When Divorce Isn’t Just Legal
In high-conflict divorces, traditional resolution strategies often fail because the conflict itself is not primarily legal in nature.
It is emotional, psychological, and sometimes public.
High conflict divorce cases typically involve:
- Repeated litigation or violation of court orders
- Power imbalances or control dynamics
- Parental alienation (resist-refuse dynamics), contested custody, or co-parenting sabotage
- Ongoing media scrutiny or reputational risk
- Chronic hostility or retaliatory behavior between parties
High-conflict divorces are less likely to end in a settlement. Issues resurface again and again. In these cases, your legal team must do more than advise. They must stabilize. Without solid legal representation, these cases can quickly become entangled in complexity, power struggles, and prolonged litigation.
Challenges &
Common Pitfalls
Challenges Unique to High-Conflict Divorce
Unlike typical divorces, high-conflict cases often escalate due to factors outside the legal record. You may be navigating:
- Ongoing social, reputational, or professional damage
- Attempts to alienate children, prolong litigation, or provoke retaliatory action
- An emotionally reactive environment where legal progress stalls
- A spouse who manipulates finances or conceals assets
- A coparent who undermines parenting agreements
Standard legal tools are often ineffective in de-escalating hostility. Court orders don’t teach emotional regulation. And without an integrated legal strategy, these cases repeatedly circle back to court, costing time, stability, and credibility.
Avoiding the Common Pitfalls
Many clients in high-conflict cases unknowingly escalate the very conflict they want to escape.
- Using children as leverage or allowing their spouse to
- Underestimating their spouse’s tactics or legal team
- Responding emotionally instead of strategically
- Listening to unqualified advice from friends or family
- Failing to document behaviors or comply with orders
Our high-conflict divorce attorneys at Bikel Rosenthal & Schanfield provide guidance that extends beyond court filings. Our approach is proactive, integrated, and protective of both your legal rights and long-term well-being.
Cases We Handle
Our New York divorce lawyers regularly handle high-conflict divorces involving:
- Ongoing post-judgment litigation or enforcement issues
- Litigation under media or regulatory scrutiny
- Narcissistic or coercive behavior patterns
- Complex asset tracing, including international or hidden assets
- Cross-border custody and Hague Convention cases
- Businesses and closely held entities
- Public figures, executives, entertainers, and athletes
- Allegations of abuse, neglect, or parental interference
Founding partners Dror Bikel and Karen B. Rosenthal are known throughout New York and the U.S. for handling some of the most contentious, high-stakes divorce cases. We combine litigation skills with emotional intelligence, working with psychologists, forensic accountants, parenting coordinators, and international counsel when needed.
Every piece of your case is aligned with one goal: long-term resolution and stability, even in the most unpredictable conditions.
If you are considering or involved in a high-conflict divorce, we can help.
Contact our firm for a confidential consultation.