MEMBERS OF FIRM
Barry Berkman (Partner) born Brooklyn, New York, September 4, 1940; admitted to bar, 1966, New York; 1968, U.S. District Court, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York. Education: Harvard College (B.A., 1962); Stanford University (LL.B., 1965). A founding partner of Berkman Bottger Newman & Rodd, LLP, Barry Berkman received his B.A. degree from Harvard College and his law degree from Stanford University. Specializing in matrimonial law and mediation, he has guided many of his clients to successful, highly satisfactory out-of-court resolutions through the collaborative law process or mediation. He has served on the American Bar Association Task Force on Standards of Practice for Divorce Mediation and has been a member of the Matrimonial Committee of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Family and Divorce Mediation Counsel of Greater New York, and is a co-founder of the New York Collaborative Law Group. Mr. Berkman has taught matrimonial law as an adjunct professor at Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law and Fordham Law School and teaches mediation at the Center for Mediation in Law. He has made numerous CLE presentations on behalf of the New York, Westchester and Nassau County Bar Associations, as well as the American Bar Association. These activities and his reputation for ethical standards and professional ability among his fellow lawyers have earned him the highest rating, Peer Review Rated SM by Martindale-Hubbell®. Similarly, Mr. Berkman has been selected by his peers for listing in The Best Lawyers in America 2010 edition and in New York Super Lawyers in 2009 and in 2010. Mr. Berkman recently spoke about collaborative law on National Public Radio's "This American Life." Member: The Association of the Bar of the City of New York; American Bar Association (Former Member, Task Force on Standards of Practice in Mediation); New York Association of Collaborative Professionals (Founding Member). Practice Areas: Divorce; Collaborative Law; Divorce Mediation; Family Law; Equitable Distribution; Marital Agreements; Postnuptial Agreements; Premarital Agreements; Separation Agreements; Spousal Support; Alimony; Marital Property Distribution; Marital Property Settlements; Paternity; Post Divorce Modification.Email: Barry Berkman
Walter F. Bottger (Partner) born Syracuse, New York, September 12, 1938; admitted to bar, 1965, New York; 1966, U.S. District Court, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York; 1998, United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Education: Harvard College (A.B., 1961); Columbia University Law School (LL.B., 1965). Before forming Berkman Bottger Newman & Rodd, LLP, Walter F. Bottger practiced law with several large, nationally renowned law firms as a litigator. For the years of 1972 through 1977, he was an anti-corruption prosecutor with the New York State Special Prosecutor's Office. He now has more than 20 years' experience in matrimonial law, and has practiced in all trial and appellate courts in the New York Metropolitan Area. He has litigated and tried many cases in supreme and family courts. He has prepared and argued several appeals in both local Appellate Divisions and before the state's highest court, the court of appeals. His reputation among other attorneys for ethical standards and professional ability has earned him the highest rating, Peer Review Rated SM by Martindale-Hubbell®, and he has been selected by his peers for listing in New York Super Lawyers in the 2010 edition. Member: The Association of the Bar of the City of New York; New York State Bar Association (Member, Family Law Section). Practice Areas: Alimony; Equitable Distribution; Family Law; Divorce; Divorce Litigation; Marital Agreements; Postnuptial Agreements; Premarital Agreements; Separation Agreements; Spousal Support; Marital Property Distribution; Marital Property Settlements; Paternity; Post Divorce Actions.Email: Walter F. Bottger
Jacqueline Newman (Partner) admitted to bar, 1999, New York. Education: University of Delaware (B.S., 1996); Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law (J.D., 1999).
