Michael I. Bernstein

A graduate of Columbia Law School and the University of Michigan (Economics), 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, 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 a Managing Partner with Benetar Isaacs Bernstein & Schair, and as a Senior Partner and Of Counsel with Bond, Schoeneck & King. He is a frequent lecturer and contributing editor and author to major federal and state labor and employment law treatises and periodicals.

Michael has chaired the Labor & Employment Law Section of the New York State Bar Association and is a member of its Executive Committee. In addition he has chaired both the Labor Committee of the New York City Bar Association and the Federal Labor Standards Legislation Committee of the American Bar Association (inter alia, The Age Discrimination in Employment Act, The Equal Pay Act, and The Fair Labor Standards Act). Michael also has served as a member of:

• the Governor’s Advisory Panel on Economic Development, New York State;
• the Lt. Governor’s Task Force on Plant Closings, New York State;
• the Project on Simplification of the Law, New York State Bar Association, Section on Labor and Employment Law;
• the New York State Bar Association Privacy Initiative Task Force;
• Advisory Committees/Task Forces to the American Arbitration Association, the New York City Commission on Human Rights, and the New York State Division of Human Rights; and
• the Departmental Disciplinary Committee, Supreme Court, Appellate Division (First Judicial Department).

Additionally, Michael is a long-standing member of:

• the New York State Bar Association Committee on Diversity and Inclusion;
• the New York City Bar Association Committee on Minorities in the Profession; and 
• the NYU Labor and Employment Center’s Board of Advisors. 

In 2015, the New York State Bar Association, Labor & Employment Law Section, honored Michael with its “Lifetime Achievement Award.” He is also an elected Fellow to:

• The College of Labor & Employment Lawyers,
• The American Bar Foundation, and 
• The New York Bar Foundation

Michael is a past member of the Second Circuit Credentials Committee of the College of Labor & Employment Lawyers. He has been further recognized by his peers in New York Super Lawyers, including its “Top 100 New York Super Lawyers” in all fields (2007), Best Lawyers in America (for more than 30 years), Who’s Who in American Law, and Chambers USA.