INGA BERNSTEIN

	Ms. Bernstein concentrates her practice in the areas of criminal defense and civil litigation, including employment and domestic relations law. She has been selected by Best Lawyers in America for labor and employment law, recognized as among the top 50 Women “Super Lawyers” in Massachusetts and as a Criminal Defense “Super Lawyer” in Boston Magazine. She was honored as one of five “Up and Coming Lawyers” in 2003 in Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly. Ms. Bernstein handles cases in both state and federal courts and before administrative agencies, including the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination. She also counsels clients before litigation, both civil and criminal, is instituted. She has been lead counsel in a number of major employment cases and lead or co-counsel in several first degree murder trials, as well as in extortion, racketeering, bank fraud, armed robbery, and drug conspiracy cases. She handles both civil and criminal matters on appeal. In November 2011, Ms. Bernstein won a $1.1 million verdict in Suffolk Superior Court in an employment retaliation case following a three week trial. An article about this victory appeared in Massachusetts Lawyers’ Weekly, Jan. 9, 2012. In October 2005, Ms. Bernstein won a $2.2 million verdict in federal court in a discrimination and retaliation case on behalf of a former female police officer who sued her union. In September 2007, Ms. Bernstein had this verdict affirmed by the First Circuit Court of Appeals. With Norman Zalkind, she won a $7.6 million verdict in a retaliation case, which was, at the time, the largest employment discrimination jury verdict in Massachusetts’ history. In 2005, Ms. Bernstein won preliminary recognition that a long term disability policy that limits benefits for persons with mental disabilities might violate the Americans with Disabilities Act. Her appellate work includes representing the plaintiff, with John Ward, in Doe III, in which a portion of the Massachusetts sexual offender registration law was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Judicial Court. She has also drafted an amicus brief and successfully petitioned for certiorari to the United States Supreme Court. Before becoming a lawyer, Ms. Bernstein worked in civil rights enforcement, non-profit housing, and as a mediator. b. New Haven, Connecticut Wellesley College, 1984, magna cum laude Harvard Law School, 1994, cum laude Clerkship: Judge Douglas P. Woodlock, U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, 1994-95 Member: Massachusetts Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Massachusetts Employment Lawyers Association. Massachusetts Lesbian and Gay Bar Association. Frank J. Murray Inn of Court Joined the firm 1995. Partner since 2001.

Ms. Bernstein concentrates her practice in the areas of criminal defense and civil litigation, including employment and domestic relations law. She has been selected by Best Lawyers in America for labor and employment law, recognized as among the top 50 Women “Super Lawyers” in Massachusetts and as a Criminal Defense “Super Lawyer” in Boston Magazine. She was honored as one of five “Up and Coming Lawyers” in 2003 in Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly. Ms. Bernstein handles cases in both state and federal courts and before administrative agencies, including the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination. She also counsels clients before litigation, both civil and criminal, is instituted. She has been lead counsel in a number of major employment cases and lead or co-counsel in several first degree murder trials, as well as in extortion, racketeering, bank fraud, armed robbery, and drug conspiracy cases. She handles both civil and criminal matters on appeal.

In November 2011, Ms. Bernstein won a $1.1 million verdict in Suffolk Superior Court in an employment retaliation case following a three week trial. An article about this victory appeared in Massachusetts Lawyers’ Weekly, Jan. 9, 2012. In October 2005, Ms. Bernstein won a $2.2 million verdict in federal court in a discrimination and retaliation case on behalf of a former female police officer who sued her union. In September 2007, Ms. Bernstein had this verdict affirmed by the First Circuit Court of Appeals. With Norman Zalkind, she won a $7.6 million verdict in a retaliation case, which was, at the time, the largest employment discrimination jury verdict in Massachusetts’ history. In 2005, Ms. Bernstein won preliminary recognition that a long term disability policy that limits benefits for persons with mental disabilities might violate the Americans with Disabilities Act. Her appellate work includes representing the plaintiff, with John Ward, in Doe III, in which a portion of the Massachusetts sexual offender registration law was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Judicial Court. She has also drafted an amicus brief and successfully petitioned for certiorari to the United States Supreme Court. Before becoming a lawyer, Ms. Bernstein worked in civil rights enforcement, non-profit housing, and as a mediator.

b. New Haven, Connecticut
Wellesley College, 1984, magna cum laude
Harvard Law School, 1994, cum laude

Clerkship:
Judge Douglas P. Woodlock, U.S. District Court
for the District of Massachusetts, 1994-95

Member:
Massachusetts Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Massachusetts Employment Lawyers Association.
Massachusetts Lesbian and Gay Bar Association.
Frank J. Murray Inn of Court

Joined the firm 1995. Partner since 2001.