Mediator Resume

Has been recognized by Federal Courts for her outstanding mediation skills. Mediator helping high net worth families navigate complex separations, prenuptial agreements, and postnuptial agreements with a respectful and balanced approach. Understands that every family is unique and that children come first. Drawing from a Brown University and Columbia Law School education, 30 years of legal experience, and award-winning mediation skills, helps couples and families move from conflict to resolution with civility and clarity. President of the Family and Divorce Mediation Council.

Rodriguez Law and Mediation, PLLC – Principal

Special Master, Mediator, Attorney, Arbitrator

Principal, Rodriguez Law and Mediation, PLLC, 2020-Present; Mediator, Mediation Program of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, 2022-Present; Special Master, New York State Supreme Court Appellate Division, Second Department, 2021-Present; Mediator, New York Legal Assistance Group, 2018-Present; Attorney, Safe Passage Project, 2017-2024; Attorney, B'nai Jeshurun, 2017-2020; Attorney, Volunteers of Legal Services, 1992-1995; Associate, Christy & Viener, 1989-1992; Associate, Thacher Proffitt & Wood, 1986-1989.

Leading high-stakes commercial lease negotiations, nationwide for premium office, retail, and mixed-use properties, representing both landlords and tenants in transactions with multimillion dollar annual rents. Negotiating terms on tenant improvement allowances, rent escalations, assignment provisions, and liability limitations. Facilitated complex real estate transactions from due diligence through closing, including title review, negotiating purchase and sale agreements, coordinating with lenders and stakeholders, and resolving title defects and zoning issues. Structured and negotiated commercial and residential real estate acquisitions, dispositions, and refinancing transactions, frequently utilizing LLC entities for property ownership and liability protection. Advised on mortgage-backed securities transactions, including reviewing loan portfolios, analyzing securitization structures, conducting due diligence on underlying mortgage assets, and ensuring compliance with securities regulations and disclosure requirements. Collaborated with investment banks, rating agencies, and institutional investors on MBS offerings and secondary market transactions.

Resolved or negotiated over 500 family and divorce matters, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, surrogate's court disputes, business and professional conflicts, parenting plans, and other matrimonial matters. Mediate in English and in Spanish across multiple court programs and in private matters. Served as neutral in discrimination, employment and ADA cases in Federal and State Court Mediation Programs including the U.S. District Court Southern District of New York. Special Master for New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Second Department for disputes in family and matrimonial law and real estate matters. Highly sought-after panel mediator in matrimonial maters in the New York State Supreme Courts in Bronx, Kings, Manhattan, Queens, and Richmond Counties. Train mediators by co-mediating and participating on panels focusing on developing mediation skills. Serve as mediator in Surrogate's' Court Programs in Westchester and Bronx Counties surrogate's matters.

Comprehensive Family Mediation Services Empowering couples to navigate complex transitions through a client-focused, and if there are children, child-centered, mediation process that puts their family's needs, values, and goals at the center of every decision. Uses a collaborative approach that honors each family's unique circumstances while facilitating informed equitable and sustainable outcomes that the parties create together. Practice encompasses the full spectrum of family law matters, from prenuptial agreements through post-dissolution modifications, always guided by what matters most to each family. Each family's situation is unique. This represents a comprehensive scope of practice, with each mediation customized to address a family's specific needs, values, and goals. Marital Agreement & Dissolution Planning Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements: Strategic planning to protect assets and clarify expectations; Settlement Agreements: Comprehensive resolution of all marital dissolution issues; Stop the Clock Agreements: Tactical pause provisions to facilitate productive negotiation; Separation Agreements: Structured frameworks for couples considering divorce. Child-Centered Custody Resolution Legal and Physical Custody Arrangements: Tailored to family dynamics and child development stages; Parenting Plans and Co-Parenting Protocols: Detailed road maps for successful shared parenting; Age-Appropriate Developmental Considerations: Plans that evolve with children's changing needs; Special Needs; Communication Frameworks; Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Sensitivity; Relocation and Geographic Considerations: Solutions balancing career opportunities with parenting access. Financial Disclosure & Asset Analysis Complete Financial Transparency: Comprehensive disclosure of all assets, debts, income, and liabilities; Separate Property vs. Marital Property Classification: Detail tracing and characterization; Commingled and Transmuted Funds Analysis: Forensic examination of complex asset evolution; Business Valuation and Ownership Interest Division: Professional business appraisals and equitable distribution; Retirement and Pension Plans: Review of plans, including 401(k), 403(b), 457 plans, traditional and Roth IRA's, SEP-IRA's, defined benefit pensions, defined contribution plans, government pensions, teacher retirement systems, union pension funds, and deferred compensation arrangements; QDRO and DRO: Qualified Domestic Relations Orders for retirement plan division; Real Property Portfolio: Primary residence, investment properties, vacation homes, and rental properties; Personal Property Valuation: Art collections, jewelry, vehicles, collectibles, and household furnishings; Digital and Crypto Currency Assets: Bitcoin, NFT's, and other blockchain-based holdings; Intellectual Property: Patents, trademarks, copyrights, royalties, and licensing agreements; Stock Options, Restricted Stock Units (RSU's), and Equity Compensation: Vested and unvested holdings; Trust and Estates Interests: Beneficiary rights and inheritance considerations; Tax Implications and Strategic Planning: Capital gains, tax basis, and filing status considerations. Support Determinations Child Support Calculations: Guideline and above-guideline support scenarios; Spousal Support (formerly alimony); Temporary and long-term support determinations; Add-ons: healthcare, education, and special circumstances; Active vs. Passive Income Appreciation; Imputation of Income. Debt Allocation & Liability Management Marital Debt Classification: Secured vs. Unsecured Debt Division; Business Debt and Liability Separation; High Net Worth and Complex Estate Planning: Multi-property, international and business-owner scenarios; Forensic Accounting Coordination; Professional Practice Valuation; International Assets. Address substance abuse concerns.

