Sharon Marie Faulkner

Sharon is a top notch attorney who is extremely professional and also warm and gracious. She is meticulous, forceful and hardworking. I could not have asked for a better attorney to guide me through my divorce proceedings. She was responsive and available for me anytime I needed her. Before embarki...ng on choosing a divorce attorney, I had heard stories of people hiring lawyers who then were pawned off onto lower level associates who were not as experienced. This never was the case with Sharon. If you hire her, you get her full attention and effort. I consulted three different attorneys before choosing Sharon and I definitely made the right choice. I couldn't recommend her more strongly.

Sharon has redeemed my faith in lawyers. I hired her to fix a MESS from a non-detailed divorce decree 18 months earlier and to resolve child custody matters and other financial issues with a VERY vindictive and difficult ex-wife. Sharon was very honest with me in telling me what to expect and did...n't make unrealistic promises. She is well respected by her peers, working with my exes attorney collaboratively , my children's law guardian & a parenting coordinator. Sharon did her best to keep us out of the courtroom and settle things realistically instead of spending more on legal fees that just didn't make sense financially to pursue. I felt so comfortable having her handle issues with my custody case as she is a law guardian for children in addition to being a mom herself. She is very sensitive to the children's needs. I am a dad who felt the system was very slanted, but now feel redeemed to a degree with Sharon on my side. I highly recommend her.

Sharon respresented me in my custody litigation in 2006 and she was everything I envisioned in having a smart, compassionate, experienced attorney represent me. She was clearly knowledgeable about New York custody and divorce law and presented appealing options every step of the way in what was ... otherwise an unpleasant situation. Sharon did an excellent job of providing solid strategic direction in managing my case, and she suggested reasonable solutions every step of the way. I thought that she was an excellent negotiator when it came to disucssing visitation and payment schedules. Her ideas were pragmatic and not based in holding onto unreasonable positions just for the sake of doing so, which is something that genuinely appreciated. As difficult and trying as the whole custody situation was, Sharon was also emotionally supportive and her calm words and sage advice made the ordeal easier to handle. Sharon seems to embrace the maxim that "90% of life is just showing up." Sharon was on time for all of our appointments and phone calls. She always returned my calls in a timely fasion. When we went to court, she was always prepared, not only with my file, but with ideas of how to handle my case. Most importantly, When we were on the phone or in court together, she was focused on me and did not seem distracted by other cases. In short, I could not have asked for a better attorney. Sharon was exactly the kind of attorney I wanted and I give her the highest recommendation to anyone who wants a smart, knowledgeable, assertive attorney.

I contend misstatements, delays & omissions to services rendered by Ms. Faulkner caused me financial loss to the benefit of my (Ex.) wife. Due to my handicap most of our conversations with Ms. Faulkner were by phone. Since it was thus easy to do and in order to maximize my understanding our discussio...ns I taped/ transcribe many of our conversations allowing a more detailed review. I contend deficiencies to Ms. Faulkner’s services included: 1. Ms. Faulkner stated the assessed value of jointly owned condo as 350k (actual assessed value120k appraised at 175k) this property was contemporaneously the principal asset offered me by opposing councils in her initial proposal for settlement. 2. Opposing council’s Request for Disclosure was countered by an informal request advocated by Ms. Faulkner. I received no records of my Ex.’s IRA or her personal credit cards. The joint credit card statements submitted from opposing council (& my Ex. a C.P.A. candidate in N.Y.S.) were incomplete & partially unreadable. I requested Ms. Faulkner obtain the statements directly from the company she instead instructed me to obtain them myself, since Ex was principal on the account this was impossible. 3. After 7 month and no less than 6 e-mailed complaints Ms. Faulkner issue a Request for Disclosure, omissions included: a. Ex.’s IRA account (38k in 2016) b. The deed to jointly owned Town House (prior to contract I had stated to Ms. Faulkner I contributed to the townhouse buyout of her sibling, but was unsure if she put me on title; subsequently I found out she had). c. Ms. Faulkner did not include in this formal request nor inform me of any other exculpatory action to force Ex. to prove Ex’s claim her contribution to the R.E. purchase & buyout were made with 100% personal assets. This despite: - my bank &/ joint account records indicating Ex. had taken approximately 120k of my personal assets plus a voluntary mortgage contributions 60k during that general period - no evidence of sufficient personal assets were supplied during the voluntary disclosure advocated bv Ms. Faulkner, - Ms. Faulkner told me prior to contract if these were marital assets I was entitled to a split (106.5 condo 17.5k townhouse). 3. Ms. Faulkner's Proposal for settlement letter: a.) She wrote I “advised” her my Contribution to condo purchase was 75k, I actually stated “readily provable 95k” (as per tape) (actual 75k bank check +19.5 personal check). b.) Omitting any mention of my being named on deed for townhouse. According to 2 attorneys consulted for a second opinion since my Ex. had 50% share I had a 25% interest in the property (58.75k). Both attorneys practicing in Poughkeepsie stated they knew Ms. Faulkner & opposing council, both asked if there was “Request for Disclosure” I responded I was not sure (there was formal document). They both state the concern absent a Request for Disclosure; if I tried to change attorneys opposing council may submit a “Notice of Issue” & Ms. Faulkner may not issue objection in court ending Disclosure before I could change attorneys. Note: -Just prior to issuing the service contract Ms. Faulkner discovered/disclosed Ex. hired a colleague of hers with whom Ms. Faulkner collaborates on custody cases. The statement & actions characterized above as errant all occurred after this. Most of my complaints are she did not execute the procedures outlined in our initial consultation (which was taped). -It’s my opinion my Ex. is exceptionally charming shrewd.