Jeffrey R. Berke

Jeffrey R. Berke was admitted to the bar of the State of New York State in 1975; shortly after he was admitted to practice in the United States District Courts for the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York. He was awarded a Juris Doctor Degree by Brooklyn Law School in 1974.

Mr. Berke served as a prominent member in the military reserves, including the National Guard, US Army Reserve and lastly New York State Militia. He was appointed to the Judge Advocate General’s Corps, where he held various positions in that capacity involving multiple duties as JAG Officer, both in the reserve forces and annually in an active duty status. These duties included: criminal investigations, successful defense of a murder trial, premobilization counseling, and administrative claims.

Mr. Berke also held the prestigious position of Counsel to the Deputy Minority Leader of the New York State Senate, where he assisted in bill drafting, negotiation on pending legislation, constituents’ requests, and meeting with lobbyists. It was in that position where he proposed legislation that is presently part of the Domestic Relations Law.

Mr. Berke continues in the private practice of law concentrating in family and matrimonial actions such as: divorce, separation, annulment, child custody, complex equitable distribution, child and spousal support, child abuse and neglect, and paternity. Mr. Berke has also handled complex commercial litigation and arbitration including commercial foreclosures, breach of contracts, conversion, fraud and breaches of fiduciary duty; and has extensive appellate practice experience. Additionally, Mr. Berke has extensive experience with substantial real estate transactions as well as drafting and probating wills. He has participated in contested probate of will proceedings, and accounting proceedings involving estates, including a recent successfully contested probate decision that will be referred to in a new textbook on family law and wills.

Jeffrey R. Berke has been approved by the Office of Court Administration as a lecturer in Continuing Legal Education in matrimonial law, and has lectured to New York State Judges who were members of the New York State Militia. He has been a member of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, the American Bar Association, Family Law Committee, and the New York County Lawyers Association, and presently still holds membership with the ABA and The Family Law Committee.