SARAH B. HECHTMAN

Counsel

Sarah has been a matrimonial and family law attorney for more than 15 years. In addition to her skills as a litigator, Sarah is an experienced mediator and collaborative lawyer who is committed to helping clients resolve their family disputes in as peaceful and dignified a way as possible. Acknowledging that “one size does not fit all,” Sarah seeks to help clients resolve their matters in the way that works best for them, whether through negotiation or litigation.

Sarah is experienced in handling complex divorce cases involving substantial financial assets as well as highly contested child custody issues. She has successfully negotiated and drafted pre- and postnuptial agreements and has represented clients in numerous family offense, child support enforcement, and grandparent visitation proceedings. Additionally, she practices in the area of fertility law, assisting intended parents, gestational surrogates, and biological donors in navigating the legal issues implicated in the use of assisted reproductive technologies.

Before practicing exclusively in the area of family law, Sarah gained valuable litigation experience as a prosecutor for the New York County District Attorney’s Office where she specialized in cases involving domestic violence and sex crimes, and as a civil rights lawyer prosecuting class action cases on behalf of children. It was her commitment to the welfare of children and families that led her to train in alternative methods of resolving family law disputes. She has extensive training as a mediator and mediates matrimonial cases for the court system, as well as privately. She is a member of the New York Association of Collaborative Professionals, an interdisciplinary group of legal, psychological, and financial specialists committed to the resolution of family law disputes outside of the court system. Sarah is a certified parenting coordinator, a role in which she assists parents in resolving their disputes outside of court. Sarah is also an adjunct professor at Brooklyn and Pace University Law Schools, where she teaches courses on conflict resolution and psychology and law.

Sarah’s clients have described her as an “oasis of sanity” and “the silver lining” in an otherwise unpleasant situation. She believes that her appreciation of each client’s unique circumstances enables her to effectively tailor her representation to individual needs. Her natural understanding for varying perspectives makes her a compassionate and effective mediator, as well as a formidable advocate.

Sarah is a member of the American Bar Association, the New York State Bar Association, the Westchester County Bar Association, and the Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York, co-chairing its Reproductive Rights Committee. She serves as a mentor and career counselor for students at her alma mater, Harvard College, from which she received a bachelor’s degree in psychology. She also holds a master’s degree in public policy from the London School of Economics and Political Science and received her JD from Columbia Law School. Sarah lives in Westchester County with her husband and children (and dog), loves to hike and bike, and is obsessed with true crime podcasts.

646.437.7627‬    sarahb@rowerllc.com