Mark H Sobel

For over four decades, Mark has provided strategically insightful counseling and first-chair trial representation in intricate family law matters, with an emphasis on representing professionals, business owners, senior level executives, and their spouses with discretion and empathy.

Broadly regarded as one of the preeminent matrimonial trial lawyers in New Jersey, he is among a very small group of lawyers who are certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Matrimonial Law Attorney, a designation which speaks to his exceptional expertise and diverse experience in his area of practice.

Mark provides counsel across all aspects of family law, including the evaluation and division of financial holdings, property and other marital assets in contested divorce cases, hard-hitting advocacy in separation and divorce proceedings and custody trials, and skilled negotiation of alimony and child support issues. He represents clients in domestic violence trials and in relocation cases, oversees forensic evaluations to determine imputed income, and provides support in the drafting of prenuptial and marital settlement agreements.

Mark represents clients at trial, in mediations and arbitrations, and at post judgment modification and enforcement hearings. His experience also encompasses complex civil litigation, with a particular focus on sophisticated and high value business-related disputes.

American Bar Foundation Fellow

New Jersey State Bar Association; Member Emeritus; Family Law Section, Executive Committee; Section Chair (1997 – 1998); Alimony and Child Support Sub-Committee (past Chair)

Essex County Bar Association; Family Law Committee; Family Bench/Bar Committee; Judicial Appointments Committee (former member)

American Bar Association, Section of Family Law

In Lombardi v. Lombardi (2016), successfully represented the plaintiff securing a precedential New Jersey Appellate Division decision establishing that regular savings is a component of marital lifestyle and must be considered in calculating alimony. The ruling created statewide uniformity and is routinely cited in contested alimony matters throughout New Jersey.

In Isaacson v. Isaacson (2012), defended the obligor and obtained a precedential New Jersey Appellate Division decision confirming that child support, regardless of parental affluence, is subject to reasonable limits. The decision articulated the widely cited “three pony rule,” affirming that a parent is not required to fund unlimited luxuries as part of child support.

In Ciasulli v. Ciasulli (2004), represented the non-titled spouse in a landmark New Jersey divorce case, securing a trial and New Jersey Appellate Division ruling recognizing that, where significant delay occurs between complaint and trial, even an “active” business may experience passive appreciation subject to equitable distribution. Following a period of nearly 10 years, the court awarded the firm’s client millions of dollars in additional distributive share based on post-complaint passive growth.

University of Pennsylvania Law School

J.D.

1978

George Washington University

B.A.

1975