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Marcel J. Bernier

Of Counsel

mbernier@harrisbeachmurtha.com
D: (860) 240-6087  
- Hartford, CT Office
Linkedin

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Marcel Bernier
Profile
Representative Matters
Resources
Distinctions

Marcel has practiced corporate, limited liability company and tax law for more than 40 years and is very effective at assisting clients with achieving their objectives. 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 more than 100 operating agreements, employment agreements and 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 and trust administration matters.

Marcel was a co-chair of the Connecticut Bar Association Committee which drafted the Connecticut Uniform Limited Liability Company Act. (Click here to view his testimony supporting the Connecticut Uniform LLC Act). He also was a member of the Connecticut Bar Association Committee which drafted the Connecticut Entity Transactions Act.

Insights
News
August 20, 2026

123 Harris Beach Murtha Lawyers Recognized as 2027 Best Lawyers® Award Recipients; 10 Earn “Lawyer of the Year” Recognition

Best Lawyers honorees are selected through a peer-review process evaluating professional excellence within specific practice areas and geogr
October 21, 2025

20 Harris Beach Murtha Attorneys Selected to 2025 Connecticut Super Lawyers and Super Lawyers: Rising Stars Lists

Each year, no more than five percent of the lawyers in the state are selected to Super Lawyers and 2.5 percent to Rising Stars.
August 21, 2025

More Than 100 Harris Beach Murtha Lawyers Recognized as 2026 Best Lawyers® Award Recipients; 11 Earn “Lawyer of the Year” Recognition

Best Lawyers provides trusted, peer-reviewed recognition of top legal professionals, helping clients find credible, experienced counsel.
October 9, 2024

20 Murtha Cullina Attorneys Listed Among 2024 Connecticut Super Lawyers® and Super Lawyers: Rising Stars®

Fifteen attorneys from Murtha Cullina have been selected to the 2024 Connecticut Super Lawyers® list, and five attorneys have been selected
August 15, 2024

41 Murtha Cullina Attorneys Receive Best Lawyers in America® Recognitions

Forty-one attorneys from Murtha Cullina LLP have been selected for inclusion in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® and five at
March 25, 2024

Eric J. Gyllenborg Named Chair of Business Law Practice Group

Murtha Cullina has named Eric J. Gyllenborg chair of the firm’s Business Law practice. The Business Law practice encompasses separate groups
November 3, 2023

Murtha Cullina Represents Sullivan Tire in Deal to Sell to Employees

Murtha Cullina represented Sullivan Tire as it transitioned the ownership of the company to a newly formed Employee Stock Ownership Plan.
September 22, 2023

Marcel Bernier Recognized by 2023 New England Legal Awards in Best Mentor Category

On September 21, Marcel Bernier, partner and chair of Murtha Cullina’s Privately Owned Businesses practice and a member of the Tax, Health
Events
External Publications
November 1, 2018

"Preserving Your Family Business for the Next Generation," Exit Planning Exchange Panel

November 1, 2018

"Drafting Enforceable Restrictive Covenants," Connecticut Bar Association Business Law Section Seminar

October 1, 2018

"Acquiring a Business," panel for business owners

September 1, 2018

"Unlock the Value of Your Business," Apella Capital Panel

June 1, 2018

"Preparing for the Exit," KeyBank Panel

May 1, 2018

"Assess, Grow and Capture the Value of Your Business," Apella Capital Panel

November 1, 2017

"Connecticut Uniform LLC Act," Federal Tax Institute of New England Seminar

October 1, 2017

"Unlock the Value of Your Business," Apella Capital Panel

October 1, 2017

"Buy Sell Agreements & Business Exit Strategies," Sagemark Consulting

June 1, 2017

“Connecticut Uniform LLC Act,” Connecticut Bar Association Seminars  (September 2015, June 2016, September 2016, April 2017 and June 2017)

May 1, 2017

"The Connecticut Uniform Limited Liability Company Act," Connecticut Lawyer

May 1, 2017

"How to Maximize the Value of Your Business," MetroHartford Alliance Member Seminar

April 1, 2017

"Preparing for Business Transitions," for business owners

October 1, 2016

“Connecticut Uniform LLC Act,” Connecticut Society of Certified Public Accountants Seminar

June 1, 2016

“Learn How Your Business Stacks Up,” seminar for business owners (February and June 2016)

May 1, 2014

“Drafting Enforceable Restrictive Covenants,” Connecticut Bar Association Business Law Section Seminar

March 1, 2014

“Connecticut Entity Transactions Act,” Connecticut Bar Association Seminar

November 1, 2013

“LLC Developments,” Connecticut Bar Association Business Law Section Seminar

June 1, 2013

“LLC Fiduciary Duties - To Be or Not to Be? That is the Question,” Connecticut Bar Association Seminar

June 1, 2013

“Letters of Intent for Business Purchase and Sale Transactions,” M&A Source Seminar (May 2011 and June 2013)

