Mr. Bernard is the General Counsel for Perfected Claims. Mr. Bernard previously represented governmental entities, public and private corporations, and high-net-worth individuals facing litigation challenges for over 30 years. His focus included commercial, white-collar, labor litigation, and public law. His career has encompassed all aspects ofstate and federal litigation, including civil and criminal trials, arbitration, and other forms of alternate dispute resolution. His peers have recognized him, including in Best Lawyers in America® for Commercial Litigation – Defendants, 2018- 2023, and Superlawyers©-2023.

Mr. Bernard is a former partner of Dykema Gossett PLLC and Bracewell, LLP. Before joining these firms, he served as the City Attorney for the City of San Antonio, a position he held for eight years. There, he served as the chief legal advisor to the city council, city management, and all city departments. His office included a team of 58 attorneys that provided complete legal services to the city, providing advice and general counselon all legal issues and litigation involving San Antonio and its residents. Michael also served as Bexar County, Texas's first assistant district attorney. In his six years as the highest-ranking appointed prosecutor, he undertook and supervised investigations and prosecutions of state securities fraud, banking violations, and numerous corporate criminal matters and civil enforcement actions.

Before holding these positions, Mr. Bernard established his own firm. He has supervised the prosecution and defense of hundreds of tort and liability claims in his role as City Attorney and prosecuted and defended tort actions in private practice. Because of his background and experience as a trial lawyer, he has been an adjunct professor at St. Mary's University School of Law in San Antonio since 2002, teaching both Trial Advocacy and Arbitration.

Your Why: As a way to continue to help those in need of quality legal assistance