Gary Berne represents clients in all types of business cases in both federal and state courts. Many of his cases involve securities, shareholder, partnership, antitrust, consumer and employment claims, and class actions. Along with this trial practice, he also represents members of the securities industry in regulatory and compliance matters before the Securities and Exchange Commission (S.E.C.), Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and state agencies. Gary has assisted the Oregon Law Center in class actions for forestry and farm workers and represented the Columbia River Tribes in preserving their treaty rights to live along the Columbia River.

Gary has been consistently recognized as one of the leading business trial lawyers in Oregon by Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business, Best Lawyers in America and other publications.

Gary has written and spoken extensively about securities litigation; corporate governance; professional standards for lawyers, accountants and the financial industry; trial practice and federal practice.

Gary serves as an arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, and the Arbitration Service of Portland, and regularly acts as a mediator in all types of commercial disputes.

Areas of Practice:

Business Dispute Resolution and Litigation

Class Action Litigation

Securities/Investor/Broker Litigation

Representative Cases :

Representative Cases:

Financial Fraud:

Recovered millions of dollars for investors in financial fraud cases ranging from claims against brokerage firms to claims regarding cell phone and offshore bank scams.

Securities Class Actions:

Received $88 million jury verdict, $43.5 million settlement and $15 million settlement in three securities fraud class actions on behalf of shareholders.

Shareholder and Partnership:

Several successful resolutions of shareholder disputes involving finance, healthcare, real estate and distribution businesses, among others.

Civil Rights:

Preserved the treaty rights of the Columbia River Tribes to continue to live along the Columbia River.

Securities Defense:

Defense of $3 million claim against brokerage firm accused of improper conduct. Arbitrators found for client on all issues.

Debtor/Creditor Claims:

Favorable defense of claims by bank against guarantor of debt of bankrupt company.

Professional Liability:

Prosecution of malpractice claims against law and accounting firms, recovering millions of dollars for clients.

Employment and Non-Competition Agreements:

Represented clients in several matters involving claims for enforcement of non-competition agreements.

Insurance:

Representation of clients in coverage and bad-faith disputes.

Insider Trading and Securities Regulation Matters:

Represented defendants and witnesses in S.E.C., FINRA and state regulatory matters, including defense of clients facing multi-state enforcement claims.

Trademark and Copyright:

Successful defense of several types of intellectual property claims.

Professional Experience:

Stoll Berne; shareholder, 1977-present

Education:

University of Pennsylvania, J.D., 1977

University of Pennsylvania, B.A., cum laude, 1972

Admitted to Practice:

Oregon State Bar, 1977

United States District Court, Oregon

United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit

United States Supreme Court

Professional Activities:

Member of the Oregon State Bar

Procedure and Practice Committee, 1991-1993

Securities Section, Executive Committee, 1987-1989

Oregon Trial Lawyers Association

Business Litigation Section, chair, 1989

Community Activities:

Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program

Campaign for Equal Justice, Executive Board, 1996-2000

Beaverton High School college scholarship fund