Sonnenschein's D.C. Office Names Joshua G. Berman New Chair of Litigation & Business Regulation Practice
September 20, 2005
(WASHINGTON, September 20, 2005) -- The Washington, D.C. office of Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP today announced that Joshua G. Berman has been appointed the new local chair of the law firm’s Litigation & Business Regulation practice. Berman’s expertise includes white-collar criminal litigation and investigations, SEC investigations and complex civil litigation. He was recently named national co-chair of the American Bar Association’s White-Collar Crime Subcommittee on Public Corruption and Extortion.
“Josh’s substantial trial and litigation experience, the relationship he has with clients and his management skills make him an ideal person for this leadership role,” said Amy Bess, managing partner of the Washington, D.C. office. “In addition, Josh’s strategic counsel, enthusiasm and tenacity are greatly valued by his clients, colleagues and the firm.”
Since joining the firm a year ago, Berman has taken the lead in helping build Sonnenschein’s East Coast white-collar presence. He also focuses on internal corporate and congressional investigations, Sarbanes-Oxley compliance, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act matters, Internet security and enforcement issues, sentencing issues and grand-jury investigations. Berman handles litigation in the trial and appellate level, in federal and state court and in arbitrations.
“I work with an extraordinary group of more than 25 litigators in Washington, D.C. and nearly 250 litigators firm-wide,” said Berman. “The opportunity to lead one of the city’s premier litigation departments, in one of the city’s fastest growing law firms, is exciting. I am honored.”
Berman also is actively involved in a number of pro bono representations. In the past year, he has handled pro bono matters ranging from criminal defense and landlord-tenant disputes to a national security matter involving the war in Iraq.
Prior to joining Sonnenschein, Berman was an Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York. At the age of 28, he was invited to be a member of one of the country’s only counter-terrorism task forces, working closely with the FBI. By the time he turned 30, Berman had served as lead prosecutor in nine jury trials, including a RICO trial. In 2001, Berman was one of four federal prosecutors nationwide to review the FBI’s national security apparatus, in the wake of the Robert Hanssen espionage scandal. Berman also handled a number of high profile public corruption investigations for the Department of Justice throughout the country, including cases in Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Washington, D.C., New Jersey and Mississippi.
Berman is a member of the Bars of the State of Illinois and the District of Columbia, as well as the United States District Courts for the Northern District of Illinois, the Southern District of New York and the District of Columbia. He is also admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court and the 2nd, 7th and 9th U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals. He is also an adjunct professor of law at Georgetown University, American University, The George Washington University and The Catholic University of America, where he taught courses on white-collar crime and federal prosecutions. He also has taught cybercrime law courses at Columbia Law School and Cardozo Law School in New York City.
Berman received a J.D. degree, magna cum laude, from the University of Michigan, where he was associate editor of the Michigan Law Review. He earned a B.A. degree, magna cum laude, from Cornell University. Berman served as a judicial clerk for Judge Joel M. Flaum of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. He often serves as expert legal commentator for various media outlets.
Sonnenschein, with more than 700 attorneys and other professionals in nine U.S. cities and a global reach, serves the legal needs of many of the world’s largest and best-known businesses, nonprofits and individuals.
Media Contact:
Audrey Waters
Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP
(202) 408-9201
AWaters@sonnenschein.com
