MEMBERS OF FIRM
John Stevens Berry (Managing Partner) born Sioux City, Iowa, October 28, 1938; admitted to bar, 1965, Nebraska and U.S. District Court, District of Nebraska; 1970, U.S. Court of Military Appeals; 1973, U.S. District Court, District of South Dakota; 1974, U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit; 1975, U.S. Tax Court; 1979, U.S. Supreme Court; 1996, U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans' Claims. Education: Stanford University (B.A., 1960); Northwestern University (J.D., 1965). Recipient: Bronze Star, Vietnamese Medal of Honor First Class (Gold); Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry (with Palm); FBI Award for Service in the Public Interest. Chief Defense Counsel, II Field Force, Vietnam, 1968-1969 and The Presidio, San Francisco, 1969-1970. Author: Those Gallant Men: On Trial in Vietnam, Presidio Press, 1984. Special Counsel, Franklin Committee of the Nebraska State Legislature, 1990. Member: Nebraska State and Federal (Member, Veterans' Law Section) Bar Associations; Nebraska Association of Trial Attorneys; Nebraska Criminal Defense Attorney Association (President, 1991-1992; Chairman, Committee on Expert Witnesses and Forensic Sciences, 1985-1989); The Association of Trial Lawyers of America; National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers; California Attorneys for Criminal Justice; American Academy of Forensic Science; National Organization of Veterans' Advocates. Fellow: American Board of Criminal Lawyers; Robert Van Pelt Chapter, Inns of Court (Member, Executive Board of Directors, 1990-1993; President, 1992-1993). [Capt., JAGC, 1968-1970]. Practice Areas: Criminal Defense; Drug Crimes; Driving While Intoxicated; White Collar Crime; State and Federal Felony Practice; Veterans Appeals; Murder.Email: John Stevens Berry
John S. Berry, Jr. (Member) born Lincoln, Nebraska; admitted to bar, 2003, Nebraska, U.S. District Court, District of Nebraska and U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. Education: College of William & Mary (B.A., 1997); U.S. Army Ranger School, Airborne School; Creighton University (J.D., cum laude, 2003); National Criminal Defense College, Phi Alpha Delta.. Clerk, Douglas County Public Defender, Tom Reilly. Member, Inns of Court. Advisor to the Board, Lincoln Independent Business Association. Member: Nebraska State Bar Association; Nebraska Criminal Defense Attorney's Association; National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers; National Organization of Veterans Advocates; Nebraska Association of Trial Attorneys. [Company Commander, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Iraq; Infantry Platoon Leader, Bosnia]. Practice Areas: Civil Practice; Criminal Law; Veterans Appeals; Veterans Benefits; Drug Crimes; Driving While Intoxicated; White Collar Crime; Assault and Battery; Burglary; Capital Offenses; Criminal Appeals; Criminal Conspiracy; Criminal Defense; Criminal Fraud; Criminal Investigation; Death Penalty; Drivers License Suspension; Federal Criminal Law; Felonies; Forgery; Hit and Run; Homicide; Mail Fraud; Manslaughter; Misdemeanors; Murder; Post-Conviction Remedies; Sex Crimes; Sexual Assault; Shoplifting; Stalking; Theft; Traffic Violations; Vehicular Homicide; Weapons Charges.Email: John S. Berry, Jr.
Chad J. Wythers (Member) born Geneva, Nebraska, October 23, 1972; admitted to bar, 2002, Nebraska and U.S. District Court, District of Nebraska; U.S. Court of Appeals, Veterans Claims and U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit. Education: University of Nebraska at Lincoln (B.A., 1996; J.D., 2002). Certified for DWI Detection and Standard Field Sobriety Testing by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the International Association for Chiefs of Police. Member: Nebraska State Bar Association; Criminal Defense Attorneys Association; National Organization of Veterans Advocates. Practice Areas: Veterans Appeals; Family Law; Civil Litigation; Criminal Law; Driving While Intoxicated; Traffic Violations; State Criminal Law; Federal Criminal Law; Drug Crimes; White Collar Crime; Assault and Battery; Burglary; Capital Offenses; Criminal Appeals; Criminal Conspiracy; Criminal Defense; Criminal Fraud; Death Penalty; Drivers License Suspension; Felonies; Forgery; Hit and Run; Homicide; Mail Fraud; Manslaughter; Misdemeanors; Murder; Post-Conviction Remedies; Search and Seizure; Sex Crimes; Sexual Assault; Shoplifting; Stalking; Theft; Vehicular Homicide; Weapons Charges.Email: Chad J. Wythers
ASSOCIATES
F. Matthew Aerni (Associate) born Lincoln, Nebraska, July 18, 1974; admitted to bar, 2007, Nebraska and U.S. District Court, District of Nebraska. Education: University of Nebraska at Lincoln (B.A., 1998; J.D., 2007). Practice Areas: Drivers License Suspension; DUI/DWI; Traffic Violations; Hit and Run; Misdemeanors; Shoplifting; Juvenile Criminal Law; Divorce; Domestic Partnerships; Name Changes; Uncontested Divorce; Separation Agreements; Wills; Probate; Social Security; Workers Compensation.Email: F. Matthew Aerni
Perry Pirsch, Esq. (Associate) born Omaha, Nebraska, 1971; admitted to bar, 1998, Nebraska; 2000, District of Columbia; U.S. District Court, District of Columbia; U.S. District Court, District of Nebraska; U.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit; U.S. Tax Court; U.S. Court of Appeals for Veteran's Claims. Education: University of Nebraska at Lincoln (B.A., Political Science, 1994; J.D., 1998); George Mason University (M.P.A., Public and Nonprofit Administration, 2003). Assistant Attorney General, State of Nebraska, 1998-2000. Legislative Counsel to Congressman Lee Terry, 2003-2004. General Counsel to Nebraska Auditor of Public Accounts, 2004-2007. Deputy and Counsel to Nebraska State Treasurer, 2007-2008.Email: Perry Pirsch, Esq.
LEGAL SUPPORT PERSONNEL
Margie Bailey admitted to bar, United States Court of Appeals for Veterans' Claims. Education: University of Nebraska (B.S., summa cum laude, 1991). Phi Theta Kappa. Presenter, Spring Seminar for the National Organization of Veterans' Advocates, 2007. Non-attorney Veterans' Advocate. Member: National Organization of Veterans' Advocates (Treasurer and Finance Committee). Practice Areas: Veterans Appeals.Email: Margie Bailey