About Dawn M Cardi

Member, Pace University Law Review, 1978-1979. Member, Assigned Counsel Screening Panel and Certified Law Guardian in the First Department, Appellate Division. General Counsel, Advanced Immunity Inc. Past-Arbitrator, NASD.

Ms. Cardi began her legal career in 1979 as a staff attorney for the Legal Aid Society, Criminal Division, where she was promoted to supervisor of trial attorneys.

In 1987, she was appointed Assistant Attorney General in the New York State Department of Law, in the division of Investor Protection and Security Fraud, where she received the New York State Special Achievement Award for successfully supervising a six-month, $34 million security fraud trial on behalf of the New York State Attorney General’s Office.

From 1990 to 1992, Dawn practiced corporate law and began her practice in matrimonial and family law as an associate at Baden, Kramer, Huffman, Brodsky & Go.

In 1992, Dawn opened her own firm, which evolved into Cardi & Edgar LLP in 2013 and continues to this date. Over the past three decades, Dawn has focused her practice on matrimonial and family law, and state and federal criminal defense as a trier of her own cases and as trial counsel for other attorneys.

In addition to pursuing her busy legal practice, Dawn is committed to public service. She performs extensive pro-bono work for the Network for Women’s Services, Sanctuary for Families’ Center for Battered Women’s Legal Services, New York Legal Assistance Corporation and other organizations.

She has served on the Board of Directors for the Brooklyn Philharmonic, the Maternity Center Association (now called the Childbirth Connection), Brooklyn Young Mother’s Collective (BYMC), HOPE Charity and was a member of Community Board 6, and its various committees, in Brooklyn, New York where she lives with her husband and family.

 

Awards

Reviews for Dawn

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Showing 1-6 of 6 client reviews from Lawyers.com
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5 stars
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1 star
83%
What do people say on Lawyers.com?
Communication
2.0
Quality of Service
1.7
Responsiveness
1.8
Value for Money
1.7
Family Law
Posted by anonymous
December 04, 2008
Hired Attorney

too busy to pay attention to the details needed to prosecute my case effectively; ill prepared when needed i needed her most with disastrous results.

Family Law
Posted by anonymous
November 08, 2016
Hired Attorney

Used Dawn Cardi for basic family related legal documents. We agreed upon a exact fee for her services. Her billing was way beyond what we agreed to from the beginning. She did not do any additional work besides what we planned and discussed. When I discussed the billing she blamed her 'secretary'. She still only adjusted the billing partially. Had to finally complain that I would escalate the overcharging to the State and she immediately adjusted the bill as we originally agreed.

 
Family Law
Posted by Devin
November 01, 2025
Hired Attorney

The Most Devastating Legal Experience of My Life I hired Cardi & Edgar LLP (Dawn Cardi) after surviving brutal domestic violence. My ex broke my face, nearly killed me, then moved out of state and later flew back to New York solely to file a retaliatory order of protection to silence me. I told the firm I wanted the case handled correctly and efficiently and had no interest in pouring endless money into fees. They promised a quick one-and-done matter for a $5,000 retainer. Instead, the judge’s bias was blatant and later confirmed by the court, yet they stayed silent. My abuser filed false police reports and they did nothing while I cried in fear of arrest and wrote my own affidavits. They allowed invasive subpoenas into my private messages, drained my retainer, and then pursued about $70,000 for work they barely did. Their negligence destroyed my case, my civil claim, and years of my life. They abandoned me when I was most vulnerable. Avoid this firm completely.

 
Family Law
Posted by anonymous
February 04, 2010
Hired Attorney

Did not prepared for case. Dishonest person. Making money on phone calls.

Family Law
Posted by anonymous
August 15, 2010
Hired Attorney
Family Law
Posted by anonymous
August 14, 2010
Hired Attorney

Services

Areas of Law

  • Other 5
    • Criminal Defense
    • Family
    • Matrimonial Law
    • Federal Litigation
    • State Litigation

Practice Details

  • Payment Information
    Payment & Cost Features
    Fixed hourly rates
    Fixed fees available
    Accepted Credit Cards
    American Express
    MasterCard
    Visa
  • Firm Information
    Position
    Partner
    Firm Name
    Cardi & Edgar LLP
    Firm Onwership
    Minority Owned
  • Additional Links

Experience

  • Bar Admission & Memberships
    Admissions
    1980, New York
    1987, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
    1987, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York
    U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
    Memberships
    The Association of the Bar of the City of New York (Member: Women in the Courts Committee, 1988-1993
    Children and the Law Committee, 1999—
    Matrimonial Law, 2008)
    New York State (Member, Family Law Committee, 2000—) and American (Member, Sections on: Criminal Justice Litigation
    Family Law) Bar Associations
    Brooklyn Women's Bar Association (Member, Legislative Committee)
    New York County Lawyers (Member, Committees on: Criminal Law
    Securities and Exchange
    Matrimonial, 1999—)
    New York Women's Bar Association (Co-chair, Matrimonial Law Committee)
    Childbirth Connection (Member, Board of Directors).
  • Education & Certifications
    Law School
    Pace University
    Class of 1979
    J.D.
    Other Education
    Fordham University
    Class of 1973
    B.A.
    cum laude

    Columbia University
  • Personal Details & History
    Age
    Born in 1951
    Brooklyn, New York

Contact Dawn M Cardi

Partner at Cardi & Edgar LLP
3.3
20 reviews

99 Madison Avenue, 8th FloorNew York, NY 10016U.S.A.

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Office Hours:
  • Monday 09:30 AM - 05:30 PM
  • Tuesday 09:30 AM - 05:30 PM
  • Wednesday 09:30 AM - 05:30 PM
  • Thursday 09:30 AM - 05:30 PM
  • Friday 09:30 AM - 05:30 PM
  • Saturday By appointment
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Attorneys FAQs

  • What year was this attorney first admitted to the bar?
    Dawn M Cardi was admitted in 1980 to the State of New York.
  • Does this attorney offer any legal services for a flat fee?
    Yes, Dawn M Cardi offers fixed fees for certain legal services.
  • How many attorneys are in this law firm?
    Cardi & Edgar LLP has 7 attorneys at this location.
  • What year was this attorney's law firm established?
    Cardi & Edgar LLP was established in 2014.
  • Is this attorney listed in the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers?
    Dawn M Cardi is listed in the Family Law section of the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers.