Kristina C. Royce

LOS ANGELES - Kristina C. Royce is the co-chair of the matrimonial and family law practice at Blank Rome LLP. A former name partner at the divorce firm Buter, Buzard, Fishbein & Royce LLP, in 2019, she brought several colleagues to Blank Rome.

“Blank Rome came to me in 2016 to say they had a flourishing East Coast matrimonial practice in New York and Philadelphia and they wanted to build a West Coast version,” Royce said. “But I wasn’t going to leave Buter Buzard until people came with me.

“It was a very successful and lengthy courtship. We merged our groups, and it was the best career move I’ve ever made. We hope to work together forever.”

Blank Rome’s bi-coastal group of 35 attorneys represents A-list celebrities, professional athletes, C-suite executives and other high-profile clients in complex financial and custody matters. Royce is an expert in intricate financial valuations, tracings, mediations and cash flow analyses and pre and postnuptial agreements.

Arnold Schwarzenegger retained Royce in 2020 to settle his long-running divorce litigation with Maria Shriver. Royce came on as the closer to wrap up unsolved issues in the case, which had been ongoing for 10 years but was stalled. She settled the case in months, with an official conclusion on Dec. 28, 2021.

Royce said the negotiations were eased by the appearance for Shriver of noted family law practitioner Laura A. Wasser of Wasser, Cooperman & Mandles. “It’s always good to have good lawyers on the other side. We worked to adjust a lot of stuff. It was the kind of case I like to do — collaborative puzzle-solving that moves both sides to their goals.”

In another matter, Royce represents the drummer in an internationally renowned rock band to resolve domestic cross-border custody and property issues. The client’s children reside in Hawaii, and one question concerns whether California or Hawaii law governs disputed custody concerns. There are also prenuptial agreements and numerous postnuptial agreements regarding which revenue streams from touring and merchandising are community property.

“There are a lot of complicating factors, including the fact that my guy tours so much that the custody schedule can’t be set easily. And there’s the Hawaii time versus L.A. time difference. Here, things are a little more frenetic.”

Royce said she loves family law. “I want to represent people. I have no desire to represent corporations.” She graduated summa cum laude from Loyola Law School, but “I didn’t even take community property law.” Her father, George R. Royce, is a lawyer, now retired. “I always saw him in the courtroom, and it made a huge impression on me,” she said.

- JOHN ROEMER