This author has reached a point in his career where, if you were to ask me what my opinion is about the law on counsel fee awards in divorce in New York, my answer would be short and sweet, quoting a 1980s Hollywood film.

You will recall the scene in the movie Big where John Heard’s character presents his idea for a clunky toy skyscraper that morphs into a robot to his colleagues at a business meeting. When Heard’s character asks if anyone has questions, Tom Hanks’ character raises his hand and says “I don’t get it.” That’s exactly where I land on the case law governing counsel fee awards in divorce: I don’t get it.