Education

  • Harper College, State University of New York, B.A. 1973
  • Pace University School of Law, 1980

Admitted

  • New York State Bar Association, 1980
  • U.S. District Court Southern District of New York, 1982
  • U.S. District Court Eastern District of New York, 1982
  • U.S. Supreme Court, 1987

Associations

  • American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
  • American Bar Association
  • American College of Family Trial Lawyers
  • The Association of the Bar of the City of New York
  • Attorney General of the State of New York
  • Civil Practice Law and Rules Committee of the Office of Court Administration
  • Committee to Certify Law Guardians for Appointment in Domestic Relations Matter in the First Judicial Department
  • Judges and Lawyers Breast Cancer Alert
  • Lesbian and Gay Lawyers Association of Greater New York (LeGal)
  • Matrimonial Advisory Committee of the Unified Court System
  • Matrimonial Commission
  • New York Bar Association
  • New York Judicial Committee on Women in the Courts
  • New York State Matrimonial Commission
  • Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York

Susan L. Bender

Susan L. Bender is recognized by judges and colleagues as one of the top matrimonial attorneys in New York. She is routinely listed as one of the “Best Lawyers in America” and has received a Preeminent Rating for both legal ability and ethical standards (“AV”) in the Martindale Hubbell directory of attorneys. 

Susan penned notable references in New York law. Her first article, “The Finality Rule Barrier to Court of Appeals Review of Appellate Division Orders in Matrimonial Litigation” was published by the New York Domestic Relations Reporter. She also authored a chapter entitled, “Enforcement of Money Judgments” in one of the most regarded references in New York law, New York Practice Guide (Matthew Bender Publisher, 1988). Most notably, she wrote the chapter, “Bringing Justice to a Flawed System” in the New York Family Law Strategies (Thompson Reuters/Aspatore Press, 2009).
 
Often, Susan lectures on family law and procedure. Some of the most prestigious groups she had the privilege of presenting for include: 

  • New York State Office of Court Administration
  • Association of the Bar of the City of New York
  • Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York
  • New York State Bar Association
  • Nassau County Bar Association
  • Brooklyn Bar Association
  • Pace University School of Law
  • Interdisciplinary Forum
  • Lesbian and Gay Lawyers Association (LeGal)
  • American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers

Susan remains well versed in all aspects of family and matrimonial law. She attends conferences and lectures given by other state bar associations and various local groups, including The Fund For Modern Courts and the American Bar Association.

Honors & Awards

  • Recipient, Joan L. Ellenbogen Award, New York Women’s Bar Association, 2007
  • Founders Day Award, Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York, 1998
  • Fellow, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (Board Member, Executive Committee)

Training & Certifications

  • Domestic Arbitration Seminar, September 1991
  • ABA Mid-Year Convention Mediation Seminar, February 1995
  • American Arbitration Association Mediation Training, 2016

Appointed by

  • Chief Judge Judith S. Kaye [to New York Judicial Committee]
  • “Chief Administrator of OCA, Matthew T. Crossen” [to Advisory Committee]
  • “Judge Betty W. Ellerin” [to First Department Judicial Committee]
  • “Chief Judge Judith S. Kaye” [to Matrimonial Commission]
  • “Justice John T. Buckley” [to Law Guardian Advisory Committee of the Appellate Division, First Department]
  • “Chief Administrative Judges, Ann Pfau & A. Gail Prudenti” [to Matrimonial Practice Advisory and Rules Committee of the New York State Office of Court Administration]
  • Honorable Justice Peter Tom [to Board of Governors of the New York State Attorney-Client Fee Dispute Resolution Program]