Marissa has developed a reputation as a premier family, commercial, and small business lawyer due to her superior work ethic, exceptional client care, and a commitment to helping her clients achieve their goals.

Marissa Kahen

OF COUNSEL

Collaborative
Problem Solving
Tough Negotiator
Multi-disciplined
Dog Lover
Avid Hiker

Marissa is a graduate of Brown University and Boston University School of Law. She was admitted to the New York bar in 1987 and the Colorado bar in 2012. Marissa brings to the table more than 35 years of professional and life experience, making her counsel broad based and effective.

Marissa’s legal career has been a diverse one, encompassing real estate, leasing, cooperative and condominium matters, corporate and business law, commercial litigation in both the state and federal courts, and family law. She began her career as a litigator and business lawyer in New York City, where she represented both individuals and corporate clients as well as co-operative and condominium associations. From 1999 to 2005, Marissa was “Of Counsel” to a family law boutique in Garden City, New York where she focused on the firm's appellate practice. She also worked for the New York State Board of Law Examiners.

From 2014 through 2023, Marissa was a principal at a law firm in Golden, Colorado, where she focused primarily on family law matters, including dissolutions, prenuptial agreements, custody disputes, and mediation. Marissa is now partnering with Wayland Law PC in an “Of Counsel” capacity. With Wayland Law, Marissa is continuing her work in family law and mediation, as well as returning to her commercial and business law roots.

Her clients appreciate her breadth and depth of knowledge, her commitment, her sense of humor, and, above all, her empathy.

Marissa’s Practice Areas:

  • Family Law Matters

  • Dissolution of marriage/Legal separation

  • Pre/post nuptial agreements

  • Custody disputes/allocation of parental responsibilities

  • Parenting Plans

  • Parental relocation

  • Modification of parenting time and/or support

  • High asset divorces

  • High conflict divorces

  • Unbundled legal services

Mediation

  • Business Law Matters

  • Entity Formation & Startups

  • Business General Counsel

  • Small Business Representation

  • Commercial Lease Review

  • Business Contracts

  • Operating Agreements

  • Business Disputes

  • Mediation

Education

Boston University School of Law – J.D. 1986
Case & Note Editor: The Probate Law Journal
Paul J. Liacos Scholar

Brown University – B.A. 1982
Comparative Literature & Semiotics

Bar Admissions

  • Colorado 2012

  • New York 1987

  • Eastern District of New York – 2007

Professional Memberships

  • Colorado Bar Association, Family Law Section

  • First Judicial Bar Association

Publications

  • When Tax Violators Divorce: The Judicial Obligation to Report Litigants Who Are Suspected Offenders,
    Vol. 18, No. 3, Family Law Review, August 1986,
    New York State Bar Association

Representative Cases:

  • Rose Grp. Park Ave. LLC v. New York State Liquor Auth., 93 A.D.3d 1, 939 N.Y.S.2d 298 (2012) (obtained reversal of lower court ruling which permitted a commercial catering establishment to operate in an historic church building)

  • Vincent’s of Mott Street et al. v. Quadami, Inc., No. 05-4358-cv, slip op. (EDNY Sept. 28, 2009) aff’d 423 Fed.Appx. 46, 2011 WL 2007528 (2d Cir. 2011)(obtained summary judgment in trademark infringement action on argument and re-argument of motion, including cancellation of plaintiff’s service mark).

  • Gabel v. Gabel, 22 NYLJ Col. 1 (Sup. Ct. N.Y. Co. Aug 8, 2006) (case of first impression in New York; obtained dismissal of action to enjoin payment of federal income taxes under Federal Anti-Injunction Act).

  • Sass v. Sass, 276 A.D.2d 42, 716 N.Y.S.2d 686 (2d Dep’t 2000) (case of first impression in New York which permitted a former spouse to seek an extension of her durational maintenance five years after the durational period had expired).

  • Thomas v. Thomas, 23 A.D.3d 374, 808 N.Y.S.2d 81 (2d Dep’t 2005)

  • Sklover v. Sklover, 11 A.D.3d 527, 782 N.Y.S.2d 792 (2d Dep’t 2004)

  • Chalif v. Chalif, 298 A.D.2d 348, 751 N.Y.S.2d 197 (2d Dep’t 2002)

  • Meza v. Meza, 294 A.D.2d 414, 734 N.Y.S.2d 122 (2d Dep’t 2002).