Mr. Bers is an experienced attorney, rated as “Preeminent” by Martindale Hubbell, whose practice since 1978 has been directed to management employment law; he also leads the firm's maritime law practice.
Employment Law, including Employment Advice, and Litigation in all Courts
Labor and Employment Litigation and Administrative Hearings, Employment Torts
Employment Litigation - Defense
Federal Employment Statutes
Transactional Maritime Advice and Counsel
Marine Casualties Response – Complete Marine Accident Management
Maritime Litigation
Author: “Machine Intelligence and Salaried Employees Overtime Eligibility," FOGHORN Magazine (September 2025)
Author: “New Overtime Tax Law: Increases Employer Recordkeeping Obligation," FOGHORN Magazine (July 2025)
Speaker: “5 Employment Law ‘Hot Topics’ for NY Tour Boat Operators," New York State Tour Boat Operators Association (April 2025)
Speaker: “New Maritime Legal Developments," Passenger Vessel Association, Annual Convention at MariTrends (January 2025)
Author: “Right to Use Medically Prescribed Marijuana at Work Denied," FOGHORN Magazine (January 2025)
Speaker: “Maritime and Employment Law Issues of 2024,” PVA Regional Meetings (2024)
Speaker: “Maryland Human Resource Law: What You Need to Know Now,” National Business Institute (July 2024)
Speaker: “New 2023 Vessel Capital Construction Fund,” American Passenger Vessel Association Conference (September 2023)
Speaker: “New 2023 USCG Sexual Harassment Law,” American Passenger Vessel Association Conference (September 2023)
Author: “It's Time to Hang Up the Phone: Stop Texting," FOGHORN Magazine (December 2022)
Author: “PVA Weighs in On Waivers," FOGHORN Magazine (November 2022)
Editor: Maryland Employment Law Letter, Employers Counsel Network (2022-present)
Author: “Tips for Writing Effective Employment Offer Letters," HRLaws (May 2022)
Speaker: “ADA Applications for Website Compliance," National Passenger Vessel Association Annual Meeting (March 2022)
Speaker: “ADA Developments in the Marine Industry," National Passenger Vessel Association Annual Meeting (March 2022)
Author: “Legal Matters: The PVA Legal Hotline at Age 30," FOGHORN Magazine (October 2021)
Speaker: “Mandatory Vaccinations, A Workplace ‘Must’ or Workplace ‘Mistake’?," Passenger Vessel Association, MariTrends Annual Conference (February 2021)
Speaker: “COVID-19 Vaccine: Employer Considerations," Webinar (January 2021)
Author: “Getting Employees Back to the Workplace," FOGHORN Magazine (December 2020)
Speaker: “Employment Law Q & A – Impacts of COVID on Liability," Webinar, Ocean City Chamber of Commerce and Hotel-Motel Restaurant Association (April 2020)
"Employer Perspective - Employee Free Choice Act." Baltimore Hospitality Industry 2010
"The Obama Health Plan - Employer Impact" Passenger Vessel Ass'n 2010
"FMLA Essentials - The New Regulations" HR Institute Master Class 2010
"Offer Letters and Written Employment Agreements" 2008 Employment Law Update 2008
"Unemployment Insurance - Back to Basics" 2007 Employment Law Update
"Employment Record Retention in the Electronic Age" 2006 Employment law Update
Author: "PVA Argues Overtime Case in 1st Circuit Court of Appeals: Participation Termed 'Very Helpful', The Foghorn (January 2005)
Author: "PVA Files AMICUS Brief in Federal Wage/Hour Litigation," The Foghorn (November 2004)
Author: "Documentation and Other Effective Ways to Avoid Liability for Discrimination," Employment Law Strategist (August/September 2004)
Speaker: "After the Accident, 'Right' or 'Wrong' Doesn't Matter," Passenger Vessel Association Convention, New Orleans, LA (2004)
Speaker: "75 Pointers for Negotiating a New Vessel Purchase Agreement," Passenger Vessel Association Convention, New Orleans, LA (2004)
Speaker: "Common Errors in Employee Management for Passenger Vessel Owners," Passenger Vessel Association Original Colonies Region and Great Lakes Meeting, Buffalo, NY (2003)
Speaker: "Effective Ways to Avoid Employment Discrimination Exposure," Passenger Vessel Association Convention, Long Beach, CA (2003)
Speaker: "2002 Legal Developments for PVA Members," Passenger Vessel Association Convention, Long Beach, CA (2003)
Speaker: "Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002: Provisions Relevant to CEO Employment," CEO Summitt - Washington, DC (2002)
Author: "Supreme Court OK's Maritime Wage/Hour Decision," The Foghorn (July 2002)
Author: "Exercise Caution Before Hiring Foreign Seasonal Employees," The Foghorn (February 2002)
Speaker: "Commission Agreements and Other Alternatives to Hourly Pay," Whiteford Breakfast Briefing, Baltimore, MD (2002)
Speaker: "Documenting Discipline and Discharge," Passenger Vessel Association Convention, Biloxi, Miss. (2002), Worldwide Employee Benefits Network (2000), Whiteford Employment Law Update, Baltimore, MD (1999)
Speaker: "Defensive Downsizing," Whiteford Breakfast Briefing, Baltimore, MD (2001)
Author: "Caution in Hiring Foreign Seasonal Employees," The Foghorn (March 2001)
Speaker: "Litigating Covenants Not to Compete," Lorman Educational Services, Baltimore, MD (2000)
Author: "Non-Union Employees Ruled to Have Right to Bring Co-Worker to Disciplinary Meetings," The Foghorn (November 2000)
Speaker: "The Family and Medical Leave Act," Maryland CPA Association (2000)
Author: "Marine Employment Safety: OSHA or Coast Guard Jurisdiction," The Foghorn (February 1999)
Speaker: "Sexual Harassment: 1999 Developments," Passenger Vessel Association Convention, Long Beach, CA (1999)
Author: "The ADA: The Tale of Three Boats," The Foghorn (September 1998)
Speaker: "Your Written Employment Documents: Salvation or Suicide?" Whiteford Employment Law Update, Baltimore, MD (1998)
Author: "Employee Terminations: A Navigational Guide," The Foghorn (July 1996)
Author: "Employee Terminations: Reducing Exposure to Suit," The Foghorn (September 1996)
Author: "Employee Terminations: 10 Situations Commonly Leading to Challenge," The Foghorn (October 1996)
Speaker: "15 Common Errors In Employee Management," Passenger Vessel Association Convention (1993)
Speaker: "Employment Law Issues Facing Maryland Employers," Institute of Management Accountants (1993)
Speaker: "The ADA and the Passenger Vessel Industry," Passenger Vessel Association Convention, New Orleans, LA (1992)
Speaker: "Employee Value Systems and Management Goals," Passenger Vessel Association Convention, New Orleans, LA (1992)
Speaker: "Wage and Hour Laws Affecting the Passenger Vessel Industry," Passenger Vessel Association Convention, New Orleans, LA (1992)
Speaker: "Wage and Hour Law Basics," Accounting Firm Seminar (1991)
Speaker: "Workplace Substance Abuse: State and Federal Laws," Maryland State Drug Free Workplace Initiative (1991)
Speaker: "A Guide to Drafting Personnel Policies and Handbooks," Passenger Vessel Association Convention, Boston, Mass. (1990)
Speaker: "An Introduction to Unemployment Law," Printing Industries of Maryland (1990)