The Mandel Law Firm - Family Law Attorneys

Like many of the best and most talented litigators, Steve Mandel has a colorful, varied and exciting background. Born and raised on the tough, gritty streets of Brooklyn, Steve worked his way through college and law school as a professional musician and comedian. On stage performance was training that would later serve him well in representing clients. "Nothing fazes me in court," Steve says with a smile. "After doing standup comedy before 3000 people at a hotel, working in front of a judge, or six people in a jury box, is nothing."

Steve feels it

"It's not important to win each small battle. It's winning the war that counts."

Madelyn Jaye, known as MJ around the Mandel Law Firm, believes that a winning effort begins with careful preparation - that the results you achieve are in direct proportion to the effort you apply. Some cases are easy to win. That is not where the challenges of great lawyering lie. There are other cases where success does not come from holding a good hand, but rather in playing a poor hand well. Those cases, and those challenges, bring out the warrior in Madelyn Jaye. She is a fierce competitor practicing by the oft quoted doctrine of Vince Lombardi -“ "If winning isn't everything, then why do they keep score?"

Madelyn Jaye is a seasoned warrior when it comes to the world of litigation. She has played, and prevailed, in the game of high stakes, high profile, complex litigation, since graduating from the prestigious Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law. She has brought the skills she has learned in those fiercely competitive arenas, practicing in the trenches with some of the nation's foremost litigators, to The Mandel Law Firm with somewhat astonishing success - turning around cases previously thought to be lost causes and winning cases others thought unwindable.

Two high points for Madelyn Jaye in recent years were:

1. Prevailing in a Federal Court Hague Convention Child Abduction case for a father, against near insurmountable odds by developing a novel theory, upheld at the Second Circuit on appeal, making new law in the Circuit.

2. Prevailing in State Supreme Court in a Divorce action, winning full custody of a three year old little girl for a father in a close call case after a lengthy trial.

Madelyn Jaye believes that litigators are first and foremost story tellers. They must convince their audience, whether that audience be a judge, jury, or adversary, that the story they are telling is the only true story and the ending they are proposing the only right ending. Madelyn Jaye brings her experience from the worlds of theater and film (former Art Director Children's Theater Wing of Croton Shakespeare Festival, Director of Video for Cablevision airing of Purchase College's production of Feydeau's a Flea in Her Ear and acting in numerous local productions) as well as her background in psychology (Master's Degree in Art Therapy) to the practice of law. She holds dear the proposition so eloquently put by the renowned author and poet Maya Angelou who said:

"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."

How you make them "feel", the judge, the jury your adversary and your client, is what litigation, good litigation, is all about.

Madelyn Jaye will make you feel like together you can accomplish exactly what you hope to accomplish, because more often than not, with Madelyn Jaye at the helm, you will.

Going through a divorce may very well be one of the most difficult times of your life. Everything is changing. You may feel hopeless, helpless and totally lost. During this time, it is best to remember the words of Robert Frost who said, "In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on." Felicia L. Boles understands this and has a unique way of helping her clients keep their lives together while their marriages are falling apart. She does this by being a Counselor at Law.

Many of Felicia L. Boles clients and their spouses work in Finance, Entertainment, Law or Medicine. As a member of the American Academy for Financial Litigators, she has considerable experience in valuations of business interests and complex financial matters.

Felicia L. Boles is not only an assertive and compassionate advocate who fights relentlessly for her clients, she is also an attorney who is sensitive to her clients' needs. She explains, "I meet my clients at the worst time of their lives. Whether their case involves child custody or complex financial issues, these are deeply personal and very emotionally charged issues, the outcome of which will affect their future and that of their children forevermore."

Felicia L. Boles is a fierce competitor, figuratively and literally. She is an accomplished marathon runner and kickboxing instructor.The parallels between these passions and the practice of law are obvious. These areas all require hard work, dedication and focus in order to be successful.

But, a lawyer is someone who does more than goes to battle. A great lawyer must listen and be in tune with their clients' needs. They must also understand the importance of being able to amicably and expeditiously resolve a matter without extensive & expensive litigation. Felicia L. Boles knows how to accomplish all of these things.

Felicia's clients describe her as tough, yet extremely empathetic and compassionate. This most likely is a result of her childhood. Felicia L. Boles grew up on a farm in Arkansas, surrounded by animals. In fact, Felicia once nursed a colt back to health by bottle-feeding it - in her family's kitchen!

Felicia's family raised and showed horses. Every day, Felicia L. Boles dedicated time to train and care for her horse - to prepare him, as much as possible, for competition.

On the day of the big show, Felicia's horse was totally prepared. She still remembers how she felt when she landed a jump, ahead of the pack, winning the race easily. It is this drive for success that propels her to jump through the hoops, and over barriers, for her clients.