Matthew Whitman Lazenby, CEO of Bal Harbour Shops and a member of the family that has owned the luxury shopping center for over six decades, is involved in contentious divorce proceedings with his estranged wife, Kristin Lazenby. The dispute centers on access to financial records of Bal Harbour Shops and other marital assets.
Kristin Lazenby is seeking bank statements, canceled checks, and general ledgers from Whitman Family Development, which owns Bal Harbour Shops at 9700 Collins Avenue. She argues that Matthew’s partnership stake in the business should be considered a marital asset.
“It is unfortunate that the Bal Harbour Shops have been thrust into the Lazenbys’ divorce proceedings which were intended to be a private matter,” said Matthew’s attorney Kathyrn Hamilton in an email statement. “Mr. Lazenby’s personal involvement in this multi-generational family business predates their marriage.”
Kristin’s legal team has not provided public comment on the case.
Bal Harbour Shops was established by Stanley Whitman, Matthew’s grandfather, who acquired the site in 1957 and opened the shopping center in 1965. Today it features retailers such as Balenciaga, Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue. The property is currently undergoing a 200,000-square-foot expansion after securing major loans and refinancing deals in recent years.
Court documents show Kristin filed for divorce in July 2024 after more than a decade of marriage; she seeks alimony and equitable distribution of assets including three homes located in Florida and North Carolina.
The dispute has included court hearings over whether Kristin can review financial documents from Whitman Family Development. A forensic accountant hired by her team testified about needing to determine if Matthew played an active role in managing company finances during their marriage. Kristin claims his partnership interest could qualify as a marital asset because it may have been acquired while they were married.
Matthew’s attorney maintains that Whitman Family Development was formed before the marriage and argues there is no evidence marital funds were used to acquire any interest in it.
In addition to financial disputes, court filings reveal conflict over household matters at their Asheville home. Matthew alleges Kristin adopted a foster dog without his consent and claims the animal caused property damage and killed family pets. He seeks either removal of the dog or exclusive use of their Asheville residence.
A hearing regarding these issues is scheduled for April.
