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Lieff, Cabraser, Heimann & Bernstein, LLPOf Counsel
William Bernstein
Pro

William Bernstein

5.0
1 review

275 Battery Street, 29th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94111

Antitrust, Consumer Protection, Securities & Financial Fraud and 1 more

About William Bernstein

William Bernstein has practiced law for more than three decades. Who’s Who Legal called him, “a leader in the plaintiffs’ bar in the fields of complex civil litigation, antitrust, and consumer protection law.”

Notable cases Bill has litigated include price-fixing suits against pharmaceutical companies on behalf of retail pharmacies, consumer claims against the world’s largest vitamin manufacturers for crafting a global “vitamins cartel,” charges against natural gas and energy companies for manipulating the price of natural gas and electricity in California during the California energy crisis of 2000-2001, and whistleblower claims against the Sutter hospital system for anesthesia service overcharges. These cases, in total, resulted in over $1.3 billion in settlements for consumers and businesses.

Bill also oversaw negotiations in the landmark settlement and injunction against De Beers for monopolizing the trade of rough diamonds in the U.S. for nearly 60 years. As featured in the 2008 Plaintiffs Hot List, The National Law Journal wrote,

The plaintiffs’ firms’ pluck, and some luck, resulted in a $295 million settlement for De Beers’ customers [and] secured De Beers’ pledge to abide by federal and state antitrust laws and accept court oversight to ensure compliance.

Bill taught settlement law as an Adjunct Professor of Law at the University of San Francisco. Bill has been repeatedly recognized as a “Super Lawyer for Northern California” by Super Lawyers magazine.

Publications & Presentations

•“The Rise and Fall of Enron’s One-To-Many Trading Platform,” American Bar Association Antitrust Law Section, Annual Spring Meeting, 2005
•“Effective Use of Class Action Procedures in California Toxic Tort Litigation,” West-Northwest Journal of Environmental and Toxic Torts Law and Policy, No. 3, Spring 1996

Honors & Awards

•AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
•Selected for inclusion by peers in The Best Lawyers in America in field of “Litigation - Antitrust,” 2013 - 2026
•“California Litigation Star,” Benchmark Plaintiff (ranked as one of California’s leading litigators in antitrust law)
•“Recommended Lawyer - Competition: Plaintiff,” Lexology Index 2025
•“Super Lawyer for Northern California,” Super Lawyers, 2004 - 2025
•“Consumer Attorney of the Year Finalist,” Consumer Attorneys of California, 2014
•“Top Attorneys In Antitrust Law,” Super Lawyers Corporate Counsel Edition, 2010, 2012
•“Lawdragon Finalist,” Lawdragon, 2009 - 2011
•Princeton Premier Registry, Business Leaders and Professionals, 2008 - 2009
•“Top 100 Trial Lawyers in California,” American Trial Lawyers Association, 2008
•Who’s Who Legal, 2007
•Unsung Hero Award, Appleseed, 2006

In the News

•August 21, 2025
36 Lieff Cabraser Lawyers Named to 2026 Best Lawyers Listings
•August 21, 2025
Five Lieff Cabraser Attorneys Recognized in Lexology Index: Competition 2025
•June 30, 2025
28 Lieff Cabraser Attorneys Selected as 2025 Northern California Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
•August 17, 2023
34 Lieff Cabraser Lawyers Named to 2024 Best Lawyers Listings
•July 5, 2023
23 Lieff Cabraser Attorneys Selected as 2023 Northern California Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

Classes/Seminars

•Law of Settlements, University of San Francisco, School of Law, 2006 - Present

 

William Bernstein (San Francisco, California) View website

Awards

AV Preeminent Peer Rated
This elite award is granted to attorneys who have been recognized by their peers for their very high ethical standards, with an average peer review score of 4.5 or higher.
Martindale-Hubbell Peer AV

Client Champion Awards

Client Champion awards recognize those attorneys who excel at service as affirmed by their clients. The awards, based on the quantity and quality of an attorney’s Martindale-Hubbell client reviews, demonstrate an ongoing commitment to delivering excellent client service. Award recipients stand out from their peers with a platinum, gold or silver icon.

