Stephen J. Kearney, 36, director of research and communications for O'Malley since 1999, is a former director of public relations at law firm Verner, Liipfert, Bernhard, McPherson and Hand in Washington, where he specialized in crisis management and issues campaigns.
Verner, Liipfert, etc. is
now DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary. The list of people in their
D.C. office is impressive. A lot of famous folks, from Dick Armey to former Michigan Governor James Blanchard to former Senator George Mitchell. If there's an "intermediary" you'd be willing to trust, they probably work there (or at any other top Washington law firm).
FYI - I don't think the Bernstein is directly related to Carl, but someone who has access to genealogy websites might want to check.