Berg was born in Cologne, Germany, in 1891. He immigrated to the United States in 1912 and settled in Chicago, Illinois. He attended Northwestern University Law School, graduating in 1915. After graduating from law school, Berg served in the United States Army during World War I.
After the war, Berg returned to Chicago and began practicing law. He was also active in politics, serving as a member of the Illinois House of Representatives from 1923 to 1927. In 1928, he was elected to the Illinois Senate. He served in the Senate until 1932.
In 1933, Berg was appointed to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. He served on the federal court until 1961, when he retired.
Berg was a prominent member of the Chicago legal community. He was also a member of the American Bar Association and the Illinois State Bar Association. He died in Chicago in 1973.