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News Category: Firm News

Pennsylvania’s New Right To Know Law: A Powerful Tool in the Discovery Process

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Pennsylvania’s New Right To Know Law: A Powerful Tool in the Discovery Process

On January 1, 2009, Pennsylvania’s new Right To Know Law (“RTKL”) took effect. The new RTKL, which replaces a since-repealed law of the same name, makes it easier for a person or entity to obtain records from Pennsylvania state and local agencies. Under the the new RTKL, codified at 65 P.S. § 65.101 et seq., a party requesting records from a state or local agency no longer bears the burden of establishing why a record should be produced. Under the new law, the agency to which a RTKL request is directed now bears the burden of establishing why a record should be withheld from production.

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Robert S. Bernstein Named 2009 Best Bankruptcy Lawyer

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Robert S. Bernstein Named 2009 Best Bankruptcy Lawyer

PITTSBURGH, PA – Robert S. Bernstein, managing partner of Bernstein-Burkley, P.C. was recently selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2009 in the field of Bankruptcy. (Copyright 2008 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken, S.C..

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Attorney Robert S. Bernstein Rides for MS

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Robert S. Bernstein Rides for MS

Pittsburgh, PA – Robert S. Bernstein, managing partner of Bernstein-Burkley, P.C. has once again ridden to start to finish MS. The Escape to the Lake fundraising event benefits the Allegheny District chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

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Robert S. Bernstein Named Pa. Super Lawyer in Bankruptcy & Workout for Fourth Consecutive Year

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Robert S. Bernstein Named Pa. Super Lawyer in Bankruptcy & Workout for Fourth Consecutive Year

Pittsburgh, PA, 5/30/07 – Robert S. Bernstein, managing partner of Bernstein-Burkley, P.C., has been named a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer for 2007. This prestigious honor is awarded to the top 5 percent of lawyers in Pennsylvania. Bernstein has been honored with the Super Lawyer designation for four consecutive years.

“It is quite an honor to represent Bernstein-Burkley, P.C. in this manner,” Bernstein said. “Our firm works very hard to uphold the highest standards of the practice and to offer innovative, value-added services to our clients. In addition to the large number of referrals from other lawyers, it’s gratifying to know that our efforts are recognized within the profession through the Super Lawyer selection process.”

Achieving Super Lawyer status involves a six-month-long, multi-step process in which Pennsylvania lawyers name the best lawyers they have observed in action over the year. Next, candidates are reviewed by a panel of prominent Pennsylvania attorneys, and finally, by an independent research group also led by attorneys.

The Super Lawyer award is sponsored jointly between Philadelphia Magazine and Law & Politics Magazine.

Bernstein-Burkley, P.C., is a family-owned and managed law firm with a 35-year history of providing expert counsel to clients throughout the country in the areas of creditors’ rights, bankruptcy, commercial collections, lease enforcement, and mortgage foreclosure. In addition, the firm maintains expertise in the areas of banking, administrative, real estate, civil, business and appellate law.

Known primarily for its creditors’ rights practice, Bernstein has more board-certified creditors’ rights specialists in Pennsylvania than any other firm. It provides a spectrum of specialized services to clients seeking guidance on all credit issues – bankruptcy, commercial collections, and mortgage foreclosure work.

Bernstein-Burkley, P.C. lawyers have achieved board certifications in the areas of creditors’ rights and business bankruptcy and have held leadership posts in several related professional organizations, including the nationally respected ELA (Equipment Leasing Association), the CLLA (Commercial Law League of America) and the Allegheny County Bar Association.

In 2006, Bernstein served as president of the American Board of Certification.

“We are working hard to anticipate and meet the changing needs of our clients,” he said.

Hopefully, this latest Super Lawyer designation will reaffirm and strengthen their trust in us to provide not only legal expertise but peace of mind.”

Contact:
Robert Zaremberg, Droz and Associates, 412-338-1818

 

Bob Bernstein & Kirk Burkley “Involuntary Bankruptcy”

Bob Bernstein and Kirk Burkley co-authored an article for LJN’s Equipment Leasing Newsletter on Involuntary Bankruptcy.

Don’t Let Your Sales Agreements Sabotage You

A sales contract can be your friend — or foe — in trying to get buyers to pay you. Click here to read the article.

Bob Bernstein speaker @ NABT & NACTT

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“Where Are the Assets Now?”

Bob Bernstein was a speaker Saturday, March 4, 2006, at the mid-winter joint meeting in Phoenix of the National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees and the National Association of Chapter Thirteen Trustees. Bernstein spoke on the topic of “Where Are the Assets Now?” and represented the CLLA as a panel member with others, including Judge Case, the President of the National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges.

