Skip to main content

Douglas Shaun Kepanis

Open for Business
Virtual Consultation
  Save
Avvo Rating9.1
  • New York, NY
  • Licensed for 18 years
View more
See more New York Divorce & Separation lawyersSearch
AboutContactReviewsCost

About Douglas

I am a native New Yorker.  Inherent therein is the ability to detect BS – yes, I said BS.  I think growing up in New York enhances an attorney’s ability to fight for their clients – after all, as the song goes – “If I can make it there I can make it anywhere”.  That is not to say that my life has not been colored by the various places I have lived – California and Washington, DC come to mind.  Spending a few years in California was a dream come true.  You see, I play guitar and write music and going to California is every want-to-be rock star’s dream.  I played in a band for five years after graduating college.  Working in a band taught me the value of teamwork and the philosophy that the whole is indeed greater than the sum of its parts.  Playing in a band also gave me the opportunity to perform for a crowd – something that definitely has assisted my ability as a trial attorney.  Knowing how to play to a crowd (or, in the case of being an attorney, a judge), is an unquantifiable benefit to both my clients and me.  After graduating law school, I moved to Washington, DC, our nation’s capital.

It was in Washington, DC that I was in the belly of the beast.  You could feel the behind-the-scenes deal-making in the air.  It was electric.  Anytime I visited a restaurant, I would pass the tables of Congressman, US Supreme Court justices, attorneys, and lobbyists all jockeying for position to voice their opinion on the latest bill, legislation, or case.  The electricity of deal-making charged my desire as an attorney – wanting to ensure that my clients’ voices were the ones being heard the loudest.

When I opened The Kepanis Law Firm in New York years ago, I realized I would be able to bring my ability to work with clients, perform for judges and ensure my client’s satisfaction with the results of their cases.  I have been fortunate in that, in addition to my clients, my legal expertise has only been recognized by the FOX News Channel, WPIX-11, RTTV, various radio outlets, and the Huffington Post.  I hope that reading this bio gave you a sense of the man behind the law firm.  Whether you are a professional athlete, stay at home parent, blue-collar, white-collar, or no-collar worker, The Kepanis Law Firm is the law firm that  puts you first.

Read More

Practice areas

FamilyDivorce and separation
  1. Divorce and separation: 50%

    Divorce, Litigation, Separation, Annulment, Pendente Lite (temporary awards), Child Support, Child Custody, Spousal Support, Appeals

    19 years

  2. Family: 50%

    Child Support, Spousal Support, Child Custody, Modifications (Order and Stipulations)

    19 years

Languages spoken

English

Photos and videos

986885 1356405862

986885 1359261788

986885 1359261808

986885 1371318229

Contact

The Kepanis Law Firm, PC

477 Madison Avenue
6th Floor #4816
New York, NY, 10022

    Resume

    License
    StateStatusAcquiredUpdated
    NYCurrently registered 200302/28/2021
    NJAdministrative - Not authorized to practice200203/30/2021
    We have not found any instances of professional misconduct for this lawyer.
    Avvo Contributions
    Legal answers393
    Legal guides13
    Awards
    Award nameGrantorDate granted
    Top 3 Divorce Law FirmLong Island Press2011
    Long Island Legal EagleLong Island Pulse Magazine2009
    Graduate with distinctionGeorgetown University Law Center2003
    Conflict of Laws - Top GradeCalifornia Western School of Law2002
    Graduate cum laudeCalifornia Western School of Law2002
    Editor of Law ReviewCalifornia Western School of Law2001
    Criminal Law - Top GradeCalifornia Western School of Law2001
    Work Experience
    TitleCompany nameDuration
    AttorneyThe Kepanis Law Firm, P.C.2006 - Present
    Associate AttorneyPrivate Law Firm 22004 - 2006
    Associate AttorneyPrivate Law Firm2003 - 2004
    Associations
    Association namePosition nameDuration
    New York State Bar AssociationMember2003 - Present
    Publications
    Publication nameTitleDate
    The Huffington PostDating as a Divorce Attorney2016
    Documentary FilmDivorce Corp.2014
    The Huffington PostI'm Pregnant, It's Not Yours...But You're the Father2013
    Huffington PostRingmaster: Handling the Celebrity Divorce2011
    Huffington PostThe NFL Lockout, Child Support and Visitation2011
    Huffington PostDoes No Fault Divorce Require Fault?2011
    Huffington PostMoving New York State Forward With the No-Fault Divorce BIll2010
    Huffington PostThe Challenges of Child Custody2010
    Huffington PostThe Recession & Divorce2010
    Huffington PostDivorce 'Cents'2010
    Long Island Business NewsFool for a Client2010
    L.I. Woman MagazineGood Advice article on divorceN/A
    Education
    School nameDegreeGraduated
    Georgetown University Law CenterLL.M - Master of Laws2003
    California Western School of LawJD - Juris Doctor2002
    State University of New York, BinghamtonBA - Bachelor of Arts1994
    Speaking Engagements
    Conference nameTitleDate
    Divorce ForceWomen & Divorce2014
    CNBC - Squawk on the StreetMost expensive divorce ever...?2013
    WPIX-11 NewsFree Speech2011
    RTTVDivorce and the Holidays2011
    Good Day New YorkCreative Divorce2010
    FOX News ChannelSister Wives2010
    Parents Without PartnersDivorceN/A
    Legal cases
    Case nameOutcome
    Matter of J.W. v. M.Y. 2008 NY Slip Op 50553Court found in favor of Douglas Kepanis's client - the "trip log" was not "new evidence".

