Practice Areas
- Family & Matrimonial Law
Practice Locations
- Rochester, NY
Elaine Vadas Hamdan, Esq. is Senior Counsel in Tully Rinckey PLLC’s Rochester office. She is licensed to practice law in New York, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. Ms. Vadas Hamdan is a leading attorney known for her passionate representation of clients in all aspects of family law, including divorce, child custody, child visitation, child support, child support, and prenuptial agreements with over 25 years of experience. Previously, as the founder of Vadas LW Firm PLC, her legal prowess and industry leading service earned her numerous awards and recognitions, such as an AV Preeminent Rating from Martindale-Hubble, having been named among the 10 Best in Client Satisfaction by the American Institute of family Law Attorneys, awarded a Distinguished Lawyer by the Expert Network, named one of the 12 remarkable women of Spencerport, NY in September 2025 and was featured in the Washingtonian Magazine as Top Divorce Lawyer.
Though today Ms. Vadas Hamdan is widely regarded as one of the leading family law attorneys, her rise to the top of the industry followed a circuitous path. After earning her Bachelor of Science degree from Nazareth College, she went on to earn her Masters of Social Work from the University of Buffalo. She was working as a social worker for the Hillside Children’s Center in Rochester, New York when she realized her skills were better suited to the law.
”At the Center, there would be a substantial number of children brought in by the Department of Social Services, or by their school, and it was my job to work extensively with the families, schools, and therapist to obtain information on the best place to place their child. Often this meant spending time in court, which I really enjoyed, but felt I was not used to my full potential. I would end up sitting on the witness stand without even being asked a question that could have been pertinent to the case. That is when I decided I would be more useful on the law side of these issues.“
With her sights set on a career in law, Ms. Vadas Hamdan went on to earn her Juris Doctor from the New England School of Law in 1996 and was subsequently hired by, which was then named, Grenadier, Anderson, Starace and Duffett, P.C., a prominent law firm in Virginia. During this time, she gained extensive experience in writing briefs and preparing oral arguments in the Virginia Court of Appeals and the Virginia Supreme Court. Ms. Vadas Hamdan was quickly promoted to Junior Partner and then to Senior Partner of this law firm. After 16 years’ experience with this prominent law firm, she decided to open her own solo firm in 2014 to have a more flexible schedule to devote herself to her family.
In addition to her thorough knowledge of family law, what sets Ms. Vadas Hamdan apart from her peers is her passion for helping families get through difficult moments in their lives. No matter how complex a case, she strives to find creative solutions, taking the time to explain and guide her clients through the entire legal process with compassion and care. Due to the cost, time and strong emotions involved in family disputes, she is a strong proponent of alternative resolutions, such as mediation and arbitration, which keep amicable relationships intact while ensuring that her clients’ rights are well represented.
However, when parties cannot come to a resolution out of court, Ms. Vadas Hamdan is a powerful litigator who is more than prepared to go to battle in trial.
In addition to helping her individual clients, Ms. Vadas Hamdan has also lectured about certain issues of family law to help the community learn the basic elements of family law and how the process works.
Education
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