STEVEN N. BERGER - SHAREHOLDER
[email protected]
602.271.9090 MAIN
602.222.4976 DIRECT
602.222.4999 FAX
2800 North Central Avenue
Suite 1200
Phoenix, Arizona 85004
Practice Areas
Bankruptcy and Reorganization
Business Formation and Transactions
Creditor Rights
Loan Workouts
Commercial Landlord Tenant Law
Business and Financial Restructuring
Real Estate
Loan Documentation
Mediation
Buying and Selling of Businesses
Education
University of Arizona, J.D., with highest distinction, 1984
Articles Editor, Arizona Law Review
Arizona State University, B.A. Finance, 1980
Admissions
Admitted to all Federal and State Courts in AZ
Assisted By
PDF Bio
Steven N. Berger has focused his career on resolution of complex business disputes through effective representation of clients in bankruptcy or other reorganization proceedings, loan workouts, litigation and business transactions. He co-founded the firm in 1999 after gaining experience as an associate and partner at two of Arizona’s largest law firms. He has extensive experience in representing parties involved with troubled loans or troubled businesses, and has represented lenders, lessors, business owners, investors, asset purchasers, creditor committees and other parties in bankruptcy and reorganization cases. Steve has more than 30 years’ experience in representing clients throughout Arizona, is admitted to practice before all state and federal courts in Arizona, and before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. He is a long-time Arizona resident and business owner, providing him with added perspective in his work on Arizona based issues.
Focus
Assisting clients in finding creative and satisfying resolutions of legal issues related to business.
Clients
Lenders
Banks
Borrowers
Real Estate Brokers/Developers
Landlords
Investors
Owners of Closely-Held Businesses
Owners of Troubled Businesses
Industries
Advertising and Media
Asset Based Lenders
Agriculture
Commercial Lenders
Equipment Leasing
Factoring
Franchising
Hard Money Lenders
Healthcare
Hospitality and Restaurants
Insurance
Non-Profits
Printing and Publishing
Private Education and Preschools
Property Management
Restructuring
Retail and Shopping Center Owners
Professional
The American College of Bankruptcy, Fellow
Lawyer Representative, Ninth Circuit Conference, 2010 – 2014
State Bar of Arizona Bankruptcy Section, Chair/Member
State Bar of Arizona CLE Committee, Chair/Member
University of Arizona Rogers College of Law, Board of Visitors
Arizona Bankruptcy American Inn of Court, Charter Member & VP, 2010 – 2012
BNA Bankruptcy Law Reporter, Member, Advisory Board
American Bankruptcy Institute, Member
ABA Alternative Dispute Resolution Section, Member
Law Clerk for Hon. Thomas Tang, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, 1984 – 1985
Recognition
Named “Lawyer of the Year” by The Best Lawyers in America© for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law in Phoenix, AZ, 2016, 2018 and 2020; and Litigation – Bankruptcy in Phoenix, AZ, 2022
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America© in the field of Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law in Phoenix, AZ, since 2003
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America© in the field of Litigation – Bankruptcy in Phoenix, AZ, since 2011
Selected to Southwest Super Lawyers, Bankruptcy, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Business/Corporate, Business Litigation, Real Estate, Creditor Debtor Rights, 2007 – 2021
Selected to Southwest Super Lawyers “Top 50 Arizona Lawyers”, 2009 – 2020
Az Business Magazine, Top 100 Lawyers in Arizona, 2016 – 2019
Phoenix Magazine, Top 50 Lawyers in Arizona, 2015 – 2016
The Business Journal, Best of the Bar, 2003 – 2004
AV-Rated by Martindale Hubbell®
Certified in Business Bankruptcy by American Board of Certification
Career Highlights
Representation of owner of multi-state cattle ranch operation in loan workout of over $20 million secured credit facility.
Representation of lessor of farmland in Chapter 11 case of lessee farming operation.
Representation of the State of Arizona in its takeover, wind-down, and transition to a new provider of the entity responsible for management of the mental health care system for Maricopa County.
Successful restructuring through Chapter 11 of a telecommunications related business in which the shareholders were previously deadlocked and the business’s very survival had been jeopardized.
Successful negotiation and implementation for a lender client of multi-million dollar loan to a farming operation during the borrower’s Chapter 11 case.
Representation of a creditors’ committee in the Chapter 11 case of a primary school and nursery school holding company, resulting in the successful sale and spin-off of schools as going concerns, and the prosecution of actions against corporate insiders.
Representation of a bankruptcy trustee in the successful negotiation of a transition plan among multiple parties including the City of Phoenix, secured lenders, resident groups, and creditors regarding the closing and liquidation of a senior housing project.
Publications
“Bankruptcy Law and Procedure, a Guide for the Paralegal,” Co-Author
Community Service
Anti-Defamation League’s “Al” Brooks Community Leadership Award Recipient, 2017
Equality Arizona – Human Rights Individual Award, 2011
Friends of the Phoenix Library
American Jewish Committee
Community AIDS Council
Arizona AIDS Project
Maricopa Community College Foundation, “Out & Up” LGBT Scholarship Fund
Lambda Legal