Subscribe Payment

Robert S. Bernstein

Partner | Bankruptcy & Restructuring

Overview

Robert is General Counsel for the firm and a Partner in WH Burkley’s Bankruptcy and Restructuring Group. His practice concentrates on bankruptcy and commercial law throughout Pennsylvania and the Middle Atlantic states, serving as a mediator and as counsel to commercial landlords, equipment lessors, bankruptcy trustees, creditors’ committees, and creditors, as well as the representation of businesses of all sizes and types in many areas of their operation, including in reorganization proceedings.  Bob regularly serves as Trustee or Plan Administrator in post-confirmation Chapter 11 liquidations.

In addition, Bob is part of the firm’s Preference Defense Team, a specialized group within WH Burkley dedicated to the effective and efficient representation of clients against whom preference payment claims are made.

Bob also has extensive experience in credit recovery matters, including collection, secured transactions and mortgage foreclosures.

Experience

  • Represented a Pittsburgh-area professionals in restructuring their practice while in a dispute with a significant creditor of the practice.
  • Serves as the Liquidating Trustee for South Hills Operations, et al, a group of more than 20 Pittsburgh-area nursing homes.
  • Represented creditors and was Special Counsel to the Chapter 7 Trustee of Arter and Hadden, LLP, a 200-lawyer failed lawfirm; succeeding in recovering more than $12 million after litigation pursuing voidable transfers from more than 200 lawyers, resulting in a 54% distribution for unsecured creditors.
  • Represented a Pennsylvania homecare agency in governance, acquisition/expansion, and litigation issues.
  • Represented partners in a failing consulting business in their personal asset protection planning.

Recognition

  • American College of Bankruptcy | Fellow
  • Turnaround Management Association – Lifetime Achievement Award (Pittsburgh Chapter) | 2026
  • Super Lawyers – Bankruptcy (Pennsylvania) | 2004-present
  • Super Lawyers – Business & Corporate (Pennsylvania) | 2004-present
  • Super Lawyers – Alternative Dispute Resolution (Pennsylvania) | 2004-present
  • Super Lawyers – “Top 50 Attorneys” (Pittsburgh) | 2021-2024
  • Best Lawyers – Bankruptcy “Lawyer of the Year” (Pittsburgh) | 2016
  • Best Lawyers – Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law | 2009-present
  • Best Lawyers – Litigation – Bankruptcy | 2009-present

Associations

  • American College of Bankruptcy | Fellow, Class XXVII
  • Commercial Law League of America
    • President | 1995-1996, 2015-2016
    • Board of Governors | 1991-1994
    • Recording Secretary | 1989-1990
    • Treasurer (2001-2002)
    • Chair – Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility | 2002-2004
    • Chair – Young Members Section | 1986-1987
  • American Board of Certification
    • Chairman | 2006-2007
    • President | 2005-2006
    • Treasurer | 2003-2005
    • Chair – Standards Committee | 2001-2002
  • Lease Enforcement Attorneys Network (LEAN) | Founder and Chairman
  • Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (ELFA) | Legal Committee | 2000-2003
  • Allegheny County Bar Association
    • Chair – Professional Ethics Committee | 2003-2005
    • Chair – Technology Utilization Committee | 1996-2001
    • Chair – Bankruptcy and Commercial Law Section | 1992
  • Allegheny County Bar Foundation
    • Board of Trustees | 2019-2025
    • Treasurer | 2022-2025
  • Commercial Law Foundation | Fellow
  • Association for Conflict Resolution | Member and Trained Mediator
  • Duquesne University Law Alumni Association | President | 1994-1995
  • American Bankruptcy Institute | Member
  • National Multiple Sclerosis Society – Allegheny District Chapter| Chairman, Board of Trustees | 2006-2009
  • Temple Sinai, Pittsburgh, PA | President, Board of Trustees | 2005-2007
  • Riverview Towers Board of Directors, Pittsburgh, PA | Member and Board President |2013-2016

Education

  • Duquesne University, J.D.
  • University of Pittsburgh, B.A.
  • American Board of Certification
    • Business Bankruptcy Specialist
    • Creditors’ Rights Specialist