Partner
Hartford
Email: mbernier@murthalaw.com
Phone: 860-240-6087
Fax: 860-240-6150
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Bar & Court Admissions
- Connecticut
- U.S. Tax Court
- U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut
Education
- Boston University (LL.M. in Taxation)
- University of Connecticut School of Law (J.D.)
- Florida State University (B.A., magna cum laude)
Marcel J. Bernier
Marcel Bernier is the Chair of the Firm’s Business Practice Group, the Chair of the Firm’s Privately Owned Business Group and a member of the Tax Practice Group, the Health Care Practice Group and the Trusts and Estates Department.
Marcel has practiced corporate, limited liability company and tax law for over thirty years. He serves as general counsel to many businesses and provides advice with respect to structuring new business entities, acquisitions, sales, mergers, reorganizations, deferred compensation, phantom equity plans, buy-sell agreements and business succession planning. He has drafted over 100 operating agreements, over 100 employment agreements and over 100 buy-sell agreements. He has completed hundreds of business purchase and sale transactions. His accounting and tax background are helpful in structuring and negotiating business transactions and business succession agreements.
Marcel represents many family businesses with respect to general business matters and business succession planning. He is the author of “Preserving Your Business for the Next Generation,” Chapter 3 of The ABA Practical Guide to Estate Planning, published by the ABA, 2011. (Click here to read Chapter 3 of the Guide).
He is the author of "Business Exit Strategies" published by the Hartford Business Journal. (Click here to read the article). He is also the author of "The Connecticut Uniform Limited Liability Company Act" published by the Connecticut Lawyer in May of 2017. (Click here to read the article).
He represents many professional firms, including medical, engineering and law practices with respect to practice acquisitions and sales, the admission and the retirement of partners, employment agreements, operating agreements, buy-sell agreements and practice succession planning.
Marcel advises high net worth clients with respect to estate planning, minimizing federal and Connecticut estate taxes and probate administration matters.
He majored in accounting at Florida State University, received his law degree from the University of Connecticut School of Law and received a Masters of Laws degree in Taxation from the Boston University Graduate Tax Program.
Marcel was a Co-Chair of the Connecticut Bar Association Committee which drafted the new Connecticut Uniform Limited Liability Company Act. (Click here to view his testimony supporting the Connecticut Uniform LLC Act). Marcel was a member of the Connecticut Bar Association Subcommittees which drafted the original Connecticut Limited Liability Company Act and the Connecticut Entity Transactions Act. He is also a member of the Business Law Section Executive Committee, the LLC Committee of the Business Law Section and the Tax Section Executive Committee.
Publications:
"The Connecticut Uniform Limited Liability Company Act" published by the Connecticut Lawyer, May 2017
“Preserving Your Business for the Next Generation,” Chapter 3 of The ABA Practical Guide to Estate Planning, published by the ABA, 2011
“Business Exit Strategies” published by the Hartford Business Journal, May 2010
Speaking Engagements:
"Preserving Your Family Business for the Next Generation" panel for Exit Planning Exchange, November 2018
"Drafting Enforceable Restrictive Covenants" seminar for the Connecticut Bar Association Business Law Section, November 2018
"Acquiring a Business" panel for business owners, October 2018
"Unlock the Value of Your Business" panel for Apella Capital, September 2018
"Preparing for the Exit" panel for KeyBank, June 2018
"Assess, Grow and Capture the Value of Your Business" panel for Apella Capital, May 2018
"Connecticut Uniform LLC Act" seminar for Federal Tax Institute of New England, November 2017
"Unlock the Value of Your Business" panel for Apella Capital, October 2017
"Buy Sell Agreements & Business Exit Strategies" presentation for Sagemark Consulting, October 2017
"How to Maximize the Value of Your Business" seminar for MetroHartford Alliance members, May 2017
“Connecticut Uniform LLC Act” seminars for the Connecticut Bar Association, September 2015, June 2016, September 2016, April 2017 and June 2017
"Preparing for Business Transitions" for business owners, April 2017
“Connecticut Uniform LLC Act” seminar for the Connecticut Society of Certified Public Accountants, October 2016
“Learn How Your Business Stacks Up” seminar for business owners, February and June 2016
“Drafting Enforceable Restrictive Covenants” seminar for the Business Law Section of the Connecticut Bar Association, May 2014
“Connecticut Entity Transactions Act” seminar for the Connecticut Bar Association, March 2014
“LLC Developments” seminar for the Business Law Section of the Connecticut Bar Association, November 2013
“LLC Fiduciary Duties - To Be or Not to Be? That is the Question” seminar for the Connecticut Bar Association, June 2013
“Letters of Intent for Business Purchase and Sale Transactions” seminar for M&A Source, May 2011 and June 2013
“Exiting Your Business, Protecting Your Wealth - Legal Agreements” seminar for Pinnacle Equity Solutions, June 2009 and September 2010
“Duties of a Director of a Nonprofit Corporation” seminar for the directors of the Connecticut State Medical Society, May 2010
“Buy Sell Agreements and Business Exit Strategies” seminar for business owners, October 2009
- American Bar Association, Section of Business Law
- American Bar Association, Section of Taxation
- Connecticut Bar Association, Business Law Section Executive Committee
- Connecticut Bar Association, Co-Chair of the LLCs Committee
- Connecticut Bar Association, Co-Chair of the Connecticut Uniform LLC Act Committee
- Connecticut Bar Association, Tax Section Executive Committee
- Listed in The Best Lawyers in America® in the area of Corporate Law (Copyright 2015 by Woodward/White, Inc., Aiken, SC)
- Listed as leading Corporate/M&A lawyer in Chambers USA, Chambers & Partners-Publishing (Chambers.com)
- Holds an AV® Preeminent™ Peer Rating from Martindale-Hubbell for over 20 consecutive years
- Listed in Connecticut Super Lawyers® in the areas of Closely Held Business, Mergers & Acquisitions, Tax since 2006 (Super Lawyers is a registered trademark of Key Professional Media, Inc.)
