Atty. Eleanor B. Alter
Eleanor B. Alter brings a wealth of experience to Alter Wolff Foley & Stutman LLP, having been repeatedly recognized as one of the nation’s top family law attorneys.
Profile Summary
About Eleanor B. Alter at a glance
Eleanor B. Alter is a family law attorney based in New York, New York, practicing at Alter Wolff Foley & Stutman LLP. Educated at Columbia University (LLB, 1964) and Harvard University (—, 1962). Recognitions include Best Lawyers in America — Family Law (2026), Best Lawyers in America — Special Focus: (2026), and Best Lawyers in America — Alimony (2026). Serands clients in New York, NY and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About
- Eleanor B. Alter brings a wealth of experience to Alter Wolff Foley & Stutman LLP, having been repeatedly recognized as one of the nation’s top family law attorneys
- Eleanor has represented high profile clients, as well as numerous business owners, attorneys and professionals, and their spouses
- She has also acted as an expert witness as to New York law and as co-counsel with attorneys in other jurisdictions and has argued appeals in the various judicial departments of New York State
- Prior to co-founding Alter Wolff Foley & Stutman LLP, for nineteen years Eleanor was a partner at Kasowitz, Benson, Torres & Friedman LLP, where she was the head of the family and matrimonial law group
- Prior to joining Kasowitz, she was a partner at Rosenman & Colin LLP (now Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP) for fifteen years
- Previously, she was a partner at Marshall, Bratter, Greene, Allison & Tucker LLP for eight years and an associate for six years
- After being admitted to practice in New York in 1965, she started her legal career in the Office of the General Counsel of the Insurance Department for the State of New York
- Eleanor entered Harvard Law School in 1960 and graduated from Columbia Law School with a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) in 1964
- She received a Bachelor of Arts degree, with honors, from The University of Michigan in 1960
- Eleanor is a frequent lecturer on the full spectrum of family law topics, to attorneys and others, both nationwide and internationally
- She served as an adjunct professor at New York University School of Law from 1983-87 and a Ulysses S. Schwartz fellow at the University of Chicago School of Law in 1988
- She also taught, as a visiting professor, at the University of Chicago Law School from 1990-93
- Eleanor was also a member of the Board of Editors for the New York Law Journal from 1987-2015 and has contributed articles to various legal journals
- Eleanor belongs to the American Law Institute, the American College of Family Trial Lawyers, the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, the International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, the New York State Bar Association, and the New York City Bar Association (where she was previously on various committees, including the Executive Committee)
- At the invitation of the New York State Court of Appeals, she has proudly served as a trustee (1983-2013) and Chairman (1985-2010) of the Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection of the State of New York
- Eleanor is the daughter of Hon. Charles David Breitel and Jeanne (Hollander) Breitel and has two sons, Richard Zabel and David Zabel
- Eleanor lives in New York City with her husband, Dr. Allan Lans
- She is an avid reader (she loves a good mystery, biography, or books about historic events) and enjoys cooking for her friends and family, especially at her home in the mountains of Haines Falls, NY
Practice Areas Explained
Eleanor B. Alter's Areas of Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Eleanor B. Alter handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.
Family law attorneys handle divorce, child custody, child support, adoption, prenups, and protective orders. Find verified family lawyers near you.
Eleanor B. Alter is one of 187,066 family law attorneys indexed nationally. Browse family law attorneys in New York →
Jurisdictional Context
Why local counsel matters in New York
Practicing law in New York. Legal matters in New York are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in New York are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate New York state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in New York brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in New York courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.
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