This feature story is provided to Brooklyn Buzz courtesy of NYCPolitics.com.
Anthony “Chidi” Eze’s journey from a bustling home in Nigeria to the courtrooms of Brooklyn is a testament to perseverance, purpose, and an unwavering commitment to justice. A trial and appellate attorney with over two decades of experience, Eze has built a career defined by fighting for civil rights, defending the vulnerable, and transforming the legal landscape for New Yorkers facing some of life’s hardest battles.
Roots of Determination
Born in Nigeria, Chidi was one of eight siblings raised by a devoted mother and a father who worked as an electrical engineer. At age 16, he lost his father, a man who had instilled in him the values of hard work, integrity, and the transformative power of education. Among his father’s greatest wishes was that Chidi would become an attorney, a vision that would shape his life’s path.
“My father always believed in the life-changing power of education,” Eze said of his early inspiration.
Eze earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and initially taught math at both high school and college levels. Yet the call of the law remained strong, leading him to pursue legal studies at the prestigious University of Birmingham Law School in England, where he earned his law degree in 2000. Even as a student, Eze displayed leadership and advocacy, serving as the Students’ Representative on the University Senate.
Building a New Life in Brooklyn
In 2001, Eze arrived in Brooklyn with no family, little support, and an uncertain future. “I came to New York with no guarantee of success,” he recalled. Staying with friends, he worked tirelessly to rebuild his life, passing the New York State Bar Exam in 2002.
Just two years later, in 2004, he launched his own law firm in Downtown Brooklyn—a firm that has since become a steadfast legal pillar for communities across New York City.
Champion for Civil Rights and Homeowners
Today, Eze practices as a trial and appellate attorney focusing on Civil Rights, Employment Law, and Mortgage Foreclosure Defense. His career has been marked by high-profile litigation against big banks and powerful corporations, seeking justice for homeowners and employees alike.
In 2010, Eze was recognized in VerdictSearch Law Review as one of the highest jury award winners in New York State. His courtroom victories and legal work have been featured in Westlaw, the New York Daily News, the New York Post, and other prominent media outlets.
A significant highlight of his career came with his pivotal role as a facilitator in the advancement of the Foreclosure Abuse Prevention Act (FAPA), signed into law by Governor Kathy Hochul on December 30, 2022, a measure that has protected thousands of Brooklyn homeowners from unjust foreclosures.
Eze has represented community members in over 100 cases in Federal Court, and over 1,000 cases on the State level, handling employment discrimination, civil rights violations, including false arrest, false imprisonment, malicious prosecution, police brutality, and excessive force, and defending foreclosure actions, much of this work performed pro bono. He has also briefed and argued more than 50 trial cases on the State and Federal levels.
“My work has always been about fighting for equity and fairness,” said Eze. “Whether it’s in civil rights or foreclosure defense, I believe everyone deserves justice, no matter their background or resources.”
Community Leadership and Civic Engagement
Beyond the courtroom, Eze is deeply committed to public service and civic life. He serves as a seasoned mediator and is a member of the New York State Judicial Committee. He is also a member of the Nigerian Bar Association in the U.S. and serves as Legal Adviser for OIUSA, an organization supporting the Indigenous People of Ikwerre in Nigeria.
Eze’s community involvement includes active participation in the New York State Democratic Party and the Shirley Chisholm Democratic Club. In 2018, he ran for District Leader in his Brooklyn district, underscoring his dedication to civic engagement and public service.
In Flatbush, where he lives with his wife and two children, Eze supports his neighbors through food and clothing drives, mediates tenant-landlord disputes as a housing consultant, and provides free notary services—a reflection of his reputation as both a problem solver and a compassionate advocate.
A Legacy of Advocacy — And the Bench Ahead
Chidi Eze is admitted to practice before the United States District Courts for the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York, as well as the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. He has also been admitted Pro Hac Vice to the Northern District of New York.
Given his extensive legal experience, deep community ties, and record of advocacy for fairness and justice, many view the next natural step in Eze’s career as serving on the bench as a Civil Court Judge.
“I believe my background as both a litigator and a community advocate has prepared me to serve the people of Brooklyn and New York City from the bench,” Eze said. “Becoming a Civil Court Judge would be an opportunity to ensure fairness, equity, and justice for all who come before the court.”
For Eze, the law is not just a career—it’s a calling to serve. “My story is not just about personal success,” he said. “It’s about lifting others, fighting injustice, and delivering fairness in every courtroom.”
With a legacy built on tireless advocacy and community service, Anthony “Chidi” Eze remains a powerful force in New York’s legal landscape—and stands poised to bring his commitment to justice to the judiciary itself.
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