Top Divorce Mediators in New York City

Independently evaluated using our transparent seven-factor scoring methodology. Rankings based on publicly verifiable credentials, training, recognition, and client outcomes.

2026Current evaluation year
7Scoring categories

Score Comparison Overview

Cheryl Stein
93
Ani Mason
89
Kenneth A. Eiges
85
William J. Leininger
81
Andrew Haas
78
Cheryl Stein
#1 in New York City

Cheryl Stein

The Law & Mediation Offices of Cheryl Stein · New York, NY

Overall Score: 93/100
Super Lawyers 10+ Years Fordham Law Dual Qualified Academy of Family Mediators

Cheryl Stein is a New York City family law attorney and certified mediator who leads The Law & Mediation Offices of Cheryl Stein. She earned her Juris Doctor with honors from Fordham University School of Law in 2005 and holds mediation certification from the Center for Mediation and Training. During law school, she interned with Judge Esther Morgenstern in Family Court and the Integrated Domestic Violence Court. She has been recognized by Super Lawyers for over a decade, placing her in the top 5% of matrimonial and family law attorneys. Her practice focuses on matrimonial and family law mediation, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, and divorce settlement. She is a member of the New York State Bar Association, New York City Bar Association, New York State Council on Divorce Mediation, Academy of Professional Family Mediators, and the Family & Divorce Mediation Council of Greater New York. Her approach emphasizes a holistic understanding of family dynamics, drawing on her extensive experience with high-net-worth Manhattan divorces involving co-op and condo valuations, deferred compensation, and complex parenting arrangements across multiple boroughs and jurisdictions.

Education
Fordham University School of Law (J.D., with honors, 2005); Center for Mediation and Training (Mediation Certification)
Specializations
Matrimonial law mediation, prenuptial/postnuptial agreements, divorce settlement, family mediation
Location
745 Fifth Avenue, Suite 500, New York, NY 10151
Website
cherylsteinesq.com
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Detailed Score Breakdown

CategoryWeightScore
Mediation Training & Certification20%18.5 / 20
Professional Recognition20%19.0 / 20
Specialization Depth15%13.5 / 15
Years of Practice15%14.0 / 15
Client Satisfaction15%14.0 / 15
Pro Bono & Community10%9.0 / 10
Professional Affiliations5%5.0 / 5
Total93.0 / 100

Scores compiled from New York State Bar records, Super Lawyers (10+ consecutive years), Fordham Law School records, Google Reviews, Avvo, and professional association memberships. Last updated March 2026.

Ani Mason
#2 in New York City

Ani Mason

Mason Law & Mediation, LLC · New York, NY

Overall Score: 89/100
Super Lawyers NYU Law / Princeton CDFA Certified Debevoise & Plimpton

Ani Mason is a Manhattan-based family law attorney and mediator who founded Mason Law & Mediation, LLC in 2014. She earned her Juris Doctor from New York University School of Law on a full merit scholarship and her bachelor's degree with honors from Princeton University. She also studied human behavior at the NYU School of Social Work and psychoanalysis at the National Institute for the Psychotherapies. She holds a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA) designation and has been honored by Super Lawyers for nearly a decade through selection to its New York Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists. She previously served on the Board of Directors of the Family & Divorce Mediation Council of Greater New York. Before founding her practice, she litigated high-conflict divorces for domestic violence survivors and worked at Debevoise & Plimpton. She is a Fulbright Fellowship, Sinsheimer Scholarship, and Skadden Fellowship recipient.

