Steven Jay Mandel

From the gritty streets of Brooklyn,  Steve worked his way through law school as a professional comedian, performing in front of literally thousands of people in the most prestigious comedy clubs and resorts throughout the New York tri-state area. In recognition of his talents, he was acknowledged and accepted as a member of the esteemed Friars Club. 

Steve credits his experience as a professional comedian with helping to make him a successful trial attorney. As he explains "In both fields, the lawyer/performer must be fully prepared, confident, persuasive, engaging, quick-witted and able to relate to his audience. Both arenas are truly Darwinian, where only the strongest survive." 

Steve now regularly appears as an expert legal analyst on shows such as Court TV and NBC's Celebrity Justice, and in national feature stories on Dateline NBC, CBS' 48 Hours, Geraldo, and CNN's On The Money. All the major New York newspapers have quoted him extensively as an authoritative source on various legal matters.   In addition, his legal papers have been sought out by Matthew Bender for inclusion in their form books, which serve as examples of writing excellence for other attorneys. 

Steve devotes a great deal of his time and efforts in giving back to the community. Since 1987, he has volunteered his legal skills and services to the Multiple Sclerosis Society. In 2005, the New York City Chapter of the MS Society honored him for his efforts, with a special recognition award on the field before a New York Mets’ game at Shea Stadium. In 2006, the National MS Society inducted him into their Volunteer’s Hall of Fame, an honor reserved only for the most respected volunteers in the entire country.

Steve is also a proud member of the Board of Directors, and volunteers his services as Chief Legal Counsel for Ed Randall’s Fans for the Cure; a not-for-profit organization designed to increase awareness and help fight prostate cancer. 

Steve went to Adelphi University on a baseball scholarship.  Although he received an invitation to try out for the Toronto Blue Jays, Steve decided his competitive spirit and winning attitude would best be served by becoming a tough, yet compassionate, attorney.   Always a trail blazer, Steve was a member of the first class at Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, from where he graduated and received a Doctor of Law degree (J.D.) in 1979. 

In recognition of his knowledge, experience and integrity, upon the recommendation of a sitting  Judge of the New York State Supreme Court, Steve was trained and certified as an Early Neutral Evaluator to assist litigants in resolving complex legal matters prior to going to trial. 

A well-respected "Super Lawyer"; acknowledged as a “Top Attorney of the Year” by the New York Times Magazine Section; and a Family Law Practitioner of the Year for 2014 as seen in New York Magazine, Steve Mandel was invited to serve as a faculty member of the prestigious New York College of Matrimonial Trial Attorneys, where he prepares and teaches continuing legal education programs on trial practice and family law for other lawyers throughout New York State.  He is also the proud recipient of a Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review rating of “AV Preeminent”, the “highest possible rating in both legal ability and ethical standards” as recognized by his peers and members of the judiciary, as well as a perfect “10.0” rating from AVVO, representing “the highest possible recognition for legal experience, peer recognition and client satisfaction";  and his “profile rating” in October 2014, was #110 out of 89,473 lawyers in New York State and #937 out of 1,537,898 in the entire country, placing him in the top 99.94 percentile of attorneys nationwide!

Steve believes that balancing solid, thorough case preparation with an innovative, flexible approach brings the greatest opportunity for success. In fact, he’s been described as "the Picasso of the legal profession,” because his special creativity is a proven factor in obtaining major settlements and in overcoming obstacles to courtroom victory. As he says with a smile, "If a lawyer only knows the law, the legislature can repeal everything he knows."  Steve has a proven ability to keenly assess each client's individual situation, and tailor an approach best suited to a successful outcome. For this reason, he has succeeded with what other lawyers might describe as "the un-winnable case".

Even with all this deserved recognition, Steve Mandel still measures his success as an attorney by the number of thoughtful “thank you cards” and “hugs” he receives from his satisfied clients at the conclusion of their case.