SARAH B. HECHTMAN
Partner
Sarah has been a matrimonial and family law attorney for nearly two decades. In addition to her skills as a litigator, Sarah is an experienced mediator and collaborative lawyer who is committed to helping clients resolve their family disputes in as peaceful and dignified a way as possible. Acknowledging that “one size does not fit all,” Sarah seeks to help clients resolve their matters in the way that works best for them, whether through negotiation or litigation.
Sarah is experienced in handling complex divorce cases involving substantial financial assets as well as highly contested child custody issues. She has successfully negotiated and drafted pre- and postnuptial agreements and has represented clients in numerous family offense, child support enforcement, and grandparent visitation proceedings. Additionally, she practices in the area of fertility law, assisting intended parents, gestational surrogates, and biological donors in navigating the legal issues implicated in the use of assisted reproductive technologies.
Before practicing exclusively in the area of family law, Sarah gained valuable litigation experience as a prosecutor for the New York County District Attorney’s Office where she specialized in cases involving domestic violence and sex crimes, and as a civil rights lawyer prosecuting class action cases on behalf of children. It was her commitment to the welfare of children and families that led her to train in alternative methods of resolving family law disputes. She has extensive training as a mediator and mediates matrimonial cases for the court system, as well as privately. She is a member of the New York Association of Collaborative Professionals, an interdisciplinary group of legal, psychological, and financial specialists committed to the resolution of family law disputes outside of the court system. Sarah is a certified parenting coordinator, a role in which she assists parents in resolving their disputes outside of court. Sarah is also an adjunct professor at Brooklyn and Pace University Law Schools, where she teaches courses on conflict resolution and the intersection of psychology with law.
Sarah’s clients have described her as an “oasis of sanity” and “the silver lining” in an otherwise unpleasant situation. She believes that her appreciation of each client’s unique circumstances enables her to effectively tailor her representation to individual needs. Her natural understanding for varying perspectives makes her a compassionate and effective mediator, as well as a formidable advocate.
Sarah is a member of the American Bar Association, the New York State Bar Association, the Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York and the Westchester Women’s Bar Association. She serves as a mentor and career counselor for students at her alma mater, Harvard College, from which she received a bachelor’s degree in psychology. She also holds a master’s degree in public policy from the London School of Economics and Political Science and received her JD from Columbia Law School. Sarah lives in Westchester County, has two sons and one dog, likes to spend her free time out of doors walking, hiking or playing tennis, and listens obsessively to political and true crime podcasts.
646.437.7627 sarahb@rowerllc.com
Publications
2024 “Grandparent Rights’ Statute Should Be Modified to Deter Meritless Claims” by Sarah Hechtman | New York Law Journal
2024 “Reviewing Attorneys: The Tightrope Walkers of Mediation” by Louisa DeRose and Sarah Hechtman | New York Law Journal
2023 “ADR in Family Law: When is it Suitable?” by Sarah Hechtman | Lawyer Monthly
2020 “My Reproductive Freedom Has Been Critical to My Life Choices” by Sarah Hechtman | Ms. Magazine
1991 “Physical Attractiveness of Face and Voice: Effects of Positivity, Dominance, and Sex” by Sarah Hechtman | Journal of Applied Social Psychology
1991 “Teacher Gender and Nonverbal Behavior in the Teaching of Gender-Stereotyped Materials” by Sarah Hechtman | Journal of Applied Social Psychology
1990 “Nonverbal Behavior and Gender as Determinants of Physical Attractiveness” by Sarah Hechtman | Journal of Nonverbal Behavior
Videos
Sarah discusses divorce options in depth. Watch the video.
Notable Decisions
Hester v Hester
Rogers v Rogers
Lectures
2023 “Divorce Redirected: It Doesn’t Have To Be Contentious” by Leslie Stewart Sullivan, Louisa DeRose, and Sarah Hechtman | WMHC
Media
2024 Watch: “From Psychology Major to Family Law Powerhouse: Sarah Hechtman's Unconventional Path to Success” or Listen Here on Spotify
2024 "Adjunct Professors Bring Straight-From-the-Field Experience to Our Spring Curriculum" | Brooklyn Law School
2022 “Legal Planning and Assisted Reproductive Technology” | The Village Law Firm
2018 “Process Choice: The How of Divorce Settlement” | Divorce Dialogues
2018 “Husband Files For Divorce After Taking $25M Worth of Art” | Divorce Mag
Honors
Super Lawyer, 2024
Top Lawyers in the New York Area, The American Registry, 2024
Awarded “Lawyer of the Year,” Dispute Resolution by Lawyer Monthly Magazine, 2023
Recognized by "Best Lawyers" for Family Law, Collaborative Law and Mediation
Martindale-Hubbell Peer AV Preeminent Rating