Hon. Joan B. Lefkowitz (Ret.) joins Lachtman Cohen & Belowich LLP as a Partner to Launch Mediation Practice
Lachtman Cohen & Belowich LLP is proud to announce that Hon. Joan B. Lefkowitz (Ret.) has joined the firm as a Partner, where she will lead its Mediation and Alternative Dispute Resolution practice. Judge Lefkowitz brings 41 years of distinguished judicial service on the New York State Supreme Court and Family Court, along with a groundbreaking record as a trailblazer for women in the legal profession.
Elected in 1987 to the Westchester County Family Court and in 1990 to the Supreme Court of the State of New York for the 9th Judicial District, Judge Lefkowitz became the third woman elected to the Supreme Court in the district’s history. Over the course of her career, she presided over a broad range of complex civil, commercial, tort, fiduciary, matrimonial, guardianship, and medical malpractice matters. She also pioneered the Settlement Conference Part in Westchester Supreme Court, which became a model for judicial efficiency and early dispute resolution, and she successfully settled thousands of cases during her tenure on the bench.
“Judge Lefkowitz is a towering figure in our legal community,” said Brian Cohen and Brian Belowich, Co-Managing Partners of the firm and Co-Chairs of its Litigation Group. “Her unparalleled experience, reputation for fairness, and groundbreaking role as one of the first women on the bench in Westchester will be invaluable as she brings her skills to bear in private mediation. We are honored to welcome her to the firm.”
Judge Lefkowitz, who earned her B.A. from New York University and her J.D. from Brooklyn Law School, has been long active in teaching, mentorship, and community service. She has served on the boards of Young Israel of Scarsdale, the Westchester Jewish Conference, and the Justice Brandeis Law Society, of which she also served as Vice President, and her many honors include the Women Achievement Award from Women’s News, the Shofar Award from the National Council of Young Israel, and recognition by the Westchester County Bar Foundation at its 13th Annual Benefit in 2024 for her extraordinary contributions to the legal community.
David Lachtman, Co-Managing Partner and Chair of the firm’s Transactional Group added: “Judge Lefkowitz’s ability to resolve disputes is second to none. Our clients will benefit enormously from her wisdom, compassion, and pragmatic approach to problem-solving. Her arrival strengthens not only our litigation practice but also our firm as a whole.”
Judge Lefkowitz’s arrival marks an exciting new chapter for Lachtman Cohen & Belowich LLP. By adding one of the most respected jurists in Westchester’s history, the firm is expanding its capacity to help clients resolve disputes efficiently and effectively. Her unmatched skill in settlement and mediation complements the firm’s strong litigation and transactional practices, positioning Lachtman Cohen & Belowich for continued growth and reinforcing its role as a leader in dispute resolution from New York to California.