• Biography
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Mr. Wrubel’s legal practice is devoted to handling complex family and matrimonial matters. He is accomplished in negotiating the amicable dissolution of marriages as well as taking these cases to trial if settlement is not possible.

In addition, he has years of experience in the New York Appellate Courts. Mr. Wrubel has dealt with a large variety of issues in family and matrimonial matters, including complex equitable distribution questions, novel support and custody issues, as well as being on the forefront in same-gender marital issues. He has tried cases involving children travelling with serious medical problems internationally, cross-examined numerous financial experts, and handled many matters involving high net worth individuals with assets that are difficult to value and distribute. A skilled trial lawyer and appellate advocate, Mr. Wrubel was involved in the trial and appeal of the seminal case in New York dealing with the validity of foreign pre-nuptial agreements. He has litigated, written and lectured extensively on same gender marriage and divorce, civil unions, domestic partnerships and their tax consequences. Mr. Wrubel is an adjunct professor at the Benjamin Cardozo School of Law.

IN THE NEWS

In a landmark case involving an unintended surrogacy, Mr. Wrubel was successful in providing the legal basis for the genetic parents to be declared the legal parents of children carried and born of another couple.

SYNOPSIS & MEDIA COVERAGE | LGBTQ FAMILY LAW SITE

AFFILIATIONS

• Member, Matrimonial Practice Advisory and Rules Committee, MPARC, New York State Unified Court System (2024)
• Board Member of the New York Chapter of the Association For Family and Conciliation Courts, AFCC (2018 – 2020)
• Fellow, International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (2013 – Present)
• Fellow, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (“AAML”) (2005 – Present)
• Member, LGBT/Alternative Family Committee, AAML (2013 – 2018)
• Member, Board of Managers, NY Chapter, AAML (2012 – Present)
• Member, Committee for the Future, NY Chapter, AAML (2007 – 2020)
• Member, Amicus Committee, NY Chapter, AAML (2007 – 2020)
• Member, Executive Committee of the Family Law Section of the New York State Bar Association (2011 – Present)
• Co-Chair, NYSBA-FLS Marriage Equality Committee (2011 – Present)
• Chair, NYSBA Committee on LGBT People and the Law (2015 – 2018)
• Adjunct Professor, Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Yeshiva University (2015)
• Listed in The Best Lawyers in America (2010 – Present)
• Matrimonial Law Committee, Association of the Bar of the City of New York (2012 – 2014; 2000 – 2002)
• Lesbian, Gay Bisexual & Transgender Committee, Association of the Bar of the City of New York (2002 – 2006)

PRIOR AFFILIATIONS

• McLaughlin & Stern, LLP, Partner
• Dobrish Zeif Gross & Wrubel, LLP, Partner

PRESENTATIONS

• "TIERS (TEARS) OF PARENTAGE: All Parents are Not Equal in the Eyes of the Law", New York State Bar Association,  Family Law Section Annual Meeting, January 29, 2021
• "Going Stir Crazy?", CLE webinar for the New York Chapter of the AAML, May 18, 2020
• "Diversity in Parental Relationships and Its Impact on Family Law: The Changing Legal Landscape of Custody and Parenting Rights", New York State Bar Association Bridging the Gap CLE Program, March 8, 2019
• **ART** "Whose Child Am I? The Fertilization of ART and Marital Presumptions", American Bar Association, Family Law Section, Continuing Legal Education Series, October 5, 2018
• "Tripping Down the Rabbit Hole: The Brook S. B. Aftermath", The Women's Bar Association of the State of New York, Convention 2018, Continuing Legal Education Series, June, 2, 2018
• Spoke at a family law conference about the landmark family case he litigated, Brooke S.B. v. Elizabeth A.C.C., May 21, 2018
• "What’s Missing from Forensic Custody Reports Today … Fodder for your Cross-Examination; Factual Changes Between Trial and Appeal – the Bermuda Triangle of Custody Litigation; Secondary Stock Markets are the New Primary Issue". AAML NY Chap., March 2015 Program Chair
• Expert Witness Skills Workshop, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, September 2014
• Part of the faculty for the “Expert Skills Workshop”sponsored by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, on September 11-13, 2014, in Washington , D.C. where he taught and participated in a mock trial, as part of this course geared towards honing the expert testimony skills of accountants. The emphasis was on business evaluation reports, and the direct and cross-examination of accountants concerning these reports.
• "Enforceability of Same-Gender Marital Agreements: The Need for SCOTUS to Opine Again", AAML, November 2013.
• "Marriage Equality: The 2nd Anniversary Updates on Case Law & Development", Association of the Bar of the City of New York, June 2013
• "Does recognition of Divorce Decrees from Islamic Nations Violate our Doctrine of Separation Between Church and State?"; and "Quick, Print out her Facebook Page before she Changes it! That’s not what his original e-mail said to me! I want Google to turn over his entire mailbox." AAML-NY Chap., June 2013, Program Chair
• "If and When our Marriages End: Same-Sex Divorce Issues for the LGBT Community", LeGAL – LGBT Bar Association of Greater New York, April 2013, Program Chair
• "The Art of the Prenup: Its Creation, Destruction, Use and Abuse", Matrimonial and Family Law Committee of the New York Women’s Bar Association, December 2012
• "Domestic Violence . . . What is it and What Role Does it Play in a Custody Proceeding; and Are Business Appraisals on their way out? If so, What’s Next?", AAML-NY Chap., March 2012, Program Chair
• "A Tale of Two Families – A Heterosexual Family and a Same Gender Family: The interplay between DOMA and the Marriage Equality Act", New York State Bar Association Family Law Section January 2012, Program Co-Chair
• The Tax implications of DOMA on distributive awards, property transfers between spouses and spousal and child support. Consideration and residency issues in pre-nuptial agreements and settlement agreements between same gender couples. New York State Bar Association Family Law Section, January 2012
• "Addiction… What is it and Does it Have Anything to do with my Custody Case; and Are Business Appraisals on their way out? If so, What’s Next?" AAML-NY Chap., June 2011, Program Chair
• "Separate Property – Active v. Passive, Some of What is Yours is Mine", AAML-NY Chap., October 2007
• "Dissolution of Same-Gender Relationships; Same-Gender Marriage and Divorce; Taxation in Divorce", Cardozo Law School, April 2012, April 2010, April 2009, April 2006, April 2005, Guest Lecturer
• "Advising Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender (LGBT) Clients on How to Protect Their Families and Relationships", Association of the Bar of the City of New York, March 2005

PODCASTS

Featured as a guest attorney on the WB Perspectives podcast series. View podcasts

AWARDS/HONORS

• Listed in The Best Lawyers in America (2010 – Present)
• Super Lawyers New York Metro - (2008 – 2023)