Steven M. Berman

Partner, Financial Institutions & Insurance Industry Sector Co-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.

Steve received his B.S. in multinational business operations from Florida State University and received his J.D. from the University of Florida Levin College of Law, where he continues to guest lecture. He is board certified by the American Board of Certification in both creditors’ rights law and business bankruptcy law and is a member of the Florida, California, District of Columbia, New York, Puerto Rico (federal), and Texas bars.

Steve serves as the American Bankruptcy Institute's Anthony H.N. Schnelling Endowment Fund's national Regional Endowment Coordinator and also serves on the Board of the American Board of Certification. He 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, and serves as the Judge Advocate for the Coronado Yacht Club.

When not in the courtroom, Steve enjoys traveling and boating with his wife and two children. He is also an animal lover, having rescued a number of dogs and cats.

Education

J.D., University of Florida Levin College of Law, 1990

B.S., Multinational Business Operations, Florida State University, 1987

Professional Associations

American Bankruptcy Institute, Board of Directors
American Bankruptcy Institute, Veterans Task Force and Pro Bono Committee within, as well as frequent lecturer
American Board of Certification, Board of Directors
Tampa Bay Bankruptcy Bar Association
Bankruptcy Bar Association of the Southern District of Florida
Southwest Florida Bankruptcy Professionals Association
San Diego Bankruptcy Forum
California Bankruptcy Forum
Guest lectures for the Advanced Bankruptcy Seminars at the University of Florida Levin College of Law as well as the Stetson University College of Law

Honors

AV^® Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
Best Lawyers in America, 2024-2025
Florida Super Lawyer by Super Lawyers magazine, 2013-2022

Certifications

Board Certified in Creditors’ Rights Law and Business Bankruptcy Law by the American Board of Certification

Representative Matters

Unpublished Decisions:

In re Fundamental Long Term Care, Inc., No. 22-10687 (11th Cir. July 15, 2024).
759 Ventures, LLC v. GCP Apartment Investors, LLC NCBC 42 (2018)

Published Decisions:

