About – MK Family Law

Bio
Books
Articles
Presentations
Appointments
Mediation Training
Other Dispute Resolution Training
Awards & Recognition
Links

MK Family Law, PLLC was founded in 2013 by Melissa Kucinski. Melissa is an experienced lawyer and mediator who has spent her career working with families to create unique and comprehensive solutions to move them to the next stage in life. Melissa believes education is key. With solid counsel and the proper information, clients can make sound decisions.

With an increasingly diverse population, Melissa has developed significant experience working with global families, where individuals’ legal problems require understanding the intersection between international and domestic law.

An author, a law professor, a trainer – Melissa is continually active in the local, national and international family law community, and is routinely sought after to lecture globally on issues of cross-border mediation, child abduction, and the use of technology in her family law practice. Melissa uses her experience working with international organizations, such as The Hague Conference on Private International Law and International Social Service, to serve her global clients with the utmost care and a holistic understanding of the obstacles they face.

Melissa also believes strategy is key. She will work closely with other professionals to create a solid approach to achieving a client’s goals.

The Child’s Attorney: A Practical Guide to Representing Children in Custody Cases (ABA Publishing, 2018)
Becoming the Tech-Savvy Family Lawyer (ABA Publishing, 2013) (co-authored with Daniel J. Berlin)

Year-in Review 2017, International Family Law, 2018 Vol. ___, Co-Authored with Robert Spector (forthcoming)
Year-in Review 2016, International Family Law, 2017 Vol. 51, Co-Authored with Robert Spector
Year-in Review 2015, International Family Law, 2016 Vol. 50, Co-Authored with Robert Spector
Online Dispute Resolution and Cross Border Family Disputes, BNA Family Law Reporter, 2015, Co-Authored with Colin Rule
Year-in Review 2014, International Family Law, 2015 Vol. 49, Co-Authored with Robert Spector
Guidelines for Direct Child Involvement in Contested Custody Litigation, AJFL, Fall 2014, Vol. 28, No. 3, Co-Authored with Kaitlin Ball
The Delicate Art of Mediating International Parental Child Abduction Cases, ABA Dispute Resolution Magazine, Winter 2014, Reproduced in Russian
Year-in Review 2013, International Family Law, 2014 Vol. 48, Co-Authored with Robert Spector
Creating a Successful Structure to Mediate International Parental Abduction Cases, AJFL, Summer 2012, Vol. 26, No. 2
Growth Spurt Hits International Law Related to Children, MSBA Journal, Vol. XLV, No. 1, Jan/Feb 2012, Co-Authored with Hadrian Hatfield
The Pitfalls and Possibilities of Technology in Mediating International Parental Abduction Cases, University of Missouri Journal of Dispute Resolution, Vol. 2 J. Disp. Res. 297 (2010)
Culture in International Parental Kidnapping Mediations, Pepperdine Dispute Resolution Law Journal, Vol. 9, Issue III, 2008-2009, Reproduced with permission by IAFL Law Journal, Vol, 3
New York’s Recognition of Same-Sex Marriages, FLQ, Vol. 39, No. 3, Fall 2005
Evaluation of an Alternative Dispute Resolution Program in a Domestic Small Claims Court, Masters Thesis, American University, 2004

