Alyssa Rower
Founding Partner
Alyssa is the founding partner of Rower LLC and has been practicing law in New York City since 2005 and matrimonial and family law exclusively since 2008. Prior to founding Rower LLC in 2017, Alyssa spent eight years at the matrimonial firm Aronson Mayefsky & Sloan, LLP, first as an associate and then as a partner. Beginning her career in private practice as a commercial litigator with Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy, LLP, she gained invaluable trial and arbitration experience and developed her commitment to family law. At Milbank, she led pro bono cases on a variety of family law matters, receiving the Milbank Pro Bono Achievement Award in 2006 and the Her Justice Commitment to Justice Award in 2008. Prior to working in private practice, Alyssa was a law clerk for the Honorable Ruggero J. Aldisert of the Third Circuit Court of Appeals in Santa Barbara, California.
Alyssa's first priorities are providing unsurpassed service to her clients and compassionately guiding them through a difficult time. Alyssa prides herself on reaching creative out-of-court settlements for her clients whenever possible and is tireless in her determination to achieve their goals. In recent years, she has homed in on complex prenuptial agreements, and she represents clients in states outside of New York in conjunction with local counsel. As one client put it: "Tenacity, brilliance and a heart of gold…Alyssa is my secret weapon who was relentless in trying to make a deal with my husband.”
If it is necessary to take a case to court, Alyssa is a skilled and experienced litigator, whom one client described as a "powerful and dangerous army sniper in the courtroom." She has tried numerous financial and custody cases in the Supreme and Family Courts of Manhattan and Brooklyn and has successfully argued in the Appellate Division First Department. As one expert witness remarked about Alyssa's trial skills: "Alyssa's organization and conceptualization of the case was superb. Her ability to handle herself during direct and cross was excellent. Her interpersonal skills — with me, the client, the judge, and witnesses — were also excellent."
Alyssa received a BA in psychology, cum laude, from Dartmouth College in 2001 and her JD, cum laude, from Duke University School of Law in 2004. During law school, Alyssa served as editor-in-chief of the Alaska Law Review and the interscholastic coordinator of the Duke Law Moot Court Board.
Inside and out of her professional activities, Alyssa is committed to service and equity in New York City. She is a board member of the Legal Aid Society, which advocates for equal justice and provides critical legal representation for all New Yorkers, regardless of identity or income. Additionally, she is a mentor for the TEAK Fellowship, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping talented New York City students from low-income families gain admission to top high schools and colleges.
Alyssa lives in Brooklyn with her husband and their two children. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, exploring the city, playing piano, and doing crossword puzzles.
646.437.7737 alyssa@rowerllc.com
Lectures
2024 “Family Law at 2024 Art Law Day” by Alyssa Rower | Appraisers Association of America
2024 "The American Dream or an English affair? Getting The Transatlantic House in Order" by Alyssa Rower | Mishcon de Reya LLP, London
2024 Take Control of Your Financial Future: Plan for the Expected and Unexpected by Alyssa Rower | Duke University
2024 “Family Structuring: Pre-Nup, Post-Nups, Divorce and Beyond” by Alyssa Rower | STEP Cayman Conference 2024, International Wealth Structuring Forum – Grand Cayman
2022 “Choice of Law Provisions in Prenuptial Agreements” by Alyssa Rower and Margaret Sarratt
2021 “Building a Successful Divorce Practice as a Female Lawyer” | New York City Bar
2018 "The Impact of #MeToo: On the Job, in the Home, and on Campus" | Women of Dartmouth, New York
2018 "Complex Divorce" | UNtied.net
2016 "Orders of Protection" | Faculty Member at the New York State Bar Association Family Court Trial Institute
2016 "Women in Transition" | Alliance Bernstein
2015 “Smart Women Plan Ahead” | Norton Rose Fulbright, LLP
2014 "How to Hire the Right Divorce Lawyer" | UNtied.net
2014 “Ethics in Family Court Practice” | New York State Bar Association
2013 “Which Way to Go: Litigation, Mediation, or Collaborative?” | UNtied.net
2012 “The Ins and Outs of New York’s Temporary Maintenance Statute” | lawline.com
2012 “The Marriage Equality Act: Issues and Considerations for Same-Sex Couples” | Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft, LLP | Dartmouth Lawyer’s Association | Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, LLP | Brooklyn Bar Association | Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton, LLP | Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy, LLP
2009 "Immigration Remedies for Immigrant Children" | The Bar Association of the City of New York
Media
2023 “Balancing Act: Alyssa Rower's Journey from Law School to Leading Family Attorney” | Beyond the Bar Podcast
2018 "Frozen eggs, student loans and other unexpected reasons to get a prenup" | Market Watch
2018 "Prenups, Matrimony Law and Divorce. Oh My!?" | The Big Wedding Planning Podcast
2018 "What happens to your business when a relationship ends?" | Interview with Claire Wasserman for “Ladies Talk”
2018 "Navigating Finances In Your Relationship" | I Do Podcast
2018 "How Long Does A Divorce Take?" | Women's Health
2018 "Stay Smart About Your Money After Marriage" | Kiplinger
2018 "18 Women to Watch in 2018" | Brown Brothers Harriman
2018 “An Honest Talk About Marriage, Divorce, And Pre-Nups… with Alyssa Rower" | Self Made Man
2018 “Trump’s Tax Law Could Make Divorces More Bitter” | Bloomberg Politics, Fortune, and Investment News
2012 "The Real Estate Planning Crisis Isn't About Taxes" | Forbes
Videos
Alyssa discusses her involvement with the Legal Aid Society.
