Biography

Scott Berman has dedicated his legal career to fighting the good fight on behalf of his clients. 

Whether providing advice and counsel or representing clients in court, Scott’s clients benefit from his relentless work on their behalf and judgment gained from more than two decades of legal practice. 

Scott earned his law degree from the University of California-Berkeley in 1997. He practiced in insurance and environmental litigation for a large law firm before clerking for the Hon. Maxine Chesney of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California and the Hon. Robert Boochever of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. 

As a district court clerk, he gained experience that helps him write winning motions for clients today, as well as insights into what judges need to make rulings in favor of his clients. 

During his clerkships, he saw several types of litigation. He found himself drawn to the personal nature of employment disputes and shifted his practice to employment law. He met Berman North cofounder Stacy North at his prior firm, Pierce & Shearer, LLP, where he was partner and practiced for 14 years. The two started Berman North in 2019. 

Today, his practice is a combination of advising, counseling and litigation. He supports clients on employment issues like termination and severance as well as litigates both employment law disputes and business disputes. 

Representative matters in employment law include wrongful termination, discrimination, retaliation, wage and hour violations, misclassification, unpaid bonuses and commissions, severance pay, breach of contract and representative actions under the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA). 

In the area of business litigation, he represents clients in matters involving the purchase or sale of a business, breach of contract, fraud, failure to disclose, breach of fiduciary duty, interference with a contract, unfair competition, defamation, insurance coverage and bad faith. 

Scott is driven to seek fair and just outcomes for his clients. He strives to understand his clients’ needs and advocate for their interests for the long-term.

Education

• University of California, Berkeley
  Juris Doctor, 1997, Order of the Coif

• University of Michigan
  1993 Bachelor of Arts, with Highest Distinction 

Honors and Awards

• Labor & Employment Star, Benchmark Litigation, 2023-2024

• Top Labor & Employment Lawyers, Daily Journal, 2023

• Super Lawyers, 2023-2024

Admissions & Organizations

• Admitted to practice in California

• Admitted to the United States District Court for the Northern and Central Districts of California and Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

• Member of the Palo Alto Area Bar Association

• Member of the Insurance Section and Labor and Employment Section of the California Bar Association 

Professional Experience

• Pierce & Shearer LLP, Partner (2004-2018)

• Tour-Sarkissian Law Offices (2003-2004)

• Heller Ehrman LLP (1999-2000; 2001-2002)

• Judge Chesney, US District Court, Northern District of CA (1998-1999)

• Judge Boochever, Ninth Circuit, US Court of Appeals (2000-2001)

• Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal (1997-1998)