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Contact

Shareholder

Steven N. Berger

Phone: (602) 222-4976

Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn

Shareholder

Steven N. Berger

Phone: (602) 222-4976

Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn

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.

 

More About Steven N. Berger

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 – 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
  • Anti-Defamation League, Board
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.

Community Service
  • 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
Publications
  • “Bankruptcy Law and Procedure, a Guide for the Paralegal,” Co-Author

Legal Assistant

  • Cynthia D. Nesselrode

Practice Areas

  • Bankruptcy & Reorganization
  • Business & Financial Restructuring
  • Business Formation & Transactions
  • Buying/Selling Businesses
  • Commercial Landlord Tenant Law
  • Corporate General Counsel 
  • Creditors’ Rights
  • Loan Documents
  • Loan Workouts
  • Mediation
  • Real Estate

Industries

  • 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

Education

University of Arizona, J.D., with highest distinction, 1984
Articles Editor, Arizona Law Review

Arizona State University, B.S. Finance, 1980

Admissions

Admitted to all Federal and State Courts in AZ

Lawyer of the Year 2022

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

The Best Lawyers in America©

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

The Best Lawyers in America©

Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America© in the field of Litigation – Bankruptcy in Phoenix, AZ, since 2011

Southwest Super Lawyers

Selected to Southwest Super Lawyers, Bankruptcy, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Business/Corporate, Business Litigation, Real Estate, Creditor Debtor Rights, 2007 – 2021

Top 50 Arizona Lawyers

Selected to Southwest Super Lawyers “Top 50 Arizona Lawyers”, 2009 – 2020

Top 100 Lawyers in Arizona

AZ Business Magazine, Top 100 Lawyers in Arizona, 2016 – 2019

Top 50 Lawyers in Arizona

Phoenix Magazine, Top 50 Lawyers in Arizona, 2015 – 2016

Best of the Bar

The Business Journal, Best of the Bar, 2003 – 2004

AV-Rated by Martindale Hubbell®

“The highest peer rating standard. This is given to attorneys who are ranked at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal expertise, communication skills, and ethical standards by their peers.”

Certified in Business Bankruptcy

Certified in Business Bankruptcy by American Board of Certification

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(602) 271-9090

[email protected]

2800 North Central Avenue Suite 1200
Phoenix, Arizona 85004

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