Experienced and compassionate adoption attorney
Casey began her legal career as an associate attorney at Whiteman Osterman & Hanna LLP, Albany's largest law firm, where she practiced primarily in the areas of Labor and Employment, Education and Litigation. In 2012, Casey decided to join her mother, Anne Reynolds Copps, in practice. In 2014, Anne and Casey became partners and created Copps DiPaola, PLLC, the first mother-daughter law firm in the Capital Region.
Casey graduated summa cum laude and as the salutatorian from Albany Law School in 2009. During law school she was a senior editor of the Albany Law Review, the secretary of the Pro Bono Society, and a constitutional law research assistant. Casey also completed internships with the Family Violence Litigation Clinic and the Warren County District Attorney's Office, and judicial placements in Albany County Supreme Court, and the Appellate Division, Third Department. Prior to law school, Casey graduated from Shenendehowa High School and from the Rochester Institute of Technology, with highest honors and as a member of the Honors Program. Casey currently lives in Clifton Park with her husband Jeffrey, a high school special education teacher, and their sons Evan and Corey.
Casey understands that many of her clients come to her during difficult and stressful times in their lives. She strives to educate her clients on the law and their options so they can make educated decisions about the trajectory of their cases. Casey understands that, while the matter that bring her clients to her are incredibly important to them, the vast majority of her clients have limited funds to spend on legal representation. With that in mind, Casey openly discusses with her clients the relative costs of various options and helps them to engage in a cost-benefit analysis.
Casey prides herself on being a creative problem solver and refuses to take a one size fits all approach to her cases. She spends time with her clients getting to know the facts of their cases intimately so she can help them brainstorm possible solutions to the problem that brought them to her. Particularly in matters involving families, Casey believes that working together to come up with a solution that addresses the needs and concerns of all involved to the best extent possible is almost always preferable to litigation, which can do irreparable damage to relationships. That being said, Casey has extensive litigation experience and, in the event that settlement is not an option, she is willing and able to zealously litigate on behalf of her clients.
Casey focuses her practice in all areas of adoption law. She has experience representing birth and adoptive parents in private adoptions, voluntary agency adoptions, foster care adoptions and step/second parent adoptions. Casey also has experience representing adoption agencies and handling adoption subsidy fair hearings. Casey also practices in the related area of assisted reproductive technology law (egg/sperm/embryo donation and surrogacy/gestational carrier agreements) and kinship guardianship (KinGAP). Casey also practices matrimonial law and handles all types of family court matters and she also acts a neutral mediator in matrimonial/custody matters. Casey also handles estate planning/trusts, probate/estate administration, guardianship (Article 81, 17 and 17A), residential real estate, not-for-profit/for profit/religious corporation formation and operations, name changes (including transgender name changes), education law, employment law and minor traffic matters.
Practice areas
Casey Copps DiPaola represents adoptive parents in all types of adoptions (agency, private, foster care, second/step parent), birth parents and adoption agencies. She is experienced with ICPC and ICWA.
11 years, 500 cases
Casey DiPaola handles all types of Assisted Reproductive Technology matters, including surrogacy, egg donation, sperm donation and embryo donation. Casey also handles fair hearings. Her firm also handles divorces, custody and child support matters.
11 years, 100 cases
Casey DiPaola handles both simple and complex estate planning matters, including various types of trusts.
11 years, 100 cases
Casey Copps DiPaola handles both simple and complex probate and administration proceedings.
11 years, 100 cases
Casey Copps DiPaola handles purchases and sales of residential property, drafts leases and handles evictions.
