Karen S. Gersten

PRO

Karen S. Gersten

4.9
Rating: 10.0

Licensed for 35 years

Divorce and separation Lawyer at West Hartford, CT
Practice Areas: Divorce & Separation, Child Custody, Mediation ... +2 more

818 Farmington Avenue, West Hartford, CT

Virtual Consultation Available

About Karen

Biography

I'm here to help you get the results you are seeking.

Practice Areas

5

Practice Areas

Divorce and Separation 50%

35 years

50%
Child Custody 20%

20%
Child Support 10%

10%
Family 10%

10%
Mediation 10%

10%

Fees and Rates

We have not found any cost information for this lawyer

Awards

Client's Choice
Client's Choice
2022 2021 2019
...
+ 3
Distinguished Peer Review Rating

Licenses

Licensed in Connecticut for 35 years

State: Connecticut

Acquired: 1990

Active

No misconduct found

Location

Gersten & Gersten, LLP

818 Farmington Avenue, West Hartford, CT, 06119

gerstenandgersten.com/attorneys/

Karen S. Gersten's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

4.9 /5.0

63 Client Reviews

Showing 1 - 5 of 29 reviews | Practice Area Knowledge

Posted by anonymous | January 22, 2026 | Hired Attorney | Divorce & Separation

Karen Gersten is Fantastic!

Karen Gersten is a good person, diligent worker, and extremely competent attorney! In my divorce proceedings there were numerous challenges, and all were very gracefully navigated by Karen's professionalism and knowledge base, which enabled a very fair and equitable outcome, which is what I was seeki...ng. I would highly recommend anyone who wants a no nonsense "A" player to help them through their divorce proceedings, to hire Karen and follow her lead. Thank you Karen, and thank you Blake and Kari for your timely and courteous assistance throughout the process!

Posted by Michelle | October 24, 2025 | Hired Attorney | Divorce & Separation

Heartfelt Thank You!

Karen Gersten guided me through my divorce with grace and clarity. She made the entire process smooth and explained every legal process. Karen's professionalism and sincerity are commendable, and I am thankful for her exceptional legal service. She is a skilled negotiator and a staunch advocate for h...er clients. Thank you team Gersten & Gersten!

Posted by Tam | October 22, 2025 | Hired Attorney | Family

Forever Grateful

I can not say enough positive things about Attorney Gersten. From the very beginning, she demonstrated deep knowledge of family law and genuine compassion for my situation. My case was complex and emotionally charged, but she approached every challenge with professionalism, patience, and complete ded...ication. Throughout the entire process, Attorney Gersten kept me informed, explained every option clearly, and always made me feel like my case truly mattered. In court, she was incredibly prepared, confident, and persuasive. Her litigation skills were unmatched and it made a huge difference in the outcome of my case. Thanks to Attorney Gersten and her very organized Paralegal Blake Leining-Smith I was able to achieve a fair and favorable resolution. I would wholeheartedly recommend Attorney Gersten to anyone in need of skilled, compassionate, and highly effective family law attorney.

Posted by anonymous | September 09, 2024 | Hired Attorney | Divorce & Separation

Top Divorce Attorney Highly Recommend

Attorney Gersten is a top divorce attorney in the area. She did an amazing job and what seemed to be impossible to me a year ago. I went through a very difficult divorce. Before hiring attorney Gersten I interviewed 4 other attorneys and I am glad I chose Karen. She is very efficient and has fair cha...rges and accounting of hours practice. Karen is very knowledgeable and well respected in the court. She always fights to protect interests of her clients, while open to settlement without unnecessary trials if her clients are satisfied with outcome. If presented with challenge, Karen is open to face it without hesitation and do research of precedents to be used in the court. Karen is always confident and has genuine care for her clients. She always comes to the court prepared and ready to protect your interests. Karen is working hard to make sure she provides high quality service. I wish I could give Karen more than 5 starts.

