About
Bernard Fischman has practiced commercial and business litigation since 1973. He is board certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization as a specialist in Civil Appellate Law. Mr. Fischman has handled numerous cases in the appellate courts, arguing suits before the Texas Supreme Court and oral argument before the Supreme Court of the United States. Mr. Fischman has been counsel in several landmark cases before the highest courts, such as McGlothlin v. Kliebert (Texas Sup. Ct. 1983) dealing with a landlord’s right to evict a commercial tenant and Lee v. Navarro Savings Ass’n (United States Supreme Court 1980) concerning federal trial court jurisdiction.
Prior to commencing private practice, Mr. Fischman held the distinguished position of Briefing Attorney for the late Hon. John Robert Brown, Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals. Mr. Fischman assisted the court in the preparation of major decisions in complex cases. Known for his wit, Judge Brown published the now-legendary decision in the case of Chemical Specialties Manufacturers Ass’n v. Clark (Fifth Circuit 1973), which has been often cited in books of judicial humor. Mr. Fischman inspired and wrote the opinion for Judge Brown. For several years, Fischman was host of the “Bernie the Attorney” call-in radio show and a commentator on legal affairs on WOAI Radio in San Antonio. He has also appeared on Court TV and other media with commentary on pending cases of his own and others.
Prior to joining Tinsman & Sciano, Inc. and serving as counsel from 1989 through 2004, he practiced commercial, real estate and business litigation in Houston Texas with the firms of Lackshin & Nathan (now known as Nathan, Sommers & Jacobs, P.C.), and Zimmerman, Axelrad, Meyer, Stern & Wise. Mr. Fischman has handled many cases as lead counsel in Bexar, Harris, Dallas and other counties in Texas, as well as numerous matters in the federal courts in this State. He now devotes considerable time to representing plaintiffs in legal malpractice cases and has obtained million dollar-plus verdicts in malpractice and business damage cases. Mr. Fischman has also enjoyed the distinction of representing several San Antonio Judges, members of the Texas Senate, including Hon. Jeff Wentworth, in their legal and personal matters. Mr. Fischman is often consulted by other lawyers in matters of professional ethics and discipline and has successfully represented other attorneys before the State Bar of Texas. He has also represented prominent individuals including Hon. John H. Dalton, a former Secretary of the Navy and Hon. Hope Andrade, Secretary of State of the State of Texas in non-official business matters. Fischman has often lectured at seminars to other lawyers on professional ethics and legal malpractice issues, and has served as an instructor to paralegal assistants as part of their certification and training requirements.
In 2004, Bernard Fischman relocated as a solo practitioner in the Ariel House group of attorneys. He continues to practice commercial litigation and corporate representation.
Born in Houston, Texas, April 12, 1947, Mr. Fischman has been a member of the State Bar of Texas and has been licensed by the Supreme Court of Texas to practice in all courts of this State since 1973 and the Supreme Court of the United States since 1976. He is also admitted to practice law in all of the United States District Courts in Texas; the United States Courts of Appeal for the Fifth Sixth and Eleventh Circuits; the United States Court of Federal Claims and the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, both located in Washington, D.C.
Mr. Fischman graduated from the University of Texas with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in 1969. He obtained his legal education at the University of Houston, graduating cum laude in 1973, with memberships in the Houston Law Review, the Order of Barons Legal Honor Society, Phi Delta Phi legal fraternity, and a number of distinguished student awards. Today, he is a member of the College of the State Bar and Texas Bar Foundation. A lifelong Texan, he has been married to Terri Horwitz Fischman for 40 years and has two grown children and one grandchild.