11 years, 500 cases
Languages spoken
English
Copps DiPaola, PLLC
126 State St Fl 6
Albany, NY, 12207-1637
State | Status | Acquired | Updated |
---|---|---|---|
VT | Active | 2015 | 02/11/2021 |
NY | Currently registered | 2010 | 12/09/2020 |
Legal answers | 0 |
Legal guides | 0 |
Award name | Grantor | Date granted |
---|---|---|
Carol S. Knox Family Friendly Employer Award | Capital District Women's Bar Association | 2016 |
Rising Star (Family Law) | Super Lawyers Magazine | 2014 |
Outstanding New Lawyer Award | Capital District Women's Bar Association | 2013 |
Kurt Clobridge Memorial Award for Pro Bono Service | The Legal Project | 2012 |
Empire State Counsel | New York State Bar Association | 2011 |
Trustee's Second Prize (Salutatorian) | Albany Law School | 2009 |
---|---|---|
Golden Key International Honour Society | Rochester Institute of Technology | 2006 |
Title | Company name | Duration |
---|---|---|
Partner | Copps DiPaola Silverman, PLLC | 2018 - Present |
Partner | Copps DiPaola, PLLC | 2014 - 2018 |
Associate Attorney | Law Office of Anne Reynolds Copps | 2012 - 2013 |
Associate Attorney | Whiteman Osterman & Hanna, LLP | 2010 - 2012 |
Law Clerk | Whiteman Osterman & Hanna, LLP | 2008 - 2010 |
Association name | Position name | Duration |
---|---|---|
Junior League of Albany | Member | 2012 - Present |
Rensselaer County Bar Association Courthouse Artwork Restoration Committee | Member | 2011 - Present |
Albany County Bar Association | Member | 2009 - Present |
Capital District Women's Bar Association | Treasurer | 2006 - Present |
The Legal Project | Volunteer | 2005 - Present |
The Legal Project | Director | 2012 - 2014 |
---|---|---|
The Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York | Volunteer | 2011 - 2012 |
Appellate Division, Third Department Committee on Character and Fitness | Member | 2011 - 2016 |
American Bar Association | Member | 2009 - 2015 |
Albany Law Review | Senior Editor | 2007 - 2009 |
Albany Law Pro Bono Society | Volunteer & Executive Committee Member | 2006 - 2009 |
Publication name | Title | Date |
---|---|---|
CDWBA | What is ART Law Anyways? (Hint: it has nothing to do with artwork) | 2017 |
CDWBA | Brooke S.B. (Non-Parent Standing in Custody/Visitation): How We got There and What’s Happened Since | 2017 |
CDWBA | Basics of Name Changes and Recent Developments for Transgender Individuals | 2016 |
CDWBA | New Categories of Individuals Eligible to Adopt (a possible solution for victims of domestic violence) | 2016 |
Capital District Women's Bar Association Newsletter | Well Intentioned Same-Sex Adoption Case Causes Unintended Consequences for Same Sex Couples | 2014 |
Albany Law Review | The Good, The Bad & The Future: An Analysis of the Effects & Suggestions for Further Improvements | 2009 |
---|---|---|
The Journal of Social and Legal Research at RIT | Children Who Witness Domestic Violence | 2006 |
School name | Degree | Graduated |
---|---|---|
Albany Law School of Union University | JD - Juris Doctor | 2009 |
Rochester Institute of Technology | BS - Bachelor of Science | 2006 |
Conference name | Title | Date |
---|---|---|
LGBT Law Series at Albany Law School | Legal Issues Facing LGBT Older Adults | 2017 |
Albany Law School Guardianship Class Guest Speaker | Guardianship | 2017 |
Legally Speaking: Estate Planning | Estate Planning | 2014 |
Resident Education | Estate Planning | 2013 |
Legally Speaking: Estate Planning | Estate Planning | 2013 |
EAP: Estate Planning | Estate Planning | 2013 |
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Posted by sav
Fri Jun 24 2016
Posted by Chantelle
Tue Jun 21 2016
Posted by Hudson
Sat Jun 15 2019
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Tue May 01 2018
Posted by Nicole
Fri Nov 18 2016
Heather Brondi, Adoption Attorney on Jul 1, 2016
Relationship: Worked for lawyer
Casey is an extremely competent, intelligent, and hardworking attorney that has experience and knowledge in many areas of the law. Most notably, however, there are no better hands to be in when dealing with an adoption and the intricacies of adoption law and the complex and ever changing legislation and case law that comes with such a personal and life-changing decision. She is a wonderful person that is perfect to handle the delicate nature of such a proceeding and is respected both in and out of the courtroom.
Susan Casey, Family Attorney on Jun 25, 2016
Relationship: Worked together on matter
I endorse this lawyer. Kathleen "Casey" Dipaola is an exceptional advocate. She is well versed in family law and adoption law and offers her clients sound advice and attention to detail. With a compassionate voice, she is a professional dedicated to navigating the most practical, effective resolution for her clients.
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