International Child Abduction and the Hague Abduction Convention, AAML, Northern California Chapter, May 2020 (California)
From Pasadena to Paris… what you NEED to know about custody cases with an international twist, Maryland Judicial College, February 2020 (Annapolis, MD)
International Child Abduction and the Hague Abduction Convention, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, November 7, 2019 (Chicago, IL)
Hearing the Voices of Children: Requiring Child’s Counsel for International Cases, July 5, 2019 (London, England, UK)
5th Anniversary Symposium on Japan’s Ratification of the 1980 Hague Abduction Convention, Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, June 10, 2019 (Tokyo, Japan)
Cross-Border Family Mediation Training – University of California Hastings School of Law, May 6, 20, 2019 (Web, San Francisco, California) – 2 day advanced mediation training – sole instructor
Cross-Border Family Mediation Training – Parenting Plans, Center for Alternative Dispute Resolution, March 28, 29, April 4, 5, 2019 (Greenbelt, Maryland) – 30 hour advanced mediation training – sole instructor
International Relationships, Child Abduction, Custody & Safety Issues, American Bar Association, Section of International Law, November 28, 2018 (Washington, DC)
An Update on Cross-Border Family Mediation in the U.S., International Hague Network of Judges Meeting, October 25, 2018 (Miami, FL)
Mediating International Parental Child Abduction Cases, Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, August 22, 2018 (Webinar)
The Impact of International Family Law Issues During the Divorce Process, The Divorce Chronicles, July 31, 2018 (Podcast)
Cross-Border Family Mediation, Center for Alternative Dispute Resolution, June 21, 2018 (Greenbelt, MD)
It Takes a Village: How to Grow as an International Mediator, Center for Alternative Dispute Resolution, June 21, 2018 (Greenbelt, MD)
Case Assessment: Identifying Families for Mediation and Educating them about the Process, International Social Service, George Washington University School of Law, June 5, 2018 (Washington, DC)
Cross-Border Family Mediation, iStand Parent Network, May 24, 2018 (Washington, DC)
The Hague Convention and the UCCJEA, International Academy of Family Lawyers, April 20, 2018 (New York, NY)
Global Projects in Cross-Border Family Mediation, Stanford University, April 10, 2018 (Palo Alto, CA)
Representing Children in International Cases, Montgomery County Roundtable, March 19, 2018 (Rockville, MD)
The Importance of Diversity in Selecting a Neutral, American Bar Association, Dispute Resolution Section, January 29, 2018 (Washington, D.C.)
The Care and Feeding of Your Expert: What Every Lawyer Should Know, Frederick County Bar Association, January 15, 2018 (Frederick, MD)
The Importance of Diversity in Selecting a Neutral, American Bar Association, Dispute Resolution Section, October 24, 2017 (Washington, D.C.)
The ABCs of the UCCJEA, Montgomery County Bar Association, March 29, 2017 (Rockville, MD)
Alternatives to Hague Abduction Proceedings, American Bar Association, Family Law Section, October 22, 2016 (Quebec City, Quebec, Canada)
Taken: International Parental Child Abduction, International Social Services, October 13, 2016 (Baltimore, MD)
Working with a Best Interest Attorney, Maryland Legal Aid, July 21, 2016 (Teleseminar)
Using Technology in Your Family Law Practice, West Virginia Bar Association, May 3, 2016 (Web)
When Kids are Held Hostage in Separation or Divorce: How to Implement the Hague Convention Worldwide, American Bar Association, Section of International Law, April 14, 2016 (New York, NY)
International Family Mediation Training, International Treaties and Conventions for International Children’s Cases, American Bar Association, November 9, 2015 (Washington, DC)
Advanced Best Interest Attorney Issues: When Things Are A Mess… Spotting Risk Factors, Human Trafficking, Dud Parents and More!, Maryland State Bar Association, February 6, 2015 (Annapolis, MD)
International Child Relocation, Montgomery County Bar Association, January 30, 2015 (Rockville, MD)
Implementation and Realization of the Hague Convention on the Protection of Children, International Law Association, International Law Weekend, October 24, 2014 – (New York, NY)
International Family Mediation In the United States, Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs/U.S. Department of State Bilateral Meeting, September 18, 2014 (Tokyo, Japan)
International Family Mediation Training, Tokyo Bar Association, September 15 & 16, 2014 (Tokyo, Japan)
Mediating International Children’s Cases: Best Practices, Cultural Implications, and Legal Concerns, American Bar Association, Section of International Law, June 21, 2014 (Seattle, WA)
Child Protection and the Hague Abduction Convention, U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, January 29, 2014 (Greenbelt, MD)
International Family Mediation Training, American Bar Association, November 11 – 15, 2013 (Washington, DC) – Co-Trainer
The Use of Online Dispute Resolution in Cross-Border Family Cases, Cyberweek 2013, November 4 – 8, 2013 (online)
How to Walk the Talk and Change the Conversation: Practical Insights from Women Who Have Risen Above the Glass Ceiling, American Bar Association, August 9, 2013 (San Francisco, CA)
Hague Conference on Private International Law, Family Law Treaties, European Young Bar Association, June 28, 2013 (Den Haag, Netherlands)
Mediating International Child Abduction Cases, Association for Conflict Resolution, May 1, 2013 (Teleseminar)
International Mediation - Why is it Different?, American Bar Association, Dispute Resolution Section, April 4, 2013 (Chicago, IL)
Recent Developments in International Family Law, International Law Association, International Law Weekend, October 26, 2012 (New York, NY)
International Child Abduction and Relocation Law, Montgomery County Bar Association, November 29, 2011 (Rockville, MD)
International Child Protection and Multi-Profession Approaches to Resolving Issues, International Social Service, November 3, 2011 (Washington, D.C.)
Cross Border Disputes: Mediating International Custody, Relocation, and Child Abduction, American Bar Association, Dispute Resolution Section, April 14, 2011 (Denver, CO)
Update on Mediation of International Family Matters, International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, February 18, 2011 (Miami, FL)
Cross-Border Disputes: Mediating International Relocation, Abduction and Custody, Maryland Mediator’s Convention, December 10, 2010 (Baltimore, MD)
Mediating International Parental Abduction Cases, International Law Association, International Law Week, October 22, 2010 (New York, NY)
Mediating International Parental Kidnapping Cases in the United States: Ethical and Practical Considerations for Mediators on the Front Lines, The Centre for Family Law and Practice, July 2, 2010 (London, U.K.)
Mediating International Parental Abduction Cases, King County, Washington Bar Association, June 23, 2010 (Teleconference)
Mediating International Parental Abduction Cases, American Bar Association, May 21, 2010 (Washington, D.C.)

