Fred Lichtmacher

Founder and Lead Attorney

Fred Lichtmacher has fearlessly backed his clients by holding abusers of power accountable and going against governmental abuse. His decades of legal experience and commitment to representing clients with the utmost vigor have resulted in an extensive body of successful victories. “It is the greatest privilege of my life to be able to stand up for those facing the worst catastrophes of their lives,” says Lichtmacher. His sheer intolerance of systemic injustices victimizing vulnerable groups drives his passionate persistence in standing up to oppression.

Prior to his legal career, Lichtmacher spent the first 17 years of his working life as a jazz musician. He went on to attend Queens College, graduating magna cum laude with a B.A. in English Literature. While working to support his young children, Lichtmacher attended Hofstra University and won the annual trial competition before graduating with a J.D.

Lichtmacher’s zeal and devotion for equality have effectively advanced the civil rights of New Yorkers by setting a new standard for the treatment of sexual harassment cases. Lichtmacher’s impact has validated the voices of these victims, their trauma, and their realities, by fighting to change the way their suits brought pursuant to the New York City Human Rights Law are evaluated. Clients can now win based on a totality of the circumstances evaluation, instead of having to meet the more stringent and difficult-to-prove severe and pervasive standard demanded by Federal Law. Lichtmacher’s legal strides have also changed the way police brutality cases are handled in New York City. Largely due to his victory in defending the young daughter of Shirley Fontanez, if the NYPD receives a complaint about an off-duty officer acting violently, they must follow up on the incident or be liable for the officer’s violent acts.

As a person who represents many rape victims, Fred is greatly moved by this quote from rape victim Gisèle Pelicot, who waived her right to anonymity in her 2024 rape trial, saying “shame must change sides.”

Fred Lichtmacher is a battle-tested, unflinching, and skilled trial attorney who tirelessly fights for any client he takes on, making it his mission for their voices and stories to come out of the dark and be validated through results.

Education:

• J.D, Hofstra University
• B.A., Queens College

State Bar Admissions:

• New York State Bar

Federal Court Admissions:

• Eastern District of New York
• Southern District of New York
• Northern District of New York