Francine Gardikas
Partner | Chair, Divorce & Family | Co-Chair, Private Client
overview
Francine Gardikas advocates for her clients in all forums, from the courtroom to alternative dispute resolution settings. Understanding her clients is a main focus of her approach. Learning who they are as individuals, explaining the law, and guiding her clients through an often emotionally fraught process helps her to stay aligned. Always keeping a client’s needs and goals in mind, Francine works diligently on their behalf to provide well thought-out counsel and personal attention.
Clients rely on Francine when they need a strong litigator who is skilled at negotiating agreements involving complicated financial matters and emotional custody disputes. They value her experience in all components of divorce and family law including divorce, child custody disputes, paternity, removal, modification and contempt actions, alimony and child support, as well as pre-nuptial agreements and post-nuptial agreements.
education
J.D., Suffolk University Law School, 1999
B.A., Political Science, College of the Holy Cross, 1996
admissions
Massachusetts
U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts
honors & awards
Boston Magazine’s Top Lawyers List, Family Law (2022)
The Best Lawyers in America© – Family Law (2020-2023)
Massachusetts Super Lawyers (2020-2021)
Massachusetts Rising Stars – Family Law (2011-2012)
memberships
Massachusetts Bar Association
Boston Bar Association
Essex County Bar Association
Middlesex County Bar Association
Massachusetts Association of Women Lawyers
Greater Boston Family Law American Inn of Court
American Academy for Certified Financial Litigators
articles
articles
“Massachusetts Makes a Radical Change in the Alimony Law,” Burns & Levinson Client Update, September 2011
interviews
“Q&A with Leading Divorce Attorneys at Burns & Levinson,” Boston Citybizlist, July 2020
speaking engagements
Faculty Member, Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) Program, “Domestic Relations Financial Summit 2022,” February 2022
“Relocating With Your Children Amid Divorce,” Webinar Host, Burns & Levinson’s Divorce Law Monitor, February 2021
“Keeping the Focus on Your Children During the Divorce Process,” Webinar Host, Burns & Levinson’s Divorce Law Monitor, August 2020
“Probate and Family Court COVID-19 Impact Series: Review of Parenting Coordinator Appointments and Resolution of High Conflict Parenting Issues,” Webinar Speaker, Boston Bar Association, July 2020
Panelist, MCLE 23rd Annual Family Law Conference, “Caselaw and Legislative Updates,” May 2020
Panelist, MCLE 19th Annual Family Law Conference, “Caselaw and Legislative Update,” May 19, 2017
Panelist, MCLE 19th Annual Family Law Conference, “Caselaw and Legislative Update,” April 15, 2016
Panelist, MCLE 18th Annual Family Law Conference, “Caselaw and Legislative Update,” April 10, 2015
Speaker, Boston Bar Association CLE Program, “New Developments in the Use of Parenting Coordinators and Guardians ad Litem,” January 20, 2015
Panelist, MCLE 17th Annual Family Law Conference, “Caselaw and Legislative Update,” April 11, 2014
Panelist, Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) Program, “Family Law Year-in-Review 2014,” February 25, 2014
Faculty Member, Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) Program, “Mental Health Issues & Divorce,” June 13, 2013
Faculty Member and Panelist, MCLE’s 16th Annual Family Law Conference 2013, “Caselaw and Legislative Update,” April 5, 2013
Panelist, Boston Bar Association Program, “Navigating the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA) and the Massachusetts Differences,” March 12, 2013
Faculty Member and Panelist, MCLE’s 15th Annual Family Law Conference, “Caselaw and Legislature Update 2012,” March 16, 2012
Moderator, Boston Bar Association program, “Ansin and Post Nuptial Agreements,” May 10, 2011