John Pappalardo

John’s matrimonial practice handles moderate to very complex litigation involving matrimonial and family law cases. He also has a private matrimonial mediation practice, is certified in matrimonial collaborative law, sits as a matrimonial arbitrator, and is New York State Certified as an attorney representing children. He has served as Guardian Ad Litem in matrimonial proceedings and is admitted to the State and Federal Bar in New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts. He is a member of the Bar for the United States Supreme Court and the International Association of Matrimonial Lawyers.

John is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and has been recognized as a top attorney in the area of matrimonial law by both Super Lawyers and the American Institute of Family Law Attorneys. He is a member of the American Bar Association, New York State Bar Association, Westchester Bar Association and their Family Law and Alternative Dispute Resolutions subsections. He is a referral attorney for the State Department for Missing and Exploited Children, representing parents who have had their children abducted. John is currently a Board Director of the Westchester County Bar Association and is a former member of the Executive Committee of the Westchester County Bar Family Law Section.

John is also a member of the American Arbitration Association and has taught Arbitration and Mediation programs for the AAA. He has spoken in the field of Domestic Relations law on behalf of the Westchester County Bar Association, New York State Bar Association and National Business Institute.

John has served as an arbitrator and mediator in over 1500 domestic and international matters involving construction, franchise, commercial, industrial projects, real estate valuation, insurance, legal services, matrimonial, homeowner and contractor disputes and civil claims handling issues between contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, homeowners, architects, municipalities, attorneys and clients, and mid to large sized businesses. He has been involved in commercial and construction law matters involving both public and private projects ranging in value from $50,000 to $10 million.

As an arbitrator, he has served in over 800 domestic and international matters, including an LPGA certified golf club and general contractor; and architect and developer; multi-million dollar New York City excavation and water drainage projects; car wash installation projects; contractor and homeowner disputes and moderate to significant matters between contractors and subcontractors, suppliers, homeowners, architects, and businesses. He has sat as a sole and panel arbitrator on significant international matters involving publicly funded construction projects and franchise agreements.

As a mediator, he has served in over 750 matters involving construction, commercial, real estate valuation, insurance, tax, matrimonial, and civil claims in multi-party disputes. He has sat as a sole mediator on significant international matters involving publicly funded construction projects, franchise disputes, and the construction of private projects with parties from different countries.

John has a civil litigation practice, which includes the representation of clients against contractors and contractors against clients in litigation. Additionally, he has represented clients against home inspectors and against major corporations in various products liability cases. He has represented a significant number of homeowners and homebuilders in litigation associated with the construction of new homes and the renovations and expansion of existing homes.

John teaches Lawyering as an Adjunct Professor at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University, and Arbitration and Mediation as a visiting Professor at the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University. He also currently serves his community as a Part-Time Municipal Judge.

John is a former member of the Westchester County Bar Association’s Executive Committee of the Family Law Section and the Berkeley College Paralegal advisory board. He is also a former visiting professor at Pace University Law School, and a former adjunct high school instructor teaching Trial Preparation.

John graduated from Ithaca College in 1983 with a B.A. degree and received his J.D. in 1986 from The New England Law School.
Bar Admissions

Massachusetts, 1986
New York, 1987
New Jersey, 1989
U.S. District Court Southern District of New York
U.S. District Court Eastern District of New York
U.S. District Court District of New Jersey
U.S. Supreme Court

Published Works

\"Revisiting ADR in Domestic Relations Law\", Westchester Bar Journal, July, 2011
Professional Associations and Memberships
New York State Bar Association, Domestic Relations Subsection
Westchester County Bar Association, Domestic Relations Subsection
Westchester County Civil Arbitration Panel
United States Bankruptcy Court Mediation Panel
Academy of Family Mediators
American Arbitration Association
New York State Council on Divorce Mediation
American Bar Association, Alternative Dispute Resolution Subsection
New York State Law Guardian Panel
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Referral Attorney
International Academy of Family Lawyers
Paralegal Advisory Committee at Berkeley College