![Kathleen Donelli, Adjunct Professor of Law at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law](/sites/default/files/styles/1_1_720x720/public/2024-07/law-profile-kathleen-donelli.jpg?h=4de69ae3&itok=bvNAyxAm)
Biography
Adjunct Professor Kathleen Donelli is a partner of the law firm McCarthy Fingar, L.L.P., in White Plains, NY, and she concentrates her practice on matrimonial law. Professor Donelli is the recipient of the 2014 New York State Bar Association Ruth Schapiro Award for promoting women in the legal profession. Professor Donelli worked with the Honorable Sondra Miller to draft and promote the "No Fault" divorce bill, which was enacted into law in October 2010. In 2010, Professor Donelli received the "Leading Matrimonial Attorney" Above the Bar Award. She is also a trained mediator and collaborative lawyer.
At Haub Law, Professor Donelli teaches Collaborative Law and is the Vice Chair of its Board of Visitors. She is a graduate of Haub Law (‘85 cum laude), where she was the Articles Editor of the Pace Law Review. In 2005, she received the Alumni Leadership Award from Haub Law. She is currently listed as a Super Lawyer in Thomas Reuter's annual list of top family law attorneys in the New York Metro area.
Professor Donelli is a former President of the Westchester Women's Bar Association ("WWBA") (2003–2005) and of the White Plains Bar Association (1998–2000).She is the Co-Chair of the WWBA's and WBASNY's Collaborative Law Committees and has been the Co-Chair of the WWBA's Judicial Screening Committee, Corresponding Secretary and Program Co-Chair. Professor Donelli is a member of the Grievance Committee for the Ninth Judicial District and the former Co-Chair of the Westchester County Bar Association ("WCBA") Grievance Committee. She is a member of the Matrimonial Advisory Committee, which is chaired by the Hon. Sharon Townsend, J.S.C. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of Legal Services of the Hudson Valley and is a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation. Professor Donelli has also served on Judicial Screening Committees for White Plains City Court Judges and the Search Committee for the Dean of Haub Law.
Professor Donelli is also active in community-related organizations, as the former Vice President of the YWCA of White Plains and Central Westchester (1992–2002), and the former President of the board of directors of St. Bernard's Center For Learning, Inc., a Head Start program for homeless children. Professor Donelli received a Recognition Award from the YWCA in 2004, when she was inducted into the YWCA's Hall of Fame.
Education
- BA, City College of New York
- MAT, Manhattanville College
- JD, Elisabeth Haub School of Law
Selected Publications
- Dirks v. SEC: New Guidelines for Tippee Liability Under Rule 10b-5, 4 Pace Law Review 631 (1984)
- The Constitutionality of New York's Grandparent Visitation Statute in Light of Troxel v. Granville, 27 Westchester Bar Journal 19 (2000)
Honors & Awards
- New York State Bar Association Ruth Schapiro Award, 2014
- Leading Matrimonial Attorney, 2010
- Alumni Leadership Award, 2005
- Super Lawyer in Thomas Reuter’s annual list of top family law attorneys in the NY Metro area
- Recognition Award from YWCA, 2004
Areas of Interest
Matrimonial law