- Listed in Best Lawyers in Connecticut in the area of Corporate Law
- Listed in Best Lawyers in New England in the area of Corporate Law
- West Avon Congregational Church, Past Chair of the Board of Deacons
- West Avon Congregational Church, Past Chair of the Personnel Committee
- West Avon Congregational Church, Past Chair of the Rebuilding Together Hartford Committee
- West Avon Congregational Church, Past Chair of the Search Committee
- West Avon Congregational Church, Past Chair of the Youth Council
- West Avon Congregational Church, Past Member of the Board of Christian Education
- West Avon Congregational Church, Past Member of the Church Council
- West Avon Congregational Church, Past Member of the Capital Campaign Committee
- West Avon Congregational Church, Past Member of the Endowment Committee
- August 15, 2019 - 33 Murtha Cullina Attorneys Receive “Best Lawyers in America” Recognition; Four Named “Lawyer of the Year”
- April 25, 2019 - Murtha Cullina LLP Recognized by Chambers USA
- August 15, 2018 - 32 Murtha Cullina Attorneys Receive “Best Lawyers in America” Recognition; Two Named Lawyer of the Year
- May 3, 2018 - Murtha Cullina LLP Recognized by Chambers USA
- August 15, 2017 - 35 Murtha Cullina Attorneys Receive “Best Lawyers in America” Recognition; Three Named “Lawyer of the Year”
- May 26, 2017 - Murtha Cullina LLP Recognized by Chambers USA
- May 27, 2016 - Murtha Cullina Recognized by Chambers USA
- May 9, 2016 - Marcel Bernier Co-Chaired the LLC Committee of the Connecticut Bar Association's Business Law Section, playing an Integral Role in the Enactment of the Connecticut Uniform Limited Liability Company Act
- October 10, 2018 - Business Law Seminar: The Fundamentals of Growing Through Acquisition
- September 26, 2018 - Business Law Webinar: Unlock the Value of Your Business
- May 16, 2018 - Unlock the Value of Your Business
- February 25, 2016 - Business Roundtable Discussion - Learn How Your Business Stacks Up
- November 14, 2018 - Marcel Bernier Speaking at the Exit Planning Exchange on Family Business Succession Planning
- May 19, 2017 - Marcel Bernier to present at "What is Your Business Worth?" workshop
- April 26, 2017 - Marcel Bernier will be presenting at the Business Owner Symposium: Preparing for Business Transitions
- April 20, 2017 - Marcel Bernier Presenting Seminar to CT Bar Association on CT Uniform LLC Act
- June 21, 2016 - Marcel Bernier to present "Learn How Your Business Stacks Up" Business Roundtable
- June 13, 2016 - Marcel Bernier to present on the The Connecticut Uniform LLC Act at the Connecticut Bar Association's 2016 Connecticut Legal Conference
- March 22, 2016 - Marcel Bernier presented on business exit strategies at Bradley, Foster & Sargent.
Marcel Bernier is the Chair of the Firm’s Business Practice Group, the Chair of the Firm’s Privately Owned Business Group and a member of the Tax Practice Group, the Health Care Practice Group and the Trusts and Estates Department.
