James J. Sexton

JAMES J. SEXTON, ESQ.

“America’s Divorce Lawyer”

Bestselling Author • Leading Divorce Attorney • Relationship & Communication Expert

What can more than 1,000 divorces teach us about love, communication and staying together?

James J. Sexton has the answer—and it’s probably not what you expect.

One of New York’s leading divorce and family law attorneys, James J. Sexton has spent more than two decades on the front lines of relationships in crisis.

After handling 1,000+ divorce and family law cases, Sexton has developed a rare perspective on human behavior: he sees what happens when communication breaks down, resentment takes hold, intimacy disappears and seemingly insignificant problems become impossible to ignore.

Now a bestselling author and internationally recognized commentator on relationships, Sexton brings those lessons to the stage in provocative, intelligent and often very funny talks about love, communication, conflict, persuasion and commitment.

His message is refreshingly counterintuitive:

To understand what makes relationships succeed, study what makes them fail.

JAMES SEXTON AT A GLANCE

1,000+

Divorce & family law cases

20+ YEARS

On the front lines of matrimonial law

#1 BESTSELLING AUTHOR

Two acclaimed books on love, marriage & divorce

MILLIONS Reached through the world’s leading podcasts, television and media

WHY JAMES SEXTON?

⚖️ THE DIVORCE LAWYER WHO TEACHES PEOPLE HOW TO STAY TOGETHER

Sexton has spent his professional life examining relationships at the moment when everything has gone wrong.That gives him an unusual advantage as a speaker.

Rather than offering abstract theories about successful relationships, he works backwards from failure—identifying the recurring behaviors, conversations and warning signs that ultimately bring couples into his office.

The result is a compelling perspective not only on marriage, but on communication, negotiation, conflict, emotional intelligence and human behavior.

Audiences recognize themselves in his stories—and often find themselves reconsidering the small choices that shape their most important relationships.

FROM THE COURTROOM TO THE WORLD STAGE

Admitted to the New York State Bar in 2001, Sexton founded the Law Offices of James J. Sexton, P.C. that same year.

Over the following two decades, he built the practice into a prominent New York matrimonial law firm, representing clients ranging from Fortune 500 executives and professional athletes to teachers, parents and families from every walk of life.

A graduate of Fordham University School of Law, Sexton also earned a master’s degree from New York University, where his academic work focused on persuasion and propaganda.

That combination—courtroom experience, an academic understanding of persuasion and thousands of hours spent navigating high-conflict human relationships—underpins his distinctive approach as a speaker.

BESTSELLING AUTHOR

📚IF YOU’RE IN MY OFFICE, IT’S ALREADY TOO LATE

A Divorce Lawyer’s Guide to Staying Together

Published by Henry Holt in 2018, the book became a #1 Amazon bestseller for more than 47 weeks and attracted critical attention from The New York Times.

📚HOW TO STAY IN LOVE

Practical Wisdom from the Front Lines of Divorce

Released in 2019, the book reached #1 on Amazon during its launch week.

Both books turn Sexton’s experience of relationship breakdown into practical observations about how couples can avoid getting there in the first place.

A GLOBAL MEDIA VOICE ON LOVE & RELATIONSHIPS

James Sexton’s candid approach to relationships has made him a sought-after guest on some of the world’s most influential podcasts.

🎙️ FEATURED PODCASTS

The Mel Robbins Podcast
Huberman Lab
The Diary of a CEO
The Lex Fridman Podcast
Jay Shetty’s On Purpose
Modern Wisdom
The School of Greatness

His long-form conversations have reached millions of viewers and listeners worldwide.

📺 TELEVISION & MEDIA

Sexton has appeared on:

Good Morning America • The View • The Drew Barrymore Show • CNN • Access Hollywood • The Steve Harvey Show and has been featured by:

The New York Times • TIME • Newsweek • The Times of London • Vox • Business Insider • Psychology Today

JAMES SEXTON’S SPEAKING TOPICS

❤️ HOW TO STAY IN LOVE

Lessons from 1,000+ Divorces

What can failed marriages teach us about successful relationships?

