Kathryn S. Lazar

Kathryn S. Lazar co-founded Lazar and Schwartz in 1984, after working at Hudson Valley Legal Services, serving as Assistant County Attorney handling child abuse cases and being in private practice with Laura Zeisel. After living in New York, Illinois, Nevada, California and Oregon, Kathryn settled in the Hudson Valley after finishing Cornell Law School, along with Robert Schwartz, her law partner and husband.

Kathryn’s many personal interests, in addition to her family, include a commitment to raising money to fight breast cancer (she has walked and crewed in the 39.3 mile Avon Breast Cancer fundraiser for many years), professional training, and international travel. Her primary professional focus is conflict resolution in the family arena. She has devoted the last decade to facilitating the growth of the Collaborative Divorce movement in the Hudson Valley.  She has been honored as one of the 10 Best Female Attorneys by the American Institute of Family Law Attorneys, and by the Mediation Center of Dutchess County for her work founding the organization.

Education

Reed College, B.A. with honors
Cornell Law School, J.D. cum laude

Admitted to Practice

New York State
U.S. District Court, Northern and Southern Districts of New York

Current Affiliations

Hudson Valley Collaborative Divorce Association – Founder
MH Mediation – Founder
Advanced Practitioner, Association for Conflict Resolution
International Association of Collaborative Professionals

Founder

Lazar & Schwartz, 1980

Battered Women’s Law Project 1977
Dutchess County Dispute Resolution Center 1982
MH Mediation, 1982

Hudson Valley Collaborative Divorce and Dispute Resolution Association, 2002

Community Activities

Matrimonial Commission Member, 1996
Board Member, Poughkeepsie Day School, 1990 – 2002
Board Member, Grace Smith House, (battered women’s shelter) 1981-1984
Board Member, East Fishkill Zoning Board, 1996 – 2001
Dutchess County Ethics Committee Member, 1982-1992
Dutchess County Bar Association Grievance Committee Member, 1982-1991

Lazar Schwartz & Jones LLP 

280 Route 82  

Hopewell Junction, New York 12533  

Phone: 845-896-9651

Email: [email protected]