Supreme Court & Appellate Partner Named a 2019 Washington, D.C. Rising Star

Supreme Court & Appellate partner Michael Bern has been named a 2019 Washington, D.C. Rising Star by the National Law Journal (NLJ). The award honors lawyers who are “innovators, developing unique practice niches, amassing robust books of business, demonstrating strong leadership qualities, show[ing] expertise in litigation … and committing themselves to pro bono, charitable and professional volunteer work.”

In an interview with the NLJ, Bern was asked to share a key to his success. He answered, “Understanding a client’s business is critical. The ability to analyze cases or write good briefs is important, but understanding a client’s business allows one to give advice not only about how to win a case, but to make the right case-related decisions given a client’s broader goals and concerns.”

Asked what his biggest win or accomplishments have been in practice, Bern told the NLJ, “I successfully argued a Ninth Circuit appeal, leading the court to hold that criminally prosecuting homeless people for sleeping outside with no shelter available violates the Eighth Amendment. I’m also proud of several compelled commercial speech results.”

Bern’s practice focuses on Supreme Court and appellate litigation, complex commercial litigation, and securities litigation matters. He has broad experience litigating in trial and appellate courts across a wide variety of substantive legal areas, including First Amendment and other constitutional issues, preemption, securities, administrative law, aviation, and healthcare.