Polk, Ryan James

Derek M. Freed was born in Atlantic City, New Jersey. After attending Atlantic City High School, Derek attended the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. Derek graduated from William and Mary with a bachelor’s degree in history.

Derek returned to New Jersey to attend law school at Rutgers-Camden. While in law school, Derek worked as a law clerk for Fox Rothschild LLP. After graduating from Rutgers in 2000, with honors, Derek joined Fox Rothschild LLP as an associate. In October 2000, Derek began working with his future partners, Wendy M. Rosen and Barbara Ulrichsen, while at Fox Rothschild. The three have worked together ever since.

In June 2006, Barbara, Wendy and Derek left Fox Rothschild to form Ulrichsen Rosen & Freed. UR&F has devoted its practice almost exclusively to the field family law in the State of New Jersey and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Derek appears regularly before the Family Part in Mercer, Middlesex, Somerset, Atlantic and Burlington counties. He has litigated matters relating to virtually all aspects of family law. He also practices before the Superior Court – Appellate Division and the New Jersey Supreme Court. Along with Barbara Ulrichsen, Derek successfully argued the matter of A.B. v. S.E.W., 175 N.J. 588 (2003), before the New Jersey Supreme Court. In addition, Barbara and Derek successfully litigated issues relating to the sealing of the record in the reported decision of Smith v. Smith, 379 N.J. Super. 447 (Ch. Div. 2005). Derek also has successfully represented clients in the Appellate Division in matters involving issues such as allocation of college tuition and expenses, enforcement of property settlement agreements, equitable distribution, alimony, child support, custody, and parenting time.

Derek is admitted to the bars of the State of New Jersey and the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. Derek’s practice focuses almost exclusively in the field of family law in New Jersey. He was selected for inclusion in the New Jersey Super Lawyers – rising stars edition 2009 and 2010. In 2009-10, he served as a member of the executive committee of the Family Law section of the New Jersey State Bar Association. In 2010, he was named an associate editor for the New Jersey Family Lawyer. Derek serves regularly as a Matrimonial Early Settlement Panelist in Mercer County. He has also lectured on the topic of family law for the Institute of Continuing Legal Education of New Jersey.

Derek resides in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, with his wife, Holly. His outside interests include music and biographies. He is a dual citizen of the United States and Red Sox Nation.