Wendy Samuelson Photo

Wendy B. Samuelson

Owner
  • Profile
  • Credentials
  • Associations
  • Notable Work
  • Membership & Awards

Education

  • J.D. 1993, Cornell Law School
  • B.A. 1990, Brandeis University (Magna Cum Laude with Honors in English & American Literature)

What do my clients say about me? "Determined". "Strategic". "Tough but reasonable negotiator". "Warm". "Keeps me calm". I am grateful for the appreciation of my clients who have kindly given me their testimonials.

My clients are CEOs of publicly traded corporations, hedge fund managers, real estate developers, doctors, lawyers, accountants and other wealthy individuals. Each client is distinctive, but they all have the same goals– they want their divorce handled in a respectful and amicable manner and be resolved as quickly and efficiently as possible.

My goal as a matrimonial attorney is to make things better for the family, not worse. I often recommend to a client who is going through a divorce to go to "divorce counseling," so that the couple can work on treating each other with respect and making sure their children are not caught in the middle of their negative feelings. I am a resource to my clients, too, and help them not just get a divorce, but also make sure that their emotional and financial affairs are looked after too, by providing them with quality referrals to psychologists, accountants, trust and estate attorneys and financial advisors.

I am most proud of the Legal blog I developed on our website, which provides useful tips from authors, psychiatrists, and other professionals on how to best cope during and after divorce. This is something I do out of concern for my clients, and is a very different type of writing than my professional writing for the matrimonial bar, my column "Recent Legislation, Cases and Trends in Matrimonial Law" in The Family Law Review, published by the New York State Bar Association.

I practice Na’am yoga, a meditative practice that focuses on breathing exercises to maintain inner balance, sharpness and compassion. I often teach my clients, who are sometimes stressed and anxious, to learn easy breathing exercises, which helps calm them and allows them to focus on what’s really important.

At the initial consultation, I discuss with you strategic planning, including investigating and preserving hidden income and assets. I explain the legal process and what outcome you can reasonably expect if the matter is decided by the court. We discuss the pros and cons of going to trial, and whether settling the matter is in your best interest. While this may sound simple, there are many attorneys out there who fail to properly educate their client on reasonable solutions, and as a result, waste the client’s time and money.

For example, one client had an extensive and valuable wine collection in her basement that her husband kept locked and she did not have the key. I explained to her that once the divorce action commenced, he would most likely remove the collection out of the house. In order to preserve the evidence, I set her up with a private investigator who took photos and videos of the entire collection. Sure enough, once the action commenced, the husband had a truck pull up to the house, and removed 90% of the collection. The case quickly settled after the husband lied under oath about the collection, and I showed him the evidence I had.

I have learned matrimonial law at a very young age from the very best– my father, Elliot Samuelson, one of the most respected matrimonial attorneys in New York. After graduating from Cornell Law School in 1993, I immediately joined his practice. I am proud to continue in his path of providing clients with the attention they deserve and being a determined advocate for them and their children.

Education

Admitted

Admitted to the New York State Bar: 1994

  • J.D. Cornell Law School - Graduate School 1993
  • B.A. Magna Cum Laude with Honors in English & American Literature Brandeis University - Undergraduate School 1990
Publications
    • Associate Editor
    • Family Law Review, published by the New York State Bar Association (Summer 2014 – present)
    • Author of the Column
    • "Recent Legislation, Decisions and Trends in Matrimonial Law" of the New York State Bar Association's quarterly Family Law Review (Summer 2002 – present) Visit Publication
    • Contributor to Article
    • "What experts say parents should prepare now in case you get sick with COVID-19" (Care.com, May 2020) Visit Publication
    • Featured
    • Women to Watch® Radio Program (November 2019) Visit Publication
    • July/August 2014 Spirituality & Health magazine article, "A Better Way to Break Up" by Gabriel Cohen Visit Publication
    • Radio
    • WTHE Radio, Co-host of "The Divorce Law Forum" (March 2001)
    • Author
    • "1999 Legislation and Recent Decisions in Matrimonial Law," NYSBA's CLE: The Expanding World of the Matrimonial Lawyer
    • "1998 Legislation and Recent Decisions in Matrimonial Law," NYSBA's CLE: Matrimonial and Family Law Update
    • "Wasteful Dissipation of Marital Assets," New York Family Law American Inn of Court 1998 Annual Survey of Matrimonial Law (and 1997 Survey)
    • "How to Enforce Child Support," 1994 Nassau County Bar Association's CLE: Matrimonial Law Update
    • Featured
    • "What Indications That Your Marriage May Be Heading Towards Divorce?", The Divorce Attorney Firm, PLLC, 2022 Visit Publication

Lectures

  • Women Owned Law Symposium in Philadelphia. Panelist for “Diversity Equity and Inclusion: It’s Not Just for Big Law Firms”

