Stuart Bernstein focuses his practice on Higher Education Disciplinary Misconduct, Student Rights, and Due Process.

With nearly three decades of experience practicing law in the State of New York, Stuart Bernstein is an accomplished litigator and well-respected trial attorney, and is regarded as a lawyer’s lawyer. He concentrates in matters including civil rights, partnership and corporate disputes, professional malpractice, mass tort and class action litigation. In addition to his trial practice, Stuart has extensive experience in representing clients at private mediation.

During his legal career, Stuart served the People of the State of New York for over eight years as a New York County Assistant District Attorney under the leadership of the Honorable Robert M. Morgenthau. Stuart also served as a Prosecutor for the Office of the New York City Special Narcotics Prosecutor where he conducted numerous trials concerning high-level narcotics prosecution, including organized crime and gang related matters. As a Senior Supervising Attorney in the District Attorney’s Office, he oversaw long-term investigations into multinational narcotics production and distribution cartels.

As a partner for the past 10 years in a prominent New York City firm, Stuart has successfully represented major New York Hospitals, physicians, partnerships and corporations in a wide range of litigation issues.

Most notably, in a case of first impression in the State of New York, Stuart secured a defense verdict on a complex matter involving claims of negligence, malpractice and loss of consortium claims, stemming from allegations dating back an incredible 25 years.

Stuart received his Juris Doctor degree in 1990 from St. John’s School of Law where he obtained Dean’s List status. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1987.

With the enactment of the August 2020 Title IX regulations and the requirement of cross examination, Stuart has successfully used his decades of trial experience to obtain numerous non-responsibility findings related to allegations of sexual misconduct following hearings at universities across the country.

Stuart is married and he and his wife have two children. Stuart is an avid sports fan.

Education

  • St. John’s University School of Law, J.D., Dean’s List
  • State University of New York at Buffalo, B.A.

Admissions

  • New York State-Appellate Division-Second Department 
  • Eastern District Court of New York
  • Southern District Court of New York
  • Western District Court of New York
  • Northern District Court of New York
  • Western District Court of Wisconsin
  •  U.S. Court of Appeals – 1st Cir
  •  U.S. Court of Appeals – 9th Cir
  •  U.S. Court of Appeals – 10th Cir

Stuart recently obtained a not responsible finding for his client who was a coach of a university’s men’s varsity athletic team.

At the beginning of the COVID epidemic, Stuart led a team of attorneys that successfully obtained the immediate reinstatement of six students, which allowed for their on-time graduation, following university suspensions for an alleged Student Conduct/COVID related violation imposed without a hearing or a notice of the violation prior to the suspension.

Stuart has successfully obtained temporary restraining orders and preliminary injunctions, including one of the first in the country requiring his clients’ immediate readmission to a university following the school’s impermissive expulsion.

Stuart obtained a temporary restraining order prohibiting a university from going forward with a second Title IX hearing after the university stopped the first proceeding without any justification.

Stuart successfully litigated and negotiated the retention of Professors’ tenured position following the filing of Title IX allegations. Stuart has conducted several privilege and tenure hearings throughout the country.

Stuart and the Nesenoff & Miltenberg team have successfully represented student athletes against Title IX accusations which ultimately allowed them to become professional athletes.

Stuart has negotiated favorable settlements for numerous clients following the filing of state and federal lawsuits stemming from universities’ improper handling of Title IX proceedings.

Stuart has litigated from temporary restraining order through trial in an intellectual property matter concerning the ticket broker industry.

Stuart has participated in university sponsored CLE presentations arguing for the rights and the need for Due Process protections for the accused. Stuart has provided comment and analysis in National publications concerning the August 2020 Title IX regulations.