Phyllis Klein O'Brien

Phyllis Klein O'Brien, is a partner with the firm. She was the law clerk to the Honorable Carmen A. Ferrante during the 1986-1987 court year. From February 15, 1988 through November 20, 1996, she was an associate with Skoloff & Wolfe, P.C., practicing exclusively in the area of family law. As of December 1, 1996, she has continued to practice exclusively in the area of family law as a Partner of the firm, now known as, Donahue, Hagan, Klein & Newsome, P.C.

Ms. O’Brien is a member of the New Jersey State and Essex and Morris County Bar Associations. She previously served as Co-Chair of the Family Law Executive Committee of the Essex County Bar Association, and remains active with the Committee including lecturing for it. In 2003, the Essex County Bar Association presented Ms. O’Brien with the Family Law Attorney Achievement Award. Ms. O’Brien is also a participant in the Essex County Early Settlement Program, and is a Barrister and a lecturer of the Family Law Inns of Court. Furthermore, Ms. O’Brien has lectured for I.C.L.E. and A.T.L.A. Additionally, Ms. O’Brien was formerly the Chair of the Fee Arbitration Committee, for District VC, and served on the Ethics Committee, for District VB.

Bar Admissions:

New Jersey, 1987
New York, 1987

Education:

University of Delaware (B.A.A.S. 1983)
New York Law School (J.D. 1986)

Professional Affiliations:

New Jersey State Bar Association, Family Law Section
Essex County Bar Association Bar Association, Family Law Section
Morris County Bar Association, Family Law Section
New Jersey Family Law Inns of Court, Barrister

Awards:

Essex County Bar Association, Family Law Attorney Achievement Award, 2003

Commitees:

Executive Committee, Essex County Bar Association, Family Law Section, 1987-Present; Co-chair 2001-2003
New Jersey State Bar Association, Family Law Section, 1987- Present
Morris County Bar Association, Family Law Section, 2001-Present
Ethics Committee Member, District VB, 1998-2001
Fee Arbitration Committee, Past Member and Chairperson, District VC

Teaching:

Lecturer, Family Law Skills & Methods, (ICLE)
Lecturer, Post-Judgment Modification Motions, (ICLE)
Lecturer, Child Custody Relocation, (ATLA)
Lecturer, Child Support Guidelines, Wiretap Statute, and various other family law topics, (Essex County and Union County Bar Associations)
Lecturer, various family topics (Family Law Inns of Court)

Professional Affiliations:

American Bar Association, Family Law Section
New Jersey Bar Association, Family Law Section, Executive Committee
Essex County Bar Association, Family Law Section
Inns of Court (1995, 1996, 1997)
Panelist in Essex and Union County Early Settlement Program

Publications:

Contributor to the Custody chapter of New Jersey Family Law Practice, 8th Edition

Reported Decisions:

Piscopo v. Piscopo, 232 N.J.Super. 559 (App. Div. 1989).
Kronberg v. Kronberg, 263 N.J.Super. 632 (Ch. Div. 1993).
N.B. v. T.B., 297 N.J.Super. 35 (App. Div. 1997).
Kinsella v. Kinsella, 150 N.J. 276 (1997).
White v. White, 344 N.J.Super. 211 (Ch. Div. 2001)