Bernard has more than 45 years of experience advising clients in a full range of business law transactions, estate planning, and estate and trust administration. His primary areas of focus also include trusts and estates, acquisitions and divestitures, taxation, and education-related issues.

He began his legal career as an Assistant District Attorney in Manhattan, serving for almost four years under the acting District Attorney Frank Hogan. He joined the Lynchburg firm of Edmunds & Williams in 1973. Bernard’s early practice included corporate litigation, workers’ compensation, insurance defense, and construction/contract litigation. He also represented many clients in real estate-related matters.

After several years of practice at Edmunds & Williams, Bernard went on to study accounting at Lynchburg College. He changed his area of practice focus to corporate law and trust and estates. He joined Woods Rogers when the two firms merged in October of 2016.

Virginia Super Lawyers has recognized Bernard as one of the top five percent of Virginia lawyers in Business Law for many years. He has also been recognized by his peers for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America for “Civil Litigation and Business Law”. He holds an AV Preeminent Martindale-Hubbell “Peer Rating”.

Bernard’s community outreach has included service on the boards of directors of many community organizations, including Randolph College, the University of Virginia Alumni Association, United Way of Central Virginia, and Point of Honor, a historic home on the James River that now serves as a museum.

Recognition