January 1, 2011

“Preserving Your Business for the Next Generation,” Chapter 3 of The ABA Practical Guide to Estate Planning

September 1, 2010

“Exiting Your Business, Protecting Your Wealth - Legal Agreements,” Pinnacle Equity Solutions Seminar (June 2009 and September 2010)

May 1, 2010

“Duties of a Director of a Nonprofit Corporation,” Connecticut State Medical Society Directors Seminar

May 1, 2010

“Business Exit Strategies,” Hartford Business Journal

October 1, 2009

“Buy Sell Agreements and Business Exit Strategies,” seminar for business owners

Prev ...1234... Next

Professional and Civic

  • American Bar Association
    • Section of Business Law
    • Section of Taxation
  • Connecticut Bar Association
    • Business Law Section Executive Committee
    • Tax Section Executive Committee
  • West Avon Congregational Church
    • Past Chair of the Board of Deacons
    • Past Chair of the Personnel Committee
    • Past Chair of the Rebuilding Together Hartford Committee
    • Past Chair of the Search Committee
    • Past Chair of the Youth Council
    • Past Member of the Board of Christian Education
    • Past Member of the Church Council
    • Past Member of the Capital Campaign Committee
    • Past Member of the Endowment Committee

Recognition

 

  • Listed as leading Corporate/M&A lawyer in Chambers USA, America’s Leading Lawyers for Business
  • Holds an AV Preeminent® Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Rating™ for over 20 consecutive years
  • Super Lawyers, Closely Held Business, 2006 and since 2024
  • Best Lawyers, Corporate Law, since 2018
  • Best Lawyers, Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), since 2021
  • Best Lawyers, Mergers & Acquisitions Law, 2023-2025
  • The Best Lawyers in America®, “Lawyer of the Year,” Corporate Law, 2022
  • Super Lawyers®, Mergers & Acquisitions, 2006
  •  Super Lawyers®, Tax, 2006
Admissions
ConnecticutU.S. District Court, ConnecticutU.S. Tax Court
Education

Boston University

LLM in Taxation 
  • LLM in Taxation

University of Connecticut Law School

JD 

Florida State University

BA 
magna cum laude
  • BA in Accounting and Finance

Capabilities

Legal Practices

Member of:

Corporate
Tax
Trusts and Estates

Industry Teams

Member of:

Tax-Exempt Organizations & Nonprofits
Health Care
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Marcel Bernier

Marcel J. Bernier

Of Counsel

mbernier@harrisbeachmurtha.com
Capabilities
People
Harris Beach Murtha Attorneys at Law
Marcel Bernier

Marcel J. Bernier

mbernier@harrisbeachmurtha.com
D: (860) 240-6087
Hartford, CT Office

Profile

Marcel has practiced corporate, limited liability company and tax law for more than 40 years and is very effective at assisting clients with achieving their objectives. 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 more than 100 operating agreements, employment agreements and 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 and trust administration matters.

Marcel was a co-chair of the Connecticut Bar Association Committee which drafted the Connecticut Uniform Limited Liability Company Act. (Click here to view his testimony supporting the Connecticut Uniform LLC Act). He also was a member of the Connecticut Bar Association Committee which drafted the Connecticut Entity Transactions Act.

Areas of Expertise

Legal Practices

Member of:

Corporate
Tax
Trusts and Estates

Industry Teams

Member of:

Tax-Exempt Organizations & Nonprofits
Health Care
Please select listing to show.

Admissions

ConnecticutU.S. District Court, ConnecticutU.S. Tax Court

Distinctions

Professional and Civic

  • American Bar Association
    • Section of Business Law
    • Section of Taxation
  • Connecticut Bar Association
    • Business Law Section Executive Committee
    • Tax Section Executive Committee
  • West Avon Congregational Church
    • Past Chair of the Board of Deacons
    • Past Chair of the Personnel Committee
    • Past Chair of the Rebuilding Together Hartford Committee
    • Past Chair of the Search Committee
    • Past Chair of the Youth Council
    • Past Member of the Board of Christian Education
    • Past Member of the Church Council
    • Past Member of the Capital Campaign Committee
    • Past Member of the Endowment Committee

Recognition

 

  • Listed as leading Corporate/M&A lawyer in Chambers USA, America’s Leading Lawyers for Business
  • Holds an AV Preeminent® Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Rating™ for over 20 consecutive years
  • Super Lawyers, Closely Held Business, 2006 and since 2024
  • Best Lawyers, Corporate Law, since 2018
  • Best Lawyers, Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), since 2021
  • Best Lawyers, Mergers & Acquisitions Law, 2023-2025
  • The Best Lawyers in America®, “Lawyer of the Year,” Corporate Law, 2022
  • Super Lawyers®, Mergers & Acquisitions, 2006
  •  Super Lawyers®, Tax, 2006
Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. © 2026 Harris Beach Murtha Cullina PLLC
Content current as of October 8, 2026 3:29 am