Louis D. Bernstein
Partner
Phone 312.645.6091
Email lbernstein@ginsbergjacobs.com
Lou focuses his practice on the representation of businesses, both large and small, in litigation and corporate matters. His primary area of expertise is complex civil litigation, including many “bet the company” cases. The breadth of these representations has run from a multitude of influential real estate developers in the Chicagoland area, the Crown family, class action defense for Bumble Bee Foods and JPMorgan Chase, franchise litigation on behalf of Pepperidge Farm, numerous restauranteurs and in the fashion industry, most prominently, Tom Ford, AG Jeans and Carine Roitfeld.
Lou began his practice of law in New York in 1984 prior to moving to Chicago, where he became an equity partner at Gould & Ratner in 1992. He also held the same position at Neal, Gerber, & Eisenberg and Much Shelist, prior to forming the Bernstein Law Firm in 2009, and now joining Ginsberg Jacobs in 2024.
During his formative years, Lou garnered experience representing clients throughout the United States, in complex civil litigation matters before trial courts, arbitration panels, mediators, and numerous state and federal appellate courts, including the United States Supreme Court. Lou also served as chairman of the litigation department and governing bodies of several of those firms. Lou is a member of the Trial Law Institute and Diversity Law Institute and the Litigation Council of America’s Barrister, Order of Veritas, and Barrister, Order of Certus.
Representation Highlights
- Successful resolution on behalf of developers of Block 37 in $300 million lawsuit, including appellate practice in both the Illinois Appellate Court and Illinois Supreme Court.
- Obtaining dismissal with prejudice on all counts in putative class action lawsuit against JPMorgan Chase, which included a successful defense of an appeal before the Illinois Appellate Court.
- Obtaining dismissal of putative class action lawsuit in Federal Court against Bumble Bee Foods.
- Successful resolution of franchise litigation on behalf of Pepperidge Farm, including appellate practice before the Illinois Appellate Court.
- Obtaining entry of court order in excess of $30 million, authorizing the sale of defendants’ interests in over 50 different companies. Including successful affirmative result before the Illinois Appellate Court.
- Successful dismissal of $15 million RICO claim in Federal Court in high-profile partnership dispute.
- Representation of several Chicago business institutions, and Fortune 100 companies, in delicate trade secret violation litigation matters.
- Obtained dismissal by summary judgment of McDonald’s franchise in lengthy tort action, including successful affirmative result before the Illinois Appellate Court.
- Aside from the pro bono services that Lou takes pride in, and being appointed guardian ad litem for abused children through Chicago Volunteer Services, Lou has served on the board of directors for the Oistrakh Symphony Orchestra and the Mankind Project Chicago, where he is Chairman Emeritus.
- Litigation
- Corporate
- Hofstra University School of Law, J.D., 1983
- Indiana University, B.A., 1980, Magna Cum Laude
- Illinois
- New York
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
- U.S. Supreme Court
- Litigation Council of America, Barrister, Order of Veritas and Barrister, Order of Certus.
- Co-author, Inside The Minds; Chapter 11 Bankruptcy and Restructuring Strategies 2010 Edition. Chapter 4 – Looking for Out of the Box Solutions for Real Estate Developer Chapter 11 Clients.
- Illinois Super Lawyers, 2015-2026
- Member of Illinois Leading Lawyers, 2008-2026
- Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America, 2019-2025
- Course Lecturer: Northwestern Law School, Real Estate Finance: Debt and Equity Considerations in Real Estate Transactions, November 2011