Powerhouse attorney and New York native Jennifer Held of Held, Held & Held is a pillar of justice, empathy and compassion, serving as a beacon of inspiration for all she encounters in and out of the courtroom.

In the wood-paneled hush of a courtroom, Jennifer Held rises, and the room recalibrates around her voice, low, unhurried, carrying the authority of someone who has seen it all during two decades of trial practice. Papers rustle. She leans forward at the exact moment her client’s voice cracks, raises an eyebrow and looks directly in their eyes, gently assuring them that they will be seen and heard. 

A partner at Held, Held & Held, one of New York’s oldest and most respected law firms, she is a third-generation lawyer who leads the litigation department at the firm, turning motor vehicle accidents, slip and falls, municipal liability and labor law claims into wins for clients who are often experiencing the most challenging times of their lives. “Leadership is rooted in fairness, empathy, and the responsibility to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others,” she says. “I let my character speak louder than my title!”

Her professional ties run deep. She is a member of the New York State Bar, the prestigious Nathan R. Sobel Kings County American Inn of Court, the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces and the Supreme Court of the United States. In 2025, she was appointed Associate Justice for the Village of Hewlett Harbor, where she serves the community through the administration of local justice. 

Outside of the courtroom, her greatest joy is her family. It’s special moments with them that keep her grounded and inspire the values she brings to her personal life and professional goals. “Success isn’t just about achievement,” she says. “It’s about making a positive impact and never losing focus on the ultimate goal.”

That, perhaps, is the essence of a woman equally exacting in a courtroom as she is at home, who has decided that justice and love are not separate disciplines, but the same one, practiced daily, in different settings. “I want to be remembered as someone who made a meaningful difference and treated people with kindness, stood up for what was right, and always led with ethics and morality,” she says. “True success is measured not only by professional accomplishments, but by the positive impact we leave on others.”;  HeldHeldAndHeld.com. 

Words Anja Maltav   |    Photos Douglas Holt