In the small business community, there is a lack of awareness of the need for legal counsel, and that leads to missed opportunities and mistakes that could have been avoided if they had the right advice at the right time. Legal counsel shouldn’t be viewed as a last resort; it should be viewed as a catalyst to help you accomplish your business goals.
Bernard A. Williams stands out as a highly accomplished and versatile attorney, entrepreneur, and business leader with over two decades of expertise in representing business owners. Specializing in Business Transactions and Business Disputes, Bernard is dedicated to providing comprehensive legal guidance in areas such as Business Agreements, Contract Negotiations, Contract Disputes, Business Divorce, Debt Collection, Business Start-Up Law, and Small Business Law.
Recognizing the challenges faced by small business owners, Bernard founded Company Counsel LLC, where he focuses on empowering businesses in Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey. Leading a dynamic team of attorneys, he is committed to helping entrepreneurs overcome obstacles, make informed decisions, and foster companies that make a positive impact on the world.
Bernard’s extensive experience extends to public speaking engagements on various legal and business topics, including Starting and Scaling a Business, Building Teams, Forming Strategic Partnerships, Negotiating Contracts, and Resolving Business Disputes. As an adjunct college professor, he has shared his knowledge with undergraduate students, teaching courses in Negotiations and Business Law.
Beyond his legal practice, Bernard has been an integral part of community-based initiatives. He served as a faculty member for Power Up Your Business, a program offering free training to small business owners in Philadelphia. He has played a pivotal role as a mentor and investor in the Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) Philadelphia, a year-long after-school academic program fostering middle and high school students’ entrepreneurial skills through hands-on, experiential education. Additionally, Bernard contributed as the president of the board for The Business Center, a 501(c)(3) organization providing educational programs to entrepreneurs in Northwest Philadelphia’s minority business ecosystem. His commitment to community also led him to serve on the board of Christian Legal Clinics of Philadelphia, an urban legal ministry delivering vital legal services to neighborhoods in need.
Bernard’s outstanding achievements have garnered recognition throughout his career, including being named a Pennsylvania SuperLawyer in Business Law, earning a spot among Main Line Today’s Top Lawyers for Business Law, and twice being recognized in The National Black Lawyers Top 100. Furthermore, under his leadership Company Counsel has received the prestigious Philly100 award four times, acknowledging it as one of the fastest-growing, privately held companies in the Philadelphia area.
Before founding Company Counsel, Bernard served as a Partner at Legis Group LLC in Philadelphia, leading the Litigation team and counseling small to mid-sized companies in various aspects of business and employment law. His legal journey includes roles at globally renowned firms such as Cravath Swaine & Moore, Dickstein Shapiro, and Drinker Biddle & Reath, representing Fortune 100 companies like AT&T, Colgate-Palmolive, General Motors, Johnson & Johnson, and Pfizer.
Bernard earned his law degree from New York University School of Law, where he served as an editor on the NYU Law Review.
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