Steven M Berman

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Bankruptcy, Insolvency and Creditors' Rights Practice

Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP has a broadly based bankruptcy, insolvency, creditors' rights and business reorganization practice. We assist clients in a diverse group of industries with legal and business challenges that are created by dealing with troubled or distressed companies. We represent creditors, debtors, trustees, committees, investors, purchasers, and other stakeholders in bankruptcy proceedings and out of court restructurings or liquidations.

OVERVIEW

* Representation of secured and unsecured creditors, chapter 11 creditors’ committee, non-bankruptcy committees, debtors, and chapter 7 and 11 trustees, asset purchasers and other lenders in every aspect arising in bankruptcy and insolvency matters.

* Prebankruptcy planning and strategy, including “best practices” for maximizing value.

* Structuring business transactions and practices to address potential complications arising from bankruptcy, insolvency proceedings, or doing business with troubled businesses.

* Representation of creditors (including secured and unsecured creditors and creditors’ committees), debtors, and trustees in all phases of bankruptcy proceedings, including pre-packaged or pre-negotiated bankruptcies, debtor-in-possession financing, use of cash collateral, sales of assets, creditors’ remedies, relief from stay, assumption or rejection of contracts, liquidation or reorganization plans, avoidance actions, other bankruptcy litigation and bankruptcy appellate work.

* Representation of creditors regarding covenant defaults, loan modifications, in or out of court workouts and financial restructurings.

* Litigation involving creditors’ and debtors’ rights, including collection actions, actions to recover collateral, guarantor claims, lender liability claims, fraud claims, professional liability claims, director and officer liability claims, fraudulent or preferential transfers, foreclosures and receiverships.

We are active not only in United States Bankruptcy Courts in proceedings under chapters 7, 9, 11 and 12 of the United States Bankruptcy Code, but also in foreign and cross-border (chapter 15) bankruptcy cases, state court receiverships and other insolvency proceedings, such as assignments for the benefit of creditors.

Our bankruptcy and creditors’ rights group has substantial experience and our professionals have acted as lead counsel in some of the nation’s largest bankruptcies and restructurings. Our professionals have been involved in cases in most states across the United States, as well as cases pending in foreign jurisdictions.

CREDITOR AND GENERAL BANKRUPTCY SERVICES
* Chapter 11 reorganization cases
* Liquidating chapter 11 cases
* Chapter 7 cases
* Chapter 12 cases
* Chapter 15 (cross-border insolvency) cases
* International insolvency cases
* Pre-packaged or pre-negotiated chapter 11 plans
* Automatic stay and relief from stay
* DIP financing and use of cash collateral
* Extending credit to a chapter 11 debtor
* First day motions
* Leases and executory contracts
* Section 363 sales/asset dispositions
* Creditors’ committees
* Preferences and fraudulent conveyances
* Plans of reorganization
* Claim priorities
* Sales of claims
* Exit financing
* Lender liability claims
* Equitable subordination
* Proofs of claim
* Discharge and dischargeability
* Trade creditor remedies
- Reclamation
- 20 day administrative claims
- Setoff and recoupment

LENDING SERVICES
* Due diligence and evaluation of loan documentation and secured creditor status
* Negotiate workouts and forbearance agreements
* Real estate collateral recovery
* Judicial and non-judicial foreclosure
* Personal property collateral recovery
* Enforcement of Article 9 security interests
* Deeds in lieu of foreclosure
* Sales or other disposition of assets
* Receivership actions
* Negotiation and documentation of asset management agreements
* Enforcement of debt obligations, guaranty contracts, letters of credit or credit enhancement products
* Assignments for the benefit of creditors, and other state law insolvency proceedings

NON-BANKRUPTCY INSOLVENCY SERVICES
* Debt restructuring and workouts
* Assignments for the benefit of creditors
* State court receiverships
* Collections of money owed

Certified Specialist in Business Bankruptcy & Consumer Bankruptcy - American Board of Certification

Steven M Berman
Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick LLP
Bank of America Plaza #2800
101 E Kennedy Blvd
Tampa FL 33602
Tel: 813 227-2322
Fax: 813 229-1660

Practice Areas
- Bankruptcy, Insolvency and Creditors' Rights Practice
- Commercial Litigation Practice
- Federal Court Litigation Practice

Areas of Emphasis
- Business Bankruptcy Litigation

STEVEN M. BERMAN is a partner in the bankruptcy and creditors' rights practice group in the Tampa, Florida office of Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP.

Mr. Berman has over 19 years of experience and has focused his practice as a business bankruptcy litigator representing creditors, distressed debt lenders, trustees, committees and business entities litigating disputes in bankruptcy court. He is Board Certified by the American Board of Certification in both Creditors' Rights Law and Business Bankruptcy Law.

Mr. Berman is a member of both the Florida and California Bars and is admitted to practice in all Florida and California state courts, all federal courts in the Southern, Middle and Northern Districts of Florida, the federal courts in the Southern and Central Districts of California and the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals.