Joan M. Fortin

During her more than 20 years at the firm, Joan has played a pivotal role in shaping Bernstein Shur’s culture and continued growth. Joan began as a summer associate in 1994, and has held various leadership positions in the firm, including: practice group leader, member of Bernstein Shur’s Board of Directors, Director of Attorney Recruiting and Retention, and founding member of the firm’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. Throughout this time, Joan has not only honed her skills as a successful attorney handling complex legal matters, but she has also helped to shape the firm as it exists today.

In her role as CEO of Bernstein Shur, Joan works to ensure that the firm and its attorneys live by the firm’s strategic vision and core values. She empowers attorneys to serve clients with energy, empathy, precision, innovation, and with an eye to the future. To encourage Bernstein Shur attorneys to be creative and thoughtful practitioners, Joan consistently creates new opportunities for education and professional development so that they can effectively serve each unique client. Equally important, Joan recognizes the importance of life outside of work, and inspires attorneys and staff to find and pursue their personal passions. This critical balance makes for better lawyers and better legal outcomes for the firm’s clients.