Five minutes on the phone with Christopher J. Chimeri and you realize he’s no ordinary lawyer.

“I refuse to accept the status quo for people,” he says. “I’m known as the MacGyver of Long Island Divorce Law,” he laughs, although he really means it. “It’s something I’m proud of – to be known as someone who can creatively assess the issues with the case. “

A tireless lawyer, litigator and leading New York lawyer in marriage and family law, Chimeri has a long list of distinguished awards and honors, including “Leaders in Law” (Forbes), “Premiere Trial Attorney” (American Academy of Trial Attorneys) and a “10 out of 10, superb” rating on Avvo.com, one of the leading lawyer review sites.

His manners, conviction and compassion speak louder than any Super Lawyer list.

“When someone comes to hire me, I think they put the trust of their life in my hands and I have to handle it appropriately,” says Chimeri, who says she keeps a box of Kleenex on her desk, aware. that breaking up a family means “something traumatic has often happened to this person”.

“They’ve been served papers, their spouse is having an affair… my job is to help them focus… and within the confines of the legal system, I’m trying to find practical solutions,” he explains. “It’s very rarely the end of the line for that person,” he says. “In general, there are measures that can be taken or personal measures. “

Born, raised and educated on Long Island, Chimeri was a competitive wrestler in high school and college. Now he is often grappling with difficult cases.

“Substance abuse, financial malfeasance of one of the spouses… I manage the whole range of any problem that could be part of the breakdown of a family unit, married or not, and of the custody of the children,” says -he.

His decision to focus on family law and family relations arose, in part, from his own family experiences.

“My parents are both lovely people but their divorce was contentious,” reveals Chimeri. “I have lived with and experienced quite a bit of discord during this period of my life, starting at the age of 12.”

While at university, to complete a restaurant job, he sought a low-paying internship at a law firm that primarily dealt with family, divorce and marriage law.

“At that time, I was also coming out – it was long before same-sex marriage – and one of the cases involved two women who had been in a relationship for 20 years, they had property and children together. I was involved in this case – not yet as a lawyer – and just saw the need for community members to have an advocate and a voice that understands the unique dynamic that drives same-sex relationships. “

Chimeri opened his own practice in Massapequa and, as his practice expanded into Suffolk County, a presentation to lawyer Joseph Quatela turned out to be a ‘match made in heaven’.

“Joe had been practicing for 35 years, and we got along well in terms of our business goals and the nature of our respective practices,” says Chimeri. In May 2015, the two combined their practices.

Today Quatela Chimeri PLLC is a full service law firm with 16 attorneys and offices in Hauppauge and Garden City. Chimeri oversees her areas of matrimonial and family law and appellate practice, and describes the firm’s approach as “collaborative”.

“I have a large percentage of same-sex divorces because I’m a go-to for gay clients who go through it, but it’s as much a function of being a gay man as it is of being a good divorce lawyer,” Chimeri explains. , who was married. to his life partner Dennis for 10 years. “I’m probably the luckiest, most married man you can find,” he says.

Chimeri has been recognized as a leader in representing LGBTQ families and has argued historic appeal cases that have shaped the landscape over the past decade in New York City. He is also the co-founder and recent co-chair of the LGBTQ + legal committee of the Suffolk County Bar Association, “dedicated to emerging issues that particularly affect gay and lesbian clients.”

“The legal system in general, and the courts on Long Island in particular, have been extremely open-minded in handling gay and lesbian cases,” Chimeri said. “Nassau and Suffolk County have really made a concerted effort to learn and afford to be educated about trans issues,” he says, adding, “It’s very encouraging.

Her best advice if you’re struggling with a personal or family problem? “It is always advisable to get legal advice, even if you only have legal questions… arm yourself with information… not“ disinformation ”on the Internet. A consultation is never bad, ”he says.

Ultimately, Chimeri says the most satisfying part of his job is “knowing that the client has left me in a better position than when he hired me.”

He adds, “Teachers always told my parents that I was a welcoming and caring person. I like to get to the heart of what someone is going through, so I think it helps me in my arsenal to properly help a client and make a connection – because I really care.

Quatela Chimeri PLLC is located at 888 Veterans Memorial Highway, Hauppauge and 320 Old Country Road, Garden City. Visit qclaw.com for more information.