Michael Evan Bern

Michael Bern is a partner in the Washington, D.C. office and advises clients on appellate litigation, complex commercial litigation, and securities litigation matters.

Mr. Bern has represented dozens of clients in complex litigation before all levels of state and federal courts. He has filed numerous merits and certiorari stage briefs before the United States Supreme Court, and played a lead role in drafting scores of briefs before state and federal appellate courts. In addition, Mr. Bern has substantial experience assisting clients in shaping and executing trial court strategy and defending against class actions. He has successfully argued appeals, as well as dispositive and other trial court motions. He has played a principal role in numerous successful challenges to the legality of federal, state, and local government actions, including agency rulemaking. In 2019, Mr. Bern was named a D.C. Rising Star by the National Law Journal.

Mr. Bern has experience litigating in a wide variety of substantive legal areas, including First Amendment and other constitutional issues, administrative law, securities, aviation, contract law, preemption, and real estate. Mr. Bern also has an active pro bono practice.

During the 2011-12 term, Mr. Bern served as a law clerk to Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor of the United States Supreme Court. From 2008-09, he served as a law clerk to Judge Michael McConnell of the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit.

Prior to attending law school, Mr. Bern worked as a management consultant, primarily advising life sciences clients on topics including portfolio analysis, research and development strategy, marketing strategy, and mergers and integration.