Fernando Bermudez
Upon graduating from Washington University School of Law, Fernando Bermudez clerked for two years at the Missouri Supreme Court for judges Duane Benton (now a judge at the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit) and Stephen N. Limbaugh, Jr. (now a judge at the United States District Court, Eastern District of Missouri).
While clerking at the Missouri Supreme Court, Fernando gained first-hand insight into the deliberative process of Missouri appellate courts including the best ways to posture a case so that the Missouri Supreme Court accepts it under its discretionary review power as well as how to maximize the chances for a successful result.
After clerking, Fernando accepted a two-year appointment as a Missouri Assistant Attorney General, practicing primarily in the appellate area.
He was the principal author of over 100 appellate briefs in the Missouri Supreme Court as well as all three divisions of the Missouri Court of Appeals.
As an Assistant Attorney General, Fernando argued dozens of cases including two at the Missouri Supreme Court. He also successfully petitioned the Missouri Supreme Court to exercise its discretionary review power.
Fernando then entered private practice in St. Louis. He first worked for Thompson Coburn LLP and then joined Green Jacobson. He continued his appellate practice with primary and secondary responsibility over cases in the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, the Missouri Supreme Court, and the Missouri Court of Appeals.
Since joining Green Jacobson, Fernando accepted the Missouri Supreme Court’s invitation to represent an indigent prisoner on a pro bono habeas corpus appellate petition. That effort lead to a reduction in the inmate’s prison sentence. He also successfully petitioned the Missouri Supreme Court to review three Court of Appeals opinions. The Supreme Court unanimously reversed the intermediate appellate court on the appeals. In 2010, Fernando assisted the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund in an amicus curiae brief to the Missouri Supreme Court, arguing that courts should not take a parent’s immigration status into account when deciding child custody disputes.
Fernando represents corporate clients and individuals at the trial level. He shared primary responsibility over a week-long arbitration in Texas. He had secondary responsibility over a week-long medical malpractice jury trial in St. Louis City. He had primary and secondary responsibility over several trials, both jury and non-jury, in St. Louis County and St. Louis City. Fernando also represented clients in qui tam actions on behalf of the United States.
Fernando has also negotiated dozens of cases to settlement, including a Missouri Lawyers Weekly “Top Ten” settlement in 2010.
Through his representation of both corporate and individual clients, Fernando has gained the respect of his peers as he has enjoyed an AV designation (the highest possible) by Martindale-Hubbell based on peer review since his first review. Fernando was honored with a designation as a “Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers 2010.”
Email Fernando at Bermudez@stlouislaw.com
Education:
B.A. University of Michigan
J.D. Washington University in St. Louis
Civic Involvement:
University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy Board Member
TouchPoint Autism Services Board Member