Attorney – Special Counsel

Marilyn T. Sugarman, Esq. brings decades of experience in matrimonial law and judicial proceedings to The Mandel Law Firm. Before joining the firm, she worked at a leading matrimonial boutique following her retirement from the New York County Supreme Court, where she served as a Special Referee for 11 years, presiding over hundreds of contested divorce cases and complex financial trials involving high-net-worth individuals.

Ms. Sugarman also served as a Court Attorney for 10 years in a dedicated matrimonial part under Hon. Joan B. Lobis (Ret.), gaining extensive experience in case analysis and trial preparation. Earlier in her career, she worked as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of New York, trying cases in both state and federal courts and arguing appeals.

Currently, she serves as a Court-appointed Special Master, helping resolve discovery disputes to facilitate settlements or move cases toward trial. She is also a trained mediator and private judge, specializing in both family and commercial mediation. A respected educator, Ms. Sugarman has lectured at CLE programs on conducting financial trials before a Special Referee.

Ms. Sugarman earned her J.D. from Brooklyn Law School, where she was Notes Editor for the Brooklyn Journal of International Law and a member of the International Law Moot Court team. She was also recognized for her legal writing with an award for her note, “America’s Responsibility to Amerasian Children: Too Little, Too Late.” She holds a degree in Human Development from Cornell University, providing her with a unique perspective on the personal and financial complexities of family law.