One of my biggest fears about the divorce was the impact it could have on my children. Armata & Davis helped minimize conflict and helped my spouse and me focus on what was important for our children.

- Divorce client with 2 children
  aged 8 and 12

Barry Armata

Barry Armata loves white water rafting and he loves practicing law. Actually, in Barry's mind, the two are alike. As a family lawyer, often times clients come to him feeling that they've approached a fork in the river and that there's mad rushing water all round them. There are big nasty rocks trying to poke holes in their boat, huge tree limbs draped across the river. The water is filled with so many dangers that they fear everyone in is going to be hurt. Or, sometimes clients feel like there's so little water in the river, that the trip - their lives will end up portaged into nowhere.

Barry's been practicing law for over 20 years and rafting for about the same, with this many years experience, he's good at navigating both, and if you can overlook the fact that he loves music from the '80s, he's got a keen sense of judgment that helps clients define and achieve what is most important to them so they and their family can move forward with their lives in a positive way. Like rafting, Barry believes if you keep looking ahead, and keep EVERYONE safe, especially the children; he can help you navigate a divorce that won't be a trip you need to forget.

Barry's law partner, Jennifer, thinks that since his musical tastes never matured beyond the 80s, that it's those memories, that youthful time of his life, that keeps him so in-tune with the needs and rights of children. Barry created and oversees the Academy of Child Advocacy which provides resources, training and dialogue for attorneys, mental health professionals and judges.

Barry is a well respected in family law and a frequent lecturer and teacher for various groups including the Court Support Services Family Relations division, the University Of Connecticut School Of Law, Syracuse University College of Law, Quinnipiac School of Law and other professional organizations including the Connecticut Bar Association and Barr Association for the City of New York.

He is a Special Master for the family courts in the Hartford, New Britain and Middlesex, as well a Special Master and trainer for the Regional Family Trial Docket in Middletown. Barry was also chosen to help teach the National Institute of Trial Advocacy's new course on Modern Divorce Advocacy which focuses on training lawyers both on how to represent their client in the court room and in mediation setting. As a result of his reputation and experience, Barry was elected a James W. Copper Fellow of the Connecticut Bar Foundation, which requires a "demonstrated superior legal ability and devotion to the welfare of the community, state, and nation, as well as to the advancement of the legal profession."

In 1999, Barry was invited to partake in collaborative law and became an original member of the Collaborative Divorce Lawyers Association. He has become a pioneer and leader in the field of Collaborative law in Connecticut and has helped other attorneys and his clients see the benefit of the process. In 2006 he helped form the Central Connecticut Collaborative Family Law Group, and he continues to train people in the process and advance Collaborative Practice in Connecticut.

Client Comments

"Barry understands children and is an advocate for Children. When my husband was losing site of things I felt Barry had a nice way of saying something that was a bucket of reality for him. He would help us focus on most important goals anytime we would lose site of original goals. I felt like he truly believed in the collaborative process and that my children had a voice in the process. Barry was concerned about me and how I was doing emotionally, he recommended parenting plan coaching and put us in touch with specialists who helped in the process. Everyone worked together."

"Barry helped me to achieve closure with minimal pain"

"Barry made an extremely difficult situation humane. The collaborative process was respectful and focused on problem solving and the best interest of the children… it was not about fighting."

"Barry would help us focus on our most important goals anytime we would lose site of original goals."

"Barry was friendly understanding and sensitive …like a friend who could help. He could relate to me. I felt understood during such a vulnerable time. I felt listened to and my interests were respected no matter how crazy they sounded."

"Barry is an excellent listener… He was positive and helped us understand that it was about the kids and what was important for them, not so much about me and my ex. It was not about fighting."

"Barry is well regarded by the judges. He has a good set of ethics always doing what is right for the client… he is not there to generate fees."