(845) 896-9651
Kathryn S. Lazar co-founded Lazar and Schwartz in 1984, after working at Hudson Valley Legal Services, serving as Assistant County Attorney handling child abuse cases and being in private practice with Laura Zeisel. After living in New York, Illinois, Nevada, California and Oregon, Kathryn settled in the Hudson Valley after finishing Cornell Law School, along with Robert Schwartz, her law partner and husband.
Kathryn has taught mediation and collaborative divorce throughout the Northeast (New Hampshire, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Maryland) and in Europe (Scotland and The Netherlands) and has been honored as one of the 10 Best Female Attorneys by the American Institute of Family Law Attorneys. She was one of the founders of The Battered Women’s Project, founded the Mediation Center of Dutchess County and co-founded the Hudson Valley Collaborative Divorce Association. She received two “Psychological Health Community Award” honors for her work in promoting peaceful strategies to resolve marital conflict.
Kathryn’s many personal interests, in addition to her family, include fund raising for breast cancer, gardening (she is a Master Gardener), international travel, and adult education. She recently has enjoyed participating in both the Marist and Vassar Life Long Learning programs.
Education
Reed College, B.A. with honors
Cornell Law School, J.D. cum laude
Admitted to Practice
New York State
U.S. District Court, Northern and Southern Districts of New York
Current Affiliations
Hudson Valley Collaborative Divorce Association – Founder
MH Mediation – Founder
Advanced Practitioner, Association for Conflict Resolution
International Association of Collaborative Professionals
New York Association of Collaborative Practitioners
Founder
Lazar & Schwartz, 1980
Battered Women’s Law Project 1977
Dutchess County Dispute Resolution Center 1982
MH Mediation, 1982
Hudson Valley Collaborative Divorce and Dispute Resolution Association, 2002
Community Activities
Matrimonial Commission Member, 1996
Board Member, Poughkeepsie Day School, 1990 – 2002
Board Member, Grace Smith House, (battered women’s shelter) 1981-1984
Board Member, East Fishkill Zoning Board, 1996 – 2001
Dutchess County Ethics Committee Member, 1982-1992
Dutchess County Bar Association Grievance Committee Member, 1982-1991
Master Gardener Member and Speaker, 2024-2025
Palpung Thubten Monastery, Of Counsel 2018 – Present
Dutchess County Tourism Ambassador 2025- Present