Jacqueline Newman joined Berkman Bottger Newman & Rodd, LLP in 1998 and has been a partner since 2005. Ms. Newman’s practice consists of litigation, collaborative law and mediation. She specializes in complex high net worth matrimonial cases and negotiating prenuptial agreements. Ms. Newman has taught the Collaborative Family Law class for The NY Association of Collaborative Professionals and the Center for Mediation in Law, as well as the Introduction of Matrimonial Law for Collaborative Divorce Professionals for the New York State Unified Court System. At Fordham University School of Law, she taught Family Law Practice as an assistant professor to Barry Berkman. Ms. Newman has appeared as a commentator on various television shows and has been quoted as an expert in numerous publications, including Glamour Magazine, Crain's New York Business, Woman's Day and The Huffington Post.
Ms. Newman was recently honored with a listing in The Ten Leaders of Matrimonial & Divorce Law in New York City, Age 45 and under. These activities and her reputation for ethical standards and professional ability among her fellow lawyers have earned her the highest rating, AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated by Martindale Hubbell. Jacqueline Newman is also one of the youngest matrimonial attorneys in New York City to be selected for inclusion in Thompson Reuters New York-Metro Super Lawyers Edition 2012
Member: The Association of the Bar of the City of New York (Former Member, Executive Board of Young Lawyer's Committee); New York State Bar Association (Member, Family Law Section); New York State Women's Bar Association; Family and Divorce Mediation Council of Greater New York; New York Association of Collaborative Professionals. Practice Areas: Alimony; Equitable Distribution; Family Law; Collaborative Law; Divorce Litigation; Divorce Mediation; Marital Agreements; Postnuptial Agreements; Premarital Agreements; Separation Agreements; Spousal Support; Marital Property Distribution; Marital Property Settlements; Paternity; Post Divorce Actions; Annulment; Cohabitation Agreements; Collaborative Family Law; Divorce; Community Property Law; Divorce Taxation; Domestic Partnerships; Domestic Relations; Family Mediation; Family Arbitration; Gay and Lesbian Family Law; Marital Property Law; Matrimonial Law; Non-Traditional Family Law; Post Divorce Modification; Qualified Domestic Relations Orders (QDROs); Uncontested Divorce; Restraining Orders; Prenuptial Agreements.Email: Jacqueline Newman
OF COUNSEL
Elizabeth A. Fox (Of Counsel) born Washington D.C., February 27, 1980; admitted to bar, 2006, New York. Education: Boston College (B.A., 2002); Fordham University School of Law (J.D. 2005). Elizabeth A. Fox has been with the firm of Berkman Bottger Newman & Rodd, LLP since 2006. She is an associate with the firm. Member: New York State Bar Association; The Association of the Bar of the City of New York. Practice Areas: Family Law; Alimony; Annulment; Divorce; Divorce Taxation; Domestic Relations; Equitable Distribution; Marital Agreements; Marital Property Distribution; Marital Property Settlements; Matrimonial Law; Post Divorce Modification; Postnuptial Agreements; Premarital Agreements; Qualified Domestic Relations Orders (QDROs); Separation Agreements; Spousal Support; Uncontested Divorce.Email: Elizabeth A. Fox
Marc Fleisher (Of Counsel) born 1951; admitted to bar, 1980, New York. Education: Sarah Lawrence College (B.A., 1974); Hofstra Law School (J.D., 1979).
Marc Fleisher specializes in helping clients achieve divorce settlements without court intervention, primarily as a divorce mediator and Collaborative divorce practitioner. He also negotiates for clients outside of the Collaborative process.
Marc began his career as a litigation associate at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton and Garrison. He went to the elite Career Criminal bureau at the Manhattan District Attorney's office, and then joined the faculty at Brooklyn Law School before becoming a divorce and family mediator in 1994.
Marc co-founded the New York Association of Collaborative Professionals in 1999, which introduced Collaborative Practice to the Greater New York area. He was a charter member of its board and is currently, along with Barry Berkman, a member of its two-person Advisory Committee.
Marc taught the first course in Collaborative Practice at a New York City law school, and has trained divorce mediators since 1996 as an adjunct professor at the Ackerman Institute for the Family and Brooklyn Law School. He has also taught divorce mediation at the Association of the Bar of the City of New York and as a Visiting Professor at the Cardozo School of Law.
