Meet the Attorneys Patricia Ann Fersch Patricia Fersch is a graduate of both New York University and New York Law School and was admitted to the practice of law in the State of New York and the Southern and Eastern Districts of United States Federal Court in 1994. She started the Patricia Ann Fersch Family Law Center (FLC) in 1994 and has worked here since handling and successfully completing over thousands of cases involving families caught in the turmoil of family law legal conflicts. She was the 2000-2001 Chairperson of the Women's Rights Committee at New York County Lawyers Association and is a member of the New York City Lawyer’s Association and the Women's Bar Association of the State of New York. Prior to starting the Patricia Ann Fersch Family Law Center (FLC) she volunteered at The Legal Aid Society and was honored for her outstanding pro bono representation in March 1995. Ms. Fersch has handled both high profile clients and complicated legal issues in State and Federal Court all involving child custody or divorce related matters. Ms. Fersch was awarded the 2002 New York Law School Public Interest Coalition Award and was highlighted that same year at the Law School's Annual Spotlight on Women Luncheon. In 2002, Ms. Fersch was a panelist at the Brooklyn Law School Symposium on Domestic Violence. Her remarks were published in the Brooklyn Law School Journal of Law and Policy, Vol. xl. 2003. She was also a committee member of the New York Law School Fellowship Screening Committee from 2002-2004. In 2007, Ms. Fersch participated in an externship program with New York Law School and New York Supreme Court supervising students assisting pro se litigants with uncontested divorces. She is the chairperson of the Matrimonial Lawyers Pro Bono Law Project sponsored by the Women's Bar Association and was a panelist at the annual Conference on Domestic Violence held at Fordham University on March 12 & 13, 2007. She is a 2007 member of New York Law School Employee Advisory Group and a 2007 MFY recipient of the "2006 Partner in Justice Award." Contact Ms. Patricia Ann Fersch:  PFersch@pffamilylaw.com
	Danielle R. Petitti Danielle R. Petitti graduated from the College of Charleston in May of 2002 and on the Dean’s list from New York Law School in May of 2005. Ms. Petitti started her journey at the FLC as a summer intern after her first year of law school and continued interning at the FLC throughout the remainder of her legal education. In Spring 2005, Ms. Petitti also interned with Judge Clarke Richardson, the supervising Judge of the Bronx Family Court. Ms. Petitti was admitted to practice in New York on January 9, 2006. Ms. Petitti is an active member of the New York Women’s Bar Association and the Association Matrimonial Law Committee and the Association of the Bar of the City of New York. Contact Ms. Danielle Petitti: DPetitti@pffamilylaw.com
	Despina Hartofilis Despina Hartofilis graduated from Fordham University in May of 2003 and from St. John's University School of Law in May of 2007. While in law school Ms. Hartofilis interned with the Honorable Prudence Carter Beatty of the US Bankruptcy Court, SDNY, at the United Nations- Department of Peacekeeping Operations and at Girls Educational and Mentoring Services (GEMS) where she conducted research to support efforts in challenging courts' treatment of sexually exploited victims and served as a liaison between GEMS and members of criminal justice system. Ms. Hartofilis also participated in the Child Advocacy Clinic and co-authored Separate but Not Equal: A Call for the Merger of New York State Family and Supreme Courts, Columbia Journal of Law & Social Problems, Summer 2007. Despina was admitted to practice in New Jersey in November 2007 and in New York in March 2008. Despina worked at the Children's Law Center for two years representing children in custody/visitation, guardianship and paternity cases. Contact Ms. Despina Hartofilis: Dhartofilis@pffamilylaw.com
	Lisa Laratro Lisa Laratro graduated Cum Laude from the University of Miami in May 2007 and from Hofstra University School of Law in May 2010.  While in law school Ms. Laratro maintained a strong interest in family and divorce law, taking skills-based courses such as modern divorce advocacy. During her second year, Ms. Laratro was selected to participate in Honorable Elaine J. Stack's matrimonial externship program.  The externship entailed interning with the Honorable Jeffrey S. Brown at the Nassau County Supreme Court's Matrimonial Center, and for a private practitioner in the matrimonial field, Stanley Hirsch, P.C.  The externship allowed Ms. Laratro to gain research and drafting experience from both ends of the matrimonial law spectrum.  Ms. Laratro joined the Patricia Ann Fersch Family Law Center as an intern during the summer of 2009, and has been with the firm ever since.  She is pending admission in New York State, following her taking the Bar exam in July 2010.      Contact Ms. Lisa Laratro: Llaratro@pffamilylaw.com