Valerie H. Tocci

counsel

Valerie represents individuals and families in all aspects of matrimonial and family law, including divorce, custody, spousal and child support, equitable distribution of property, pre-nuptial, post-nuptial and divorce agreements, post-judgment matters, hearings and trials. Valerie is a litigator with extensive courtroom experience. Prior to joining AWFS, Valerie was a partner at several New York law firms, including, Mishcon de Reya NY, LLP, a major international firm, where she also focused on cross-border family law issues.

Valerie has experience in aiding high net worth families navigate the divorce process. Prior to devoting her practice to family law, Valerie served as a prosecutor in the Eastern District of New York and the Queens County District Attorney’s Office. Valerie also served as Court Attorney to the Honorable Esther M. Morgenstern, New York State Supreme Court Justice, in both the Kings County Family Court and the Queens County Integrated Domestic Violence Court, a unified part handling matrimonial, family court and criminal cases simultaneously, which she helped to establish. Valerie’s work with victims of crime and domestic violence gives her a unique perspective on the emotional challenges facing families dealing with divorce. Valerie is a passionate and pragmatic advocate.

Valerie is a “Super Lawyer”, a designation to which she was elected by her professional peers. She was a founding member of the Associates Board of New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG), a not-for-profit legal services agency providing representation to low-income individuals. She is the co-author of Divorce Settlements Funded By Proceeds Of Fraud: Good News For Innocent Spouses’ New York Family Law Monthly, Vol. 13. No. 1, September 2011. Valerie has a B.A. from the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor. While an undergraduate, Valerie completed the general course at the London School of Economics and Political Science. She received her J.D. from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, where she was awarded the Heyman Corporate Governance Fellowship. Valerie was born and raised in Manhattan and is alumnus of the Ethical Culture Fieldston School.