Champion Badge Silver

At least three reviews and a score of 4.0 or higher.

Champion Badge Gold

At least six reviews and a score of 4.2 or higher.

Champion Badge Platinum

At least ten reviews and a score of 4.5 or higher.

Martindale Peer Awards

A lawyer who receives a minimum threshold of qualifying responses from fellow attorneys can qualify for one of three prestigious Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings:

Martindale-Hubbell Peer AV Preeminent Rating

AV Preeminent®: The highest peer rating standard. This rating signifies a large number of the lawyer’s peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal knowledge, communication skills and ethical standards.

William Bernstein got this award in 2021

Martindale-Hubbell Peer Distinguished Rating

Distinguished: An excellent rating for a lawyer with some experience. This rating indicates the attorney is widely respected by their peers for high professional achievement and ethical standards.

Martindale-Hubbell Peer Notable Rating

Notable: This rating indicates that the lawyer has been recognized by a large number of their peers for strong ethical standards.

Avvo Awards

Avvo Top Contributor

Avvo Top Contributor: The Avvo Top Contributor Award is granted to attorneys who have earned significant contribution points in a given year on our sister site, Avvo.com. Contribution points are earned by answering questions in Q&A, publishing Legal Guides, and other useful contributions to the Avvo community.

Avvo Client Choice

Avvo Client’s Choice: The Avvo Client's Choice Award Badge is granted to attorneys with a significant number of 4+ star reviews in a given year.

Reviews for William

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Services

Areas of Law

  • Other 4
    • Antitrust
    • Consumer Protection
    • Securities & Financial Fraud
    • Whistleblower Law

Practice Details

  • Firm Information
    Position
    Of Counsel
    Firm Name
    Lieff, Cabraser, Heimann & Bernstein, LLP

Experience

  • Bar Admission & Memberships
    Admissions
    1975, California
    1975, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California
    1985, New York
    1985, U.S. Supreme Court
    1987, U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit
    1991, U.S. District Court, Central District of California
    1991, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California
    1992, U.S. District Court, Southern District of California
    2008, U.S. Court of Appeals 3rd Circuit
    Memberships

    Professional Associations and Memberships

    •Association of Business Trial Lawyers (Board of Governors, 2005 - Present)
    •Bar Association of San Francisco
    •Marin County Bar Association (Admin. of Justice Committee, 1988)
    •State Bar of California

  • Education & Certifications
    Law School
    University of San Francisco School of Law, San Francisco, California
    Class of 1975
    J.D.
    Other Education
    Law Review: San Francisco Law Review, 1974-1975

    University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
    Class of 1975
    B.A.
    Honors: General Honors

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Attorneys FAQs

  • What year was this attorney first admitted to the bar?
    William Bernstein was admitted in 1975 to the State of California.
  • Is this attorney Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review rated?
    Yes, William Bernstein has a 5.0 Peer Rating from Martindale-Hubbell.
  • How many attorneys are in this law firm?
    Lieff, Cabraser, Heimann & Bernstein, LLP has 100 attorneys at this location.
  • What law school did this attorney attend?
    William Bernstein attended University of San Francisco School of Law, San Francisco, California.
  • Is this attorney listed in the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers?
    William Bernstein is listed in the Antitrust Law, Aviation Law, Civil Rights, Civil Trial Practice, Environmental Law, Labor and Employment Law, Personal Injury, Product Liability Law, Securities Law and Toxic Torts section of the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers.

Attorney information displayed in this FAQ section is based upon information the lawyer has included on their profile, in addition to the information we collect from state bar associations and other organizations that license legal professionals.

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• Distinguished: An excellent rating for a lawyer with some experience. This rating indicates the attorney is widely respected by their peers for high professional achievement and ethical standards.

• Notable: This rating indicates that the lawyer has been recognized by a large number of their peers for strong ethical standards.

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