James L Berger

Practice Areas

James L. Berger currently serves as President of the firm. His practice consists primarily of representing real estate-related businesses and developers in connection with purchase and sale transactions, development projects and financing transactions. James also has substantial experience in the negotiation and preparation of entity formation documentation addressing equity investors' rights and obligations. His practice also involves out-of-court restructurings and bankruptcy-related transactions.

Professional Memberships

- Counsel to Jack and Jill Children's Center

- Broward County Higher Education Facilities Authority

- Boys and Girls Clubs of Broward County, Capital Campaign

- Founder/Director of local youth hockey organization

- Served on Initial Board of Directors of Charter School of Excellence

- Broward Workshop Board of Directors

Publications

- Amador, K., & Berger, J. L. (2021, February 16). 2021 real estate boom: Why businesses are relocating to Florida. South Florida Business Journal. https://partners.bizjournals.com/doing-business-in-florida/2021-real-estate-boom-why-businesses-are-relocating-to-florida

- Berger, J. L. (2018, November 11). The Talent Hunters - Law Firms and Recruiters Team Up to Find Skilled Professionals . South Florida Legal Guide. http://sflegalguide.com/The-Talent-Hunters.html

- Berger, J. L., Barron, R. W., Margolis, J. R., & Shuster, M. S. (2022, August 11). Berger Singerman’s Real Estate Team Authors Chambers and Partners’ 2022 Florida-US Regional Real Estate Chapter. US Regional Real Estate 2022. https://practiceguides.chambers.com/practice-guides/us-regional-real-estate-2022/florida

- Berger, J. L., Margolis, J. R., Rosenberg, E. D., & Shuster, M. S. (2023, May 11). US Regional Real Estate 2023. https://practiceguides.chambers.com/practice-guides/us-regional-real-estate-2023/florida

Work Highlights

- Represented real estate fund in the making of a loan to an entity established to purchase participation interests, aggregating a majority participation interest, in a $141 million mortgage loan secured by a mixed use resort property which loan permitted and was ultimately converted into a majority interest in the borrower.

- Represented a Chapter 11 debtor in the sale of multiple mortgage loan portfolios having an aggregate unpaid principal balance in excess of $250 million.

- Represented investor in $220 million acquisition of tenant-in-common interests in seven hotel properties.

- Represented developer in sale of $130 million office complex consisting of over 500,000 gross leasable space.

- Represented real estate fund in acquisition of 500 condominium units out of a bankruptcy of a failed condominium development.

- Represented developer in connection with the acquisition and development of a 1200 acre/1600 home community.

- Represented developer in the acquisition and governmental approval of a proposed 800 acre fly in/fly out community including a self-contained FAA and Florida Department of Transportation licensed airport.

- Represented the seller of an asphalt refinery business in Texas to a major private equity buyer for total consideration exceeding $100 million. Successfully navigated and counseled the client and transaction through complicated negotiations and legal considerations ranging from the private equity buyer’s financing arrangements to the bankruptcy process in which the assets were marketed and sold. Worked with the private equity buyer’s New York counsel, Kaye Scholer, to structure a letter of intent to commence the bankruptcy sale process, including debtor in possession financing and complex and limited exclusivity arrangements, Hart-Scott-Rodino filings, and challenging environmental and title issues. Negotiated the definitive transaction documents and coordinated local counsel’s involvement from the letter of intent through closing and adversarial post-closing matters.

Expert in these Jurisdictions

- Florida

Languages Spoken

- English

Education

Awards