Andrew Bernhard has represented national real estate developers, financial institutions, and corporations in their complex commercial, consumer finance, and real estate development matters. Andrew represented national financial institutions in their escalated litigation matters ranging from violation of federal business and banking statutes, preservation of bank-owned real estate, defending securities fraud claims, and negotiating director and shareholder settlements. Prior to Rivero Mestre, Andrew Bernhard represented Florida communities and national real estate developers in real estate litigation and transactional matters. He also worked under Edwin G. Torres, United States Judge for the Southern District of Florida, and at the San Diego County Public Defender’s Office. Andrew Bernhard graduated magna cum laude from the University of Miami School of Law where he served as Executive Chair for the International Moot Court Board and received the CALI Excellence Award for International Moot Court. His professors named him a Dean’s Fellow for constitutional law, property, and legal research and writing, and granted him honors in Business Associations and Litigation Skills. The University of Miami School of Law awarded Andrew Bernhard the John F. Evans Memorial Scholarship for excellence in Litigation Skills.

For over 30 years, William C. Bernhardi has built his reputation as one of the preeminent Social Security Disability (SSD) lawyers in Buffalo, NY. Notably, Mr. Bernhardi worked as a Social Security Claims Representative and a Social Security State Agency Disability Analyst before becoming an attorney, further enhancing his comprehensive knowledge of the Social Security Disability (SSD) processes. Mr. Bernhardi is active in the legal community and previously served as chair of the Erie County Bar Association Committee for the Disabled, where he is still an active member. He has also been a featured lecturer on a range of Social Security and legal topics and he has long served as a voice for disability advocacy groups. Attorneys routinely call him for advice regarding Social Security Disability Claims.

Heidi Bernstein manages our matrimonial, family law and criminal and traffic law practice. Heidi has been a practicing attorney for over twenty-eight years with extensive experience in matrimonial and family court matters, prenuptial agreements, separation agreements and post-nuptial agreements in addition to handling educational law issues, criminal and traffic matters, and mental health and drug court cases. Heidi has won numerous trials involving custody, child support, maintenance, and equitable distribution. Heidi has successfully represented clients in divorce actions, criminal contempt proceedings, family offense matters, and relocation petitions. Ms. Bernstein has handled same ­sex family court and matrimonial actions and has secured parental rights to same­ sex partners before the passing of the Marriage Equality Act in 2011. Heidi draws on her perspective as a trial lawyer to counsel and advocate for clients facing these and other significant life events.

Area of Practice: Labor and Employment Law A graduate of Columbia Law School (1962) and the University of Michigan (Economics) (1959), Michael is a labor and employment law attorney who began his career with the New York Regional Office of the National Labor Relations Board. Since entering private practice in 1965, he has represented management in all facets of labor and employment law, both in for-profit and not-for-profit settings, including in his capacities as Partner with Aranow, Brodsky, Bohlinger, Benetar, Einhorn & Dann; Partner with Benetar Isaacs Bernstein & Schair; Managing Partner with Benetar, Bernstein, Schair & Stein; and Senior Partner and now Of Counsel with Bond, Schoeneck & King. He is a frequent lecturer and, as well, contributing editor and author to major federal and state labor and employment law treatises and periodicals, and to Chambers Global Practice Guide, USA Regional Employment. In 2015 Michael was honored with a “Lifetime Achievement Award” by the New York State Bar Association, Labor and Employment Law Section. He also has been elected as a Fellow of the American Bar Association; a Fellow of the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers; and a Fellow of the New York Bar Foundation. In 1992, his firm, Benetar Bernstein Schair & Stein was the recipient of The Reliance Award for Excellence in Education, Outstanding Small Business in New York City. Michael has chaired the Labor & Employment Law Section of the New York State Bar Association and is a member of its Executive Committee. He has chaired, as well, both the Labor Committee of the New York City Bar Association and the Federal Labor Standards Legislation Committee of the American Bar Association. Michael also is a long-standing member of the New York State Bar Association Committee on Diversity and Inclusion and the NYU Labor and Employment Center’s Board of Advisors. He has served as well as a member of the New York City Bar Association Committee on Minorities in the Profession and as a judge in its annual Michael Oshima Essay Competition; as a member of the New York State Bar Association’s Special Committee on Youth Outreach; and as a member of the New York State Bar Association’s Labor and Employment Section Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Law School Liaisons, including as a judge in its annual Emanuel and Kenneth Stein Law School Essay Competition. Michael has also served as a member of the Departmental Disciplinary Committee, Appellate Division, First Judicial Department; as a member of the Privacy Initiative Task Force, New York State Bar Association; a member of the Governor’s Advisory Panel on Economic Development, New York State (Project 2000); a member of the Law Committee (Labor Section), American Arbitration Association; a member of the Lt. Governor’s Task Force on Plant Closings, New York State; Chair, Subcommittee, Project on Simplification of the Law, New York State Bar Association, Labor and Employment Law Section; and Chair, Committee on Intake and Investigation, Task Force of New York State Division of Human Rights.

Travis is a Board Certified Civil Trial Advocate and Board Certified Civil Pre-Trial Advocate with over 30 years of trial experience representing Plaintiffs and Insurance Companies. He is committed to helping Trial Lawyers who need a mediator that is active in the practice and available 24/7. His experience has taught him that mediation can be in the best interest option for a client. And, if the case does not settle by agreement, the Lawyers are in a better position because they know they have tried to save the client cost and expenses, and the case is ready to present to a jury.