Steven N. Berger
Contact
(602) 271-9090
(602) 222-4976
Practice Areas
Assisted by
Steven N. Berger has focused his career on resolution of complex business situations 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 just shy of 40 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, providing him with added perspective in his work on Arizona based issues. He is also available to serve as a neutral mediator bringing forward his experience to bring about resolutions of pending commercial disputes.
Admissions
Admitted to all Federal and State Courts in AZ
Education
University of Arizona, J.D., with highest distinction, 1984
Articles Editor, Arizona Law Review
Arizona State University, B.S. Finance, 1980
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Advertising and Media
Asset Based Lenders
Agriculture
Commercial Lenders
Equipment Leasing
Factoring
Franchising
Hard Money Lenders
Healthcare
Hospitality and Restaurants
Insurance
Manufacturing
Non-Profits
Printing and Publishing
Private Education and Preschools
Property Management
Restructuring
Real Estate
Retail and Shopping Center Owners
Title Agencies
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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 – 2011
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
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Career Highlights
Representation of a consumer products manufacturing company having shed claims against it of approximately $27 million in its’ successful reorganization under a Chapter 11 plan.
Representation of owner of multi-state cattle ranch operation in loan workout of over $20 million secured credit facility, and of a multi-state dairy operation in resolution of an approximately $50 million secured 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 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.
Anti-Defamation League’s “Al” Brooks Community Leadership Award Recipient, 2017
Equality Arizona – Human Rights Individual Award, 2011
Board and Leadership:
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
Phoenix Children’s Theatre
Community Service
Publications
“Bankruptcy Law and Procedure, a Guide for the Paralegal,” Co-Author
Recognition