Borders. This casebook provides a comprehensive, accessible, and up-to-date analysis of family law from comparative and private international law perspectives. The casebook addresses some of the most intimate and legally complicated situations in which cross-border families find themselves, including the validity of foreign marriages, simultaneous divorce proceedings in multiple countries, the changing law in creating families using adoption and assisted reproductive technology, and how to remedy an international parental child abduction. In addition, the book dives into the importance of judicial assistance treaties and laws when understanding the legal issues, including the necessity to have proper service in a foreign country, obtaining evidence overseas, and authenticating foreign public documents.

Melissa Elected Fellow to the American Bar Foundation

MK Family Law, PLLC is pleased to announce that Melissa Kucinski has been elected a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation (ABF). Membership is limited to just one percent of lawyers licensed to practice in each jurisdiction. Members are nominated by their peers and selected by the ABF Board.

The ABF Fellows is a global honorary society that recognizes attorneys, judges, law faculty and legal scholars whose public and private careers have demonstrated outstanding dedication to the highest principles of the legal profession and to the welfare of their communities. ABF Fellows hail from nearly 40 countries and hold a wide variety of influential roles.

Notable Fellows include Associate Justice of the Supreme Court Sonia Sotomayor, Chief Justice of the United States John Roberts, and Former United States Secretary of State Hilary Rodham Clinton.

Melissa honored by Best Lawyers

Melissa is honored to be named by Best Lawyers as a top Family Lawyer in Washington, D.C. and among the Women in the Law for 2021. Recognition by Best Lawyers is entirely peer review.

Melissa continues work on State Department Advisory Committee

Melissa attended the annual meeting of the U.S. Secretary of State's Advisory Committee on Private International Law (ACPIL) on May 25, 2021. ACPIL was established in 1972 by the U.S. Department of State, and assists "the State Department [to] monitor domestic and international developments in private international law, and provides information to the Department for use in the development of United States positions for international efforts to negotiate uniform rules of private law by treaty, model national laws, and other means." Melissa was first appointed a member in September 2009 and has served continuously since that date, providing information on the role of international family law developments to the United States. ACPIL is organized and administered through the Office of the Legal Adviser for Private International Law (L/PIL).

Melissa co-authors journal article on child abduction during the COVID pandemic

The Family Law Quarterly, an academic journal published by the ABA Family Law Section and New York Law School, will release an upcoming issue this spring on the impact of COVID on the field of family law. Melissa was honored to co-author an article with Professor Robert Spector on the pandemic's impact on international parental child abduction cases, particularly those falling under the Hague Child Abduction Convention.

Melissa honored by D.C. Superlawyers

Melissa was named one among the top 50 women lawyers in D.C., and among the top 100 lawyers in D.C. in this past weekend's Washington Post. "Every year, Super Lawyers evaluates lawyers across the country for its annual list of top attorneys. Each candidate is measured against 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement. Nominees from more than 70 practice areas are considered. The patented multiphase selection process is rigorous and methodical. The Top Lists ... take exclusivity one step further by featuring selected Super Lawyers attorneys with the most total points earned."

Melissa authors article for the ABA Family Advocate

Melissa authored an article in the American Bar Association - Family Law Section's Spring 2021 Family Advocate. In the article, she explores "Why and How to Account for the Child's Views in Custody Cases." Every U.S. state provides for a court to consider a mature child's preferences and wishes when resolving custody of that child. But, the means by which a child's voice is heard is varied.

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 chairs ODR Sub-Committee on Cross-Jurisdictional Issues

In December 2020, Melissa Kucinski was appointed to an Executive Committee organized by Mediate.com to explore and make recommendations on best practices in training family mediators in online dispute resolution. As part of her work on the Executive Committee, Melissa will be chairing a Sub-Committee that focuses on exploring the complex cross-jurisdictional issues that are inherent with ODR matters, where mediators can more commonly handle matters that are beyond the borders where they typically practice. A large portion of Melissa's mediation practice focuses on working with cross-border families, including mediation of Hague Abduction cases, which often include litigation in multiple courts in multiple countries.

MK Family Law ranked in US News - Best Lawyers

MK Family Law has been ranked as a top tier law firm in the U.S. News - Best Lawyers annual ranking for regional firms in the practice area of Family Law.

Melissa authors article for the ABA Family Law Section

Melissa authored an article titled, "Mediating International Child Abductions" for the American Bar Association's Family Advocate Fall 2020 issue where she explores the promise, and potential traps, in mediating these highly intricate cross-border family cases.

Melissa continues work with the Uniform Law Commission

Melissa is honored to continue her work with the U.S. Uniform Law Commission. She has long served on its Joint Editorial Board for Uniform Family Law. This board monitors existing uniform and model family laws (such as the UCCJEA, UIFSA, UCAPA, etc.) and proposes new work to the Commission. Last year, Melissa also served as the ABA Advisor for the Study Committee on Emergency Family Court Procedures.

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 named in Best Lawyers ranking in Family Law

Congratulations to Melissa Kucinski, who was ranked in the 27th Edition of the Best Lawyers in America in the field of Family Law. Recognition in the Best Lawyers ranking is based entirely on peer review.

Melissa co-authors international family law update

Melissa again co-authored the International Family Law Year-in-Review article, published by SMU Dedman School of Law. She has co-authored this article with Professor Robert Spector since 2013. The article provides an update on the past year's most important international family law updates.

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.