Paul Steven Singerman
Partner
“He is an extraordinary talent and enormously thoughtful with superb judgment. He excels at seeing around corners and anticipating problems before they become apparent.” Client testimonial to Chambers USA
Paul Singerman is co-chair of Berger Singerman. His extraordinary attentiveness to and empathy for clients have helped him earn a reputation as one of the most effective restructuring lawyers in the state of Florida. Paul’s other practice areas include complex bankruptcy and commercial litigation, representation of fiduciaries in fraud cases, corporate governance, and distressed business mergers and acquisitions.
Prior to his legal career, Paul was in business for eight years. His business experience informs his approach to problem-solving in legal matters. The clients with which he works appreciate his sensitivity to the business challenges they face. His understanding for many clients dealing with lawyers and legal issues - primarily litigation related - is viewed as costly and a distraction and is often very stressful. Paul urges clients to focus on their self-care when working through material legal challenges to contribute to the best outcome of the case or matter and set the right tone at the client’s business most effectively.
Paul has been significantly involved in some of the highest-profile and most significant restructuring matters in Florida for over three decades. He represented Piper Aircraft Corporation in its extraordinarily successful chapter 11 case filed in 1991. Starting in 2000, he was lead counsel to the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors in the CHS Electronics case, and post-confirmation, he was lead counsel to the Liquidating Trustee. Starting in 2009, Paul was lead counsel to the Chapter 11 trustee in the $1.3 billion Ponzi scheme case of the Rothstein, Rosenfeldt & Adler law firm. This case is the only Ponzi scheme case in the United States in which unsubordinated unsecured creditors received full payment on their claims. In that same year, he commenced the representation of the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors in the chapter 11 case of Taylor Bean & Whitaker, then the largest non-bank mortgage originator in the country. That case involved more than $11.5 billion in claims.
Paul previously served as lead counsel to the court-appointed receiver in the tragic case of the collapse of the Champlain Towers South condominium building, which resulted in 98 deaths. Additionally, he served as general counsel to James S. Feltman, the court-appointed receiver in the case filed by Citizens Bank N.A., against Elliot S. Smerling who engaged in a massive fraudulent scheme over a number of years involving federally insured banks with losses which exceeded over $136 million.
Above all, Paul strives to listen to and be sensitive to the needs of his clients. He has a daily meditation practice, and every day seeks to be better in all of his efforts than he was the day before.
- Representation of the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors Taylor, Bean & Whitaker Mortgage Corp. (TBW). Prior to its bankruptcy, TBW was the largest independent mortgage originator in the United States. Headquartered in Ocala, Florida, TBW employed approximately 2,500 people across the United States in its main business and employed another 1,500 people in various subsidiaries. This case involved an excess of $11 billion in claims.
- Counsel to Judge Herbert Stettin as Chapter 11 Trustee for the law firm of Rothstein, Rosenfeldt & Adler, P.A. This case is reported to be the largest Ponzi scheme in Florida history and involves approximately $1.2 billion in claims. The confirmed plan will provide distributions to all non-subordinated general unsecured creditors representing the full amount of their allowed claims and payment in full in all but one class of subordinated claims.
- Served as debtor’s counsel in Simply Fashion Stores, Ltd. and its affiliate Adinath Corp., HearUSA, Inc., Aloha Airlines, and Levitt and Sons; and as co-counsel to the debtors in the Chapter 11 cases of AT&T Latin America, Atlas Air/Polar Air Cargo, and the TOUSA, Inc. et al cases.
- Special litigation counsel to the debtors and then trustee in the American Tissue cases.
- Represented the Espirito Santo Group of Portugal and its affiliates in the Bankest bankruptcy cases in Florida. These cases involve the largest bank fraud in South Florida history.
- Counsel to a large hedge fund, in litigation involving Tremont Securities Law, State Law and Insurance Litigation and the Bernard L. Madoff fraud cases.
- Special litigation counsel to the trustee in the Universal Health Care Group, Inc. Chapter 11 bankruptcy case (Kapila v. Warburg Pincus, et al).
