Debra Bodian Bernstein is a partner in the Firm’s Litigation Practice. With more than 30 years’ experience, Debra advocates for clients across a wide range of industries and disputes.
Debra handles complex civil litigation from inception through trial and appeal, including disputes regarding contracts, partners and shareholders, commercial landlord-tenant, cooperatives and condominiums, title insurance claims, mortgage foreclosures and other real property matters, fraudulent transfers, art restitution, intellectual property, securities, probate, and defamation.
Debra also counsels clients on litigation avoidance, out-of-court settlement, and insurance coverage strategies and has vast experience in post-judgment collection proceedings.
Debra regularly appears in New York State courts, federal courts, and alternative dispute resolution forums, including the American Arbitration Association and JAMS.
Representative Matters:
- Represented prominent retail jeweler in an action against a luxury watch distributor based on breach of contract and tortious interference with business relations.
- Represented the majority owner of an established wholesaler of women’s apparel in a shareholder dispute with the estate of the deceased minority owner.
- Represented heirs in actions to recover artworks lost during the Nazi period.
- Represented lenders and borrowers in actions on promissory notes and guarantees.
- Represented a national bank in an action based on a sweeping mortgage fraud scheme.
- Represented real property owners and mortgage lenders in defense of title insurance claims.
- Represented commercial landlords and tenants in significant lease disputes, including Yellowstone injunctions, nonpayment and holdover proceedings, ejectment, quiet enjoyment, constructive eviction, and force majeure issues, and in lease negotiations and litigation avoidance.
- Represented bankruptcy trustees in adversary proceedings based on fraudulent transfers and preferences.
- Represented a regional high-end candy store in a trade dress infringement action by a national retail candy chain.
- Represented a well-known financial advisor in an action against a competitor based on trademark infringement, unfair competition and defamation.
- Represented lenders and condominiums in mortgage and condominium lien foreclosure proceedings.
- Represented an administrator and beneficiary of an estate in litigation involving the estate and the co-administrator.
- Represented the chef and majority owner of an established New York City restaurant in litigation with minority owners.
- Represented a real estate developer in litigation with investors.
- State University of New York at Binghamton (B.S.)
- University of Pennsylvania Law School (J.D.)
- New York
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
- New York City Bar Association
- Real Property Law Committee
- New York State Bar Association
- Debra has been actively involved with the New York City Bar Association, where she has served on several committees, moderated programs, and participated in the Monday Night LAW program, providing legal advice to the community. Debra currently serves on the City Bar’s Real Property Law Committee.
- Debra serves on the Steering Committee of the Harpur Law Council of Binghamton University, where she works closely with the Dean of Harpur College of Arts and Sciences and the pre-law advisor at Binghamton University, and other Binghamton staff and alumni. Key priorities of the Law Council include sponsoring summer internships, mentoring and providing programs for undergraduates at Binghamton University who are interested in a career in law and holding networking events for students and law alumni.