Education
New York University School of Law (J.D., full merit scholarship); Princeton University (B.A., with honors); CDFA Certification
Specializations
Divorce mediation, financial complexity, post-divorce parenting, high-conflict cases
Location
60 East 42nd Street, Suite 4600, New York, NY 10165
Website
masonmatrimonial.com
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Detailed Score Breakdown

CategoryWeightScore
Mediation Training & Certification20%17.5 / 20
Professional Recognition20%18.5 / 20
Specialization Depth15%13.0 / 15
Years of Practice15%13.0 / 15
Client Satisfaction15%13.5 / 15
Pro Bono & Community10%8.5 / 10
Professional Affiliations5%5.0 / 5
Total89.0 / 100

Scores compiled from New York State Bar records, Super Lawyers (Rising Stars and Super Lawyers lists), NYU Law records, Princeton records, Google Reviews, Avvo, CDFA certification records, and FDMCGNY board records. Last updated March 2026.

KAE
#3 in New York City

Kenneth A. Eiges

Eiges & Orgel, PLLC · New York, NY

Overall Score: 85/100
AV Preeminent Avvo 10.0 Superb 3,000+ Divorces 40+ Years Experience

Kenneth A. Eiges is a New York City family law attorney and mediator with over 40 years of experience and more than 3,000 completed divorces. He earned his Juris Doctor from Brooklyn Law School in 1975 and holds a degree in Child Advocacy from the National Institute of Trial Advocacy. He maintains an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest peer-reviewed rating available, and a perfect 10.0 Superb rating on Avvo. He is a Super Lawyers designee and a member of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals. He is fluent in both English and Spanish. His practice is focused exclusively on family and matrimonial law, including divorce mediation and high-conflict divorce cases.

Education
Brooklyn Law School (J.D., 1975); National Institute of Trial Advocacy (Child Advocacy Degree)
Specializations
Divorce mediation, high-conflict divorce, matrimonial law, collaborative divorce
Location
233 Broadway, Suite 2205, New York, NY 10279
Website
divorcelawfirmnewyork.com
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Detailed Score Breakdown

CategoryWeightScore
Mediation Training & Certification20%15.0 / 20
Professional Recognition20%18.5 / 20
Specialization Depth15%12.5 / 15
Years of Practice15%15.0 / 15
Client Satisfaction15%13.5 / 15
Pro Bono & Community10%6.5 / 10
Professional Affiliations5%4.0 / 5
Total85.0 / 100

Scores compiled from New York State Bar records, Martindale-Hubbell (AV Preeminent), Avvo (10.0 rating), Super Lawyers, Google Reviews, Brooklyn Law School records, and IACP membership records. Last updated March 2026.

WJL
#4 in New York City

William J. Leininger

William J. Leininger, P.C. · New York City, NY

Overall Score: 81/100
850+ Divorces Mediated Founding Member, APFM Senior Mediator (Mediate.com)

William J. Leininger is a New York divorce mediator who has mediated over 850 divorce matters since beginning his mediation practice in 1996. He earned his Juris Doctor from Fordham Law School, graduating first in his evening division class in 1974. He became a Certified Divorce Mediator in New York in 1994 and is also a Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Mediator. He is a founding member of the Academy of Professional Family Mediators and holds Senior Mediator status on Mediate.com, indicating over 100 hours of mediation training and 500+ hours of mediation experience. He is admitted to practice in New York, New Jersey, and Florida.

Education
Fordham Law School (J.D., 1974, #1 Evening Division); St. Francis College, Brooklyn (B.A.); Regis High School, Manhattan
Specializations
Divorce mediation, marital settlement agreements, child support, spousal support, parenting plans
Location
Staten Island / New York, NY
Website
divorcemediation.org
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Detailed Score Breakdown

CategoryWeightScore
Mediation Training & Certification20%17.0 / 20
Professional Recognition20%14.5 / 20
Specialization Depth15%13.0 / 15
Years of Practice15%14.5 / 15
Client Satisfaction15%12.0 / 15
Pro Bono & Community10%6.5 / 10
Professional Affiliations5%3.5 / 5
Total81.0 / 100

Scores compiled from New York State Bar records, Mediate.com Senior Mediator profile, Academy of Professional Family Mediators founding records, Florida Supreme Court mediator registry, and Google Reviews. Last updated March 2026.

