About Bernard
As a shareholder in the Milwaukee office of Ogletree Deakins, I represent employers before federal and state courts, arbitrators and administrative agencies throughout the country in nearly all areas of employment law, with particular focus in the following:• Union relations• Wage and Hour• Noncompetes and other Restrictive Covenants• Employee Benefits Litigation• Employment DiscriminationI pride myself on providing thoughtful analysis and practical application of the legal rights and obligations of employers.Relevant Experience• Defending class action cases• Representing clients in labor arbitrations and in unfair labor practice proceedings before the National Labor Relations Board – tried more than 150 arbitration cases• Advising organized and union-free employers on employment and labor law/assisting with problem prevention• Drafting employment agreements and company policies with confidentiality, non-competition and other restrictive covenants• Counseling employers on reductions and reorganizations, harassment issues, disability accommodation, problematic terminations, collective bargaining strategy• Conducted or directing internal investigations of serious matters with potential for high liability exposureTrial VenuesMy experience as a trial lawyer includes trying cases before juries and judges in federal courts in Illinois, Wisconsin, New York and Missouri, as well as in state courts in Wisconsin and Illinois. I also have argued appeals before the United States Courts of Appeals for the Second, Third, Fourth, Sixth, Seventh and Tenth Circuits.
As a shareholder in the Milwaukee office of Ogletree Deakins, I represent employers before federal and state courts, arbitrators and administrative agencies throughout the country in nearly all areas of employment law, with particular focus in the following:
• Union relations
• Wage and Hour
• Noncompetes and other Restrictive Covenants
• Employee Benefits Litigation
• Employment Discrimination
I pride myself on providing thoughtful analysis and practical application of the legal rights and obligations of employers.
Relevant Experience
• Defending class action cases
• Representing clients in labor arbitrations and in unfair labor practice proceedings before the National Labor Relations Board – tried more than 150 arbitration cases
• Advising organized and union-free employers on employment and labor law/assisting with problem prevention
• Drafting employment agreements and company policies with confidentiality, non-competition and other restrictive covenants
• Counseling employers on reductions and reorganizations, harassment issues, disability accommodation, problematic terminations, collective bargaining strategy
• Conducted or directing internal investigations of serious matters with potential for high liability exposure
Trial Venues
My experience as a trial lawyer includes trying cases before juries and judges in federal courts in Illinois, Wisconsin, New York and Missouri, as well as in state courts in Wisconsin and Illinois. I also have argued appeals before the United States Courts of Appeals for the Second, Third, Fourth, Sixth, Seventh and Tenth Circuits.
Practice Areas
Education
Professional Affiliations
Awards & Recognition
- Lawyer of the Year: Litigation - Labor and Employment, Milwaukee (2026)
- Lawyer of the Year: Employment Law - Management, Milwaukee (2024)
- Lawyer of the Year: Labor Law - Management, Milwaukee (2024)
- Lawyer of the Year: Litigation - Labor and Employment, Milwaukee (2020)
- Lawyer of the Year: Labor Law - Management, Milwaukee (2018)
- Lawyer of the Year: Employment Law - Management, Milwaukee (2017)
- Lawyer of the Year: Employment Law - Management, Milwaukee (2015)
- Recognized: Employment Law - Management
- Recognized: Labor Law - Management
- Recognized: Litigation - Labor and Employment
- Recognized: Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants
- Special Focus: Management
- Best Lawyers - Lawyer of the Year 2015, 2017
- Chambers USA Tier 1
- AV Preeminent Rating by Martindale-Hubbell
- Who’s Who Legal USA – Management Labour & Employment (2006)
- Wisconsin Super Lawyers (2005-2015)
- Order of the Coif
- Former Board of Directors, Girl Scouts of Milwaukee Area
- Board of Directors, Guitars for Vets