Charles R. Bernardini

Charles R. Bernardini is an equity partner in our Government and Corporate Groups. He has received an AV® Preeminent™ 5.0 out of 5.0 Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell. He was recognized by the "Law Bulletin Publishing Company" as a "Leading Lawyer" in 2005-2012 and by “Law & Politics” magazine as one of Illinois' “Super Lawyers” in 2007-2011.

Charles served in elected office for 12 years on the Chicago City Council and the Cook County Board of Commissioners. His transactional experience includes joint ventures, cross-border supply, service, manufacturing, distribution, agency and license agreements, mergers and acquisitions, redevelopment agreements, state and local government economic incentive agreements.

His government practice focuses on assisting clients in dealing with city, county and state government matters, including TIF’s (tax increment financing), incentives offered by state and local governments, zoning, procurement procedures, legislative initiatives and strategy.

Charles was Managing Director of the American Chamber of Commerce in Italy (Milan) from 1992-1994 and currently is Honorary Legal Advisor to the Italian Consulate of Chicago. In 2011, he was honored with the “Excellence in Law” award from the Italian Chamber of Commerce, Chicago.

His recent experience includes representing:

• Maestro Andrea Bocelli in the negotiation of performance and merchandise contracts in North America.
• A leading Italian fashion company in obtaining a successful arbitration result before the International Centre for Dispute Resolution in New York.
• One of Italy's largest industrial groups, counseling on interaction with city, state and federal U.S. governments. 
• A leading Japanese manufacturer, negotiating the bidding and procurement practices of the City of Chicago and related agencies. 
• A leading worldwide financial institution, regarding state and local government affairs in the USA. 
• A national transportation company in coordinating its Chicago governmental relations and zoning for the establishment of a distribution center in Chicago.
• Several national banking and insurance companies, regarding Illinois and Chicago governmental affairs counseling.
• U.S. manufacturers in structuring and negotiating European distribution contracts, under U.S. and EU antitrust laws.
• U.S. manufacturers in structuring and negotiating joint venture and cross-licensing agreements with EU companies.
• Several Italian manufacturers in lawsuits in Wisconsin and Illinois involving former executives.
• A leading Italian manufacturer of industrial equipment, in the corporate and fiscal planning of a new U.S.A. production facility.
• Several Italian manufacturers in obtaining successful litigation results in Wisconsin and Illinois involving non-competition clauses of former or current executives.
• An Italian private equity fund in the tax and corporate planning of a U.S. subsidiary for one of its portfolio companies, and ongoing legal representation of the subsidiary.
• Numerous industrial and commercial property owners in negotiating TIF incentives and redevelopment agreements with Chicago and suburban municipalities.
• Diverse European clients in identifying and negotiating economic incentives from state and local governments in the United States.
• A national distribution company in a successful lawsuit against a competitor, alleging theft of trade secrets.
• Several European manufacturers in successfully defending patent infringement lawsuits in Texas and Illinois.
• A European machine tool manufacturer in a successful defense of a commercial lawsuit in Minnesota. 
• An Italian manufacturer in the merger of its U.S. subsidiaries and 401 (k) plans.
• An Italian manufacturer of construction materials in a joint venture with a U.S. investor.
• An Italian manufacturer in structuring U.S. loan portfolios and other corporate matters.
• An Italian manufacturer of auto components in the tax and corporate structuring of a manufacturing subsidiary in Michigan.
• An Italian manufacturer in negotiating and structuring of a production joint venture in Ohio that involved tax and corporate planning.
• Several U.S. investors in tax and corporate planning and negotiation of professional sports franchises in Italy.
• European bankruptcy trustees in U.S. proceedings.
• Pro bono representation in the U.S.A. of the Porretta Terme Soul Music Festival.
• Counseling not-for-profit organizations on conducting internal ethics and disciplinary hearings and proceedings, and revising their internal rules and procedures.

Government Experience

• Alderman, 43rd Ward, City of Chicago (Elected), 1993-1999
• Commissioner, Cook County Board (Elected), 1986-1992
• Special Assistant Cook County State’s Attorney for Election Fraud, Office of State’s Attorney Richard M. Daley, 1981-1983
• Legislative Assistant to the Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives, 1972-1974

Civic

• Chairperson, Global Markets Committee, Illinois Economic Recovery Commission
• Honorary Legal Advisor to Italian Consulate of Chicago
• President, Italian Chamber of Commerce of Chicago, 2006-2009
• Former State Chair, Independent Voters of Illinois
• Former Chair, Advisory Council, Illinois Eye Bank