Former Congressman Mondaire Jones Joins Friedman Kaplan

Friedman Kaplan proudly announces that Mondaire Jones has joined the firm as a partner. A former member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Mondaire brings a wealth of legal and public service experience to the firm. He will represent clients across a range of complex commercial litigation and government investigations matters, as well as advise on strategic, policy, and crisis management issues.

During his time in Congress representing New York’s 17th District, Mondaire served on the Judiciary, Education and Labor, and Ethics Committees and was the youngest member of House Democratic leadership. Since 2023, Mondaire has served as a member of the bipartisan U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, where he notably led a groundbreaking report on the civil rights implications of the federal use of facial recognition technology. He is a frequent commentator on broadcast and cable television networks, including CNN, MSNBC, CBS, and NewsNation, is regularly quoted in major national media outlets, and has made dozens of appearances on legal and political podcasts.

Prior to his election to Congress, Mondaire served as Assistant County Attorney in the Westchester County Attorney’s Office, where he managed and litigated dozens of important civil cases across a range of contexts, including breach of contract, employment discrimination, and torts. Before that, he was an associate at Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, where his practice encompassed both civil litigation and white collar criminal defense and investigations.

“We are thrilled to welcome Mondaire to the firm. His significant courtroom experience and litigation background paired with the leadership, strategic, and public relations expertise honed during his time in public service will be a tremendous asset for our clients. Mondaire will enhance Friedman Kaplan’s ability to provide comprehensive strategic support beyond traditional legal representation and help clients navigate the increasingly complex intersection of law, policy, and business,” said Management Committee member Anne E. Beaumont.

“Joining Friedman Kaplan is an exciting opportunity to apply insights from my time in Congress and government service to a private practice setting. I wanted to join a firm that truly partners with its clients and where I can be entrepreneurial and leverage my advocacy skills towards developing litigation strategies to resolve complex business disputes and defend against government investigations. Friedman Kaplan is an excellent fit both from a practice standpoint and for the incredible group of smart, creative, and dedicated attorneys who truly enjoy practicing law,” said Mondaire.

Mondaire’s experience also includes serving as a law clerk to the Honorable Andrew L. Carter, Jr. of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. He is a graduate of Harvard Law School and earned his undergraduate degree from Stanford University.