My practice is built on understanding that each family's situation is unique, requiring flexibility, strategic thinking, and deep respect for what is at stake emotionally and financially. If there are children, my approach in mediation puts the children first. I bring a seasoned, adaptable approach to resolving complex, high-stakes matrimonial disputes, including those involving high-net-worth estates, business valuations, custody contentions, or high-conflict dynamics. I create a structured environment where parties can identify their core interests and work toward durable solutions. Using primarily facilitative techniques, I help clients articulate what truly matters: protecting children, preserving financial security, maintaining business interests, and achieving a dignified resolution. Where appropriate, I can offer a candid perspective on legal realities, proposals that other clients have considered, an explanation of financial implications, and resources to consider to help the parties make informed decisions. Whether working with amicable couples seeking an efficient resolution or navigating high-conflict dynamics involving forensic accounting, executive compensation, closely-held businesses, or intricate parenting arrangements, I combine legal insight with emotional intelligence to guide families through one of life’s most difficult transitions with clarity and respect.

Available to mediate online or in person.

Columbia University School of Law (JD-1986); Brown University (BA-1983).

Admitted to the Bar: New York; U.S. District Court: Southern District of New York.

President of the Family and Divorce Mediation Council of Greater New York, Co-Chair of the Professional Development Committee, member of the Family Law Section, Dispute Resolution Section, and the Mediation Committee of the New York State Bar Association, and a member of the Women’s Bar Association of New York, The New York State Council on Divorce Mediation, the Association of Conflict Resolution of Greater New York, and the New York Association of Collaborative Professionals.

Speaking Engagements: Panelist: Interpreters in Federal Courts, speaker, presented by the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York May 7, 2025 Moderator: Navigating the Complex Landscape of Surrogacy-What Mediators Need to Know, Moderator April 26, 2025 Panelist: Bilingual Mediation: Practicalities and Considerations, speaker, presented by the American Bar Association February 12, 2025 Moderator: What Makes a Successful PADR Mediator - Hear from the ADR Coordinators, FDMC April 3, 2024 Speaker: Association of Conflict Resolution Spotlighted Speaker for Practice Group on Commercial and Employment Mediation April 17, 2023 Lecturer: Divorce 101, Guest Lecturer, Albany Law School March 2, 2023 Panelist: Top Ten Tips for Trouncing Impasse FDMC February 25, 2023 Panelist: New York State Bar Association Fall Meeting Best Mediation Practices, Timing of Mediation: Conduct it Sooner or Later? Panelist: New York State Judicial Institute Judicial Seminar, presenting on ADR in Family Court NYC, other panelists included Judge Sherman, Judge McFarland, and others June 29, 2022 Panelist: Accelerated Mediation Program in Family Court Presentation to Family Court Judges March 25, 2021 Panelist: Mediation in Child Protection Cases, New York City Family Court, Child Protections Specialty Meeting February 27, 2020

Hourly Rate: $650.00 Daily Rate: Not provided Study Rate: $650.00/hr Cancellation: $1,300.00/Day Cancellation Period: 3 Days Comment: All mediations are held over Zoom unless otherwise agreed upon. Office space is available through AAA. Reduced rates are available on a case-by-case basis. Please reach out to me. A flat rate option is available, on a case-by-case basis, which includes four 90 minute sessions, reasonable communications and summaries of mediation sessions. $4,500. Additional sessions are billed at the hourly rate. Most people prefer this. Documentation Preparation There is a flat fee for the drafting of the Settlement Agreement of $5,000 which includes two review sessions with the parties and counsel. Uncontested documents are a separate fee of $2,500.

English; Spanish

United States of America

New York, New York