Bernard Nash

Bernard Nash joined Dickstein Shapiro in 1988 and leads the firm’s State Attorneys General Practice, where he represents clients in complex state and federal legal matters. Bernie’s work typically involves cases of first impression, matters having public policy implications and/or a governmental interest, and complex litigation. He routinely counsels major private sector clients on a wide range of matters involving State Attorneys General and also has represented states in significant policy disputes. Under Bernie’s leadership, the State Attorneys General Practice has become the country’s largest and premier practice devoted to resolving State Attorney General disputes. According to Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, Bernie is “the leading practitioner in the country” who has “cornered the market” in representing clients before State Attorneys General and is known as “the godfather of State Attorney General work.” AREAS OF CONCENTRATION Private Sector Practice Bernie represents 5-Hour Energy, Barclays Bank Delaware, Bridgepoint Education, Cardinal Health, Corinthian Colleges, DuPont, The Garden City Group, Herbalife, Intuit, Lender Processing Services, MasterCard, Pfizer, Prudential, Time Warner Cable, Wal-Mart, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute For Legal Reform with respect to State Attorney General issues and investigations. Legislative Practice Bernie’s legislative practice has included conceptualization and responsibility for enactment of the Patent Term Restoration Act; legislation authorizing Medicare to pay for the pneumococcal vaccine; federal childhood lead poisoning legislation; the Foreign Patent Licensing Act; the Federal Patent Policy legislation; transgenic farm animal patent issues; a Subchapter M tax issue for a mutual fund; federal escheat legislation for 31 states; preemption of local sales taxes; and federal boxing legislation. BACKGROUND Bernie served as trial attorney and special counsel, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (1966-1971); counsel, U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Antitrust and Monopoly (1971-1977); founding partner, Nash, Railsback & Plesser (1977-1988); and partner, Dickstein Shapiro LLP (1988-present). As counsel to the Senate Subcommittee on Antitrust and Monopoly from 1971 to 1977, Bernie was responsible for drafting the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Act of 1976 and developing and executing the legislative strategy that overcame two filibusters prior to enactment of the bill. Bernie was credited with “mastermind[ing] the strategic efforts while at the same time providing the technical and parliamentary expertise required for passage of” the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act, Pub. L. No. 94-435 (1976) (The National Journal, Sept. 25, 1976). While in law school, Bernie served as associate editor of the Brooklyn Law Review.