Professional Memberships and Credentials
• Advanced Practitioner Member of Family Law Section of Association for Conflict Resolution.
• Advanced Practitioner Member, New York State Council of Divorce Mediation.
• Panel Member, Divorce Mediation, all issues, Supreme Court, New York County.
• Accredited member, Family and Divorce Mediation Council of Greater New York.
• Member, Family Law Section, New York State Bar Association.
• Member, International Association of Collaborative Practitioners.
• Charter Member, New York Association of Collaborative Professionals.
Practice Areas: Divorce Mediation; Health Care; Matrimonial Law.Email: Marc Fleisher
Richard A. Abrams (Of Counsel) born Brooklyn, New York, June 23, 1944; admitted to bar, 1969, New York; 1971, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York. Education: American University (B.A., 1965); New York University (J.D., 1968). Pi Sigma Alpha. Member: New York Association of Collaborative Professionals; Family and Divorce Mediation Council of Greater New York. Practice Areas: Matrimonial Law; Divorce Mediation; Collaborative Family Law; Litigation.Email: Richard A. Abrams
Fellowes M. Rodd (Of Counsel) born New York, N.Y., April 24, 1940; admitted to bar, 1966, New York. Education: Harvard University (B.A. English, 1962); Columbia University (LL.B., 1966).
ASSOCIATES
Jessica Leonard (Associate) admitted to bar, 2006, New York. Education: State University of New York at Buffalo (B.A., 2002); University of Buffalo Law School (J.D., 2005). Jessica L. Leonard joined the firm of Berkman Bottger Neman & Rodd, LLP in 2012. Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Leonard worked for another Manhattan based firm since 2006, where she focused on complex matrimonial and family law cases. Ms. Leonard has experience handling all aspects of family and matrimonial law cases, including post judgment matters and appeals. Throughout Ms. Leonard’s career she has appeared regularly in both Supreme and Family Courts in New York City and the surrounding areas; however, Ms. Leonard is a strong proponent of settling divorce and related matters as amicably as possible for the benefit of the parties and the best interest of their children. Practice Areas: Alimony; Cohabitation Agreements; Collaborative Family Law; Divorce; Divorce Arbitration; Divorce Mediation; Domestic Relations; Domestic Violence; Equitable Distribution; Family Mediation; Gay and Lesbian Family Law; Legal Separation Agreements; Marital Agreements; Marital Property Distribution; Marital Property Law; Marital Property Settlements; Matrimonial Law; No Fault Divorce; Non-Traditional Family Law; Paternity; Post Divorce Modification; Postnuptial Agreements; Premarital Agreements; Spousal Support; Uncontested Divorce; Restraining Orders.Email: Jessica Leonard
Kelly Fissell (Associate) (Admission pending). Education: State University of New York at New Paltz (B.A., cum laude, 2008); St. John's University School of Law (J.D., 2012).
Kelly Fissell began working at Berkman Bottger Newman & Rodd, LLP as a Summer Associate in June 2011 and joined the firm as an Associate in September 2012. Ms. Fissell received her Juris Doctor from St. John's University School of Law in June 2012 where she focused on family law and mediation. While at St. John's, she was President of the Family Law Society and Editor-in-Chief of the New York Litigator Law Journal. In January 2011 Ms. Fissell received her certification in Divorce Mediation. Ms. Fissell took the New York State Bar Examination in July 2012 and is awaiting results.
