Bernstein Shur taps Pittsburgh attorney as its next CEO
Photos / Courtesy of Bernstein Shur
Joan Fortin, left, will be succeeded as CEO of Bernstein Shur by Kaveri Subbarao, a Pittsburgh-based litigator.
Two weeks after Joan Fortin retired as CEO of Bernstein Shur for an extended career break, the Portland-based law firm has hired a Pittsburgh-based attorney as its next leader.
Kaveri Subbarao, global executive director of strategic growth and the litigation practice at global law firm Clark Hill, was hired following a national search.
“I am extremely honored to have been chosen to lead Bernstein Shur in its next era of success and growth,” she said in Tuesday’s announcement. She will begin her new role on Feb. 10.
“The foundation built by Joan and all the leaders before her is tremendous,” Subbarao said. “I look forward to carrying on their legacy, expanding on their accomplishments, and championing our wonderfully talented people as we take our firm to new heights.”
Fortin, who wrapped up at Bernstein Shur on Dec. 31, is currently traveling with her husband in New Zealand for two months.
'Bold, smart risk-taking'
In her LinkedIn profile, Subbarao describes herself as a motivational, charismatic, efficacious, hands-on business, operations and finance leader, citing “bold, smart risk-taking to achieve big goals” as one of her core strengths.
Clark Hill, where she's worked for more than eight years, is a global law firm founded in 1890 with more than 750 attorneys across the United States, Ireland and Mexico, according to the firm’s website.
That’s nearly 10 times the size of Bernstein Shur, which is ranked No. 2 among Maine-based law firms in the 2025 Mainebiz Book of Lists, just behind Drummond Woodsum.
“Kaveri has an incredible depth of experience as a lawyer and a business leader,” said Kate Knox, the Bernstein Shur shareholder who led the national search “She’s smart, passionate and innovative, and she has built an amazing reputation as someone who empowers others and inspires them to achieve. Kaveri has the experience to understand both complex legal concepts and to develop results-driven business strategies for our firm and its clients.”
In addition to her eight years with Clark Hill, Subbarao was a principal with Gallasia Inc., her own consulting firm, where she served clients in interim executive roles.
Previous roles include serving as chief strategy officer and general counsel for Elias/Savion and Velocity Broadcasting Inc. and chief marketing officer and corporate and media/entertainment attorney at Cohen and Grigsby (now a part of Dentons).
Subbarao started practicing law at Reed Smith LLP, where she was a corporate and media and entertainment attorney.
She began her professional career at Exxon Mobil Corp., where she worked full-time while attending the Washington College of Law at American University in Washington D.C..
She received an executive management and leadership certificate from Northwestern University’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management and earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and international economics from Wheaton College in Massachusetts.
She also has teaching experience, as an adjunct professor at the University of Pittsburgh’s Katz Graduate School of Business and an adjunct professor of undergraduate and graduate business studies at Chatham University in Pittsburgh.
Mainebiz web partners
Most Recent
Most Recent
0 Comments