Bernstein Litowitz Berger & Grossmann LLP (BLB&G) proudly announces that its Founding Partner, Max Berger, has been selected as the recipient of the Whitney North Seymour Award for “outstanding public service by a private practitioner,” presented by the Federal Bar Council (FBC). Max will be honored at the FBC’s upcoming Winter Bench & Bar Conference in February 2026 in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.

The Seymour Award—named for legendary lawyer and civic leader Whitney North Seymour, Jr.—celebrates lawyers who have demonstrated extraordinary dedication to public service while in private practice. In the nearly 40-year history of this prestigious award, Max is the first honoree who has dedicated his entire career and practice to representing plaintiffs—a testament to his trailblazing work on behalf of investors and the public interest, and to his unwavering commitment to the ethical and civic responsibilities of the legal profession.

“Max’s entire career exemplifies what the Whitney North Seymour Award stands for—using private practice as a platform for public service,” said John Rizio-Hamilton, Partner and Co-Head of BLB&G’s Securities Litigation Practice, and Board Member and Secretary of the Federal Bar Foundation. “His influence on the legal profession is matched only by his devotion to the public good. This recognition is deeply deserved and a proud moment for all of us at BLB&G.”

“Max has never separated excellence in the courtroom from integrity in public life,” said BLB&G Partner and Executive Committee member Jerry Silk. “This award recognizes what so many of us have always known—his entire career has been in service of something larger than himself.”

“From mentoring the next generation of lawyers to fighting for real accountability from powerful institutions, Max’s vision has shaped who we are and what we stand for,” added Salvatore Graziano, Co-Head of BLB&G’s Securities Litigation Practice and member of the firm’s Executive Committee. “This honor reflects the values he’s instilled in all of us.”

“I am humbled to receive an award that reflects values I have tried to live by throughout my career—using the law not just to win cases, but to advance fairness, accountability, and the public good,” said Max Berger.

The announcement comes shortly before Max is set to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award from The National Law Journal on November 5, celebrating a career that has helped shape the modern securities litigation landscape.

Over the course of more than four decades, Max has transformed BLB&G from a four-lawyer boutique into one of the nation’s most respected plaintiffs’ firms. His track record includes nine of the largest securities fraud recoveries in U.S. history, including landmark settlements in WorldCom, Cendant, Bank of America/Merrill Lynch, Allianz, Wells Fargo, and more. But his impact extends far beyond monetary recoveries. His cases have spurred boardroom reforms, enhanced corporate oversight, and catalyzed improvements in regulatory compliance and workplace accountability.

Max’s public service extends to legal education and philanthropy. He is a longstanding member of the Dean’s Council and Public Interest/Public Service Council at Columbia Law School and has endowed two fellowships—the Dale and Max Berger Public Interest Law Fellowship and the Bernstein Litowitz Berger & Grossmann Public Interest Law Fellowship—designed to support young lawyers pursuing careers in public service. Max also endowed Columbia’s Public Interest/Public Service Fellows Program, which provides financial and professional support to students dedicated to public service. He has also funded pre-law initiatives at Baruch College.

Max has also been a driving force behind numerous programs benefiting underserved communities through non-profit organizations such as City Year New York and Her Justice. In 2021, Max and his wife, Dale, received the “Above and Beyond Commitment to Justice Award” from Her Justice for their advocacy on behalf of underserved women in New York City.

The Whitney North Seymour Award and forthcoming Lifetime Achievement Award from The National Law Journal underscore the profound and enduring impact of Max’s work—not only in the courtroom, but across the legal profession and in the wider community. These honors reflect a career defined by excellence, integrity, and a deep belief in the law as a force for public good. We congratulate Max on this extraordinary recognition and thank him for his decades of leadership, mentorship, and unwavering commitment to justice.

About BLB&G

Bernstein Litowitz Berger & Grossmann LLP prosecutes class and private actions on behalf of individual and institutional clients worldwide. Since its founding in 1983, the firm has recovered more than $40 billion for harmed investors and secured precedent-setting corporate governance reforms. BLB&G is widely recognized as a preeminent litigation firm with a deep commitment to investor protection and corporate responsibility.

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