Kristen Devaney

I am a collaborative lawyer and mediator committed to helping families as they navigate the overwhelming transition involved in restructuring a family.  During my decade of experience as a divorce litigator, I witnessed first-hand the negative impact that the court process can have on families in resolving their conflicts.  I knew there had to be a better way that was not as destructive as the courtroom.  I sought a process that prioritizes sensitivity and sensibility during the transition that occurs during a divorce. Switching my focus to collaborative divorce and mediation, I joined Berner Law & Mediation Group, which promotes personalized and creative resolutions to family conflict while preserving relationships.

I received my undergraduate degree from Dartmouth College. I spent two years working as a paralegal at a top New York City law firm and then attended Catholic University Columbus School of Law. While in law school, I served as an editor for the Law Review and worked as a Research Assistant for a professor specializing in criminal law and families.  After graduating law school, I settled on Long Island where I currently live with my husband and four spirited boys.

In my experience, the court system cannot adequately address the emotions involved in divorce and family disputes.  Mediation, collaborative divorce, and the legal protection that Berner Law & Mediation Group is committed to offers a space for people to confront the issues that they prioritize. By empowering families to take control of the process, they can determine the outcome that best suits their needs and values while avoiding damage to themselves, their relationships, and their families.  I feel privileged to have found an alignment with my philosophy in Berner Law & Mediation Group.