TAMPA, FL — Shumaker proudly announces that Steven M. Berman, a distinguished Partner at the firm and regional committees chair of American Bankruptcy Institute’s Endowment (ABI), served as a panelist at the 2024 Southwest Bankruptcy Conference. The conference brings together top legal minds focused on key trends and challenges in bankruptcy law.
In addition to his leadership role, Steve is also a member of the ABI’s Veterans Task Force and Pro Bono Committee and is a frequent lecturer with deep roots in the organization. His panel, titled “Old Mistakes and New Mistakes,“ explored a number of ethical issues including common missteps made by lawyers and the potential for new errors as firms adopt cutting-edge technology, including artificial intelligence (AI).
Steve provided his insights into how technology is reshaping the legal field and how attorneys can avoid making the same mistakes as they integrate these tools into their practices.
"We’re at a turning point," Steve noted. "While evolving technology brings tremendous potential, it's crucial to understand its limitations and apply it with care, so we don’t replace old mistakes with new ones."
Viewed as a leader within the firm, Steve is Shumaker’s Financial Institutions and Insurance Business Sector Chair. Clients and colleagues alike turn to Steve when a bankruptcy case is not likely to settle. A seasoned trial lawyer, he is widely recognized for his solutions-oriented approach, which involves working closely with clients to first see the end result and then map out a plan to get there. He focuses his practice on business bankruptcy litigation, representing creditors, investors, distressed debt lenders, trustees, committees, and business entities litigating disputes in bankruptcy court.
Giving back to the community, Steve works on several committees and task forces and routinely volunteers and speaks at seminars. Additionally, he volunteers in providing pro bono bankruptcy and insolvency services and training for United States Navy service members, including Judge Advocate General officers and staff.
Shumaker is honored to have Steve represent the firm at this prestigious event and share his knowledge on how legal professionals can continue to serve their clients with accuracy and integrity in the digital age.