MEET JODI KIMMEL

Born in Toronto, Jodi moved to New York in 1998 to attend law school at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law.  From the beginning of her career, Jodi has been interested in the judicial system.  Jodi's first job after graduating from law school was clerking for a New Jersey Superior Court Judge.  She sought this highly competitive position because she wanted to experience the courtroom from the jurist's side of the bench.  Following her clerkship, Jodi became a litigator and has spent almost 20 years in courtrooms.  Jodi first worked for celebrity divorce lawyer, Raoul Lionel Felder, and then in 2004, Jodi and her husband started their own family law practice.

Family law has been a natural fit for Jodi, enabling her to truly connect with her clients while devoting herself to matters that are deeply personal and important to her individual clients. 

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Family law is an area of the law that touches all aspects of people's lives and encompasses different areas of the law including criminal, landlord/tenant, and trusts and estates - issues that also come before a Town Justice. 

In her practice, Jodi has had the opportunity to appear in many different state courts (Supreme Court, Family Court, Civil Court, the Surrogate's Court, and the Appellate Division); Federal Court; as well as the Bedford Town Court.  

 A cause close to Jodi's heart also brought her to family law: domestic violence advocacy.  In high school she was introduced to this intimate form of violence where 85% of the survivors are female. 

 During her undergraduate years at McGill University, Jodi volunteered to educate high school students and advise survivors.  Jodi then continued to volunteer at domestic violence centers while at law school and then as a practicing attorney.  Providing safe, dignified options for survivors has been a key part of Jodi's personal and professional life ever since.

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Jodi and Brett moved to Bedford Hills in 2008 where they live with their daughters, Zephyr and Ottilie, who attend Fox Lane Middle School. 

Jodi is very involved in many different areas of the community.  She is presently co-president of the parent-teacher organization at Fox Lane Middle School; she sits on the Parent President Committee for parent presidents throughout the Bedford Central School District and she helps raise funds for the Foundation for Bedford Central Schools.  Jodi chaired the Town of Bedford's Complete Count Committee for the 2020 Census. She drives a route for Bedford's Meals on Wheels program, and she was part of Bedford's COVID-19 volunteer program. 

Jodi is a past president of Temple Shaaray Tefila in Bedford Corners.  In 2018, Jodi was named part of The Bedford 25: the Most Dedicated, Most Creative, Most Influential.

LEGAL EXPERIENCE & BAR ADMISSIONS

Law Firm of Brett Kimmel, P.C.                                                  

Partner, September 2004 - present

Law Firm of Raoul Lionel Felder, P.C.                                     

Associate Attorney, September 2002 - June 2004            

The Honorable Lee B. Laskin, Superior Court                    

Law Clerk, August 2001 - September 2002

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Supreme Court, Appellate Division of New York, Third Department, May 2002

Southern District of New York, November 2002

COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP/VOLUNTEER POSITIONS

Fox Lane High School

Parent Liaison for the class of 2025

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Bedford Central School District Secondary Task Force | Summer 2020 

Member of the task force responsible for helping to structure the academic aspect of re-entry for the 2020-21 school year.  

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Town of Bedford Meals on Wheels Program | Spring 2020 - Present                               

Volunteer

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New York State Bar Association | Spring 2020 - Winter 2020

COVID-19 Pro Bono Network

Assisted with Unemployment Insurance/Pandemic Unemployment Assistance claims, and was part of a group of lawyers who worked with Governor Cuomo’s office to effect changes to the claims system.  

Bedford COVID-19 Volunteer Effort | Spring - Fall 2020

Assisted homebound residents with obtaining groceries, prescription medications, etc.

Chris Burdick for NYS Assembly Campaign | Winter 2019 - Spring 2020                                

Bedford Field Coordinator for the campaign

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Chair of the Town of Bedford's Complete Count Committee | Fall 2019 - Fall 2020                  

Foundation for Bedford Central Schools | Winter 2019 - 2020                                         

Member of the Host Committee for the 2020 Fundraiser

Fox Lane Middle School                                                                      

Co-President | Fox Lane Middle School Association | June 2019 - present

Member | BCSD’s Parent President Committee | June 2019 - present

Yearbook Co-Editor | Summer 2020 - Present

School Photographer | Fall 2019 - Present

Member of the Fox Lane Middle School Association | September 2018 - Present

Enrichment Coordinator | Fall 2018 - Present

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West Patent Elementary School

Member of West Patent Elementary School Association | Fall 2012 - Spring 2020

Class Parent | Fall 2012 - Spring 2020

Yearbook Co-Editor and School Photographer | Fall 2014 - Spring 2020

Fifth Grade Coordinator | June 2019 - June 2020

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SPCA of Westchester

Canine Companion | Fall 2019 - Present       

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Bedford Democratic Committee

District Leader | Fall 2018 - Present

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The Bedford 25                                                                                           

Most Dedicated, Most Creative, Most Influential | 2018 Honoree

Temple Shaaray Tefila                                                                 

Temple President | May 2018 - June 2019

Officer on Board of Trustees (VP of Education) | June 2016 - June 2019   

Trustee on Board of Trustees | June 2015 - June 2019

Book Fair Chair | 2015 - Present

Purim Carnival Co-Chair | 2014 - 2020

Chair of the Education Committee | June 2013 - May 2018

Class Parent | 2009 - 2020

The Hon. Samuel G. Fredman Leadership Development Institute 

Westchester Jewish Council                                                             

The Institute biennially trains the next generation of Jewish leaders in Westchester County.

Selected to be part of the 2017-18 class.

EDUCATION

Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law                                                     

Juris Doctor | June 2001

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Honors:           

Moot Court Honor Society: Member 1999, Editorial Board Member 2000

Charles H. Revson Law Student Public Interest Fellowship, Summer 2000       

Activities:        

Monroe Paulsen Competition in Criminal Law: selected as bench memo author

BMI Intellectual Property Competition: twice selected as bench memo author

John Marshall Technology Law Competition: selected as bench memo author

Civil and Criminal Litigation Seminar, Summer 1999

McGill University 

Honors Bachelor of Arts with First Class Honors | February 1998

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Honors:           

Golden Key Honor Society; Dean’s Honor List: 1995-98

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Activities:        

Art History Students’ Association, President, 1997-98; Member 1995-98

Council Member: McGill University Students’ Association of the Arts, 1995-98

Student Advocate at the Sexual Assault Centre of the McGill Students’ Society (SACOMSS), 1994-98

Studied abroad at Centro Linguistico Italiano Dante Alighieri, Florence, Italy

Recipient of Academic Scholarship

AFFILIATIONS

Bedford Audubon Society

Bedford Democratic Committee

Bedford Historical Society

Bedford Playhouse

Bedford Riding Lanes Association

Bedford Hills Neighborhood Association

Bedford Hills Women’s Club

Friends of John Jay Homestead

Justice Brandeis Law Society

Katonah Museum of Art

New York State Bar Association

Westchester Women’s Bar Association

(Member of the Domestic Violence Committee)

Westchester County Bar Association

Westchester Domestic Violence Council

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