What is the prenuptial agreement process?
Alyssa explains the importance of prenuptial agreements and the negotiation process.
How is the divorce process different for business owners?
Alyssa explains the special considerations affecting business owners going through a divorce.
Publications
2024 “Financial Disclosures in Prenups: The Legal, Personal, and Strategic Considerations” by Alyssa Rower | New York Law Journal
2024 “Ensuring That Trusts Created During a Marriage Survive a Divorce” by Alyssa Rower & Karina VanHouten | New York Law Journal
2024 “Splitting the (Painting of the) Baby: The Issue of Fine Art in Prenups and Divorces” by Alyssa Rower | New York Law Journal
2024 “Balancing Roots and Rights: Innovating Marital Residence Provisions in Prenuptial Agreements” by Alyssa Rower and Jaime St. Peter | New York Law Journal
2024 “The Art of Drafting Enforceable Prenups” by Alyssa Rower | New York Law Journal
2024 “Discretionary Trusts Present Vulnerabilities to Beneficiaries Without Prenuptial Agreements” by Dilpreet Rai and Alyssa Rower | New York Law Journal
2024 “Have Your Cake and Eat It Too: Creating the Benefits of Marriage Outside the Institution” by Alyssa Rower, Nicole Hurley and Jamie Caponera | New York Law Journal
2023 “Trust Considerations in Prenuptial Agreements” by Alyssa Rower and Karina VanHouten | New York Law Journal
2023 “Dispelling Common Myths About Prenuptial Agreements” by Alyssa Rower | New York Law Journal
2022 “Infidelity Clauses: Proceed With Caution” by Alyssa Rower, Karina VanHouten and Leo Wiswall | New York Law Journal
2022 “Choice of Law Provisions in Prenuptial Agreements” by Alyssa Rower and Margaret Sarratt | New York Law Journal
2021 “The ABCs of Matrimonial Agreements“ by Alyssa Rower and Jaime St. Peter
2020 "Three Ways Courts Can Support Financial Self-Sufficiency In the Case of Mid-Life Divorce" by Alyssa Rower and Leslie Stewart Sullivan | New York Law Journal
2018 "New York Domestic Relations Law and Advisory Schedules" | It’s Over Easy
2018 "How to Strengthen Your Marriage with a Prenup" | Insider
2018 “Those Who Are Most In Need Of A Prenup May Surprise You” | Forbes
2016 “Which Divorce Process is Right for You?” with Ani Mason | UNtied.net
2016 "Who Should Be On My Divorce Team" with Ani Mason | UNtied.net
2014 "Ask an Expert: How do I Pay a Lawyer's Retainer Fee if my Spouse Controls the Money?" | UNtied.net
2014 "Ask an Expert: Filing for Divorce" | UNtied.net
2013 "Ask an Expert: Expectations" | UNtied.net
2013 "Ask an Expert: Prenuptial Agreements" | UNtied.net
2012 "Temporary Maintenance Status in Practice" | New York Law Journal, Vol. 247 No. 84
2012 "Postjudgment Relief: Which Crises or Crossroads Constitute a Substantial Change of Circumstances" (American Bar Association: Family Advocate, Vol. 34, No. 3)
2011 "Determining Whether 'No-Fault' Law Allows Trials When Parties Disagree" | New York Law Journal, Vol. 246, No. 41
2010 "What You Can and Can't Control in the Divorce Process" | Huffington Post
2010 "How to Choose a Divorce Lawyer" | Huffington Post
2009 "Setting Valuation Dates for Marital Property In Global Economic Crisis" | New York Law Journal, Vol. 242 No. 73
2007 "Preparation Matters When Videotaping Depositions" | National Law Journal
2004 "The Legality of Polygamy: Using the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment" | Family Law Quarterly Vol. 38, No. 3
2003 "Alaska's DNA Database: The Statute, Its Problems, and Proposed Solutions" | Alaska Law Review, Vol 20
2003 "Winning Brief: California v. Moore" | Whittier J. Child & Family Advocacy, Vol. 3
Notable Decisions
Honors
Super Lawyer, 2020-2023
Super Lawyers “Rising Star,” 2011-2019
BBH 18 Women to Watch, 2018
Her Justice Commitment to Justice Award, 2008
Milbank Pro Bono Achievement Award, 2006