Practice Areas: Collaborative Law; Mediation; Collaborative Family Law; Alimony; Annulment; Cohabitation Agreements; Divorce; Divorce Arbitration; Divorce Mediation; Domestic Relations; Equitable Distribution; Family Arbitration; Family Mediation; Gay and Lesbian Family Law; Marital Agreements; Legal Separation Agreements; Marital Property Distribution; Marital Property Law; Marital Property Settlements; Matrimonial Law; Name Changes; No Fault Divorce; Non-Traditional Family Law; Palimony; Paternity; Post Divorce Modification; Postnuptial Agreements; Premarital Agreements; Restraining Orders; Spousal Support; Uncontested Divorce.Email: Kelly Fissell
Evan D. Schein (Associate) admitted to bar, 2008, New York. Education: Syracuse University S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications (B.S., cum laude, 2003); Syracuse University College of Law (J.D., 2006). Evan D. Schein joined Berkman Bottger Newman & Rodd, LLP in 2010 after practicing at another well known matrimonial firm. Mr. Schein's law career has been entirely devoted to the practice of family law and complex matrimonial cases. Mr. Schein has litigated matrimonial matters in both Supreme and Family court. Member: Rockland County (Co-chair, New Lawyer's Committee) and New York State (Member, Family Law Section) Bar Associations; New York State Trial Lawyer's Association. Practice Areas: Family Law; Alimony; Annulment; Divorce; Equitable Distribution; Legal Separation Agreements; Matrimonial Law; Postnuptial Agreements; Premarital Agreements; Restraining Orders; Spousal Support; Uncontested Divorce; Domestic Violence; Gay and Lesbian Family Law; Marital Agreements; Marital Property Distribution; Domestic Relations; Domestic Partnerships; Non-Traditional Family Law; Qualified Domestic Relations Orders (QDROs).Email: Evan D. Schein
Judith M. Knopf (Associate) born Newark, New Jersey, April 30, 1959; admitted to bar, 1984, New Jersey and U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey; 1988, U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit; 2007, New York and Massachusetts. Education: Tufts University; Suffolk University (J.D.). Judith M. Knopf has skillfully represented clients in a variety of legal matters for over 29 years. Since 2000, her practice has been devoted primarily to family law including the representation of clients in divorce actions, custody and relocation disputes, post judgment matters, negotiation of prenuptial, mid marriage, reconciliation and separation agreements. She is experienced in litigation, client advocacy, mediation and collaborative law. She practices in New York and New Jersey. She has been selected by her peers as one of the "10 Leaders" of matrimonial attorneys in both Northern New Jersey and central New Jersey.
She completed the program and internship at Institute of Dispute Resolution at Seton Hall University, School of Law on Divorce Mediation and is a Qualified Mediator pursuant to New Jersey Rule 1:40-10.
Ms. Knopf served as a Law Clerk to Hon. Lawrence Weiss, Superior Court of New Jersey, Union County, 1984-1985. She is a frequent speaker for New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education (NJICLE) in Divorce Mediation and Civil Mediation. She has been the coordinator, moderator and lecturer for the New Jersey Institute of Continuing Legal Education 40 Hour Divorce Mediation Training Program since 2001. She has been a lecturer for American Matrimonial Attorneys, the New Jersey State Bar Association and the Jersey Shore Collaborative Law Group.
"It is important to recognize that every divorce situation is different. I represent clients using a problem-solving approach. I look at their particular circumstances to determine the best method to satisfy their specific wants and needs. Additionally, by being flexible and creative, we can formulate a resolution that is specifically tailored to meet the unique needs of the particular client."
Member:
- Hudson County Early Settlement Panel, Served as a Member of the New Jersey State Bar Association Executive Committee Family Law Section and New Jersey Supreme Court Family Practice Committee. Former Director New Jersey State Bar Association Alternate Dispute Resolution Section and Master Marie Garibaldi Alternate Dispute Resolution Inns of Court. Member New Jersey Collaborative Law Group. Former Trustee and Founding Member of the New Jersey Association of Professional Mediators (NJAPM)
Practice Areas: Family Law; Child Custody; Divorce; Child Support; Visitation Rights; Mediation; Alternative Dispute Resolution; Civil Rights; Appellate Practice.