New York city Self-Defense Attorney
Self-defense (also known as "justification" in New York law) is a nuanced concept, knowledge of which is critical to the defense of any assault, homicide, or any other charge involving an injured or threatened person.
Often, the use or threatened use of physical force is appropriate and a complete defense to criminal charges brought by prosecutors. Many cases alleged by prosecutors to be serious assault cases in fact should not be charged or should result in an acquittal as the result of a successful self-defense argument.
If you have been charged with assault or homicide, you may not be guilty of a crime, even if you were armed with a weapon, the other person was severely injured, and you were not harmed.
A proper case analysis requires determination of several questions, including who the "initial aggressor" in the encounter was and whether the degree of force used was reasonable proportional to the perceived or actual threat.
Proven Success
Mr. Bederow has successfully utilized the defense of justification in several matters. He has gained favorable outcomes for clients by convincing prosecutors to dismiss cases on self-defense principles, successfully asserting the defense before grand juries, and successfully arguing self-defense at trials.
Examples of cases in which Mr. Bederow has gained favorable outcomes for clients by successfully arguing self-defense include:
- Acquittal for a bank trader charged with fracturing the eye socket of a bouncer after a dispute at a Manhattan nightclub
- Acquittal for opera singer charged with assaulting a doctor after a dispute at a Manhattan Trader Joe's store.
- Dismissal of all charges for client who testified on his own behalf before a Manhattan grand jury after he was accused of slashing his attacker, which caused him serious physical injury
For a case evaluation with a New York City criminal defense lawyer, contact the Law Office of Mark A. Bederow, P.C. today. Call (212) 256-9491.

Testimonials
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“Mark stood by me, and my family, from start to finish. When faced with a difficult and trying case involving many complications, Mark handled everything with the utmost professionalism. Even in the ...”
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“There are not enough words to express my gratitude and appreciation for this man and his continuous support and hard work to take care of my case. I was indicted by the prosecutor's office in a sealed ...”
- Said S -
“Mark was recommended by a third party and was a complete unknown. He was very responsive and very knowledgeable while giving me good advice and protecting my interests. Mark did not string me ...”
- R.M. -
“Mark Bederow represented me in an overcharged case that never should have been. He was clear and concise in his explanations. He was always reachable and returned every phone call and email. He walked ...”
- N.P. -
“In 2012, the first time in my life, I had to seek legal representation. I was arrested at a checkpoint in Manhattan. The experience is something I will never forget or wish on anyone. I felt a lot of ...”
- M.O.