Marcel has practiced corporate, limited liability company and tax law for over thirty years. He serves as general counsel to many businesses and provides advice with respect to structuring new business entities, acquisitions, sales, mergers, reorganizations, deferred compensation, phantom equity plans, buy-sell agreements and business succession planning. He has drafted over 100 operating agreements, over 100 employment agreements and over 100 buy-sell agreements. He has completed hundreds of business purchase and sale transactions. His accounting and tax background are helpful in structuring and negotiating business transactions and business succession agreements.
Marcel represents many family businesses with respect to general business matters and business succession planning. He is the author of “Preserving Your Business for the Next Generation,” Chapter 3 of The ABA Practical Guide to Estate Planning, published by the ABA, 2011. (Click here to read Chapter 3 of the Guide).
He is the author of "Business Exit Strategies" published by the Hartford Business Journal. (Click here to read the article). He is also the author of "The Connecticut Uniform Limited Liability Company Act" published by the Connecticut Lawyer in May of 2017. (Click here to read the article).
He represents many professional firms, including medical, engineering and law practices with respect to practice acquisitions and sales, the admission and the retirement of partners, employment agreements, operating agreements, buy-sell agreements and practice succession planning.
Marcel advises high net worth clients with respect to estate planning, minimizing federal and Connecticut estate taxes and probate administration matters.
He majored in accounting at Florida State University, received his law degree from the University of Connecticut School of Law and received a Masters of Laws degree in Taxation from the Boston University Graduate Tax Program.
Marcel was a Co-Chair of the Connecticut Bar Association Committee which drafted the new Connecticut Uniform Limited Liability Company Act. (Click here to view his testimony supporting the Connecticut Uniform LLC Act). Marcel was a member of the Connecticut Bar Association Subcommittees which drafted the original Connecticut Limited Liability Company Act and the Connecticut Entity Transactions Act. He is also a member of the Business Law Section Executive Committee, the LLC Committee of the Business Law Section and the Tax Section Executive Committee.
Publications:
"The Connecticut Uniform Limited Liability Company Act" published by the Connecticut Lawyer, May 2017
“Preserving Your Business for the Next Generation,” Chapter 3 of The ABA Practical Guide to Estate Planning, published by the ABA, 2011
“Business Exit Strategies” published by the Hartford Business Journal, May 2010
Speaking Engagements:
"Preserving Your Family Business for the Next Generation" panel for Exit Planning Exchange, November 2018
"Drafting Enforceable Restrictive Covenants" seminar for the Connecticut Bar Association Business Law Section, November 2018
"Acquiring a Business" panel for business owners, October 2018
"Unlock the Value of Your Business" panel for Apella Capital, September 2018
"Preparing for the Exit" panel for KeyBank, June 2018
"Assess, Grow and Capture the Value of Your Business" panel for Apella Capital, May 2018
"Connecticut Uniform LLC Act" seminar for Federal Tax Institute of New England, November 2017
"Unlock the Value of Your Business" panel for Apella Capital, October 2017
"Buy Sell Agreements & Business Exit Strategies" presentation for Sagemark Consulting, October 2017
"How to Maximize the Value of Your Business" seminar for MetroHartford Alliance members, May 2017
“Connecticut Uniform LLC Act” seminars for the Connecticut Bar Association, September 2015, June 2016, September 2016, April 2017 and June 2017
"Preparing for Business Transitions" for business owners, April 2017
“Connecticut Uniform LLC Act” seminar for the Connecticut Society of Certified Public Accountants, October 2016
“Learn How Your Business Stacks Up” seminar for business owners, February and June 2016
“Drafting Enforceable Restrictive Covenants” seminar for the Business Law Section of the Connecticut Bar Association, May 2014
“Connecticut Entity Transactions Act” seminar for the Connecticut Bar Association, March 2014
“LLC Developments” seminar for the Business Law Section of the Connecticut Bar Association, November 2013
“LLC Fiduciary Duties - To Be or Not to Be? That is the Question” seminar for the Connecticut Bar Association, June 2013
“Letters of Intent for Business Purchase and Sale Transactions” seminar for M&A Source, May 2011 and June 2013
“Exiting Your Business, Protecting Your Wealth - Legal Agreements” seminar for Pinnacle Equity Solutions, June 2009 and September 2010
“Duties of a Director of a Nonprofit Corporation” seminar for the directors of the Connecticut State Medical Society, May 2010
“Buy Sell Agreements and Business Exit Strategies” seminar for business owners, October 2009
- American Bar Association, Section of Business Law
- American Bar Association, Section of Taxation
- Connecticut Bar Association, Business Law Section Executive Committee
- Connecticut Bar Association, Co-Chair of the LLCs Committee
- Connecticut Bar Association, Co-Chair of the Connecticut Uniform LLC Act Committee
- Connecticut Bar Association, Tax Section Executive Committee
- Listed in The Best Lawyers in America® in the area of Corporate Law (Copyright 2015 by Woodward/White, Inc., Aiken, SC)
- Listed as leading Corporate/M&A lawyer in Chambers USA, Chambers & Partners-Publishing (Chambers.com)
- Holds an AV® Preeminent™ Peer Rating from Martindale-Hubbell for over 20 consecutive years
- Listed in Connecticut Super Lawyers® in the areas of Closely Held Business, Mergers & Acquisitions, Tax since 2006 (Super Lawyers is a registered trademark of Key Professional Media, Inc.)