International Social Service: Chair, International Family Mediation Interim Steering Committee, 2017 to 2018
International Social Service: Legal and Mediation Expert, Seventh Special Commission Meeting to Review the Practical Operation of the Hague Conventions (1980 Convention on Child Abduction and 1996 Convention on the Protection of Children), October 2017
US Department of State: Member, U.S. Secretary of State’s Advisory Committee on Private International Law, 2009 to present
US Department of State: Private Sector Advisor, Bilateral Meetings with Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 1980 Convention on Child Abduction, October 2014
US Department of State: Private Sector Advisor, Sixth Special Commission Meeting to Review the Practical Operation of the Hague Conventions (1980 Convention on Child Abduction and 1996 Convention on the Protection of Children), June 2011
Uniform Law Commission: Member, Joint Editorial Board on Uniform Family Laws, 2012 to present
Uniform Law Commission: Observer, Drafting Committee for the UCCJEA due to the signing of the 1996 Hague Child Protection Convention, 2012 – 2013
Uniform Law Commission: ABA Advisor, Drafting Committee on Recognition and Enforcement of Canadian Domestic Violence Protection Orders, 2013 – 2015
Uniform Law Commission: ABA Section Advisor, Study Committee on Economic Rights of Unmarried Cohabitants, 2017 – 2018
American Bar Association: Past Chair of Steering Committee on International Family Mediation
American Bar Association: Past Chair of ABA Family Law Section's International Law Committee
American Bar Association: Past Chair of ABA Section of International Law's Family Law Committee
American Bar Association: Past Division Chair, Past Deputy to the Chair of Task Forces for the ABA Section of International Law
American Bar Association: Chair of the 2012 International Families Conference (Washington, DC)
American Bar Association: Chair of the 2014 International Families Conference (Seattle, WA)
American Bar Association: Co-Chair of Meeting Planning Committee for the ABA Section of International Law Spring Meeting, 2015, 2017
American Bar Association: Past Liaison between the ABA Family Law Section and ABA Section of International Law

2-day International Family Mediation training, UC Hastings School of Law, 2019 (Trainer)
30-hour International Family Mediation training, Center for ADR, 2019 (Trainer)
8-hour Federal Court mediation training, US District Court for D.C., 2018
6-hour Virginia Juvenile & Domestic Relations mediation training, Fairfax County J&DR Court, 2018
4-hour Virginia Juvenile & Domestic Relations mediation training, Fairfax County J&DR Court, 2018
5-hour appellate mediation training, D.C. Court of Appeals, 2018
20-hour family mediation training, CMG Foundation, 2017
8-hour domestic violence mediation assessment, Northern Virginia Mediation Services, 2017
40-hour International Family Mediation training, ABA, 2015 (Co-Trainer)
2-day Mediation Training for Muslim Community Leaders, Karamah, 2014
40-hour International Family Mediation training, ABA, 2013 (Co-Trainer)
20-hour child custody mediation training, Maryland Institute for Continuing Professional Education for Lawyers, 2009
40-hour basic training, Center for Alternative Dispute Resolution, 2003

2-day parenting coordination, Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, 2017
2-day strategic negotiation training, Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution, 2013
2-day collaborative law training, Janis Pritchard, 2004
8-hour facilitation training, Keybridge Foundation, 2003

ABA: Outstanding Volunteer Award, ABA Section of International Law, 2014
ABA: Chair of Outstanding Project for ABA Section of International Law, 2014
ABA: Chair of Outstanding Stand Alone Program for ABA Section of International Law, 2012
ABA: Chair of Best Use of Section of International Law Committee Listserve, 2007 – 2008, 2008 – 2009
ABA: Chair of Most Improved ABA Section of International Law Committee, 2006 – 2007
ABA: Outstanding Contribution to the ABA Family Law Section Award, 2012
Martindale Hubbell: AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating
Best Lawyers in America: 2018, 2019, 2020
Avvo Rating: 10.0/10.0 Superb
Superlawyers: D.C. Superlawyer – 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
Superlawyers: D.C. Rising Star – 2015
Superlawyers: Maryland Rising Star – 2012, 2013, 2015

Bio

Books

Articles

Presentations

Appointments

Mediation Training

Other Dispute Resolution Training

Awards & Recognition

Links