Drawing on more than two decades in divorce court, Sexton reveals the surprisingly small behaviors that can determine whether relationships strengthen or slowly unravel.

A candid and entertaining exploration of attention, intimacy, communication, expectations and the everyday work required to maintain meaningful relationships.

💔 WHY RELATIONSHIPS REALLY FALL APART

And How to See It Coming

Relationships rarely collapse because of one dramatic event.

More often, Sexton argues, the real damage begins much earlier—with small disconnections, unresolved conflicts, unspoken expectations and accumulated resentment.

Using stories and lessons from his legal career, Sexton reveals the warning signs people routinely overlook—and what audiences can do differently.

🧠 THE PSYCHOLOGY OF PERSUASION

How to Communicate When the Stakes Are High

What makes someone change their mind? Why do rational people become irrational during conflict? And why do some conversations escalate while others create resolution?

Combining his academic background in persuasion and propaganda with decades of high-stakes courtroom negotiation, Sexton explores the psychology behind influence, disagreement and effective communication.

Particularly relevant for executives, leadership teams and professional audiences.

🗣️ COMMUNICATION, CONFLICT & COMMITMENT

The Conversations That Determine Our Relationships

A provocative and frequently funny examination of how people communicate when emotions, identity, expectations and intimacy collide.

Sexton challenges audiences to reconsider how they approach disagreement—and demonstrates why the quality of our difficult conversations often determines the quality of our relationships.

⚖️ WHAT DIVORCE LAWYERS KNOW THAT MARRIAGE COUNSELORS DON’T

A revealing look at relationships from the opposite end of the telescope.

After witnessing more than 1,000 relationships reach the legal breaking point, Sexton identifies the recurring patterns behind their collapse—and turns them into unexpected lessons for anyone who wants stronger personal and professional relationships.

WHAT JAMES BRINGS TO THE STAGE

James Sexton is not a conventional relationship speaker.

He brings together:

The authority of a veteran New York trial lawyer.
The insight of someone who has witnessed more than 1,000 relationships under extreme pressure.
A sophisticated understanding of persuasion and human behavior.
The storytelling ability and timing of a natural entertainer.

His style is direct, provocative, intelligent and disarmingly funny.

He challenges conventional thinking without lecturing his audience and turns complex questions about human behavior into stories and insights people remember long after the event.

IDEAL FOR

Corporate Conferences & Leadership Events
Communication, conflict, negotiation and emotional intelligence

Wellness & Employee Engagement Programs
Relationships, connection, resilience and life beyond work

Executive & Leadership Retreats
Persuasion, difficult conversations and high-stakes communication

Relationship & Mental Health Conferences
Love, marriage, intimacy and human behavior

Legal & Professional Associations
Negotiation, advocacy, persuasion and lessons from the courtroom

Media, Creator & Live Podcast Events
Provocative, highly conversational content designed for audience engagement

WHY BOOK JAMES SEXTON?

James Sexton makes audiences laugh about a subject they never expected to find funny—and think seriously about relationships they may have been taking for granted.

His appeal extends far beyond marriage and divorce.

At its heart, his work is about how human beings communicate, negotiate, disappoint one another, reconnect and maintain the relationships that matter most.

For event organizers looking for a speaker who combines substance, personality, credibility and genuine audience impact, James Sexton delivers a perspective few other speakers can offer.

BOOK JAMES J. SEXTON

Keynotes • Corporate Events • Conferences • Leadership Retreats • Moderated Conversations • Fireside Chats • Media Events

For speaking fees, availability and booking enquiries, contact:

PRESBOURG SPEAKERS AGENCY

Email: contact@presbourgspeakers.com
US: +1 929 589 1440
International:  +33 7 84 18 80 44