Karl Bernard
ATTORNEY • PROFESSOR • FORMER NFL PLAYER • AUTHOR • Speaker
Karl Bernard is the General Manager of Karl Bernard Law, LLC, a law firm active in labor and employment law, business litigation, civil rights litigation, sports and entertainment law, personal injury law, oil and gas law, and nonprofit & for-profit business incorporation matters.
Karl has negotiated contractual agreements valued at over $100 million, including professional athlete contracts, broadcast rights, endorsements, licensing agreements, and event production agreements.
Law Practice
Karl Bernard is the General Manager of Karl Bernard Law, LLC. The firm has litigated matters successfully involving contractual disputes, civil rights, defamation, probate, personal injury, and other civil matters. The firm serves clients from its New Orleans and Baton Rouge offices in the areas of Labor & Employment, Business Litigation, Civil Rights, Contractual Rights, Sports & Entertainment, Personal Injury, Oil & Gas, and Nonprofit & Business Incorporation.
High-Value Negotiations
Karl has negotiated contracts totaling over $100 million in value, including:
- Professional athlete contracts and signing rights
- Broadcast rights and licensing contracts
- Endorsement and sponsorship agreements
- Production and entertainment agreements
- Record label and music publishing agreements
- Event production agreements
Admitted to Practice Before
- Louisiana Supreme Court
- U.S. District Court, Eastern Louisiana
- U.S. District Court, Western Louisiana
- United States Federal Circuit Court of Appeals, 5th Circuit
- United States Supreme Court
- U.S. District Court, Middle Louisiana
- Southern District of Texas
- United States 5th Circuit Court
Adjunct Professor of Law
Karl Bernard is an adjunct Professor of Law at Loyola College of Law in New Orleans and has taught at Tulane Law and the University of Louisiana. He has been teaching for over 20 years.
He has taught classes in the areas of Sports Law and Negotiation Strategies in sports, music, intellectual property, and entertainment law.
Karl is a certified instructor of the National Institute for Trial Advocacy (NITA) where he has lectured and served as a trainer for the Yale University Faculty of Law, University of Southern California School of Law, and the Nashville American Bar Center.
Author
Karl authored the book "Lessons From My Fathers" — a work that explores the influence of fatherly wisdom and life lessons drawn from his varied experiences as a football player, attorney, and professor.
"Karl Bernard is truly a great man — it is clear. He is a man who is a NFL, as a highly successful lawyer, a family man. He wants to be a source of the opportunity for young life to get a chance to go in."
Booger McFarland
Former LSU/Tiger, ESPN's Monday Night Countdown
Former NFL Running Back
Karl was a record-setting running back at LSU and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. While at ULL, he set records including a 265-yard rushing game vs. Northwestern State.
Karl then signed a professional free-agent agreement with the Detroit Lions as their 1st round free-agent. He was the first professional football player from ULL to play and start for an NFL team since the team's name change.
Thanksgiving Day Game
As an active roster starter in the 1987 Thanksgiving Day NFL game vs. the Kansas City Chiefs — carried for over 100 rushing yards, over 50 receiving yards, and scored a receiving touchdown on NBC national television.
Singer & Musician
Karl Bernard is a singer, musician, and has served the world in many a musical context. His performances include:
- NBA National Anthem performances
- Super Bowl prayer breakfast for NFL team devotionals
- 2003 NCAA Final Four College Prayer Breakfast
- GRAMMY Super Bowl Week of The Year Ceremony
He also sang the first ever sing performance at the New Orleans Saints NFL's inaugural New Orleans ESPN Good News Talent Challenge Contest.
Karl has written, composed, produced, and recorded his own songs, including instrumentals for "FAITH" and "Inhabit Our Praises."
Podcast
Unofficial Visit
The unofficial visit for a parent and a young student-athlete in picking a university and its program. Advice, insight, and guidance from an attorney, former student-athlete, professor of sports law, and 20+ years of experience counseling student-athletes on college decisions.
Ultimately, the Karl Bernard Law firm's "The Unofficial Visit" educates a high school athlete on the "issues regarding their future."
Speaker
Karl Bernard is a sought-after motivational speaker. Embodying the roles of attorney, former student-athlete and professor in prayer and conversation about faith in life.
His diverse background across sports, engineering, the law, music, and education has provided him with a unique storytelling perspective and ability to connect with diverse audiences.
Recognition
- Keys to the City of Baton Rouge
- Keys to the City of Lafayette
He is routinely invited by professional and collegiate teams and organizations to lead and facilitate pregame chapel and prayer services for NFL and college football teams for nearly 15 years.
The Journey
From the football fields of LSU to the courtrooms of Louisiana — a life defined by faith,
ambition, and service.
1983
College Football at LSU & ULL
Record-setting running back with a 265-yard rushing game vs. Northwestern State.
1987
Signed with Detroit Lions
Joined the active roster, became first ULL player to start in the NFL since the team's name change.
1987
Super Bowl Halftime Challenge
Thanksgiving Day game — 100+ rushing yards, 50+ receiving yards, 1 TD on NBC.
1990S
Petroleum Engineer to Attorney
Transitioned careers, earning his law degree and entering legal practice.
2000S
Law Career Begins
Founded Karl Bernard Law, LLC, serving clients in New Orleans and Baton Rouge.
2000S
Adjunct Professor at Loyola
Began teaching sports law, music law, and negotiation strategies at Loyola College of Law.
2020S
Published "Lessons From My Fathers"
Released his book exploring fatherly wisdom and life lessons.
PRESENT
Unofficial Visit Podcast
Guiding student-athletes and parents on the college selection process.
The Journey
From the football fields of LSU to the courtrooms of Louisiana — a life defined by faith,
ambition, and service.
1983
College Football at LSU & ULL
Record-setting running back with a 265-yard rushing game vs. Northwestern State.
1987
Signed with Detroit Lions
Joined the active roster, became first ULL player to start in the NFL since the team's name change.
1987
Super Bowl Halftime Challenge
Thanksgiving Day game — 100+ rushing yards, 50+ receiving yards, 1 TD on NBC.
1990S
Petroleum Engineer to Attorney
Transitioned careers, earning his law degree and entering legal practice.
2000S
Law Career Begins
Founded Karl Bernard Law, LLC, serving clients in New Orleans and Baton Rouge.
2000S
Adjunct Professor at Loyola
Began teaching sports law, music law, and negotiation strategies at Loyola College of Law.
2020S
Published "Lessons From My Fathers"
Released his book exploring fatherly wisdom and life lessons.
PRESENT
Unofficial Visit Podcast
Guiding student-athletes and parents on the college selection process.
Karl Bernard
Attorney - Professor - Former NFL Player
Author - Speaker - Singer - Musician
CONTACT
1615 Poydras St, Suite 900
New Orleans, LA 70112
4970 Bluebonnet Blvd, Suite A
Baton Rouge, LA 70809
Phone: (504) 412-5993
Direct: (504) 412-8686
Fax: (504) 412-8888
© 2026 Karl Bernard Law, LLC. All rights reserved.