Hélène Carvallo is a French attorney and mediator in New York dedicated to international family affairs. She is admitted to practice in the State of New York and in Paris, France. She is honored to be a legal adviser for the Consulate General of France in New York and a Knight of the French National Order of Merit. Hélène Carvallo received the New York Metro Super Lawyer distinction in 2024 and 2025, reflecting continued peer recognition of her work.
“My goal is to help families to recover from critical times by guaranteeing them the resources they need to focus their energy on rebuilding happy and balanced lives.”
Through the years Hélène has developed a multilingual international practice, focusing on Matrimonial & Family Law and Estate Planning involving cross-border couples and international families.
Within her scope of services are prenuptial and postnuptial agreements or ‘contrats de mariage’, cross-border separation and divorce, support, division of assets, domestic violence and order of protection, child custody and visitation rights, relocation cases or the enforcement of foreign orders in New York.
“I’m committed to deliver informed, considerate, and prompt responses to the queries of my clients, ensuring their needs are met with the highest level of expertise and care.“
Hélène believes that proper early access to legal advice and information can save families – especially international ones – from many troubles.
“Though court litigation may be necessary, I seek to encourage settlement and mediation.”
She currently provides French citizens with pro-bono legal advice on a monthly basis at the Consulate General of France in New York and she offers pro bono services for the association Women4Women in Brooklyn. In the past, she volunteered at the Family & Matrimonial Department of the Legal Aid Society in Brooklyn, NY.
Hélène is a fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers and an active member of several professional associations, notably the Union Internationale des Avocats, the New York State Bar Association, New York Women’s Bar Association, the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, and the American Bar Association.
To better serve her transnational clientele, Hélène Carvallo established The Alliance in 2025 in partnership with the renowned French law firm bwg Associés, enabling close, coordinated collaboration on cross-border matters.
French – New York boutique firm devoted to family law based in New York and Paris, focused on international practice for married and unmarried couples in all areas of family law, including cross border estate planning and inheritance cases.
Partnership with bwg, a leading family and estate law firm based in Paris. A Team of cross border family counsels who operate in complex international contexts, helping those considering expatriation to prepare for departure, anticipate their return, and protect their families, on both sides of the Atlantic
Avocat-Conseil since 2021
Hélène Carvallo highlights that her pro-bono participation in such forums are strictly educational and by no means constitutes endorsements. She has no political affiliations. According to her schedule, Hélène is open to speaking engagements and considers conferences, interviews etc, as wonderful opportunities to serve all groups in the French community.
France – New York, Keys to a successful family trip, Before, during or after.” with lawyer Isabelle Rein-Lescastereyres (2025);
Français de New York, quel impact sur votre vie personnelle? New York, NY (2025);
Le Petit Journal, Paris (2025);
with Lawyer Makiko Mizuuchi (2025);
Les 12 manières de se protéger aux Etats-Unis, New York (2020);
Professional Identity in U.S. Public Interest
and Private Sector Practice (2020);
Etats généraux du droit de la famille et du patrimoine. Paris (2019)
“Divorce Abroad,” during French Elections, New York (2017);
Protection des enfants et des biens en cas de décès Boston, MA (2017);
New York State, Paris, U.S. Eastern District of New York
– Berlin, (2022)
Diploma of international and intercultural mediation, Ifomène, Paris(2021-2022);
Advanced Certificate in Cross-Border Estates (with merit), 2020;
DESS (Postgraduate Diploma) in Humanitarian Intervention and Administration of non governmental organizations, created by Rony Brauman.
(1996-2001) Maîtrise (J.D. equivalent) in International Law;
Diploma in International Legal Translation (British & Spanish),
Diplomas in Business English and Spanish;
French (maternal), English (proficient), Spanish and Portuguese (intermediate);
Prenuptial and Postnuptial agreements, Contrats de mariage, Will drafting, Advice and consultation on specific client concerns.
Spousal support, Equitable distribution,
Divorce, Child custody and support, Relocation, Orders of protection;
Family Mediation, Alternative methods to foster peaceful resolution of conflict.
