James L. Berger currently serves as co-chair of Berger Singerman LLP. 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.
- 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.
- Chambers & Partners USA, America's Leading Business Lawyers, Real Estate, 2010-2013, 2015-2024
- The Best Lawyers in America®, 2006-2025
- Florida Trend 500, Law Category, 2020
- South Florida Legal Guide, Top Lawyers, 2007-2019
- Florida Super Lawyers, 2007, 2009-2019, 2022
- Florida Trend, Legal Elite
- Martindale-Hubbell, AV® Preeminent™ rated
- South Florida Business Journal, CEO of the Year Diamond Award
- South Florida Business Journal, Power Leaders
- 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
Fifty-Six Berger Singerman Attorneys Recognized in the 2025 Edition of Best Lawyers In America
August 15, 2024
Berger Singerman Recognized by Chambers USA for Twentieth Consecutive Year
June 1, 2023
Forty-Three Berger Singerman Attorneys Recognized in the 2023 Edition of Best Lawyers In America
August 18, 2022
Berger Singerman Recognized by Chambers USA for Nineteenth Consecutive Year
June 1, 2022
October 10, 2021
Thrity-nine Berger Singerman Attorneys Recognized in the 2022 Edition of Best Lawyers In America
August 19, 2021
James Berger and Mitchell Berger Recognized by Florida Trend 500
September 22, 2020
Thirty-Five Berger Singerman Attorneys Recognized in the 2021 Edition of Best Lawyers In America
August 19, 2020
Thirty-Five Berger Singerman Attorneys Recognized in the 2021 Edition of Best Lawyers In America
August 19, 2020
Twenty-Seven Berger Singerman Attorneys Recognized in 2020 Edition of Florida Super Lawyers
June 8, 2020
December 16, 2019
Twenty-one Berger Singerman Attorneys Listed in South Florida Legal Guide as Top Attorneys
October 31, 2019
James Berger and Mitchell Berger Selected to Florida Trend's 500 Most Influential Business Leaders
September 16, 2019
Thirty Berger Singerman Attorneys Recognized in the 2020 Edition of Best Lawyers In America
August 14, 2019
Twenty-Eight Berger Singerman Attorneys Recognized in 2019 Edition of Florida Super Lawyers
May 29, 2019
Berger Singerman Recognized by Chambers USA for Sixteenth Consecutive Year
April 24, 2019
South Florida Legal Guide Names 21 Berger Singerman Attorneys as Top Lawyers
March 7, 2019
Thirty Berger Singerman Attorneys Recognized in the 2019 Edition of Best Lawyers In America
August 14, 2018
Thirty-One Berger Singerman Attorneys Recognized in 2018 Edition of Florida Super Lawyers
June 17, 2018
Berger Singerman Recognized by Chambers USA for 15th Consecutive Year
May 2, 2018
South Florida Legal Guide Names 23 Berger Singerman Attorneys as Top Lawyers
January 9, 2018
Thirty Berger Singerman Attorneys Recognized in the 2018 Edition of Best Lawyers In America
August 14, 2017
August 8, 2017
Thirty-Two Berger Singerman Attorneys Recognized in the 2017 Super Lawyers Florida Edition
June 8, 2017
Berger Singerman Receives High Marks by Chambers USA for Fourteenth Consecutive Year
May 29, 2017
Berger Singerman's James Berger and Paul Steven Singerman Named 2017 South Florida Ultimate CEOs
April 25, 2017
April 16, 2017
Twenty-Eight Berger Singerman Attorneys Recognized in the 2017 Edition of Best Lawyers In America
August 14, 2016
Thirty-Six Berger Singerman Attorneys Recognized in the 2016 Super Lawyers Florida Edition
June 13, 2016
Berger Singerman Receives High Marks by Chambers USA for Thirteenth Consecutive Year
June 1, 2016
Berger Singerman Attorneys Honored as Dealmakers of the Year by the Daily Business Review
May 8, 2016
Berger Singerman Represents 301 South Gulfview LLC in Sale of Hyatt Regency Clearwater
January 31, 2016
May 13, 2024
May 11, 2023
August 11, 2022
South Florida Business Journal "2021 real estate boom: Why businesses are relocating to Florida"
February 16, 2021
November 11, 2018