Ellen Waldorf, J.D.

ELLEN WALDORF, J. D. is an attorney-mediator with ten years of experience in divorce mediation. She received her law degree in 1993 from the New York University School of Law, where she was a member of the New York University Law Review. Ellen is a cum laude graduate of Yale University and was a corporate attorney in the Washington, D.C. office of O'Melveny & Myers LLP. Ellen is admitted to the bar in Massachusetts.

Ellen assists couples in understanding their financial options concerning the ownership, buy-out, allocation and transfer of marital assets: real estate, retirement plans, brokerage accounts, stock options and other assets - all of which are subject to underlying complexities. Ellen is well versed in the IRS and Massachusetts tax codes in order to aid couples in reaching a better financial settlement. With her wealth of knowledge, Ellen assists clients in making sound decisions in the complex areas of insurance, buy-outs, tax benefits and consequences, and the consequences of taxable support allocations.  She endeavors to assist her clients in making fully informed decisions that they know are fair.

Ellen helps clients with parenting plans that are tailored to their unique circumstances, yet are within the parameters that the Massachusetts Probate and Family Court will approve. She completes the Massachusetts Child Support Guidelines and drafts language that clearly details responsibility for children's current and future expenses. She encourages parents to anticipate changes to their parenting and support arrangements as their children grow older and financial circumstances change. Ellen has experience mediating complicated parenting issues and has worked with parents of children with special needs who will require support services as adults.

Ellen mediates the division of complex compensation packages, stock options, and restricted stock.  She is well versed in the various forms of businesses and practices, paying special attention to ownership interest, as well as more complicated real estate transactions.  Drawing on her background as a corporate attorney, Ellen understands the unique characteristics of these assets.

Prior to joining Diane Neumann & Associates, Ellen analyzed investment opportunities for a private equity fund and clerked for the Honorable John Porfilio of the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit in Denver, Colorado. Before embarking on a legal career, Ellen worked for the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition, taught English in China, and interned for "Late Night with David Letterman."