Mark A. Bederow

I found out that I was the target of an investigation by the DA's office and was freaked out. I had retained another attorney but after some time I felt I needed someone who was able to get more information from the DA's office, get my property that had been seized back and handle the matter better. ...I found Mark and was impressed with his proactive attitude on the phone and in person. He talked up his past in the Manhattan DA's office obviously since he spent a good time there and I thought that would be helpful so I retained him. He was willing to work with me initially with the finances - taking what I had and he said I could give him the rest when I got it. Well, almost immediately after I retained him he wanted to know when I would give him the rest. I also noticed that he could be very short on the phone which wasn't good for me since the stress of what I was going through was a lot already. Months went by and he did nothing; there were no meetings with the DA's office other than an email to state he was my new lawyer. Ultimately a year passed and he did nothing. Nothing. He finally wrote me that he felt there was no focus in the DA's office and that things would fizzle out. 3 weeks later I was arrested at 6 AM and arraigned. (I had been indicted by a secret grand jury.) That Mark knew nothing about any of this with his past and felt the matter was going to fizzle out told me he didn't have his pulse on what was going on in the DA's office which is exactly why I retained him. Meanwhile, he wasn't able to be there at my arraignment and because I needed to give him more money he wasn't on my case until weeks and weeks later when I could arrange for a friend to get him some money. Not once during that time did he come see me at Rikers Island where I remained. I was having trouble with the bail and couldn't get out. I was sick and had been moved to the Infirmary and I was terrified. When he finally came to see me his attitude was a completely different one than the one he had 3 weeks prior. In the end, he had a strategy that he wanted to pursue and I was interested but he didn't have any answers to the questions I asked about it.I guess he thought I should blindly follow along. I thought we would collaborate with regards to how to proceed. That was not the case. I didn't see him that often and frankly I was very disappointed with his representation. We finally parted ways and another attorney was able to get me probation. And even more recently, I needed his assistance with getting things back from the DA's office (he still had certain paperwork that wasn't passed on to the next attorney) and he hasn't been responsive. Bottom line: He wasn't the lawyer I thought he would be.

My name is Jonathan and I had the pleasure of having Mark Bederow represent me back in 2010. New York City vs Jonathan Ryan in what was an intense gun case,facing class C violent felon charges, and up to 3 1/2 years behind bars. Attorney Bederow came to my rescue as I was sitting outside the cour...t room awaiting my first preliminary hearing. I was nervously awaiting for my assigned public defender who was running extremely late ,as time ticked Mark Bederow over heard my conversation I was having with my girl friend . He quickly realized that I was in desperate need of help. He approached me ,introduced himself and asked if he may sit down beside us. He went on to ask me what was my story for being there. I told him that I had driven over 18 hours from my small home town in Florida,to move my girl friend back home. I got lost and during the confusion made A right hand turn as the light was red. I did not realize that I had just made a traffic violation. Needless to say what I thought would be just a simple violation turned out to be the begining of fighting for my freedom and all I love. Mark came to my rescue at the very last minute having very little info that I was able to give him before going in front of the judge. As the prosecuter tried to say I was A flight risk, Mark sharply presented to the Judge the facts of why that was not true. That was the start of what would lead up to a trial exactly one year to date of the arrest . Mark spent much time with me either by phone or in person. He quickly became more then just my Attorney but someone I still call a great friend. With Mark beside me I felt comfort ,trust and gained strength from how he delivered a powerful argument and why I was not this Felon that the prosecuter was trying desperatley to convince 12 jury members. He stood and said with passion ,"Facts Can Be A Stubborn Thing "! After the jury members deliberated, they acquitted with in 30 minutes. Mark was brillant from every standpoint! My Attorney ,my Friend, Thank you so much!!!!!!! Sincerley , "Lucky Son Of A Gun" Jonathan R

I had been charged and over prosecuted for gun possession in New York; regarding a legally possessed handgun that I simply forgot was in the glove compartment of my vehicle on a legitimate work trip from my home state of Florida through New York. The gun had remained in the glove box since I put it t...here nearly a year prior; this being legal in Florida. I had a clean criminal record and all of the facts of the case supported the fact that this was just an honest mistake, but never the less; the Queens District attorney thought that two years in a state prison was a fair offer, which could have literally ruined my life and everything I had worked for, including a wedding and family that my new fiancé and I were planning. As I began to research similar cases to my own on line in search of any shred of hope, I stumbled upon Mark through a New York Post article outlining an eerily similar case where Mark had represented another individual all the way through trial, ultimately resulting in an acquittal in only thirty minutes. I called Mark that same day and left a message for him, to which he returned my call immediately. He spent over an hour on the phone with me on just our initial conversation asking pointed, careful questions and learning everything he could about my case...and then attaching each one of my answers to an initial strategy for my defense. I knew within the hour that Mark was absolutely the right man for the job. He had, and continued to have through the entire process, a calm confidence that ultimately gave me the courage to fight for what was right and take the terrifying risk of turning down an unfair offer from the DA, and moving forward to testify before the grand jury as the "defendant." It was Mark's work ethic, meticulous attention to detail, responsiveness, and ability to prepare me as a witness that eventually lead to the grand jury dropping all charges against me and allowing me to go on with my life as a free man with a preserved reputation as a valuable member of society. Mark gave me the counsel and courage to, literally, save my own life…his most overwhelming characteristics being his sincere passion for justice, ability to create rapport, and the fact that he genuinely cared about not only me, but my family as well. I have walked out of the most frightening situation with not only my freedom, but a new found peace and a valued friend.