Elizabeth F Bernhardt

Of Counsel, New York

Elizabeth F Bernhardt

Of Counsel, New York

Elizabeth F. Bernhardt’s practice focuses on white collar criminal and regulatory defense. She has represented clients in investigations by United States Attorney’s Offices, the SEC, FINRA, New York District Attorney’s Offices, the Department of Justice, the CFTC, and the New York State Attorney General’s Office. Elizabeth also frequently advises clients in the context of internal investigations. She has argued over 70 appeals in state and federal courts. Elizabeth is recognized as one of New York’s Super Lawyers for business litigation.

Elizabeth is a long-time lecturer at Columbia Law School, teaching a year-long course called “Legal Practice.”

Prior to joining the firm, Elizabeth practiced with Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, served as Supervisor in the Appeals Bureau of the Bronx County District Attorney’s Office, and taught at Fordham University School of Law. She has served on many boards and committees, including the New York State Continuing Legal Education Board. She is proficient in Spanish.

Elizabeth F. Bernhardt’s practice focuses on white collar criminal and regulatory defense. She has represented clients in investigations by United States Attorney’s Offices, the…

Education

Columbia Law School (J.D. 1988); Columbia University (Ph.D. 1977; M.A. 1969 (English)); Barnard College (B.A. 1966)

Bar Admissions

New York State; U.S. District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York; U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit; U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit; U.S. Supreme Court

Activities and Affiliations

Member, The Association of the Bar of the City of New York

Member, New York State Bar Association (Committee on Court of Appellate Jurisdiction)

Former Member, New York State CLE Board

Securities and Regulatory Enforcement

Represented bank executive in SEC investigation of alleged bank fraud.

Represented employees of clearing house in SEC investigation of alleged Reg SHO violations.

Represented controller of S&P 500 company in SEC fraud investigation and class action securities litigation.

Represented fund and its chief executive in SEC investigation of alleged fraud and rules violations.

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White Collar Defense

Represented securities broker in Department of Justice securities fraud prosecution.

Represented insurance agency and executives in Department of Justice insurance fraud investigation.

Represented business owner in Department of Justice investigation into alleged commercial fraud.

Represented stock broker convicted of securities fraud in plea and sentencing phases of case.

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Cohen & Gresser is pleased to announce that 29 of the firm's lawyers are included on the 2023 New York Metro Super Lawyers list and 11 lawyers are included on the 2023 New York Metro Rising Stars list across a range of practice areas.

Super Lawyers named C&G co­founder Mark S. Cohen one of the Top 10 lawyers in the New York metropolitan area. Partners Jonathan S. Abernethy and Karen H. Bromberg have also been named to the Super Lawyers list of the Top 100 lawyers in the New York metropolitan area. Additionally, Karen has been recognized as one of the Top 50 women lawyers within the same region.

Super Lawyers and Rising Stars are annual lists of outstanding lawyers who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Only 5 percent of the lawyers in each state are selected as Super Lawyers, and only 2.5 percent are selected as Rising Stars.

The C&G lawyers recognized on the New York Metro Super Lawyers list are:

The C&G lawyers recognized on the New York Metro Rising Stars list are:

Cohen & Gresser is pleased to announce that 37 of the firm's New York and Washington D.C.­based attorneys have been named to the 2021 Super Lawyers List across a wide range of practice areas. C&G co­founder Mark S Cohen and partners Jonathan S Abernethy and Daniel H Tabak have also been named to the Super Lawyers list of the top 100 lawyers in the New York metropolitan area, and partner Karen H Bromberg has been recognized as one of the top 50 women lawyers in the New York metropolitan area.

Super Lawyers ranks outstanding lawyers who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Only five percent of the lawyers in each state are selected as Super Lawyers, and only 2.5 percent are selected as Rising Stars.

Super Lawyers

Jonathan S Abernethy: Criminal Defense: White Collar

Kwaku Andoh: Mergers & Acquisitions

Elizabeth Bernhardt: Business Litigation

Thomas E Bezanson: Personal Injury – Products: Defense

Colin C Bridge: Criminal Defense: White Collar

Karen H Bromberg: Intellectual Property

Jason Brown: Criminal Defense: White Collar

Joanna K Chan: Securities Litigation

Mark S Cohen: Business Litigation

S Gale Dick: Business Litigation

Christian R Everdell: Criminal Defense: White Collar

Lawrence T Gresser: Business Litigation

Oliver S Haker: Business Litigation

Johannes Jonas: Mergers & Acquisitions

Nicholas J Kaiser: Real Estate

Jeffrey I. Lang: Business Litigation

Melissa H Maxman: Antitrust Litigation

Ellen Paltiel: General Litigation

Nathaniel P T Read: Business Litigation

Bonnie J Roe: Securities & Corporate Finance

Stephen M Sinaiko: Business Litigation

C Evan Stewart: Securities Litigation

Daniel H Tabak: Business Litigation

Scott D Thomson: Business Litigation

Alexandra Wald: Business Litigation

Ronald F Wick: Antitrust Litigation

Rising Stars

Luke Appling: Civil Litigation

Sharon L Barbour: Criminal Defense: White Collar

Drew S Dean: General Litigation

William Kalema: Business Litigation

Sri Kuehnlenz: Civil Litigation

Winnifred A Lewis: Securities Litigation

Marvin J Lowenthal: Criminal Defense: White Collar

Barbara K Luse: Criminal Defense: White Collar

Matthew V Povolny: Business Litigation

Benjamin Zhu: Criminal Defense: White Collar

Elizabeth F Bernhardt was featured alongside her two daughters in an article titled, “It’s All Relative,” by Columbia Law School.  Elizabeth and her daughters, Doris and Sophia, are all faculty at Columbia Law School. 

Last year saw a sharp increase in investigations targeting the illicit flows of funds through financial institutions. In three prominent enforcement actions in 2012—against ING, Standard Chartered Bank and HSBC—prosecutors and regulators extracted massive fines for conduct ranging from intentional concealment of illicit transactions to ineffective monitoring.

A discussion about the erroneous predictions made about the outcomes of this case. Why were they made and how can we learn from these examples?

This alert discusses the importance of oral advocacy in any case and what improvements are needed in order save this method of argument from extinction.

The implications of the Galleon ruling in terms of white collar defense - specifically the growing use of wiretapping during insider trading investigations.

This article seeks to manage the expectations of senior executives, companies, and their counsel in light of the recent wave of lawsuits and criminal investigations of the officers and directors of failed banks as well as those who did business with them.