Kramer Levin Names Barry Berke Co-Chair of Litigation Department

NEW YORK, April 29, 2013 – Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP announced today that Barry H. Berke has been named co-chair of the firm’s Litigation Department alongside the department’s long-time chair, Gary P. Naftalis. The two will work together to provide strategic oversight for the firm’s 90-plus attorney department.

A nationally-acclaimed trial lawyer, Mr. Berke has represented prominent individuals and corporations in many sensitive and high-profile investigations, litigations and trials. He has been widely recognized for the number of cases he has won at trial, the favorable results he has obtained in class action and other complex litigation and the success he has achieved in helping clients avoid prosecution.

“Barry is one of the leading trial lawyers in the country and has a proven track record of successfully navigating complex and highly publicized litigation on behalf of his clients,” said Paul S. Pearlman, Kramer Levin’s Managing Partner. “His ability to develop creative strategies and find innovative solutions in a wide range of cases makes him a natural leader for our litigation department and we’re delighted to have him assume this role.”

Mr. Berke has handled cases that have filled headlines for more than a decade. Recent examples include his representation of the following clients: Bear Stearns in the criminal investigation and civil proceedings arising from the collapse of two investment funds that led to the indictment of two officers, but no action against the company; a former investment representative at Deutsche Bank who was the only defendant acquitted of all charges in a criminal prosecution described as the largest tax fraud prosecution in U.S. history; the head of a multi-billion dollar investment fund, who was cleared of all charges in an indictment that alleged he conspired to bribe the President of Azerbaijan; and AIG, Inc. in highly publicized investigations by the Justice Department and Securities and Exchange Commission that resulted in no charges or any other action against the company.

Mr. Berke is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. He was also selected in 2010 as one of the “Top 10 Lawyers in New York” and as one of the “Top 100” by Super Lawyers from 2008-2012. In 2012, Chambers USA ranked Mr. Berke in its top band for his success as both a trial lawyer nationwide and white collar criminal defense lawyer, recognizing him to be "the cream of the crop" for trial work, "an incredibly sharp legal mind and an awesome trial lawyer," who is known for his "great connection with juries." Legal 500 in 2011 cited Mr. Berke as “one of the most high-profile and sought after white-collar attorneys in New York.” Benchmark Litigation has consistently named him a litigation star, citing him “for his white collar and securities achievements” and as “the go-to guy for white collar trial work.” The National Law Journal recently profiled Mr. Berke as part of a special report on five winning trial attorneys for 2011, and he also was included in Law360’s “2011 Most Valuable Player” list. In 2007 he was profiled in The American Lawyer’s “Young Litigators Fab Fifty” as one of the 50 leading litigation attorneys in the United States under the age of 45.

“I am honored to be moving into this role at the firm and feel extremely fortunate to work with such extraordinarily talented lawyers, who have been pivotal to the tremendous success of our department and firm in handling some of the highest profile and most complicated criminal and civil cases across the country,” Mr. Berke commented.

In addition to his client work, Mr. Berke has taught courses on criminal law and professional responsibility at New York University School of Law, and lectures frequently on criminal justice issues in a variety of forums. Additionally, he is chairman of the board of directors of the Coalition for the Homeless. Mr. Berke earned his J.D., cum laude, from Harvard Law School, and his B.A., summa cum laude, from Duke University.

This news was profiled on the front page of the May 1, 2013 issue of New York Law Journal.