David Wm. Engelman
Kevin M. Judiscak
William H. Anger
Wade M. Burgeson
Bradley D. Pack
Nancy A. Mangone
Lorena E. Chávez
Scott B. Cohen
Scott W. Hulbert
Patrick A. Clisham
Thomas R. Nolasco

---

Steven N. Berger co-founded the firm in 1999, after practicing at two of Arizona’s largest law firms. Mr. Berger concentrates his practice on assisting business owners, lenders, lessors, and other parties in resolving commercial disputes, with an emphasis on matters pending in the United States Bankruptcy Court or involving troubled loans or troubled businesses. Mr. Berger represents parties in all facets of commercial bankruptcy and reorganization cases. He has been recognized in the nationally published “The Best Lawyers in America,” in the “Best of the Bar,” published by the Arizona Business Journal, and achieved an AV rating from Martindale Hubbell.

Mr. Berger has resided in Arizona for more than 40 years, and earned his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Arizona College of Law, with highest distinction, in 1984. He earned his undergraduate degree in Finance from Arizona State University in 1980. Mr. Berger started his legal career as a law clerk to the Hon. Thomas Tang, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals during 1984-1985.

Mr. Berger is admitted to practice before all state and federal courts in Arizona, and before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. In addition to his active practice in bankruptcy and reorganization matters, loan workouts, and general business counsel, Mr. Berger has also represented parties in state and federal courts in disputes over many commercial arrangements, including commercial leases, shareholder or partner disputes, real estate disputes, receiverships, dissolutions, and related matters. He is also trained as a mediator for commercial disputes.

In the bankruptcy arena, Mr. Berger has represented creditors, debtors, trustees, creditors’ committees, lessors, asset purchasers, shareholders and other parties in bankruptcy and non-bankruptcy business and loan restructurings, reorganizations, liquidations, and debtor-creditor issues. Steve has earned certification as a specialist in Business Bankruptcy Law by the American Board of Certification, and is a member of the Editorial Board of the BNA Bankruptcy Law Reporter, a national bankruptcy law publication. He has co-authored several editions of “Bankruptcy Law and Procedure, a Guide for the Paralegal,” and articles on bankruptcy law for other periodicals. Mr. Berger is a frequent speaker at seminars on bankruptcy law and related topics. He is a member of the American Bankruptcy Institute and the Turnaround Management Association.

Illustrative of his representations, are the following:

• 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 a 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.
  
  

Steve has a long history of assisting in the activities of and in leadership positions with the Arizona State Bar Bankruptcy Section, the Arizona State Bar Continuing Legal Education Committee, and the University of Arizona Rogers College of Law Board of Visitors.  His civic activities have included leadership positions with the Friends of the Phoenix Library, the Anti-Defamation League, the American Jewish Committee, and the Community AIDS Council / Arizona AIDS Project.


Download Steven N. Berger's Bio
Adobe Acrobat Reader, 130K

Mr. Berger may be contacted at: snb@engelmanberger.com