- The Best Lawyers in America®, Bankruptcy and Business Reorganization, 1995-2025
- Best Lawyers, Litigation (Bankruptcy) Lawyer of the Year (Miami), 2018
- Best Lawyers, Bankruptcy and Creditor-Debtor Rights, Lawyer of the Year (Miami), 2013
- Lawdragon 500, named among the nation's 500 Leading Lawyers in Bankruptcy and Restructuring, 2020-2024
- Chambers & Partners USA: America’s Leading Business Lawyers
- Bankruptcy/Restructuring (2003-2024); Recognized as a “Star Individual” (2009-2024)
- Bankruptcy Litigation (2020-2024);
Recognized as a "Star Individual" (2021-2024) - Ranked nationwide for Bankruptcy/Restructuring; One of only two lawyers in the state of Florida to be included in the nationwide rankings
- Ranked in state of Florida for Litigation – General Commercial (2017, 2018)
- Chambers & Partners Global, The World's Leading Lawyers for Business, Global Bankruptcy, 2013-2017; 2019-2024
- Florida Trend, Legal Elite Hall of Fame, 2018-2024
- Legal Elite, 2004-2010; 2014-2017
- Florida Super Lawyers, 2006-2024
- Top Ten Florida Super Lawyers, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2015-2019- Ranked Number One
- Top 100 Florida, 2012-2022
- Top 100 Miami, 2012-2023
- The Honorable Theodore Klein Award Recipient, Miami-Dade Florida Association of Women Lawyers, 2022
- South Florida Legal Guide’s, Top Lawyers, 2005-2021
- Martindale-Hubbell, AV® Preeminent™ rated, 1997-Present
- Daily Business Review, Bankruptcy, Recipient for Most Effective Lawyer Award 2012
- Daily Business Review, Finalist, Most Effective Lawyer Award in Bankruptcy, 2011
- American College of Bankruptcy – Paul was elected as a Fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy in November 2002, and was inducted into the College on March 29, 2003.
- The American Inns of Court, Spellman-Hoeveler Chapter – Paul was nominated into membership of The American Inns of Court, Spellman-Hoeveler Chapter in September 2003. The American Inns of Court is a group of judges, lawyers and law professors with 20,000 active members throughout the United States whose mission is to foster excellence in professionalism, ethics, civility and legal skills in order to perfect the quality and efficiency of justice in the United States.
- The American Law Institute – Paul was elected into membership of the American Law Institute in December 2001.
- Expert Guides, a British publication produced by Legal Media Group, has recognized Paul as the top Insolvency and Restructuring lawyer in Florida. Paul received more nominations for this recognition than any other lawyer in the State.
- Pro Bono Service Award presented to the committee chaired by Paul in recognition of continuing support and outstanding contribution to “Put Something Back,” a joint pro bono project of the Florida Eleventh Judicial Circuit and the Miami-Dade County Bar Association – March, 1999
- Fellow, The American College of Bankruptcy, Inducted 2003
- Fellow, American Bar Foundation
- Member, Commercial Receivers Association
- Member, The American Law Institute
- Member, American Bankruptcy Institute
- Member, Commercial Law League of America
- Member, The Spellman-Hoeveler American Inn of Court
- Member, Miami-Dade and American Bar Associations
- Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, Executive Committee and Of Counsel, 2015
- Mount Sinai Medical Center, Advisory Board of Trustees, 2010-present, Executive Board of Trustees, 2013-present, and chair of Audit Committee, 2015
- Member of the Financing Chapter 11 Advisory Committee to the ABI Commission to Study the Reform of Chapter 11 and co-author of Reports on Carve-Outs, Pay to Play Provisions, and Winding Down Provisions, 2012-2013
- The Florida Bar (Business Law Section: Chair, 1995-1996; Chair Elect, 1994-1995; Secretary/Treasurer, 1993-1994; Chairman, Legislation Committee, 1992-1993; Chairman, Bankruptcy/UCC Committee, 1990-1991; Continuing Legal Education, Special Programs and Meetings Committee, 1987-1990; Member, Executive Council of the Business Law Section, 1986-Present; Special Committee on Opinion Standards (The Special Committee authored the Report on Standards for Opinions of counsel in Business Transactions; Member, Pro Bono Committee, Present)
