Melissa named among Top Family Lawyers by Washingtonian

The Washingtonian’s annual list of the Top Family Lawyers was released, and Melissa Kucinski was included for a third consecutive year. This list is compiled by the editorial staff at the Washingtonian, in consultation with practitioners throughout the D.C. metropolitan area.

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 authors article on the potential for a new soft law instrument on judicial interviews in Hague Abduction cases

On Friday, June 9, 2023, Melissa's article, titled "The U.S. Experience in Drafting Guidelines for Judicial Interviews of Children and Its Translation to Hague Abduction Convention Return Proceedings Globally" was published in an international peer review journal. This article comes approximately four months in advance of the Hague Conference's 8th Special Commission meeting where the topic of hearing children in these complex cases will be discussed.

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 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 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 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 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.

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.

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.

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 included in The Best Lawyers in America for 2023

Melissa was included in The Best Lawyers in America for 2023, released on August 18, 2022.

"Best Lawyers awards are compiled by conducting exhaustive peer-review surveys in which tens of thousands of leading lawyers confidentially evaluate their professional peers. The 29^th edition of The Best Lawyers in America recognizes only the top 5.3% of elite lawyers in the nation across 150 practice areas."

Melissa Co-Authors Annual International Family Law Legal Update

Melissa has co-authored the Year-in-Review in International Family Law as part of a legal journal edited by the SMU Dedman School of Law since 2013. This annual publication summarizes the most salient and important legal updates in the field of international family law over the past calendar year. You can read the most recent article, which summarizes 2021's updates here.

Melissa Participates in U.S. State Department Advisory Committee Meeting

On Friday, June 3, 2022, Melissa participated in the annual meeting of the U.S. State Department's Advisory Committee on Private International Law. Melissa has served as a member of the Advisory Committee since 2009. The Advisory Committee assists the U.S. State Department in monitoring domestic and international developments in private international law, and provides information that helps the United States develop positions on issues of private international law in its work within a variety of international organizations, including the Hague Conference on Private International Law. Private international law is a body of laws, conventions, legal guides and other legal instruments that regulate private relationships across national borders.

Melissa attends NYSBA Meeting in New York

Melissa attended the New York State Bar Association International Section meeting in New York on Tuesday, June 21, 2022. Melissa is a member of the Section's Executive Committee, and co-chair of its Family Law Committee.

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 quoted by the Associated Press

On April 22, 2022, Melissa was quoted by the Associated Press about the recent case of a California father who is seeking the return of his child from Ukraine. The child and mother relocated from Ukraine to Russia, further complicating legal remedies. You can read the article here.

Melissa interviewed by Washington Post

Melissa was interviewed by the Washington Post about the Hague Child Abduction Convention and its applicability in a recent case where a California father alleged that his son was removed from California and taken to Ukraine by the child's mother. There have been ongoing proceedings in California and Ukraine.

Melissa becomes a Fellow of the AAML

On Tuesday, March 29, 2022, Melissa was granted fellowship in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. The AAML has high admission standards, including at least 10 years of practice in family law, maintaining high educational standards on a yearly basis, serving in leadership positions in the legal profession, authoring publications and presenting educational programs to others in the family law bar, substantial trial experience in family law litigation, competence in settling family law cases, and passing a national examination. Melissa will join 12 members in the D.C. Chapter.

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 Co-Chairs International Family Law Conference

Melissa is the primary organizer and co-chair of a full day conference on advanced international family law issues on April 26, 2022. The conference is sponsored by the American Bar Association, and hosted by Sidley Austin in Washington, D.C. The topics include panels on foreign marital property regimes and prenuptial agreements, diplomatic immunity in family law cases, tax and financial planning for high net worth international clients, and employee benefits for international organization workers and their disposition at divorce. Melissa hand selected the topics, speakers, and has been integral in organizing the entire day's events for the ABA.

Melissa assumes role as Governor of IAFL

On Saturday, February 19, 2022, Melissa assumed her role as Governor At Large on the International Academy of Family Lawyers Board of Governors. She will serve a one-year term until 2023.

Melissa Re-Appointed to State Department Advisory Committee

On December 29, 2021, Melissa was re-appointed to the U.S. Department of State's Advisory Committee on Private International Law. ACPIL is a federal advisory committee chartered under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, chaired by the Legal Adviser of the State Department, and administered by the Office of the Assistant Legal Adviser for Private International Law.