Derek Freed is a founding partner of SeidenFreed LLC, where he also serves as the managing partner. He has been admitted to practice law in New Jersey since 2000. He has handled many complex matrimonial matters, including cases that were tried to their conclusion. He appears regularly before the Family Part throughout New Jersey. He has litigated matters relating to virtually all aspects of family law at the trial court level, and has successfully represented clients in the New Jersey Appellate Division in matters involving issues such as allocation of college tuition and expenses, enforcement of property settlement agreements, equitable distribution, alimony, child support, custody, and parenting time. Along with Barbara Ulrichsen, Derek successfully argued the matter of A.B. v. S.E.W., 175 N.J. 588 (2003), before the New Jersey Supreme Court.

Derek is qualified as a mediator under New Jersey Court Rule 1:40. He represents clients in mediations and serves as an independent mediator for court-appointed mediations and private mediations. He has mediated an exhaustive range of family law issues including complex property division, trusts, establishing and modifying support and child custody. He recognizes that mediation empowers clients by giving them control and flexibility over the terms of the resolution. As a mediator, Derek spends time listening to both parties to understand the core issues of their disputes in an attempt to help them reach a reasonable resolution. Derek is also certified by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers as an arbitrator.

Derek served as Chair of the Executive Committee of the Family Law Section of the New Jersey State Bar Association for the 2022-2023 term. As Chair, Derek evaluated proposed legislation that impacts the practice of family law, worked as a liaison between family law practitioners and the Court, set initiatives for the section to improve the practice of family law, and planned continuing legal education seminars for family law attorneys including the Family Law Symposium, and the Family Law track of the New Jersey State Bar Association Annual Meeting. In his role as Chair, Derek also testified before the New Jersey State Senate and Assembly on pending legislation impacting the practice of family law. Prior to becoming Chair, Derek served on the Executive Committee for over a decade and has sat on several subcommittees such as the college contribution subcommittee and legislation subcommittee. While on the college contribution subcommittee Derek was instrumental in drafting model legislation.

In 2023, Derek received The New Jersey State Bar Association Distinguished Legislative Service Award for his work on pending State legislation regarding domestic violence. Additionally, in 2023, Derek testified on behalf of the New Jersey State Bar Association regarding proposed Family Court Rule changes, including the new court rule governing parent coordination. Derek now assists with the training given by the Institute of Continuing Legal Education of New Jersey to lawyers and mental health professionals who wish to become parent coordinators.

In 2015, Derek was recognized for his efforts on behalf of the New Jersey State Bar Association having co-authored the amicus curiae brief submitted to the New Jersey Supreme Court in the case of Gnall v. Gnall, 222 N.J. 414 (2015). In 2017, he co-authored the amicus curiae brief submitted to the New Jersey Supreme Court in the case of Bisbing v. Bisbing, 230 N.J. 309 (2017). In 2023, Derek also co-authored the amicus curiae brief of behalf of the New Jersey State Bar Association in the matter of Cardali v. Cardali, 255 N.J. 85 (2023).

Derek is presently the Executive Editor of the New Jersey Family Lawyer, which is a New Jersey State Bar Association publication. He is also a member of the Matrimonial Lawyers Alliance. He has lectured on various family law topics for the Institute of Continuing Legal Education of New Jersey and frequently lectures at the New Jersey State Bar Association Family Law Symposium, as well as the New Jersey State Bar Association Annual Bar Convention.

Derek was recognized as the “Lawyer of the Year” in Family Law in Princeton by Best Lawyers in America in 2024. He was selected for inclusion in the New Jersey Super Lawyers edition every year between 2014 and 2025 and has been listed in Best Lawyers by The Best Lawyers in America between 2013 and 2019, and 2023 to 2025. The Super Lawyers List is issued by Thompson Reuters. A description of the selection methodology can be found here. Visit here for the selection methodology for Best Lawyers. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.

Derek also serves as a panelist for the Mercer County and Somerset County Matrimonial Early Settlement Program. The Matrimonial Early Settlement Program is a program used by the courts to help divorcing couples reach an agreement on the economic terms of their divorce instead of going to trial. Panelists are selected by the Presiding Judge of the Family Part in each county and make recommendations on how equitable distribution, child support and alimony should be resolved after reviewing the facts presented in each case. Panelists must be experienced family law attorneys.

Derek graduated from Rutgers School of Law–Camden with honors in 2000 and the College of William and Mary with a bachelor’s degree in History. He practiced at Fox Rothschild with Wendy Rosen and Barbara Ulrichsen. In 2006, Derek, Wendy, and Barbara left Fox Rothschild and formed Ulrichsen Rosen & Freed LLC, which merged with Seiden Family Law in 2025.

Derek was born and raised near Atlantic City, New Jersey. He currently resides in Hopewell, New Jersey, with his wife, Alexandra, and their daughter, Mary Dylan, and son, John Angelo. His outside interests include music and biographies. He enjoys watching basketball and is a citizen of Red Sox nation.