 

Bernstein-Burkley, P.C. Associate Kirk B. Burkley Earns Pennsylvania Rising Star Designation for 2005

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Bernstein-Burkley, P.C. Associate Kirk B. Burkley Earns
Pennsylvania Rising Star Designation for 2005

Pittsburgh, PA (January 2006)-Kirk B. Burkley, an associate at Bernstein-Burkley, P.C., has been named a 2005 Pennsylvania Rising Star by Philadelphia Magazine .

“I hope this award indicates that I am living our firm’s mission,” says Burkley. “We strive to create partnerships that provide clients peace of mind through expert advice and zealous representation. I keep that purpose in mind in everything I do.”

Burkley, who concentrates in bankruptcy and creditors’ rights, joins an elite group of young lawyers. All Pennsylvania Rising Stars-chosen by Pennsylvania Super Lawyers and through the independent research of Law & Politics Magazine -are 40 years old or younger or have practiced law for 10 years or less.

Only 2.5 percent of Pennsylvania attorneys are honored with this designation.

The Rising Stars list, which represents more than 60 practice areas, is published each year in the December issue of Pennsylvania Super Lawyers-Rising Stars Edition .

Another indication of Burkley’s leadership abilities? He also was recently appointed to the Board of the Allegheny YMCA.

“We at Bernstein-Burkley, P.C. are proud of all of our associates and when one is recognized in this way it simply validates what we already know,” says Robert S. Bernstein, managing partner of Bernstein-Burkley, P.C. “Kirk is a credit to our firm and a tremendous asset to our clients.”

Bernstein was himself named a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer for 2004 and 2005, a designation awarded to the top 5 percent of Pennsylvania lawyers and sponsored jointly by Philadelphia Magazine and Law & Politics Magazine .

“I am pleased to be a part of the Bernstein team,” adds Burkley. “My colleagues and the clients we serve are the finest, most respected men and women in the industry-and I must attribute much of my own success to the professionals with whom I am privileged to work.”

 

Meet the team: Nicholas Krawec

Nicholas Krawec
Nicholas Krawec

 

WHAT IS YOUR NAME?
Nicholas Krawec

DO YOU HAVE A NICKNAME, WHAT IS IT?
Nick

WHAT IS YOUR POSITION IN THE FIRM?
Partner and supervisor of the Creditors’ Rights Practice Group

HOW LONG HAVE YOU WORKED AT Bernstein-Burkley, P.C.?
24 years

ARE YOU MARRIED? HAVE CHILDREN?
Yes, to Dolores (DJ). Yes. Two sons, Michael, 21 and Jonathan, 17

WHAT IS ONE OF YOUR FAVORITE MEMORIES FROM Bernstein-Burkley, P.C.?
I remember a case where we sued a former client to recover our fees, and Joe Bernstein was my key witness at the non-jury trial. Although he had been retired for a few years at the time, and had had some health issues, Joe handled the opposing attorney’s cross examination of him brilliantly. His answers to the cross examination questions were witty (in Joe’s unique manner), yet respectful, and I recall looking at the Judge sitting at the bench, listening to Joe’s answers and chuckling and nodding. At that point, I knew that I could not have had a better witness than Joe.

IF YOU COULD HAVE DINNER WITH ONE FAMOUS PERSON IN HISTORY, AND ONE FAMOUS PERSON ALIVE TODAY, WHO WOULD THEY BE, AND WHY?
From history, probably Mahatma Gandhi, to talk to him about how he garnered the fortitude to take on the mighty British Empire, without force of arms, and effectively bring it to its knees; a famous person alive today: probably Colin Powell, to try to get behind his public persona, and get a better sense of who he is as an individual

WHAT DO YOU DO FOR FUN AND RELAXATION?
Karaoke and dinner theatre with friends from high school with whom I have kept in touch; walking and riding my bike on some of the (level) local bike trails in the area.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE QUOTE OR WORDS TO LIVE BY?
Be careful what you ask for. You may get it.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE…

FOOD: Seafood (that is cooked – you can have your sushi)

VACATION SPOT: Busch Gardens, Williamsburg, VA

MOVIE: Remember the Titans

BOOK: Executive Orders, by Tom Clancy

SPORTS FIGURE: Hines Ward (who else do you see taking a full speed hit from a 200 pound defensive back, getting knocked into next week, and still getting back up on his feet, smiling from ear to ear?)

New Director of Marketing, Rita DeCaria

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Bernstein-Burkley, P.C. Welcomes New Director of Marketing, Rita DeCaria

With the help of its newest hire, the bankruptcy and creditors’ rights law firm wants to educate companies on how it can be a profit-generating business partner.

