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Jarrod Neal Bernstein

Of Counsel
Jarrod Neal Bernstein's headshot
Jarrod Neal Bernstein Of Counsel

Jarrod Bernstein advises public and private sector clients on issues regarding communications, government relations, crisis management and general strategy, often guiding them through times of uncertainty and transition.  

Jarrod assembles teams of third party assets that are critical to the success of a deal or litigation, whether working on crisis management with PR firms, government relations matters with lobbyists and other government officials, resolving data privacy breaches with security consultants and financial institutions or coordinating internal investigations in response to external threats. Jarrod thrives when the issue does not fit neatly into a box.

Advisor to clients involved in complex litigation or under regulatory scrutiny
Jarrod provides critical support in complicated matters by liaising with PR firms and lobbyists to manage public and government relations efforts and negotiating with government bodies. Clients trust Jarrod to help bring about both an equitable settlement in the courtroom and a favorable impression in the court of public opinion.

Advisor to clients who are victims of data privacy breaches and fraud schemes
Jarrod engages security consultants and works with law enforcement and financial institutions to help recover millions of lost dollars for his clients. His ability to problem solve also extends to coordinating internal investigations in response to external threats.

Advisor to clients facing reputation challenges or at times of transition
Jarrod mobilizes PR teams to handle reputation management or to assist during business or family office inflection points. Clients who are under public scrutiny related to discrimination and bias turn to Jarrod to review policies, craft strategies and run education and awareness programs to combat institutional deficiencies. He also implements due diligence protocols in M&A and other transactions to determine risk and assess corporate resilience following a setback.

Jarrod has held senior-level positions in communications, community outreach and counterterrorism in both the Bloomberg and Obama administrations. He most recently served on the Bloomberg Resilience Team, where he was general counsel to Tom Secunda and the Secunda Family Foundation and head of the multimillion dollar disaster response and recovery effort to help the U.S. Virgin Islands recover from Hurricanes Irma and Maria.

Jarrod is an appointed member of the newly launched New York City Bar Association’s Civic Education Task Force, which develops ways for lawyers to engage in and support greater understanding of how government works in the United States. Actively involved in community leadership roles, he is assistant chief of the Saltaire Volunteer Fire Company, where he serves as a firefighter and emergency medical technician. He is co-host of the Jewish Insider’s weekly Limited Liability Podcast series, in which he interviews key players in modern politics.

Experience

Previous Experience

Obama Administration
Assistant Secretary to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano

  • Coordinated DHS’s outreach to mayors and governors during crises, including the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, the earthquake in Haiti and the H1N1 outbreak
  • Responsible for the dissemination of intelligence information to state and local governments during periods of increased threat; built out DHS’s cyber response policy
  • Coordinated the federal government's response in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy and acted as a liaison between the White House, FEMA, Mayor Bloomberg and other elected officials 

Associate Director, White House Office of Public Engagement

  • President Obama’s liaison to the American Jewish Community; developed targeted communication plans for outreach to the Jewish community and the governments of Israel and other Middle East nations

Bloomberg Administration

Deputy Commissioner for Community Affairs, Office of the Mayor

  • Conducted community relations on behalf of Mayor Bloomberg; supervised city responses to community crises

Press Secretary and Senior Advisor to the Commissioner, NYC Office of Emergency Management  (OEM)

  • Chief spokesman for NYC OEM; managed citywide public information campaigns during dozens of large-scale emergencies; authored New York's City’s Emergency Public Information Plan and launched widely-acclaimed “Ready New York” preparedness campaign

Private Sector

  • General Counsel to Tom Secunda and the Secunda Family Foundation, Bloomberg Resilience Team; head of multimillion dollar disaster response and recovery effort to help the U.S. Virgin Islands recover from Hurricanes Irma and Maria
  • Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications, CarePoint Health, an integrated hospital, physician and insurance provider
  • Senior Vice President, MWW Group, one of the largest independently owned public relations firms; provided strategic advice and counsel to clients in the airlines, healthcare, hospitality and technology industries

Professional Activities

Professional

  • National Preparedness Leadership Initiative at Harvard University
  • Member, New York City Bar Association’s Civic Education Task Force

Community

  • Assistant Chief, Saltaire Volunteer Fire Company, firefighter and emergency medical technician
  • Member, Community Relations and Public Safety Committee, UJA of New York
  • Board Member, Love City Strong, non-profit founded to help St. John recover after Hurricanes Irma and Maria
  • Term Member, Council on Foreign Relations

Speaking Engagements

Regularly featured on CNN and other networks as a commentator on a variety of Homeland Security topics

Jarrod Neal Bernstein's headshot

Education

  • Fordham University School of Law, J.D.
  • Johns Hopkins University, B.A.

Bar Admissions

  • New York
  • Supreme Court of the United States

Media & Insights