A native New Yorker, Mr. Friedman attended the highly competitive Bronx High School of Science. He achieved an academic scholarship to the University of Michigan and worked his way through college higher. He took a year off from his studies to volunteer on a kibbutz in Israel’s North Galilee, gaining a first-hand perspective on politics and culture of the region.
Earning a B.A. in Economics with honors in 1953, Theodore H. Friedman began his career with Goldman Sachs’ arbitrage department. He subsequently earned a James Ames Scholarship to attend Harvard Law School. Mr. Friedman obtained his J.D. in 1956 and pursued prominent trial work involving representation of seamen seeking damages under the Jones Act for injuries sustained while working as crew.
Prior to establishing his own private practice, Friedman was a Partner and trial attorney with the prominent New York firm Phillips Nizer, LLP, for a decade. Since the 1970s, he has tried a number of high-profile cases, including representing clients such as the Jimi Hendrix estate, actor George C. Scott, and boxing legend Muhammad Ali. Mr. Friedman has been tried a number of precedent-setting cases, including Nallan v. Helmsley-Spear, Inc. (50 NY2d 507), which established rules pertaining to commercial landlord liability in New York City.