Meet The Team

Denisa Tova-Liebman, CFP, CDFA, CQS, MBA
Founder & CEO

Denisa Tova-Liebman is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®), Certified QDRO Specialist (CQS™), Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA™), and brings nearly 20 years of experience working with matrimonial attorneys. She has assisted in hundreds of matrimonial matters both in the US and internationally. Her unique financial background allows her to provide expertise in the areas of retirement asset valuation, tracing analysis to determine marital/non-marital component, QDRO preparation, drafting of settlement language that comports to the provisions of the retirement plans, and consulting on settlement options of retirement assets. In addition to ‘standard’ QDROs, she has prepared and consulted on complex DROs for various supplemental/excess non-qualified plans for highly compensated executives. Denisa is also a recognized QDRO / Pension Valuation expert for the UK lawyers and the Courts and her expert report and pension sharing orders have been accepted by the UK Courts. She is frequently appointed by US and UK lawyers to perform analysis and valuation of retirement assets, draft settlement language and provide options for equitable distribution settlements.

Denisa has been qualified and has testified as an expert in New York Supreme Court 9th judicial district. She also consults attorneys in foreign jurisdictions on the valuation of retirement assets. Her pension sharing and QDRO work have been accepted by the UK Courts.

Denisa harnesses her extensive expertise to educate divorce practitioners through a series of monthly educational programs, that have also been provided as continuing legal education for various legal organizations including the Matrimonial Bar Associations, Collaborative Law Associations, and Mediation Associations, as well as private law firms and judges both within the US and internationally (refer to the comprehensive presentation list). Further solidifying her role as a thought leader in the field, she initiated the "Beyond the Bar" video podcast series, where she engages with legal luminaries, offering deep insights and fostering a personal connection within the professional community. Before establishing her presence in New York, Denisa was a recognized financial expert on television, appearing on prominent platforms such as NBC, ABC affiliates, and Fox News in Colorado, where she adeptly simplified complex financial topics for a wider audience.

2023

Launched Beyond the Bar Podcast series interviewing Judges and Attorneys
Webinar on Prenups: Critical ERISA issues and retirement assets protection
How to Navigate Survivorship in Retirement Plans
New York Association of Collaborative Professionals CLE Program on Navigating the Complexities of Equalizing the Retirement Assets
Addressing “Thorny” QDRO Issues Webinar for Divorce Attorneys
New York Women’s Bar Association CLE Program on Retirement Settlement Language
Webinar on Pension Settlement Language

2022

The Retirement & QDRO Basics for The Rising Stars of the Nassau County Matrimonial Bar Association
The Best Practices for Retirement Settlement Language, Part 1: Defined Contribution Plans
Avoiding Retirement Settlement Mistakes webinar for the DC 37 Municipal Employees Legal Services
Avoiding Retirement Settlement and QDRO Mistakes webinar for the Erie Bar Association, Buffalo NY
Division of US Pensions in UK Divorce webinar: presented to The 36 Group, London, UK
Avoiding Retirement Settlement and QDRO Mistakes webinar for the Mediators in Santa Barbara, CA
New York State Bar Association (Part Two) – CLE Program
How to Write Effective Retirement Settlement Language Webinar for Divorce Attorneys
Retirement Basics Bootcamp webinar
How to Fairly Value and Divide US Pensions in Cross-Border Divorces webinar
US Pensions in International Divorces webinar

2021

Division of US Pensions in UK Divorce webinar: presented to Watson Thomas Solicitors
Mark Crawford Esq.
Judicial Institute with Judge Cheryl Joseph webinar
The New York Fire Pension webinar
Kasowitz Bension Torres Law Firm
Kenneth Weinstein Law Firm
New York Association of Collaborative Professionals (NYACP) (Part Two)
Rudyuk Law Firm, PC
New York State Bar Association (Part One) – CLE Program
Dividing of US Retirement Assets for UK Family Law Attorneys and UK Actuaries (Part Two)
Stutman Stutman & Lichtenstein, LLP
QDRO & Retirement Asset Distribution (Part Two) Presentation to the Suffolk Judges and Principal Law Clerks
Queens County Matrimonial Bar
QDRO & Retirement Asset Distribution (Part One) Presentation to the Suffolk Judges and Principal Law Clerks
QDRO Presentation to the Women’s Nassau Bar Association
Dealing with US Pensions in UK Divorces: presented to the UK Law Firm – Farrer & Co.
New Police Pension Rules & Top Settlement Mistakes webinar for divorce attorneys

2020

Dividing of US Retirement Assets Webinar for UK Family Law Attorneys and UK Actuaries
Several “Advanced Level Webinars on “QDROs and Drafting of Settlements Correctly”, presented to: The Suffolk Bar Association, The New York Women’s Bar Association, The New York Collaborative Association, Long Island Divorce Mediation Peer Group, The Queens Bar Association, and the Connecticut American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML).
Launched a monthly webinar series on QDROs, Valuation of Retirement Assets and Settlement Language Drafting.

2019

Several lectures on QDRO Tips on Avoiding Malpractice; Drafting the Correct Settlement Language presented to: The Nassau Bar Association, The Suffolk Academy of Law, the New York Women’s Bar Association.

2018

Retirement Planning, Investment Planning and Rate of Returns for Nassau County Women’s Bar Association

2017

Women Council of Realtors “How to Blend and Manage Financial Lives, Assets and Interests”
Webinar “Divorce on Wall Street”
Webinar “Divorcing Late in Life”

2016

Jackson National – “Standing Financially Strong”

2013

Jackson National – “Golden Rules of Money”. Preparing for Retirement; Rate of Returns Projections and Investment Planning.
ING Women’s Advisory Network Forum – Divorce Financial and Tax Issues”
Mceed Century Link’s Annual National Top Executives Business Event

2012

Colorado Springs Estate Planning Council – “Tax Planning Tools in Divorce”

2011

Colorado Family Law Section – “Review of the Basics & The Exotics”
Kiwanis Club – “Understanding Your Retirement Number”

2008

Colorado Springs Family Law Section – “Taxes and Divorce”; the power of the 72(t)(2)(c) section”

2006

Colorado Springs Family Law Conference – “The Role of a Financial Divorce Practitioner and Financial Planning Opportunities in the Division of Retirement Plans”

Omar Mirza

Omar Mirza
Global Retirement & Pension Valuation Director

Actuarial specialist with focused expertise in pension valuation and tracking of marital/non-marital components of retirement accounts. Over a decade of experience in extensive benefit calculations for defined contribution and defined benefits plans, IRS qualified and non-qualified splits, valuations of Cash Balance Plans, and determining premiums and cash reserves for future liabilities. Actuarial consultant for Fortune 100 companies and top pension funds globally.

Sharon Edelman

Sharon Edelman
Executive Case Manager

Sharon is a paralegal with over 20 years of legal experience specializing in matrimonial matters. She has worked at several large law firms in the New York metropolitan area where she handled all phases of legal matters and litigation including pleadings, discovery, expert witnesses, subpoenas, attorney calendars, and filing of court documents. Prior to Tova QDRO, Sharon spent five years working as legal assistant to the VP and General Counsel of one of the largest trucking and freight companies in the Northeast, where she managed and maintained all of their legal cases.

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