About James M.
James M. Bergin built his academic foundation at Columbia University. He earned a B.A. in 1974 and returned for an M.A. in 1978. A decade later he completed a J.D. at Columbia Law School in 1988. Those years at Columbia shaped his legal thinking and provided a long runway before he entered private practice.
He is admitted to the State Bar of New York. After law school he moved into roles that led him into private practice. Over time he took on increasingly complex matters and responsibilities that are typical of senior lawyers. Those roles prepared him for the position he holds today.
Bergin serves as Senior Counsel at Morrison & Foerster LLP. The title signals a senior advisory role within the firm. In that capacity he works alongside trial and transactional teams, provides seasoned legal judgment on client matters, and mentors junior attorneys. His work involves review, analysis and the kind of strategic decision-making that firms rely on from senior lawyers.
Columbia’s mix of liberal arts and law studies is a thread through his career. It shows in his methodical approach to legal problems and in his attention to both legal detail and broader context. Colleagues describe him as deliberate and thorough. Clients see someone who weighs options and explains tradeoffs plainly rather than through jargon.
Across decades in the profession, Bergin has remained based in the New York bar. He has maintained ties to the local legal community while practicing at a national firm. He balances firm responsibilities with the advisory functions of a senior counsel role. He currently practices at Morrison & Foerster LLP as Senior Counsel and continues to handle matters for clients in the State of New York.
