What we do
For some clients, a divorce or custody case carries a second case alongside it: the case that plays out in the press, on social media, and inside their professional or family communities. We treat this as part of the legal representation, not an outside service.
The work is rarely about reputation alone. It is about preventing public disclosure from becoming a strategic weapon in the matrimonial case, and protecting the client from outside actors with their own agendas.
What counts as a crisis
A matrimonial matter can become a crisis quickly. The most common triggers we see:
- Media interest in a public-figure spouse, executive, or family
- Coordinated social media campaigns from a hostile spouse or their allies
- Leaks of court filings or settlement positions to third parties
- Criminal investigations running parallel to the matrimonial case
- Defamation, false reports to authorities, or harassment by third parties
- Family business or board exposure to the matrimonial dispute
- Children targeted by media or social media coverage
How we handle it
The first decision is usually whether to respond publicly at all. In most cases, the right answer is silence and discipline. Public responses tend to extend the news cycle and provide raw material for the other side.
Where a response is warranted, we coordinate with the right professionals: media counsel, public relations advisors, internet content removal specialists, and where necessary law enforcement and platform legal teams. The goal is to give the client one clear voice and one clear strategy.
Protecting children
Where children are exposed to public attention, the work is urgent. We coordinate with the court to limit disclosure of identifying information, work with schools to manage outside contact, and where appropriate seek protective orders against third parties who are using the children as part of a public campaign.
This work is sensitive and case-specific. Outcomes depend heavily on how quickly the response is mobilized.
Recent precedent
In 2023 we obtained a precedent-setting decision in a Westchester County matter involving social media use during pending matrimonial proceedings. The decision addresses the line between protected speech and conduct that is sanctionable as part of the litigation.
We can discuss the decision at consultation in cases where its facts are relevant.
Questions clients ask first
- When should I bring in crisis management counsel?
- At the first sign that the matrimonial case may attract attention beyond the litigation itself: media inquiries, social media activity by the other spouse, or business exposure. Earlier is always better. Reactive crisis work is harder and more expensive than preventive work.
- Should I respond to the press?
- Almost never directly. Press responses, even responses meant to set the record straight, tend to extend the story. Where a response is warranted we develop it carefully and deliver it through the right channel. The default position is silence, with a defined plan for when to break it.
- Can I sue my ex-spouse for defamation?
- Sometimes. Defamation requires a false statement of fact, publication, and damage. The barriers in New York are real and the litigation can extend the public attention rather than reduce it. We weigh defamation claims carefully against the strategic value of letting the story die.
- What if my spouse is leaking court filings to the press?
- We address it directly with the court. New York Supreme Court files are generally public, but leaks of sealed material, settlement communications, or strategically timed disclosures can be sanctioned. We have done this successfully.
- Can I keep my divorce out of the public record?
- Partly. Sealing complete files in New York is rare. We can negotiate confidentiality protocols, redact financial information, and minimize public-facing filings. For clients with significant exposure, we plan the case around minimizing public disclosure from the start.
- Does this work cost extra?
- Yes, when third-party professionals are involved (media counsel, PR, content removal). Our time is part of the underlying matrimonial engagement. We are transparent about cost at the start of each piece of the work.