Introduction
Bernstein & Bernstein was founded in 1976 and now spans three generations of the Bernstein family, with the founding attorneys’ granddaughter Ariella Bernstein currently practicing alongside the attorneys who grew the firm across its first five decades. Located in White Plains, New York, the firm serves clients in personal injury, real estate, and estate planning matters across New York, Connecticut, and Florida.
Practice Areas
The firm’s personal injury practice covers auto accidents and construction accidents. Construction accident cases in New York frequently involve claims under Labor Law, which imposes specific obligations on property owners and general contractors for the safety of workers on construction sites. New York Labor Law Sections 240 and 241 create a basis for liability in scaffold and elevation-related accidents and in accidents arising from certain construction operations, and the statute is among the most worker-favorable construction safety laws in the country. Arnold Bernstein added personal injury, construction, and Labor Law work to the firm’s practice in the early 1980s, building on the foundation established at the firm’s founding.
Real estate transactions represent another core area of practice. The firm handles the legal aspects of property purchases and sales, reviewing contracts, conducting title examinations, and guiding clients through the closing process. New York real estate transactions are attorney-driven, meaning that legal representation at closing is standard practice, and the firm’s decades of experience in the Westchester and New York City metropolitan area markets provides familiarity with the conventions and issues that commonly arise in those transactions.
Estate planning services include the preparation of wills, trusts, and related documents. These instruments allow clients to direct the distribution of their assets, plan for incapacity, and address the needs of beneficiaries, including minor children or family members with special needs. Trusts can be used to manage assets during a grantor’s lifetime, provide for the orderly transfer of assets at death while avoiding probate, and protect assets for beneficiaries who may not be in a position to manage an outright inheritance. The firm serves clients across multiple states, which is relevant for clients whose assets or beneficiaries span jurisdictions.
Attorney Profiles
Jules Bernstein and Arnold I. Bernstein founded the firm in 1976. Arnold Bernstein was admitted to practice that same year and expanded the firm’s work into personal injury, construction cases, and Labor Law during the early 1980s. The firm has now accumulated over 50 years of combined experience.
Ariella Bernstein represents the third generation of the family in the practice. She is admitted to practice in both New York and Florida, extending the firm’s geographic reach to Florida matters.
Stephen A. Skor is also a practicing attorney at the firm, admitted in New York and Connecticut, which allows the firm to handle matters arising in Connecticut as well.
Location & Service Area
The firm is located at 599 West Hartsdale Avenue, White Plains, NY 10607 and can be reached at (914) 997-6400. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Appointments outside regular business hours are available for clients who cannot attend during the standard schedule.
The firm’s geographic reach extends across multiple jurisdictions. In New York, the firm serves clients in Jamaica, Westchester, the Bronx, Orange County, Dutchess County, Queens, and Brooklyn. Attorney Skor’s Connecticut bar admission allows the firm to handle matters in that state. Ariella Bernstein’s Florida admission extends coverage to Florida. The firm’s website is https://ab2law.com/
Client Focus
Bernstein & Bernstein serves individuals and families navigating personal injury claims, real estate transactions, and estate planning needs. The three-generation history of the firm reflects a practice that has served multiple generations of clients in the same communities. The availability of appointments outside regular business hours accommodates clients who work standard schedules and cannot attend weekday daytime appointments.
The firm’s bar admissions across New York, Connecticut, and Florida allow it to serve clients with legal matters spanning those states, which is particularly relevant for clients who divide their time between New York and Florida, a common pattern among the firm’s likely clientele in the Westchester area.
FAQ
When was the firm founded and who founded it?
Bernstein & Bernstein was founded in 1976 by Jules Bernstein and Arnold I. Bernstein.
What states are the firm’s attorneys licensed in?
Arnold Bernstein is admitted in New York. Ariella Bernstein is admitted in New York and Florida. Stephen A. Skor is admitted in New York and Connecticut.
Does the firm handle Labor Law construction accident cases?
Yes. Arnold Bernstein expanded the firm’s practice to include personal injury, construction accidents, and Labor Law work in the early 1980s, and the firm has continued to handle these cases since.
Are appointments available outside of regular office hours?
Yes. While the firm’s standard hours are Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., appointments outside those hours are available.
What geographic areas does the firm serve?
In New York, the firm serves clients in Jamaica, Westchester, the Bronx, Orange County, Dutchess County, Queens, and Brooklyn. The firm also handles matters in Connecticut and Florida based on attorney bar admissions.
Closing
Spanning five decades and three family generations, Bernstein & Bernstein reflects an institutional depth that few practices achieve. The firm’s combination of personal injury, real estate, and estate planning work, served across New York, Connecticut, and Florida by attorneys admitted in each jurisdiction, positions it to handle the varied legal needs that arise across a client’s lifetime, from accident recovery to property ownership to estate administration.