Powerlist – Kate McChrystal – Gagne McChrystal De Lorenzo & Burghardt

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Creativity is at the core of Kate McChrystal’s family law practice at Gagne McChrystal De Lorenzo & Burghardt.

She joined the firm as an associate right out of law school in 2010, becoming a partner five years later. During her career in education, McChrystal felt she was only a blip in a student’s life, never knowing their life outcome. This inspired her legal approach to find a basis in beginnings and endings while recognizing there’s no formula to seeing a case through.

“This is what I love about family law – there are infinite ways to get a positive result once you understand your client’s interests,” she said.

Her time clerking inside Judge Michael J. Dwyer’s courtroom remains the most impactful part of her career. Watching the emotional turmoil of marriages ending and co-parenting negotiations solidified for McChrystal that she must wear many hats for her clients while helping them to create new family or life paths, financial stability and the complex practice of moving through the emotions of divorce.

McChrystal understands that kindness and aggressive advocacy are not mutually exclusive. “Family court cases are won by being knowledgeable and prepared, not by shooting barbs,” she said.