Ira is widely recognized by peers and judges as one of New York’s premier matrimonial attorneys. He has been listed among the “Best Lawyers in America” since 2008 and has held a Preeminent Rating (“AV”) in the Martindale-Hubbell directory for the past fifteen years, reflecting both his legal acumen and ethical standards. Since 2006, Ira has also been featured in the “Super Lawyers” section of the New York Times Magazine and New York Magazine as one of the top attorneys in the New York Metropolitan Area.
Ira began his legal career as assistant counsel to the Judicial Relations Committee, where he investigated judicial misconduct. He then worked as a law assistant to the Justices of the Appellate Division and served for two years as law secretary to the Honorable Arthur Markewich.
Entering private practice in 1978 as a commercial litigator, Ira established his own firm in 1985, focusing primarily on Family Law. He has since been a frequent lecturer at the Bar Association and Continuing Legal Education programs, and has taught trial advocacy as an Adjunct Professor of Law at St. John’s Law School. While Ira is experienced in both trial and appellate law, he believes that matrimonial matters are best resolved through agreement. He states, “An agreement is limited only by the creativity of the parties and their lawyers, while a court must adhere to the Domestic Relations Law, which cannot provide the detailed and precise solutions that fair-minded attorneys negotiating in good faith can achieve.”
Despite his preference for settlements, Ira is often sought out by other matrimonial attorneys to serve as trial or appellate counsel in complex cases. He is also frequently called upon to mediate disputes or assist in settling cases where the parties are at an impasse.