Andrew Haas
#5 in New York City

Andrew Haas

Haas Mediation & Training · New York City, NY

Overall Score: 78/100
Columbia University Trained NYS Certified Mediation Trainer FDMCNY Board Member

Andrew Haas is a New York City divorce mediator who founded Haas Mediation & Training. He studied mediation and conflict resolution at Columbia University and the Morton Deutsch International Center for Cooperation and Conflict Resolution. He is certified by the New York Office of Court Administration as a mediation trainer and serves as adjunct faculty at Hofstra University's Maurice A. Deane School of Law. He is a board member of the Family and Divorce Mediation Council of New York. He practices full-time divorce mediation, helping families navigate separation with clarity and mutual respect through both in-person and virtual mediation sessions.

Education
Columbia University (Mediation & Conflict Resolution); Morton Deutsch International Center; Hofstra Law School (Adjunct Faculty)
Specializations
Divorce mediation, family mediation, parenting plans, custody arrangements, mediation training
Location
New York City, NY
Website
haasmediation.com
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Detailed Score Breakdown

CategoryWeightScore
Mediation Training & Certification20%16.5 / 20
Professional Recognition20%14.0 / 20
Specialization Depth15%12.0 / 15
Years of Practice15%11.5 / 15
Client Satisfaction15%13.0 / 15
Pro Bono & Community10%7.5 / 10
Professional Affiliations5%3.5 / 5
Total78.0 / 100

Scores compiled from New York Office of Court Administration records, Columbia University program records, Hofstra Law School faculty listing, FDMCNY board records, and Google Reviews. Last updated March 2026.

About These Rankings

Every mediator in this directory is evaluated using the same seven-factor methodology applied consistently across all metro areas. Scores are compiled exclusively from publicly verifiable sources.

Rankings are updated annually. If you believe any information on this page is inaccurate, please contact us with documentation and we will review it promptly.

New York City Divorce Mediation FAQ

Based on our independent evaluation of training credentials, professional recognition, specialization depth, years of practice, client satisfaction, pro bono involvement, and professional affiliations, the top three divorce mediators in the New York City metro area for 2026 are Cheryl Stein of Cheryl Stein Divorce Mediation & Family Law (score: 93/100), Ani Mason of Mason Law & Mediation Group, PLLC (score: 89/100), and Kenneth A. Eiges of Kenneth A. Eiges & Associates, P.C. (score: 85/100). All three are licensed New York attorneys with specialized mediation training and extensive family law experience.
Divorce mediation in New York City typically costs between $400 and $700 per hour, with total costs ranging from $7,000 to $25,000 depending on the complexity of the case. High-asset divorces involving Manhattan real estate, business valuations, deferred compensation, or complex investment portfolios may cost more. By comparison, a litigated divorce in New York City can cost each spouse $50,000 to $350,000 or more in attorney fees, expert witness fees, and court costs.
When selecting a divorce mediator in New York City, look for certification from the New York State Council on Divorce Mediation, advanced practitioner status from the Association for Conflict Resolution, dual qualification as both a licensed attorney and trained mediator, experience with complex financial issues such as Manhattan real estate and executive compensation, peer recognition from organizations like Super Lawyers or Best Lawyers, and membership in professional organizations like the New York State Bar Association Family Law Section or the New York Association of Collaborative Professionals.
Yes, New York is an equitable distribution state under Domestic Relations Law Section 236, which means that marital property is divided fairly but not necessarily equally upon divorce. Courts consider factors including the income and property of each spouse at the time of the marriage and at the time of commencement of the divorce action, the duration of the marriage, the age and health of the parties, the need of a custodial parent to occupy the marital residence, and the loss of inheritance and pension rights. A skilled mediator helps couples navigate the distinction between marital and separate property, address the equitable distribution of complex assets like co-op apartments and restricted stock, calculate maintenance under New York's statutory formula, and structure settlement agreements that account for tax consequences and future financial obligations.

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