- Southern District of Florida Bankruptcy Bar Association, Director, 1997-2000; Chairman of Pro Bono Committee, 1999-2000
Fifty-Six Berger Singerman Attorneys Recognized in the 2025 Edition of Best Lawyers In America
August 15, 2024
May 28, 2024
December 30, 2023
November 1, 2023
September 28, 2023
The Legal 500 Comparative Guides "United States: Restructuring & Insolvency"
July 11, 2023
June 20, 2023
Berger Singerman Recognized by Chambers USA for Twentieth Consecutive Year
June 1, 2023
March 29, 2023
March 15, 2023
Forty-Three Berger Singerman Attorneys Recognized in the 2023 Edition of Best Lawyers In America
August 18, 2022
Four Berger Singerman Attorneys Recognized in the 2022 Edition of Florida Trend's "Legal Elite”
June 30, 2022
Twenty-three Berger Singerman Attorneys Recognized in 2022 Edition of Florida Super Lawyers
June 27, 2022
June 15, 2022
Berger Singerman Recognized by Chambers USA for Nineteenth Consecutive Year
June 1, 2022
Chambers & Partners Ranks Paul Steven Singerman in its Global 2022 Guide for Sixth Consecutive Year
March 1, 2022
January 14, 2022
Thrity-nine Berger Singerman Attorneys Recognized in the 2022 Edition of Best Lawyers In America
August 19, 2021
Nineteen Berger Singerman Attorneys Recognized in 2021 Edition of Florida Super Lawyers
June 24, 2021
Lawdragon 500 Recognizes Paul Steven Singerman as a Lawdragon Legend of 2021
April 19, 2021
March 29, 2021
November 8, 2020
Thirty-Five Berger Singerman Attorneys Recognized in the 2021 Edition of Best Lawyers In America
August 19, 2020
July 29, 2020
July 25, 2020
June 21, 2020
Twenty-Seven Berger Singerman Attorneys Recognized in 2020 Edition of Florida Super Lawyers
June 8, 2020
Law360 profiles Paul Steven Singerman in "Coronavirus Q&A"
June 4, 2020
May 25, 2020
May 23, 2020
May 6, 2020
April 25, 2020
April 25, 2020
Fox Business features Paul Singerman in "A flood of business bankruptcies likely in coming months"
April 25, 2020
April 25, 2020
April 25, 2020
March 30, 2020
Sun-Sentinel Quotes Paul Steven Singerman in, "Coronavirus squeezes South Florida businesses"
March 16, 2020
March 15, 2020
Twenty-one Berger Singerman Attorneys Listed in South Florida Legal Guide as Top Attorneys
October 31, 2019
September 9, 2019
Thirty Berger Singerman Attorneys Recognized in the 2020 Edition of Best Lawyers In America
August 14, 2019
July 28, 2019
June 27, 2019
Berger Singerman Attorneys Recognized in the 2019 Edition of Florida Trend's "Legal Elite"
June 23, 2019
Twenty-Eight Berger Singerman Attorneys Recognized in 2019 Edition of Florida Super Lawyers
May 29, 2019
May 19, 2019
Berger Singerman Recognized by Chambers USA for Sixteenth Consecutive Year
April 24, 2019
Miami Herald quotes Paul Singerman in, "CEOs discuss transforming healthcare in America"
April 15, 2019
Miami Herald quotes Paul Singerman in, "Is the job market as good as it gets?"
April 3, 2019
Berger Singerman Wins Top Honors from Daily Business Review
April 3, 2019
Miami Herald quotes Paul Singerman in, "CEOs split on encouraging marijuana sales in Florida"
March 31, 2019
Paul Steven Singerman Recipient of the 2019 M&A Advisor Lifetime Achievement Award
March 28, 2019
March 21, 2019
South Florida Legal Guide Names 21 Berger Singerman Attorneys as Top Lawyers
March 7, 2019
Miami Herald quotes Paul Singerman in, "Miami was an Amazon HQ2 finalist, but what comes next?"
February 28, 2019
Miami Herald quotes Paul Singerman in, "Technology led to significant changes in 2018 for most CEOs"
February 24, 2019
Miami Herald quotes Paul Singerman in, "What are CEOs doing to attract and retain workers?"
February 14, 2019
Paul Steven Singerman Named Recipient of the 2019 M&A Advisor Lifetime Achievement Award
February 14, 2019
January 13, 2019
Miami Herald quotes Paul Singerman in, "Should financial institutions reach more ‘unbanked’ people?"