  • Cornell Law School’s Mary Kennedy Brown Society Women’s Summit: Women in Entrepreneurship and Leadership. Panelist for “In the Business of Being a Woman Lawyer” (March, 2023)
  • Inaugural Women Owned Law Symposium: "Tips from the Trenches," March 2020
  • Lawline Webinar: "What Wilma Flintstone Needs to Know Before She Tells Fred She Wants a Divorce: Pre-Divorce Strategic Planning in New York," January 2017
  • The Association of Divorce Financial Planners, NY Chapter: "What Wilma Flintstone Needs to Know Before She Tells Fred She Wants a Divorce: Pre-Divorce Strategic Planning to Prove Cash Assets and Income," February 2016
  • Catalyst Conference of The Association of Divorce Financial Planners and The Center for Mediation, October 2015
  • New York State Society of CPAs: "Understanding Marital v Separate Property in New York," October 2014
  • Marcum, LLP: "Developing a Meditation Practice as a Divorce Lawyer," Educated accountants about the effects of stress on the body and how to stay calm and eradicate stress by doing simple breathing exercises and meditation, and how such techniques are applied to helping clients going through a divorce. September 2014
  • Attorney Accountant Networking Group (AANG): "Litigation, Mediation, and Collaborative Law: Dispelling the Myths," May 2014
  • 33rd Annual Bud Rosner Memorial Long Island Estate, Tax & Financial Planning Conference: "What Every Trust and Estate Lawyer Should Know About Matrimonial Law: Prenuptial Agreements and More," October 2013
  • Estate Planning Council of Nassau County Study Group: "The Art of Drafting Prenuptial Agreements," January 2013
  • SWIM (Single Working Inspired Mothers): "How to Enforce Child Support Without Really Trying," January 2009
  • Forensic Accounting and Litigation Services Conference, New York State Society of CPAs: "What Every Accountant Should Know About Matrimonial Law," May 2014
  • Lecture "What You Don't Know About Divorce Law May Hurt Your Clients!"

Presented This Lecture at the Following Firms 2018 – Present

What Wilma Flintstone Needs to Know Before She Tells Fred She Wants a Divorce: Pre-Divorce Strategic Planning in New York" 

Law Firms

  • Connell Foley
  • Farrell Fritz
  • Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP
  • L'Abbate Balkan Colavita & Contini, LLP

Accounting Firms

  • Adelman Katz & Mond
  • Citrin Cooperman
  • Eisner & Lubin
  • Eisner
  • Gettry Marcus
  • Grassi & Company
  • Janover, LLP
  • Marcum, LLP
  • Marks, Paneth & Shron
  • Nawrocki Smith
  • The Resnick Druckman Group

Financial Advisory Firms

  • Evercore Wealth Management, LLC
  • Beacon Pointe Advisors, LLC
Awards
  • Best Lawyers 2023
    Best Lawyers 2023
  • Super Lawyer 2022
    Super Lawyer 2022
  • Premier Business Women Awards 2022
    Premier Business Women Awards 2022
  • Women of Distinction of Nassau County 2021
    Women of Distinction of Nassau County 2021
  • Best Lawyers' Lawyer of the Year 2022
    Best Lawyers' Lawyer of the Year 2022
  • Best Lawyers 2021
    Best Lawyers 2021
  • Best Lawyers NY Times 2020
    Best Lawyers NY Times 2020
  • Avvo Top-Rated Lawyer 2020
    Avvo Top-Rated Lawyer 2020
  • Top Woman Attorneys NY 2020
    Top Woman Attorneys NY 2020
  • Best Lawyers in America 2021
    Best Lawyers in America 2021
  • Avvo 10.0 Rating
    Avvo 10.0 Rating
  • Attorney & Practice's Top 10 Attorneys 2022
    Attorney & Practice's Top 10 Attorneys 2022
  • Best Lawyers in America 2023
    Best Lawyers in America 2023
Memberships

    • Nassau County Bar Association Matrimonial and Family Law Committee
    • New York State Bar Association Matrimonial and Family Law Committee
    • Executive Committee of the New York State Bar Association's Family Law Section, Publications Committee
    • Chair, Women Owned Law, NY Chapter

    Reasons to Choose Our Firm

    • Two of Our Attorneys are Members of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML)
    • Accredited By the Better Business Bureau (BBB®) for High-Quality, Ethical Legal Practices
    • Included In Best Lawyers In America
    • Top-Tier Matrimonial Law Firm with US News & World Report
    • Three Attorneys Listed in New York Super Lawyers ®
    • AV Preeminent® Rated by Martindale-Hubbell®, the Highest Rating in Legal Ethics & Professional Practice

    Contact Samuelson Hause PLLC Today

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