In this episode of Lawyers Who Care, host Andrew Samalin speaks with Michael Fried, partner at Berkman Bottger Newman & Schein in New York City. Michael is an experienced litigator and trial attorney who has practiced exclusively in matrimonial and family law since 1997, and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers — one of the most selective designations in the field.

Michael shares how a desire to specialize rather than generalize led him into family law straight out of law school, and how an early internship helping battered women obtain orders of protection confirmed that the courtroom — and this area of the law — was where he belonged. He explains how his firm approaches divorce through three distinct paths: mediation, collaborative law, and litigation, and why having attorneys who are deeply expert in each makes all the difference for clients.

He also recounts a month-and-a-half custody trial in Brooklyn that ultimately kept a child rooted in her home, her school, and her community — and the Christmas cards he still receives from that client more than a decade later.

Topics covered:

- Why Michael chose to specialize in matrimonial law from day one

- The rise of specialization in the legal profession

- Mediation, collaborative law, and litigation as three paths to resolution

- A high-stakes custody trial and a client whose life was changed

- Why organization and document preparation are critical in divorce cases

- Serving high-net-worth clients in matrimonial and family law

- What it means to be a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers

Connect with Michael Fried:

Email: mfried@berkbot.com

Phone: (212) 867-9123

Website: berkbot.com