- Listed in Best Lawyers in Connecticut in the area of Corporate Law
- Listed in Best Lawyers in New England in the area of Corporate Law
- West Avon Congregational Church, Past Chair of the Board of Deacons
- West Avon Congregational Church, Past Chair of the Personnel Committee
- West Avon Congregational Church, Past Chair of the Rebuilding Together Hartford Committee
- West Avon Congregational Church, Past Chair of the Search Committee
- West Avon Congregational Church, Past Chair of the Youth Council
- West Avon Congregational Church, Past Member of the Board of Christian Education
- West Avon Congregational Church, Past Member of the Church Council
- West Avon Congregational Church, Past Member of the Capital Campaign Committee
- West Avon Congregational Church, Past Member of the Endowment Committee
- August 15, 2019 - 33 Murtha Cullina Attorneys Receive “Best Lawyers in America” Recognition; Four Named “Lawyer of the Year”
- April 25, 2019 - Murtha Cullina LLP Recognized by Chambers USA
- August 15, 2018 - 32 Murtha Cullina Attorneys Receive “Best Lawyers in America” Recognition; Two Named Lawyer of the Year
- May 3, 2018 - Murtha Cullina LLP Recognized by Chambers USA
- August 15, 2017 - 35 Murtha Cullina Attorneys Receive “Best Lawyers in America” Recognition; Three Named “Lawyer of the Year”
- May 26, 2017 - Murtha Cullina LLP Recognized by Chambers USA
- May 27, 2016 - Murtha Cullina Recognized by Chambers USA
- May 9, 2016 - Marcel Bernier Co-Chaired the LLC Committee of the Connecticut Bar Association's Business Law Section, playing an Integral Role in the Enactment of the Connecticut Uniform Limited Liability Company Act
- October 10, 2018 - Business Law Seminar: The Fundamentals of Growing Through Acquisition
- September 26, 2018 - Business Law Webinar: Unlock the Value of Your Business
- May 16, 2018 - Unlock the Value of Your Business
- February 25, 2016 - Business Roundtable Discussion - Learn How Your Business Stacks Up
- October 16, 2019 - Business Group News: LLC Annual Report Fees To Increase Significantly July 1, 2020
- March 20, 2017 - Business Group News: The Connecticut Uniform Limited Liability Act
- December 22, 2016 - Trusts and Estates Group News: The Preservation of Family Business Wealth
- October 19, 2015 - Privately Owned Businesses Group News: Business Succession Planning: An Ounce of Prevention Today
- September 29, 2015 - Corporate Group News: Update to Connecticut Law: Amendments to Business Laws Effective October 1, 2015
- May 2014 - Benefit Corporations Have Arrived in Connecticut
- April 2014 - Connecticut Entity Transactions Act
- Effective Estate Planning for Physicians: Tax and Liability Mitigation
- Update to Connecticut Law: Amendments to the Connecticut Business Corporation Act Are Now Effective
- Business Exit Strategies and Tax Developments Affecting Privately Owned Businesses
- November 14, 2018 - Marcel Bernier Speaking at the Exit Planning Exchange on Family Business Succession Planning
- May 19, 2017 - Marcel Bernier to present at "What is Your Business Worth?" workshop
- April 26, 2017 - Marcel Bernier will be presenting at the Business Owner Symposium: Preparing for Business Transitions
- April 20, 2017 - Marcel Bernier Presenting Seminar to CT Bar Association on CT Uniform LLC Act
- June 21, 2016 - Marcel Bernier to present "Learn How Your Business Stacks Up" Business Roundtable
- June 13, 2016 - Marcel Bernier to present on the The Connecticut Uniform LLC Act at the Connecticut Bar Association's 2016 Connecticut Legal Conference
- March 22, 2016 - Marcel Bernier presented on business exit strategies at Bradley, Foster & Sargent.
- Connecticut
- U.S. Tax Court
- U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut
- Boston University (LL.M. in Taxation)
- University of Connecticut School of Law (J.D.)
- Florida State University (B.A., magna cum laude)
