Cary B. Cheifetz is of counsel in the Family Law Practice Group at A.Y. Strauss. With decades of experience and a national reputation in family law, Cary brings a distinguished career as a trial attorney, mediator, arbitrator, and expert witness to the firm. He is widely known for his depth of knowledge, clarity of counsel, and steadfast commitment to advancing the field of family law in New Jersey and beyond.

His practice focuses on complex divorce and custody matters, high-net-worth marital dissolutions, and family law issues involving bankruptcy, professional malpractice, and jurisdictional challenges. He is frequently retained as an expert witness in cases requiring nuanced analysis and testimony. Clients and colleagues alike value his strategic mindset, professionalism, and his ability to navigate emotionally charged disputes with insight and precision.

A respected leader in the legal community, Cary has held numerous high-level positions in both state and national organizations. He currently serves as a Diplomate of the American College of Family Trial Lawyers and has been on the faculty of the New Jersey Judicial College and the New Jersey Family Part Judges Retreat. He has long contributed to the advancement of family law through his scholarship, public speaking, and mentorship, having lectured for organizations such as the ABA, ALI, and AICPA.

Prior to joining A.Y. Strauss, Cary served as Special Counsel at a well-regarded regional firm, where he built a widely respected practice dedicated to matrimonial and family law, mediation and arbitration, and expert witness services. Before that, he was a founding partner of Ceconi & Cheifetz, a boutique matrimonial law firm.

Publications

• New Jersey Family Law (2nd Edition, Lexis-Nexis 2009), Co-Author
• Valuation Strategies in Divorce (2nd Edition, John Wiley & Sons)
• Valuing Professional Practices and Licenses: A Guide for the Matrimonial Practitioner (2nd Edition, Prentice Hall Law & Business).

Honors, Awards & Recognitions

• Best Lawyers in America, Family Law
• Super Lawyers, New Jersey 2005 – 2025
• Chambers, Ranked Band 1: Family/Matrimonial – High Net Worth
• Diplomate, American College of Family Trial Attorneys
• Fellow, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Foundation
• Faculty, New Jersey Judicial College
• Faculty, New Jersey Family Part Judges Retreat
• Recipient, Gerald B. O’Connor Award by New Jersey Association for Justice
• Recipient, Saul Tischler Award for Career Achievement in Family Law from the New Jersey State Bar Association
• Recipient, Distinguished Service Award for Excellence in Continuing Legal Education from NJICLE
• Recipient, Essex County Bar Association Family Law Achievement Award

Professional Activities

• Past Secretary, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Foundation
• Past Chair, Essex County Bar Association Family Law Executive Committee
• Past Chair, New Jersey State Bar Association Family Law Executive Committee
• Past President, Essex County Bar Association
• Past President, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, New Jersey Chapter
• Former Adjunct Professor of Law, Seton Hall University Law School
• Guest Lecturer, Rutgers University School of Law
• Guest Lecturer, Kean University
• Former Co-Managing Editor, New Jersey Family Lawyer