Robert S. Bernstein, Partner

Board Certified, Business Bankruptcy Law, American Board of Certification Board Certified, Creditors' Rights Law, American Board of Certification rbernstein@bernsteinlaw.com 800-693-4013 412-456-8251 fax

Robert S. Bernstein became aware of the intricacies of the legal system at the age of 14, while working for his father as the firm's liaison to the sheriff's department. Today he serves as counsel to commercial landlords, equipment lessors, bankruptcy trustees, creditors' committees, creditors, and reorganizing businesses in proceedings throughout Pennsylvania and the Middle Atlantic States, concentrating in the many facets of bankruptcy and commercial law.

While fulfilling his duties as managing partner of Bernstein Law Firm, P.C., Bernstein represents other businesses of all sizes and types in many areas of their operation, including representation in reorganization proceedings. He has extensive experience in credit recovery matters, including collection, secured transaction, and mortgage foreclosure.

His book, Get P.A.I.D.^TM : A Guide to Getting Paid Faster (and What to Do if You Don’t!) lays out an innovative strategy for businesses to successfully manage their credit policy and collect for their sales. Get P.A.I.D. is Bernstein’s comprehensive system for businesses and credit managers to increase profits, reduce costs and delays, while developing better relationships with customers.
Bernstein heads the Preference Defense Team, a specialized group within the firm dedicated to the effective and efficient representation of clients against whom preference payment claims are made.

Bernstein writes and lectures for local and national groups on matters of collection, bankruptcy, business law, and professional ethics and, for more than ten years, has been certified as both a creditors' rights and business bankruptcy specialist by the American Board of Certification. Currently, few attorneys in the country hold both certifications.

As a trained mediator, Bernstein is also a member of the Association for Conflict Resolution, an organization dedicated to the practice and public understanding of conflict resolution.

Bernstein served as both president and treasurer of the Commercial Law League of America, North America’s oldest creditors' rights organization. He recently served as chair of the Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility of the CLLA. Bernstein is president of the American Board of Certification, the country's only bankruptcy and creditors' rights certifying organization. Bernstein also works on several committees within the Allegheny County Bar Association, where he is a past chairman of the Bankruptcy and Commercial Law Section, the Technology Utilization Committee, the Professional Ethics Committee, and is a member of the Finance Committee. Bernstein was a member of the Legal Committee of the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (ELFA) and is the founder of the Lease Enforcement Attorney Network (LEAN).

Bernstein was named a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer in 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007 in the area of bankruptcy and workout by Philadelphia magazine.

Certifications:

• Creditors' Rights Specialist - American Board of Certification (1993 - present).

• Business Bankruptcy Specialist - American Board of Certification (1993 - present).

Background:

• Born Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania , June 18, 1954

• Admitted to the bars of Pennsylvania 1981; Florida 1983; West Virginia 1987; New York 2000

• Admitted Federal jurisdictions: the United States District Court for the Western, Middle and Eastern Districts of Pennsylvania ; the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit; and the United States Supreme Court

• Education: University of Pittsburgh (B.A., 1976); Duquesne University (J.D., 1981)
  Commercial Law League of America : President (1995-1996); Board of Governors (1991-1994); Recording Secretary (1989-1990); Treasurer (2001-2002); Chair, Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility (2002-2004); Chair, Young Members Section (1986-1987)

• American Board of Certification: President (2005-2006); Treasurer (2003-2005); Chair, Standards Committee (2001-2002)

• Lease Enforcement Attorneys Network, Founder and Chairman

• Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (ELFA): Legal Committee (2000-2003)

• Allegheny County Bar Association: Chair, Professional Ethics Committee (2003-2005); Chair, Technology Utilization Committee (1996-2001); Chair, Bankruptcy and Commercial Law Section (1992)

• Commercial Law Foundation, Fellow

• Association for Conflict Resolution, member, trained Mediator

• Duquesne University Law Alumni Association: President (1994-1995)

• American Bankruptcy Institute: Member

• National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Allegheny District Chapter: Treasurer, Board of Trustees (2006-present)

• Temple Sinai, Pittsburgh, PA : President, Board of Trustees (2005-2007)