Dawn M. Cardi Esq. - New York, NY
Attorney at Cardi & Edgar LLP
Matrimonial and Family Law Lawyers in New York, NY
99 Madison Avenue 8th Floor New York, NY 10016
- 1 Super Lawyers®
-
46
Years
Experience
New York Matrimonial and Family Law Lawyer
Updated: 02/16/2026
Areas of Practice
- Matrimonial and Family Law
- State and Federal Criminal Defense
Attorney Information
Overview
Ms. Cardi began her legal career in 1979 as a staff attorney for the Legal Aid Society, Criminal Division, where she was promoted to supervisor of trial attorneys.
In 1987, she was appointed Assistant Attorney General in the New York State Department of Law, in the division of Investor Protection and Security Fraud, where she received the New York State Special Achievement Award for successfully supervising a six-month, $34 million security fraud trial on behalf of the New York State Attorney General’s Office.
From 1990 to 1992, Dawn practiced corporate law and began her practice in matrimonial and family law as an associate at Baden, Kramer, Huffman, Brodsky & Go.
In 1992, Dawn opened her own firm, which evolved into Cardi & Edgar LLP in 2013 and continues to this date. Over the past three decades, Dawn has focused her practice on matrimonial and family law, and state and federal criminal defense as a trier of her own cases and as trial counsel for other attorneys.
In addition to pursuing her busy legal practice, Dawn is committed to public service. She performs extensive pro-bono work for the Network for Women’s Services, Sanctuary for Families’ Center for Battered Women’s Legal Services, New York Legal Assistance Corporation and other organizations.
She has served on the Board of Directors for the Brooklyn Philharmonic, the Maternity Center Association (now called the Childbirth Connection), Brooklyn Young Mother’s Collective (BYMC), HOPE Charity and was a member of Community Board 6, and its various committees, in Brooklyn, New York where she lives with her husband and family.
PRESENTATIONS
Dawn is regularly invited to teach courses and lecture on topics related to trial advocacy, criminal and matrimonial law (including topics on custody litigation by fathers, rape trauma and Battered Women’s Syndrome) in such forums as bar associations and law schools, where she also conducts NITA trial advocacy programs.
Dawn is also a sought-after and frequent commentator on national television, newspapers, magazines, and radio programs, where she has provided opinion and commentary on such high-profile cases as the O.J. Simpson trial, the Duke rape case, the “Nanny” case, Anna Nicole Smith and Brittany Spears.
Awards and Honors
Other Sources of Feedback About Dawn M. Cardi Esq.
Included on the 2026 New York Metro Super Lawyers list
Past Lists
- 2025 New York Metro Super Lawyers list
- 2024 New York Metro Super Lawyers list
- 2023 New York Metro Super Lawyers list
- 2022 New York Metro Super Lawyers list
- 2021 New York Metro Super Lawyers list
- 2020 New York Metro Super Lawyers list
- 2019 New York Metro Super Lawyers list
- 2018 New York Metro Super Lawyers list
- 2017 New York Metro Super Lawyers list
- 2016 New York Metro Super Lawyers list
- 2015 New York Metro Super Lawyers list
- 2014 New York Metro Super Lawyers list
Education
-
Legal Education
-
Pace University School of Law,
White Plains,
New York, 1979
J.D.
Law Review: Pace University Law Review, Member
-
Pace University School of Law,
White Plains,
New York, 1979
-
Non Legal Education
-
Fordham University, 1973
B.A.
Honors: cum laude
-
Fordham University, 1973
Past Positions
- Baden, Kramer, Huffman, Brodsky & Go., Associate, 1990 - 1992
- Assistant Attorney General in the New York State Department of Law
Pro Bono Activities
- Board of Directors for the Brooklyn Philharmonic
- Maternity Center Association
- Brooklyn Young Mother’s Collective (BYMC)
- HOPE Charity
- Community Board 6
Bar Admissions
- New York, 1979
Other Affiliations
- Member of the Matrimonial Law Committee, Association of the Bar of the City of New York
- Member of Women in the Law Committee, Association of the Bar of the City of New York
- Member of Children’s Law Committee, Association of the Bar of the City of New York
- Secretary of the Association, New York Women’s Bar Association
- Co-Chair of the Matrimonial Committee, New York Women’s Bar Association
- Co-Chair of the LGBTQ Committee, New York Women’s Bar Association
- Co-Chair of the Judiciary Committee, New York Women’s Bar Association
- Member of the Family Law section, New York State Trial Lawyers Association
- 18B Screening Committee for Criminal Law, Appellate Division, First Department
- Member of the Homicide, Appellate and Felony Panels, Appellate Division, First Department
- Certified Law Guardian, Appellate Division, First Department
- Member of the Neutral Evaluator Committee (to assist in the settlement of contested matrimonial matters)
- , Women’s Bar Association of New York State
- New York State Criminal Bar Association
- National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- New York County Lawyers Association
Photo
Contact
99 Madison Avenue
8th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Phone: 212-481-7770
Fax: 212-271-0665
Email: Send a message
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