Keefe Bernstein is a civil trial lawyer with a national practice focused on complex commercial litigation. Mr. Bernstein tries cases in state and federal courts, including federal bankruptcy courts, and handles arbitrations and investigations. Mr. Bernstein has represented plaintiffs and defendants in a wide range of business cases, including extensive experience representing clients in or connected to the energy, manufacturing, accounting, lending, real estate and hospitality industries.

Mr. Bernstein serves as an adjunct professor of trial advocacy at the SMU Dedman School of Law. He previously served on loan as an assistant district attorney for the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office, where he prosecuted and tried numerous cases to successful verdicts. Mr. Bernstein has also undertaken federal criminal appointments, including a significant multi-week jury trial and argument before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit.

Representative matters include—

• represented an energy company in obtaining an approximately $22 million final judgment for fraud, tortious interference and breach of contract following a multi-week trial relating to a shale gas transaction
• represented the liquidating trustee of an offshore drilling company in prosecuting fraudulent transfer and contract claims of more than $100 million against its former parent company (settled at trial)
• represented a materials company in obtaining an approximately $19 million jury verdict following a multi-week trial against a Fortune 150 company for breach of a supply contract for roofing granules
• represented a Fortune 500 manufacturer in a multi-week fraud and breach of contract trial arising from a DOJ-mandated divestiture of industrial pump product lines (settled after trial before decision)
• represented a Big Four accounting firm in a multi-district consolidated securities class action and professional malpractice litigation relating to the bankruptcy of a NYSE-traded grocery wholesaler
• represented a private equity portfolio company in multiple actions and arbitrations arising from the sale of a national hotel group and the termination of hotel management contracts
• represented an international insurance company in litigation arising from the purchase of a significant insurance business and advised on a related arbitration of post-closing accounting disputes
• represented a lender in an approximately $150 million loan and valuation dispute arising from the bankruptcy filing of the owners of a Chicago hotel
• represented the owners of a power plant in a price and mining practices suit against a lignite mining company
• represented an oil and gas company in litigation and accounting disputes arising from the operation and development of an area of mutual interest for coalbed methane wells
• represented a creditors committee on multiple adversary proceedings and fraudulent transfer claims arising from the bankruptcy of a 1031 real estate exchange company and in obtaining summary judgment on pivotal trust claims
• represented a debtor in bankruptcy litigation relating to a Caribbean resort hotel
• represented a metal packaging company in an action against a competitor and former employees for theft of trade secrets, computer fraud and non-compete violations
• represented a financial services firm in obtaining dismissal of a lawsuit relating to the auction of a manufacturing plant
• member of trial team for an investor that obtained a jury verdict of approximately $230 million in a securities fraud case arising from investments in a waste disposal company.

Mr. Bernstein received his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of  Law in 1998. He received his B.A. with honors in 1995 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. Mr. Bernstein was a summer intern to the Honorable Graham C. Mullen of the U. S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina.

Mr. Bernstein has repeatedly been named a Texas Super Lawyer Rising Star, one of “The Best Lawyers in Dallas Under 40” in D Magazine and an Outstanding Lawyer Under 40 by the Cardozo Society of the Jewish Federation's Attorneys Division. Mr. Bernstein was named a fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation and has received an award for distinguished pro bono service from the Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program.