Mr. Bernstein has represented investors in securities arbitration proceedings for more than twenty-five years. During that time, he has handled investor claims before FINRA (formerly known as “NASD”), the New York Stock Exchange, the Pacific Exchange and the American Arbitration Association. He has obtained compensation for his clients from firms large and small, including huge Wall Street firms such as Morgan Stanley Dean Witter, Merrill Lynch, PaineWebber and Salomon Smith Barney; “high-payout” firms with large numbers of small offices, including Financial Network Investment Corporation, Sunamerica Securities, Securities America and IFG Network Securities; and “boiler room” firms or their personnel, including the infamous Stratton Oakmont.
Berkeley Law (formerly known as Boalt Hall School of Law), University of California at Berkley, JD, 1980
UCLA, Magna Cum Laude, BA Economics, 1977
"Stacking the Deck in Arbitrator List Selection: A Study in Regulatory Failure and A Practical Look at the Consequences", PLI Securities Arbitration 2007 (August 2007)
"Tampering with List Selection by Enhancing the Appointment Frequency of "Chair-Qualified" Arbitrators", PIABA Bar Journal v. 13, no. 12, (Summer 2006)
"Upaid Securities Arbitration Awards: Proposed Solutions to the Problem", PIABA Bar Journal v. 11, no. 1, (Spring 2004)
"Things Every Arbitrator Should Know", PIABA Bar Journal v. 10, no. 2, (Summer 2003)
Comment Letter regarding California Labor Commissioner's Proposed Employee Travel Reimbursement Regulations, Written by Mr. Bernstein on behalf of the California Employment Lawyers Association.
Public Comment Letter to U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Regarding Dispositive Motions (Motions to Dismiss) in the NASD Securities Arbitration. Dated September 24, 2006.
Mr. Bernstein recently completed eleven years as a director of the Public Investors Arbitration Bar Association ("PIABA"), a national association of attorneys dedicated to the representation of investors in disputes with the securities industry. He served for three years as PIABA’s treasurer, has served on and chaired a number of PIABA committees, and has given continuing legal education lectures to PIABA, the North American Securities Administrators Association, and other professional groups on investors’ rights and remedies. He is a member of the California Employment Lawyers Association (“CELA”) and the National Employment Lawyers Association (“NELA”) as well, serves actively on and co-chairs CELA’s Legislative Committee, and recently completed twelve years of service on CELA's board of directors.