    Reviews

    (8)
    5 Star
    		100%
    4 Star
    		0%
    3 Star
    		0%
    2 Star
    		0%
    1 Star
    		0%
    Review Douglas Kepanis

    Gratitude to Douglas Kepanis

    Posted by

    I am writing to let everyone know that if per-chance you find yourself in need of an attorney to represent your interests in a Family Court, you can do no better than to contact Mssr Douglas Kepanis Attorney! Mssr Kepanis has diligently fought for my granddaughter to remain with her mother and has come to be a good friend through it all!! He was truly invested and caring! Thank You Douglas!!
    This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
    Hired attorney

    Good vs evil

    Posted by

    Douglas Kepanis was my attorney in my divorce and he helped me through some really rough times. He is a true go-getter and will stop at nothing to win the battle. A true asset to his field.
    This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
    Hired attorney

    The best of the best

    Posted by

    I highly recommend you retain the Kepanis Law Firm. Mr. Kepanis not only showed professionalism, knowledge of navigating the law, but most importantly he was always there for me. If you have a question or need help, he is always quick to respond. With other law firms you can wait days to get a response if you get one at all. If you are looking for a top notch attorney who fights hard for you, always has your back, and gets things done quickly and efficiently, use the Kepanis Law Firm. You wont be disappointed.
    This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
    Hired attorney

    Highly recommended

    Posted by

    Mr. Kepanis represented my son in a highly acrimonious divorce that was unduly prolonged by the fact that his now ex-spouse had a free ride because she had duped well intentioned friends to fund all her legal expenses. During discovery it was learned that the ex had disposed of joint assets in a foreign country hidden from my son, as well as dissipated substantial joint assets using nefarious means. The ex blatantly disregarded compliance with discovery in most part and filed several motions in bad faith since she was not paying for the work being done. This was not a vanilla divorce proceeding. Mr. Kepanis representation was exemplary. I found him to not only be well versed in the law but very tenacious in his pursuit of righting the wrongs perpetrated on my son. His judgment is impeccable as he combines a practical approach to problem solving, recognizing that the costs involved must be considered before blindly pursuing a course of action. I am a retired attorney and dealt extensively with Mr. Kepanis throughout my son's divorce proceedings. I was most impressed with his dealing with his client. Mr. Kepanis walked the tight rope of friendship with his client, while not letting his friendship affect his professionalism. Unlike some other attorneys, while he was confident in his abilities, he did not display any egotism in responding to questions and strategies suggested. He was not afraid to reply “I don’t know but let me research it” when he was not certain of an answer – an admirable trait not commonly found. While total fees were substantial, I felt that they were fair. I could not give Mr. Kepanis any higher marks. Whether you are seeking representation in a basic divorce action or family matter or in a complicated matter involving multiple state jurisdictions or international jurisdictions, Mr. Kepanis will represent you well, based upon my dealings with him.
    This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
    Hired attorney

    Honest, integrity, empathetic

    Posted by

    Doug has counseled many of my friends. He is there always .. his word is his honor. He has never let me down , always answered questions playing both sides truthfully and honestly! He will always be on your side if he believes in you.
    This review is from a potential client who consulted with this attorney.
    Consulted attorney

