Bernard J. Cooney - Montclair, NJ

Bernard is a former federal prosecutor with a focus on complex commercial litigation, white-collar criminal defense, and government investigations.

Before joining Clark Guldin, Bernard served more than a decade as a federal prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey. In this role, he developed extensive experience investigating and prosecuting health care and other white-collar fraud cases and held several supervisory positions. As Chief of the Health Care Fraud Unit, Bernard led criminal and civil prosecutions of complex health care fraud schemes and violations of the Anti-Kickback Statute and the False Claims Act. He also served as Chief of the Government Fraud Unit responsible for government program fraud, including COVID-19 loan fraud and customs evasion, and as Acting Chief of the Opioid Abuse Prevention & Enforcement Unit focused on prosecuting improper diversion of opioids and health care offenses. Bernard also led civil enforcement actions arising from qui tam cases brought by whistleblowers under the False Claims Act.

In addition to his federal prosecutorial experience, Bernard also previously worked as Principal Litigation Counsel at the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).

Prior to his government service, Bernard worked at a leading law firm in New Jersey and New York representing clients in commercial litigation and criminal and regulatory matters. He also served as a law clerk to the Honorable Steven L. Lefelt, New Jersey Superior Court, Appellate Division.

Bernard is also the manager and a board member of his son’s special needs hockey team, the New Jersey Dare Devils.