Leonard A. Bernstein

Partner

Len is a member of the Financial Industry Group, and founded and chairs the firm's Financial Services Regulatory Group. He concentrates his practice in the representation of banks, mortgage bankers and finance companies in providing consumer credit compliance advice on federal, Pennsylvania and New Jersey laws and regulations. The FSR Group provides compliance advice on credit card, auto finance, deposit, residential mortgage and other retail finance products. Len is nationally known for expertise with federal Truth-in-Lending Act, Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act and similar laws, and works regularly with federal and state financial services regulators.

He and his colleagues also handle bank regulatory issues and exams, and defend class actions and individual claims filed against financial services providers. Len is also active with the firm's Financial Services Litigation defense group and has been elected to the American College of Consumer Financial Services Attorneys. Len founded the firm’s Princeton, NJ office in 1992, served on the firm’s Executive Committee from 1999-2004, and received the firm’s Shaw’s Lion Award in 2003 and Sean Halpin Pro Bono Award in 2011.

Employment History

  • 1992 - Reed Smith
    • Director of Practice Development, member of the firm's Management Committee, 1999-2001
    • Member of the firm’s Executive Committee, 1999–2004
    • Chair of the firm’s Financial Services Regulatory Group, 1992-Present
    • Active with the firm's Financial Services Litigation defense group
    • Regional Managing Partner in New Jersey, 2000; founded Reed Smith New Jersey office in 1992
  • 1983 - Blank Rome LLP - Associate

Professional Affiliations

  • Founder of the New Jersey State Bar Association Consumer Finance Committee
  • Past chair of the New Jersey State Bar Association’s Banking Law Section, 1999–2000
  • Past chair of the Philadelphia Bar Association Business Law Section (1999) and Young Lawyers Division (1989)
  • Elected to the American College of Consumer Financial Services Attorneys
  • Governing Committee of the Conference on Consumer Finance Law
  • ABA Consumer Financial Services Committee: Pro Bono Sub Committee
  • Recognized in Chambers USA in 2007 and 2012 as one of America's leading banking and finance lawyers
  • In 2009, New Jersey Super Lawyer, and Rising Stars named Leonard as a Super Lawyer for his Banking Law practice
  • Selected as a 2009 Pennsylvania Super Lawyer in banking by Super Lawyers, Corporate Counsel Edition magazine
  • Listed in The Best Lawyers in America for Banking Law for over 10 years

Interests

Len is originally from Fort Lee, New Jersey.

Civic and Charitable Affiliations

  • President, Adath Israel Synagogue, Menon Station, PA, 2003–2005
  • Board President, Support Center for Child Advocates, 2007–2011 (www.advokid.org)
  • Board Member, American-Israeli Chamber of Commerce
  • Big Brothers Big Sisters National Organization – Pro Bono Counsel, 2010–2012
  • Board Member, Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House
  • Board Member, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America
  • Board Member, Friends of the Israeli Defense Forces – Greater Philadelphia Chapter
  • University of Pennsylvania Class of '80 – Chair, Community Service Committee
  • University of Pennsylvania Alumni Interviewing – Chair, Maine Line Committee