January 6, 2019
Miami Herald quotes Paul Singerman in, "Tech scene throughout South Florida is building momentum"
January 3, 2019
November 13, 2018
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
February 1, 2018
Law360 Quotes Paul Singerman in, "Climate Change Starting To Emerge As A Bankruptcy Issue"
January 28, 2018
South Florida Legal Guide Names 23 Berger Singerman Attorneys as Top Lawyers
January 9, 2018
December 17, 2017
December 13, 2017
Paul Singerman Interviewed by Daily Business Review in "Florida Law Firm Leaders Bullish on 2018"
November 19, 2017
Thirty Berger Singerman Attorneys Recognized in the 2018 Edition of Best Lawyers In America
August 14, 2017
August 8, 2017
Seven Berger Singerman Attorneys Recognized in the 2017 Edition of Florida Trend's "Legal Elite"
June 21, 2017
Thirty-Two Berger Singerman Attorneys Recognized in the 2017 Super Lawyers Florida Edition
June 8, 2017
Paul Singerman Profiled by South Florida Legal Guide: A Restructuring and Bankruptcy Mastermind
June 4, 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
January 4, 2017
Daily Business Review quotes Paul Singerman on "Ruden McClosky's Chapter 11 Comes to a Close"
December 27, 2016
Twenty-Eight Berger Singerman Attorneys Recognized in the 2017 Edition of Best Lawyers In America
August 14, 2016
July 6, 2016
June 28, 2016
Twelve Berger Singerman Attorneys Recognized in the 2016 Edition of Florida Trend
June 21, 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
May 1, 2016
Berger Singerman Guides Cargo Airline From Bankruptcy to Sale
April 19, 2016
Atlas Air Worldwide Acquires Southern Air
April 6, 2016
The Legal 500 "United States: Restructuring & Insolvency"
December 5, 2022
The Legal 500 Country Comparative Guides, "United States: Restructuring & Insolvency"
July 26, 2022
February 16, 2021
The Legal 500 & The In-House Lawyer, "United States: Restructuring & Insolvency (4th edition)"
June 7, 2020
The Legal 500 & The In-House Lawyer, "United States: Restructuring & Insolvency (3rd edition)"
May 8, 2019
Winter 2017
Doing Business in Florida, "The Eleventh Circuit Fundamental-LY Approves of Bar Orders"
October 23, 2017
Law360, "11th Circ. Just Got More Attractive For Business Bankruptcy"
October 23, 2017
The Florida Bar Journal, "The Return on Investment from My Study and Practice of Mindfulness"
April 2016
January 26, 2016
January 16, 2020
Paul Steven Singerman, Speaker, Mindfulness Class at University of Miami
September 20, 2019
June 14, 2019
Paul Steven Singerman, Attendee, TagLaw in London, United Kingdom
May 11, 2019
Paul Steven Singerman, Panelist, "American Crime Stories" at American Bankruptcy Institute
April 11, 2019
April 5, 2019
Paul Steven Singerman, Attendee, American College of Bankruptcy
March 14, 2019
February 28, 2019
Paul Steven Singerman, Attendee, View From the Bench
November 9, 2018
Paul Steven Singerman, Attendee, NCBJ Conference
October 27, 2018
Paul Steven Singerman, Attendee, Lexwork Conference
October 4, 2018
Paul Steven Singerman, Speaker, Business Law Section Retreat
August 31, 2018
June 15, 2018
Paul Steven Singerman, Speaker, American College of Bankruptcy – Class 29 Induction
March 17, 2018
Paul Steven Singerman, Speaker, Mindfulness Class at University of Miami
February 23, 2018
Paul Steven Singerman, Moderator, "Mindfulness and Mental Health" for Dade County Bar Association
January 12, 2018
October 3, 2017
Paul Steven Singerman, Speaker, "South Florida Business Journal Ultimate CEO Awards Gala"
September 28, 2017
June 20, 2017
Paul Steven Singerman, Speaker, "Wellness for Lawyers” at California Bankruptcy Forum
May 29, 2017
Paul Steven Singerman, Speaker, "29th Annual Insolvency Conference," California Bankruptcy Forum
May 18, 2017
May 12, 2017
Paul Steven Singerman, Panelist, 'Mindfulness in Law' at Dade County Bar Association Bench and Bar
February 10, 2017
November 9, 2016
October 28, 2016
October 26, 2016
October 26, 2016
The Eleventh Circuit Fundamental-LY Approves of Bar Orders
October 23, 2017
- Stroock & Stroock & Lavan - September 1983 - April 1997, Associate: 1983-1991, Partner: 1992-1997