“Few family lawyers have achieved the stature and recognition of Raoul Felder. For decades, he has stood at the pinnacle of matrimonial law, representing celebrities, business leaders, royalty and ultra high net worth individuals in some of the most high-profile family disputes in America. Renowned for his strategic brilliance, commanding advocacy and mastery of negotiation, he has shaped the landscape of modern divorce practice while earning a reputation as one of the most influential family lawyers of his generation. His extraordinary career reflects not only legal excellence, but an enduring ability to guide clients through complex personal and financial challenges at the highest level.”

Fantastic Lawyers® Editorial 2026

Raoul Felder is one of the best-known family and matrimonial lawyers in the United States and has long been regarded as one of the most powerful divorce attorneys in the world.

Based in New York, he has spent decades representing high-profile individuals, celebrities, executives, royalty, entrepreneurs and ultra high net worth families in complex divorce and family law disputes.

His practice spans every aspect of family law, including divorce, custody disputes, paternity matters, pre-nuptial agreements, post-nuptial agreements and complex financial litigation.

What Raoul Felder does

Raoul specialises in high-stakes family law disputes, including:

• High net worth and ultra high net worth divorce
• Celebrity and public figure divorce
• Child custody and parenting disputes
• Paternity litigation
• Pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements
• Complex asset division
• Cross-border family disputes
• Family business and wealth protection matters
• Royal family and international client representation

His client list reads like a who’s who of international business, entertainment, politics, sport and public life.

Why he stands out

Raoul has built a reputation that extends far beyond the legal profession. Throughout his career he has become synonymous with high-profile divorce litigation and has been trusted to handle some of the most sensitive and complex family disputes in America.

His approach combines strategic thinking, formidable advocacy and practical negotiation skills developed over decades of handling headline-making cases.

Clients seek him out not only for his legal expertise but also for his ability to navigate the personal, financial and public relations challenges that often accompany high-value family disputes.

Representing some of the world’s most recognisable names

Over the course of his career, Raoul has represented an extraordinary range of clients, including international celebrities, athletes, artists, authors, politicians, royalty and business leaders.

His notable matters have involved figures including:

• Rudolph Giuliani
• Robin Givens in her divorce from Mike Tyson
• Her Highness The Begum Aga Khan
• Elizabeth Taylor’s former husband
• Anthony Quinn’s wife
• Tom Clancy’s wife
• Claude Picasso, son of Pablo Picasso
• James Gandolfini
• Riddick Bowe
• Carol Channing
• Stephanie Seymour
• Alex Wildenstein
• Numerous ambassadors, royalty, business leaders and public figures

He has also handled prominent paternity cases involving globally recognised entertainers and athletes.

Legal leadership and public service

Alongside his private practice, Raoul has held a remarkable number of public appointments and leadership positions.

Early in his career he served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York following appointment by Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy.

He later served as Chairman of the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct, the body responsible for overseeing judicial conduct across New York State.

His public service has also included appointments to:

• New York State Commission on Child Abuse
• New York City Cultural Affairs Advisory Commission
• Committee on Character and Fitness for Bar Admissions
• Board of Directors of the New York City Economic Development Corporation
• Board of Advisors for Court TV

Author, commentator and legal educator

Raoul is one of the most widely recognised legal commentators in the United States.

He has appeared regularly on major television programmes including:

• The Today Show
• 20/20
• Nightline
• CNN
• Court TV

He also hosted The Felder Report and has written extensively on family law and negotiation.

His books include:

• The Good Divorce
• Divorce: The Way Things Are, Not the Way Things Should Be
• Bare-Knuckle Negotiation

His articles and commentary have appeared in publications including The New York Times and The New York Law Journal.

Recognition and honours

Raoul’s achievements have earned widespread recognition throughout the legal profession and beyond.

• Named by the National Law Journal as one of America’s 100 Most Powerful Lawyers
• Honorary Fellow in Jurisprudence, Oxford University
• Listed in Who’s Who in America
• Listed in Who’s Who in American Law
• Listed in Who’s Who in the World
• Recipient of the Defender of Jerusalem Award
• Recipient of the Crimebuster Award
• Recipient of the Child Abuse Prevention Service Award

His reputation as a family lawyer has remained at the forefront of the profession for decades.

Education

• B.A., New York University
• University of Bern College of Medicine, Switzerland
• J.D., New York University School of Law