Posted by Jessica | June 07, 2024 | Hired Attorney | Divorce & Separation

Unmatched Representation from Attorney Karen Gersten

I hired Attorney Gersten to represent me through a divorce from my now ex-husband, and it is the best financial decision I have ever made by a LANDSLIDE. Karen is the absolute pinnacle of professionalism, legal expertise, and client advocacy. Her legal counsel is worth every penny (and then some). ... After finding out that my husband was having an affair, I wanted the best representation I could find. I was blind-sided and had no idea what I should expect navigating a divorce. I met with a few other divorce-specializing lawyers locally before finding Attorney Gersten. The consultations I had with other lawyers all seemed to end up in the same place-- a cookie-cutter response, and dismissive approach to the dissolution of my 9-year marriage. Not Attorney Gersten. From the instant I met with her to discuss my situation, I knew I'd found the person to help me get through the toughest season of my life. Karen listened attentively to the details and circumstances that made my case unique, making sure my biggest concerns and needs would be met moving forward as she strategized her approach. She made me feel heard and understood, like a real partner throughout the process. She kept me grounded and provided me with previews on what documentation needed to be prepared (both by me, and her team), what I might expect while appearing in court, or what negotiations might come up on the road to settling my case. Further than that, she actually pointed out additional factors about my situation that I never would have thought to, explaining why they must be non-negotiable given my circumstances. Karen takes a no-nonsense approach, wasting no time on fluff. Every second she spent on my case was well documented and easily understood. Any interactions we had, she’d always try to get as much accomplished as we possibly could together to prepare for the next step. After watching Attorney Gersten command a room during court proceedings and other interactions, it is obvious that she is exceptionally well-respected by her peers and others within the judicial system. She is the perfect balance of kind and caring in her interactions, while remaining assertive in her communication and negotiations. She is ethical, confident, and exudes professionalism through every step. Anyone who has been through a divorce knows the rollercoaster of emotions that can be experienced. Having Attorney Gersten as a champion in my corner through this process gave me not only an outstanding result financially settling my divorce, but something MUCH more important: peace of mind. Every nerve-wrecking situation that came up, she was there to calm my nerves. If you have the opportunity to work with Attorney Gersten… RUN, don’t walk.

See All Client Reviews

Karen S. Gersten's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse Karen
Angela I. Green headshot
Angela Green

Divorce and separation lawyer | Dec 21

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"I endorse Attorney Karen Gersten for her professional expertise, knowledge and dedication to practice of family law. Her attention to this demanding area of law, excellent reputation and genuine dedication to the client's needs would be greatly appreciated by any prospective client."

Kate W Haakonsen headshot
Kate Haakonsen

Divorce and separation lawyer | Dec 14

Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter

"I endorse this lawyer. Karen is a very experience and thorough lawyer who supports her clients and works reasonably with opposing counsel to find solutions whenever possible."

Scott Philip Birrell headshot
Scott Birrell

Divorce and separation lawyer | Mar 18

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

Barbara Diane Aaron headshot
Barbara Aaron

Family lawyer | Mar 18

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

View All Endorsements
Kate W Haakonsen headshot
Kate Haakonsen

Divorce and separation lawyer

Experience

Rating:  10.0 (Superb)

Honors

2023

Distinguished, Martindale-Hubbell

2023

Distinguished, Martindale-Hubbell

2023

Distinguished, Martindale-Hubbell

2023

Distinguished, Martindale-Hubbell

2023

Distinguished, Martindale-Hubbell

2022

Distinguished, Martindale-Hubbell

2021

Distinguished, Martindale-Hubbell

2020

Distinguished, Martindale-Hubbell

2019

Distinguished, Martindale-Hubbell

2018

Distinguished, Martindale-Hubbell

2017

Distinguished, Martindale-Hubbell

2016

CT Top Lawyer, Top Lawyers of America

2016

BV Rated, Martindale-Hubbell

2015

Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell

2014

Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell

2011

Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell

Work Experience

1990 - 2018

Partner, Gersten & Gersten, LLP

Associations

1995 - Present

Hartford County Bar Association

Member

1990 - Present

Connecticut Bar Association

Member

Education

1990

Suffolk University Law School

JD - Juris Doctor

1987

Clark University

BA - Bachelor of Arts

Speaking Engagements

2000

Divorce in Connecticut

Teacher

Languages

English

Activity

Avvo Rating

Our Rating is calculated using information the lawyer has included on their profile in addition to the information we collect from state bar associations and other organizations that license legal professionals. Attorneys who claim their profiles and provide Avvo with more information tend to have a higher rating than those who do not.

What determines Avvo Rating?
  • Experience & background Years licensed, work experience, education
  • Legal community recognition Peer endorsements, associations, awards
  • Legal thought leadership Publications, speaking engagements
  • Discipline Disciplinary information may not be comprehensive, or updated. We recommend that you always check a lawyer's disciplinary status with their respective state bar association before hiring them.
Avvo Rating Levels
10.0 - 9.0 Superb8.9 - 8.0 Excellent7.9 - 7.0 Very Good6.9 - 6.0 Good5.9 - 5.0 Average4.9 - 4.0 Concern3.9 - 3.0 Caution2.9 - 2.0 Strong Caution1.9 - 1.0 Extreme Caution