Lawrence D. Bernfeld - New York, NY

Overview

Lawrence Bernfeld, a partner of Graubard Miller, served on the firm's Executive Committee for more than 20 years. He leads the firm's employment practice, negotiates and closes business transactions, and litigates complex corporate and commercial disputes. Lawrence draws on diverse experience to analyze risk and negotiate secure positions for his business clients. His counseling experience in turn permits him to identify creative business solutions when clients face litigation.

In the litigation arena, Lawrence's portfolio encompasses mediation, arbitration, trials, and appeals. The subject matters include business appraisals and dissolution, class actions, complex contract and commercial matters, copyrights, defamation, employment, entertainment, internal investigations, publishing, real estate, shareholder derivative actions, securities and futures industry disputes, and trade secrets. His practice has taken him into venues that encompass Federal and State courts, the EEOC, FINRA, JAMS, the AAA, and arbitration under the rules of the UN Commission on International Trade Law.

Lawrence negotiates contracts, mergers and acquisitions, and distressed asset transactions. His counsel also covers business plan development, non-disclosure, non-circumvention, and confidentiality agreements, executive employment and stock option agreements, change of control, termination, and severance agreements, entertainment contracts, Fintech, information technology, investment seed capital, intellectual property, licensing, partnership, and joint venture agreements.

Lawrence guides C‑suite executives and human resources directors on issues relating to discrimination, disabilities, fair credit reporting, family and medical leave, fair labor standards, health care, and other government programs and requirements. He also helps clients develop and refine personnel policies, procedures, manuals, and training programs. Lawrence assists executives and companies in negotiating agreements that govern employment terms, executive compensation, and stock options.

The New York Law Journal in lead articles has reported on major litigation results Lawrence has achieved. Other publications such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Copyright Law Journal have featured his cases.

Lawrence has given bar association and law school lectures on trial practice, mediation, and securities arbitration. His published articles include "Employment and the Credit Reporting Laws: Negotiating the Shoals of Consumer Protection, Business Need, Data Privacy, and Public Policy" (NYSBA Labor and Employment Law Journal); "FCRA-Divergent Employment Laws, Public Policy, and the Doctrine of Preemption" (Hofstra Labor & Employment Law Journal); "New City Law Limits Use of Criminal Background in Employment Process" (New York Law Journal); and "Class Actions and Federal Securities Laws" (Cornell Law Review and the Securities Law Review).

Lawrence served on the Committee on Futures Regulation of the New York City Bar Association. He also served as a member of the New York State Bar Association Private Investment Subcommittee of the Securities Regulation Committee. Lawrence is a member of the Federal Bar Council Committee on Employment Litigation.

A J.D. graduate of Columbia Law School, Lawrence also holds A.B. and M.A. degrees from the University of Pittsburgh. He is AV® Preeminent™ Martindale Hubbell Peer Review rated. ALM Media has designated Lawrence a New York Area Top Rated Lawyer™. For each year since 2013, Lawrence has been selected as a New York Super Lawyer™.