    My honest assesment of Douglas Kepanis

    Posted by

    I met and spoke with 8 different attys before i chose Douglas to represent me in my divorce. Its a tough period in your life. Quite scary. If the divorce is between two mature sane individuals ,its a breeze, as it should be ,, but as in my case, you can be sweet, sane and willing to be mature and even generous and be willing to be accomidating about the process,, and you can still be torched and ruined by the other person... Sadly,,,Greed ,Dishonesty, and the strong desire to wreck havoc and ruin the other person sometimes takes center stage,, My ex wife tried everything she could to destroy me , to the point that she was outwardly lying and fabricating stories to the authorities . I was scared to death, I KNEW i needed serious , smart, experienced representation..I needed an atty that actually gave a damn about me, someone i could confide in, someone that i could trust to help guide me thru the legal minefield that my ex laid out for me, Some of the attys i spoke to were weak, you could just tell they were not going to fight hard on your behalf, ( This was a common story i heard ,when speaking with other guys about their attys ) They were simply going to process you according to the law,, others were slick snake oil salesman type, fancy and polished, but you just knew that as soon as you signed up with them, you would never see the head of the firm again, and your case would be handled by one of the young college grads on the staff..thats something you definatley DONT want. During the entire process of my case i dealt only with him on a personal level, no underlings or interns, he gives you the personal one on one service that you want in a high profile atty,, I did my homework , studied many sites with reviews of many lawyers, ,,Douglas has a good reputation, and when we met i knew i had a big time winner , if i had to go to war to defend myself, this man was the one i felt would do the job and do it right,,, my ex went thru 3 different attys. But i stood steadfast with Doug and he did a fantastic job,, at the end of the process my ex even told me in the hallway of the courtroom " Hes good that lawyer of yours" to which i replied " "Hes one of the best" You can go with one the local cheap attys in the yellow pages, but im telling you honestly, if your going thru a tough case and your spouse is out to ruin you, i suggest you speak to this man, hes the real deal, not only did i have a great atty who helped me achieve everything i was hoping for as this all began,,but i consider him a friend in the aftermath of it . I highly recommend Douglas Kepanis and thats about as honest a review as i can give,

    excellent lawyer

    Posted by

    Douglas Kepanis is attentive and thorough for his clients. Our case has been going on for over a year, at no fault of Douglas and he is committed to our case and is continuing to make sure that a fair outcome is pursued.

    Attentive to my needs as a client

    Posted by

    The Kepanis Law Firm treated me with respect. My first attorney that I had hired for my case would treat me like a child, like I had no power to make any decisions in my case. Doug Kepanis spoke with me when I needed, and the flat fee retainer really helped me know my total cost ahead of time. I was even given my attorney's cell phone number so that I could reach him after hours and on weekends - no question was ever too small.

    Attorney endorsements

    (41)
    Are you an attorney? Endorse this lawyer

    Sharmila Parkman, Divorce and separation Attorney on Oct 31, 2017
    Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

    I endorse this lawyer.

    Neil Cohen, Divorce and separation Attorney on Mar 28, 2016
    Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

    I endorse this lawyer.

    Judd Nemiro

    Very determined and dedicated attorney. I endorse this lawyer.

    Lennard Nahajski, Divorce and separation Attorney on Jan 28, 2015
    Relationship: Worked together on matter

    Mr. Kepanis and I have worked closely together on a contentious and complicated family law matter. I was extremely impressed with his legal knowledge and professionalism, in addition to his ability to balance aggressive representation with the best interests of his client. I highly recommend Mr. Kepanis

    Douglas Borthwick, Family Attorney on Dec 30, 2014
    Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

    I endorse this lawyer.

    Nataliya Gavlin, Divorce and separation Attorney on Dec 29, 2014
    Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

    I endorse this lawyer. Excellent attorney with a great level of professionalism and experience.

    Hovanes Margarian, Family Attorney on Jul 23, 2014
    Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

    I endorse this lawyer.

    Sean Cleary, Divorce and separation Attorney on Jun 10, 2014
    Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

    I endorse this lawyer. An extremely talented and well respected attorney in the legal community.

    Andrew Blum, Divorce and separation Attorney on Feb 12, 2014
    Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter

    Not only is Doug an excellent lawyer, he is also a true gentleman and professional. Doug is always reasonable in his approach to a case yet when necessary he is always willing to vigorously litigate on behalf of a client. I endorse this lawyer.

    Benjamin Hiltzheimer, Divorce and separation Attorney on Oct 5, 2013
    Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

    I endorse this lawyer.

    Brad Margolis

    I endorse this lawyer.

    Brian Crockett, Family Attorney on Sep 15, 2013
    Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

    Attorney Kepanis is a hard working, compassionate and client oriented advocates. I endorse this lawyer.

    Aaron Hartley, Divorce and separation Attorney on Sep 12, 2013
    Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

    I endorse this lawyer.

    Joseph Torri

    I endorse this lawyer.

    Christopher Leroi, Divorce and separation Attorney on Aug 20, 2013
    Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

    Mr. Kepanis is simply an exceptional attorney who I would recommend to everyone and anyone. I am a former judge, former magistrate, former prosecutor, and an attorney with 24 years of experience. I still learn from his answers on Avvo on a daily basis and I am constantly impressed.

    Clifford Miller, Divorce and separation Attorney on May 26, 2013
    Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

    Based on viewing this lawyer's answers to questions on AVVO, I endorse him.

    Peggy Raddatz, Divorce and separation Attorney on May 18, 2013
    Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

    I endorse this lawyer.

    Michael Terani

    I endorse this lawyer.

    Jack Klein, Divorce and separation Attorney on May 5, 2013
    Relationship: Other

    I endorse this lawyer.

    M. Miller, Divorce and separation Attorney on May 2, 2013
    Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

    I endorse this lawyer.

    Cost

    RATES
    • Retainer Some attorneys require an upfront payment to secure their services before they begin their work.
      Always
    PAYMENT METHODS

    Cash, Check, Credit Card