In re Fundamental Long Term Care, Inc., 81 F.4th 1264 (11th Cir. 2023)
In re Godwin, 651 B.R. 392 (M.D. Fla. 2023)
In re Roberts, 644 B.R. 220 (Bankr. D. Colo. 2022)
In re Miami Metals I, Inc., 634 B.R. 249 (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. 2021)
In re Fundamental Long Term Care, Inc., 2020 WL 1932499, (Bankr. M.D. Fla. Apr. 16, 2020)
In re Fundamental Long Term Care, Inc., 605 B.R. 249 (M.D. Fla. 2019)
In re Worrell, 772 Fed.Appx. 842 (11th Cir. 2019)
In re Steffen, 660 Fed.Appx. 843 (11th Cir. 2016)
In re Avantair, Inc., 638 Fed.Appx. 970 (11th Cir. 2016)
In re Fundamental Long Term Care, Inc., 2015 WL 8259409 (M.D. Fla. 2015)
The Florida Bar re Advisory Opinion-Scharrer v. Fundamental Admin. Services, 176 So.3d 1273 (Fla. 2015)
In re Fundamental Long Term Care, Inc., 530 B.R. 816 (2015)
In re Fundamental Long Term Care, Inc., 527 B.R. 497 (2015)
In re Fundamental Long Term Care, Inc., 527 B.R. 479 (2015)
In re Steffen, 611 Fed.Appx. 677 (2015)
In re Fundamental Long Term Care, Inc., 2015 WL 556411 (M.D. Fla. 2015)
In re SuperMedia, Inc., 2014 WL 7403448 (D. Delaware 2014)
Corrections Corp. of America v. Scharrer, 523 B.R. 259 (M.D. Fla. 2014)
Trans Health Management Inc. v. Nunziata, 2014 WL 7202711 (Fla. 2d DCA 2014)
In re Fundamental Long Term Care, Inc., 515 B.R. 857 (2014)
In re Fundamental Long Term Care, Inc., 515 B.R. 874 (2014)
In re Fundamental Long Term Care, Inc., 2014 WL 4452711 (M.D. Fla. 2014)
In re Fundamental Long Term Care, Inc., 515 B.R. 352 (2014)
In re Fundamental Long Term Care, Inc., 2014 WL 2882522 (M.D. Fla. 2014)
In re Fundamental Long Term Care, Inc., 512 B.R. 690 (2014)
In re Surtronics, Inc., 2014 WL 2581159 (E.D. N.C. 2014)
In re Fundamental Long Term Care, Inc., 509 B.R. 956 (2014)
In re Fundamental Long Term Care, Inc., 509 B.R. 387 (2014)
In re Fundamental Long Term Care, Inc., 508 B.R. 224 (2014)
In re Fundamental Long Term Care, Inc., 507 B.R. 359 (2014)
In re Steffen, 552 Fed.Appx. 946 (11th Cir. 2014)
Scharrer v. Fundamental Administrative Services, LLC, 2014 WL 105101 (M.D. Fla. 2014)
Trans Health Management, Inc. v. Webb ex rel. Webb, 132 So.3d 1152 (Fla. 1st DCA 2013)
In re Fundamental Long Term Care, Inc., 501 B.R. 770 (2013)
In re Fundamental Long Term Care, Inc., 500 B.R. 147 (2013)
Scharrer v. Fundamental Administrative Services, LLC, 2013 WL 3943156 (M.D. Fla. 2014)
In re Fundamental Long Term Care, Inc., 492 B.R. 571 (2013)
In re Fundamental Long Term Care, Inc., 494 B.R. 548 (2013)
In re Fundamental Long Term Care, Inc., 489 B.R. 451 (2013)
In re Steffen, 2013 WL 461344 (M.D. Fla. 2013)
In re Steffen, 2012 WL 6600190 (M.D. Fla. 2012)
In re Steffen, 500 Fed.Appx. 877 (11th Cir. 2012)
In re Safety Harbor Resort and Spa, 456 B.R. 703 (M.D. Fla. 2011)
In re Hydratech Utilities, Inc., 2010 WL 5146284 (M.D. Fla. 2010)
In re Split Second Towing & Transport Inc., 201 WL 3385482 (M.D. Fla. 2010)
In re Key Developers Group, LLC, 434 B.R. 712 (M.D. Fla. 2010)
Steffen v. Berman, 2010 WL 2293235 (M.D. Fla. 2010)
In re Steffen, 426 B.R. 907 (M.D. Fla. 2010)
In re Steffen, 2010 WL 1718122 (M.D. Fla. 2010)
In re Leli, 425 B.R. 670 (M.D. Fla. 2010)
In re Leli, 425 B.R. 673 (M.D. Fla. 2010)
In re Leli, 420 B.R. 568 (M.D. Fla. 2009)
In re Steffen, 406 B.R. 148, (M.D. Fla. 2009)
In re Alford, 403 B.R. 123 (M.D. Fla. 2009)
In re Specialty Property Development, Inc., 399 B.R. 857 (M.D. Fla. 2008)
In re General Mortg. Corp. of America, Inc., 399 B.R. 708 (M.D. Fla. 2008)
In re General Mortg. Corp. of America, Inc., 399 B.R. 713 (M.D. Fla. 2008)
In re Southwest Florida Heart Group, PA, 2008 WL 2512817 (M.D. Fla. 2008)
In re General Mortg. Corp. of America, Inc., 384 B.R. 617 (M.D. Fla. 2008)
U.S. v. Gill, 2007 WL 2310780 (M.D. Fla. 2007)
In re Alford, 381 B.R. 345 (M.D. Fla. 2007)
In re Strickland, 2007 WL 7140149 (N.D. Ga. 2007)
In re Southwest Florida Heart Group, PA, 2007 WL 924472 (M.D. Fla. 2007)
Park Nat. Bank v. University Centre Hotel, Inc., 2007 WL 604936 (N.D. Fla. 2007)
In re Alford, 381 B.R. 336 (M.D. Fla. 2007)
In re John Richards Bldg. Co., LLC, 2006 WL 3230009 (E.D. Mich. 2006)
In re Lezdey, 332 B.R. 217 (M.D. Fla. 2005)
In re Optical Technologies, Inc., 425 F.3d 1294 (11th Cir. 2005)
In re Grubbs Const. Co., 328 B.R. 873 (M.D. Fla. 2005)
In re Optical Technologies, Inc., 325 B.R. 651 (M.D. Fla. 2005)
W.C. Riviera Partners, LC. v. W.C.R.P., LC., 912 So.2d 587 (Fla. 2d DCA 2005)
In re Grubbs Const. Co., 319 B.R. 698 (M.D. Fla. 2005)
In re Pro Greens, 2005 WL 419702 (M.D. Fla. 2005)
In re Adell, 2004 WL 2931390 (M.D. Fla. 2004)
In re Adell, 2004 WL 2931393 (M.D. Fla. 2004)
In re Pro Greens, 297 B.R. 850 (M.D. Fla. 2003)
In re Premier Sports Tours, 283 B.R. 601 (M.D. Fla. 2002)
In re Premier Sports Tours, 283 B.R. 598 (M.D. Fla. 2002)
In re Conrad, 279 B.R. 326 (M.D. Fla. 2002)
In re Conrad, 279 B.R. 320 (M.D. Fla. 2002)
In re Wachsmuth ex rel. Gussen, 272 B.R. 766 (M.D. Fla. 2001)
In re Section 20 Land Group, Ltd., 261 B.R. 721 (M.D. Fla. 2001)
In re Singer Furniture Acquisition Corp., 261 B.R. 745 (M.D. Fla. 2001)
In re Bilzerian, 258 B.R. 850 (M.D. Fla. 2001)
In re Bilzerian, 258 B.R. 846 (M.D. Fla. 2001)
In re Section 20 Land Group, Ltd., 261 B.R. 718 (M.D. Fla. 2000)
In re Section 20 Land Group, Ltd., 261 B.R. 711 (M.D. Fla. 2000)
In re Section 20 Land Group, Ltd., 252 B.R. 819 (M.D. Fla. 2000)
In re Section 20 Land Group, Ltd., 252 B.R. 812 (M.D. Fla. 2000)
In re Bryant, 241 B.R. 756 (M.D. Fla. 1999)
In re Celotex Corp., 224 B.R. 853 (M.D. Fla. 1998)
In re Psychiatric Hosps. of Hernando, Inc., 207 B.R. 276 (M.D. Fla. 1997)
In re Bilzerian, 195 B.R. 806 (M.D. Fla. 1996)
In re Bilzerian, 188 B.R. 44 (M.D. Fla. 1995)
Bilzerian v. Shinwa Co. Ltd., 184 B.R. 389 (M.D. Fla. 1995)
In re Florida Engineered Const. Products, Corp., 157 B.R. 698 (M.D. Fla 1993)