Pittsburgh , PA (October 2006) – A capable law firm is not just a resource a company turns to when it’s “in trouble.” It’s a valuable business partner that can help clients avoid problems and come up with creative ways to grow their profits. But many business leaders hold a “traditional” view of law firms and don’t realize what a vital role a good one can play in shaping their future. They need to be taught. That’s why Bernstein-Burkley, P.C. recently hired Rita DeCaria as its director of marketing.

“I am happy to welcome Ms. DeCaria to our team,” says Bob Bernstein, managing partner of the bankruptcy and creditors’ rights law firm. “She has the right background for taking our firm’s message to clients and prospects. Our capabilities mean nothing if business leaders don’t understand the bottom-line implications for them . Ms. DeCaria is a brilliant communicator, and I am confident that she can translate our legalese into inspiring, revenue-boosting ideas for our clients.”

Prior to joining Bernstein, DeCaria assisted in project management for a law firm in Pittsburgh. Before that, she worked for a global marketing company, a position that involved creating marketing proposals for major corporate clients and handling event planning for large conventions.

Born in Weirton, WV, she graduated from Denison University and The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law.

DeCaria was actively involved in many student organizations while in law school, including the Student Bar Association where she was chair of both the Hooding and Barrister’s Ball Committees. She also worked in various legal and marketing positions, including a position as a law clerk with a Columbus firm, a marketing position with LexisNexis, a mediator for small claims courts and a judicial clerkship.

During law school, she also completed MBA marketing course work through The Ohio State University Fisher School of Business.

DeCaria was admitted to the bar of Pennsylvania in 2006, and also was admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania.

She holds membership in the Allegheny County Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the Pennsylvania Bar Association and the Allegheny County Bar Association Young Lawyers Division.

“I am excited about forging a career that combines two of my passions: law and marketing,” says DeCaria. “And Bernstein-Burkley, P.C. is the perfect home for me. It has a long and distinguished history, yet it’s highly innovative and forward thinking. That’s a rare combination, and I feel honored to have been selected to join the team.”

 

Bernstein-Burkley, P.C. Welcomes New Attorney Kit F. Pettit

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Bernstein-Burkley, P.C. Welcomes New Attorney

PITTSBURGH, PA – Bernstein-Burkley, P.C. welcomes new senior associate, Kit F. Pettit to the firm. Kit previously served as General Counsel to a group of several affiliated entities in the Pittsburgh area. He has worked with many private business owners, developers, contractors and sub-contractors as well as labor organizations, banks and lenders, municipalities and governmental agencies.

Mr. Pettit handles matters in the Business Law and Bankruptcy areas at Bernstein-Burkley, P.C. where he concentrates his practice in corporate, partnership, transactional and construction law.

Bernstein-Burkley, P.C. is located in downtown Pittsburgh with satellite offices in Washington, Lycoming and Philadelphia counties. The firm concentrates on Creditors’ Rights, Bankruptcy and Restructuring and Business Law.

 

Pennsylvania Bankruptcy | A Creditor’s Perspective

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Bernstein-Burkley, P.C. PRESENTS: “PENNSYLVANIA BANKRUPTCY: A CREDITOR’S PERSPECTIVE”

Bernstein-Burkley, P.C.’s Managing Partner Robert S. Bernstein and Partner Lori A. Gibson facilitated a continuing education seminar in Pittsburgh, PA at the Holiday Inn Pittsburgh South on February 21, 2002 by Lorman Education Services. The seminar presented was entitled: “Pennsylvania Bankruptcy: A Creditor’s Perspective.” This seminar involved a comprehensive discussion of bankruptcy and was designed to assist attorneys, financial companies and institutions to become familiar with the strategies to be employed in protecting firms, clients’ interests and rights under the Bankruptcy Code. Topics discussed included:

  • Liens and Security Interests
  • Consumer Credit Issues
  • Business Credit Issues
  • Chapter 11 – In Depth

Bernstein, a Board Certified Creditors’ Rights and Business Bankruptcy Specialist, is the Managing Partner of Bernstein-Burkley, P.C., a Pittsburgh-based law firm specializing in lease enforcement, creditor’s rights and bankruptcy. Miss Gibson manages the retail collection litigation and foreclosure departments for the firm. Bernstein-Burkley, P.C. staff includes eight (8) attorneys who provide a wide array of collection services to the firm’s clients. The firm’s attorneys are admitted to practice in Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, West Virginia, North Carolina and Florida. Bernstein frequently lectures for both local and national groups on matters of lease enforcement, bankruptcy and collection.