About me
Lesley Johannsen is a Senior Staff Attorney at the Narkis Golan International Child Abduction Initiative (the “NGI”) at Sanctuary for Families, a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting survivors of domestic violence, sex trafficking, and other forms of gender-based violence. The NGI’s work focuses on assisting domestic violence survivors who fled across international borders with their children, and face litigation that falls under the 1980 Hague Convention on International Child Abduction. The Initiative provides trainings, consultations, and technical assistance; secures pro bono representation for clients; files amicus briefs; and advocates with governmental agencies to increase access to justice for these survivors.
Prior to her move to Sanctuary for Families, Lesley worked for the New York State Office of Court Administration for over a decade, most recently as a Court-Attorney Referee in Bronx Family Court, where she presided over custody, visitation, order of protection, guardianship, and SIJS matters. She also previously served as a court attorney to judges in the Supreme Matrimonial Part; the Integrated Domestic Violence Part; and the Child Protection Part in Family Court.
Lesley is a current member of the City Bar’s Pro Bono and Legal Services Committee. Lesley graduated from Brooklyn Law School, where she was awarded the Edward V. Sparer Public Interest Fellowship. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Trinity College.
