About Maria Victoria
Maria Victoria Bernstein is a licensed attorney admitted to practice law in the State of California. She was admitted to the California State Bar in 1996. Her license is currently in active status. Ms. Bernstein is a partner at SSL Law Firm, a full-service law firm located in San Francisco, California. She has been practicing law for over 30 years, serving clients throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and surrounding regions.
Ms. Bernstein earned her Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law, where she graduated in 1996. Prior to law school, she completed her undergraduate education at the University of New Mexico, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree. During her time at UC Berkeley, she was involved in various legal clinics and externships, gaining practical experience in real estate law and related fields.
Ms. Bernstein concentrates her practice in the areas of commercial real estate law, including leasing, purchase and sale transactions, property management, construction contracts, and lease workouts. She represents both tenants and landlords in matters involving office, industrial, and retail properties. Her practice encompasses all stages of legal work, including contract negotiation, dispute resolution, and litigation in both state and federal courts.
Throughout her career, Ms. Bernstein has handled cases in the Superior Court of California for the County of San Francisco, the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. She has also appeared before the California Court of Appeal on multiple occasions. Prior to joining SSL Law Firm, she worked in-house and at several large, national law firms, gaining extensive experience in real estate transactions and litigation.
Ms. Bernstein is an active member of the California State Bar and serves on its commercial leasing committee. She has organized and presented on various real property-related topics. Her pro bono and community work includes representation of indigent residential tenants, immigrants applying for asylum or defending against deportation, and involvement with LGBTQI and LatinX communities. She is also active with an animal rescue organization, demonstrating her commitment to community service and social justice.
