PAUL STEVEN SINGERMAN
Paul Steven Singerman is Co-Chair of the firm and concentrates his practice in troubled loan workouts, insolvency matters and commercial transactions, bankruptcy-related litigation, complex litigation, corporate governance and distressed business merger and acquisitions.
Paul is active throughout the United States in large and complex restructuring, insolvency and bankruptcy cases. His work in many cases has garnered the widespread respect of his peers.
Although Paul is best known for his representation of debtors in complex restructuring cases and high stakes litigation, he is also experienced in representing creditors’ committees, lenders, large unsecured creditors, asset purchasers in § 363 sales and trustees. Much of his work has involved companies with international operations and cross border issues.
Representative Matters
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
Partner
(305) 714-4343[email protected] 1450 Brickell Avenue, Suite 1900 Miami, FL 33131 Practice Team Business Reorganization Practice Areas Appellate Bankruptcy-Related Litigation Bankruptcy/Restructuring Complex Commercial Litigation Corporate Governance
Distressed M&A and Restructuring Education
J.D., with honors, University of Florida Frederic G. Levin College of Law
Order of the Coif Omicron Delta Kappa
B.A., with highest honors, University of Florida
Admissions Florida
U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit U.S. District Court, Northern, Middle and
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).
Awards and Honors
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.
Chambers & Partners USA, America’s Leading Business Lawyers, Bankruptcy/Restructuring, 2003-2015
Recognized as a “Star Individual” in Chambers USA:
America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, 2009-2015. Paul is the only bankruptcy lawyer in the state of Florida in seven consecutive years to receive Chambers’ highest ranking. Ranked nationwide for Bankruptcy/Restructuring and is one of two lawyers in the state of Florida to be included in the
nationwide rankings.
Chambers & Partners Global, The World's Leading Lawyers for Business, Global Bankruptcy, 2013-2015.
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.
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 Best Lawyers in America®, Bankruptcy and Business
Southern Districts of Florida U.S. Supreme Court
Reorganization, 1995-2016
Best Lawyers’, 2011
Miami Bankruptcy and Creditor-Debtor Rights Lawyer of the Year, 2013
Florida Super Lawyers, 2006-2015
Top Ten Florida Super Lawyers, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016-Ranked Number One
Top 100 Florida, 2012-2015 Top 100 Miami, 2012-2014
Florida Trend, Legal Elite, 2004-2015
South Florida Legal Guide’s, Top Lawyers, 2005-2016 Lawdragon 500, named among the nation’s leading 500
attorneys by Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America. Paul is the only attorney in the state of Florida listed in Bankruptcy category, 2006-2014
Daily Business Review, Bankruptcy, Recipient for Most Effective
Lawyer Award 2012
The American Law Institute – Paul was elected into membership of the American Law Institute in December 2001.
Daily Business Review, Finalist, Most Effective Lawyer Award in
Bankruptcy, 2011
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.
Martindale-Hubbell, AV® Preeminent™ rated, 1997-Present.
Community Activities / Associations
Fellow, The American College of Bankruptcy, Inducted 2003 Fellow, American Bar Foundation
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 County 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
Prior Affiliations
Stroock & Stroock & Lavan - September 1983 - April 1997, Associate: 1983-1991, Partner: 1992-1997
Recent Publications
April 2016 - The Florida Bar Journal, "The Return on Investment from My Study and Practice of Mindfulness"
April 2016 - The Florida Bar Journal, "Mindfulness Tips" January 27, 2016 - Huffington Post, "Mindfulness in the
Workplace: Enhanced Performance and Happier Employees for Small Businesses"
March 26, 2015 - Credit Bidding: Impacts, Complications And Limitations
Recent Speaking Engagements
September 2, 2016 - Business & International Law Sections of the Florida Bar 21st Annual Labor Day Retreat
March 26, 2015 - 41st Annual Southeastern Bankruptcy Law Institute,"Credit Bidding: Impacts, Complications and
Limitations"
March 21, 2015 - 41st Annual Southeastern Bankruptcy Law Institute, "Post-Closing Issues: Dealing with Disputes that Arise in the Aftermath of a 363 Sale"
December 4, 2014 - 26th Annual American Bankruptcy Institute Winter Leadership Conference
October 8, 2014 - National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges 88th Annual Meeting, "Mindfulness in Law: Maintaining Your Focus in the Modern Practice of Law and Judging"
October 1, 2014 - Mindfulness Program, "Mindfulness and Confirmation of a Plan of Reorganization for a More Successful Life"
February 1, 2014 - Dade County Bar Association Bench and Bar Conference
January 10, 2014 - Valuation Forensic Accounting & Litigation Services Conference, "Recovering from Third Parties- Lessons from Rothstein Case"
December 6, 2013 - ABI 25th Annual Winter Leadership Conference, "Evidentiary Privileges in Bankruptcy Practice" October 31, 2013 - 87th Annual National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges, "CLAA: Complex Bankruptcy Litigation: Ponzi Schemes & Other Fraudulent Conveyances"
June 2, 2011 - Daily Business Review – View from the Bench, "Communicating with Clients and the Role of Clients in
Litigation"
April 2, 2011 - American Bankruptcy Institute – 29th Annual Spring Meeting, "Cutting-Edge Litigation Issues: Ponzi Schemes, the Return of the Leveraged Buyouts, Valuation Disputes and More"
February 18, 2011 - Bankruptcy & Foreclosure: View from the Bench, "The Current State of Bankruptcy & Foreclosure: A View from the Bench, Bar, Realtors & Bankers"
October 15, 2010 - 84th Annual National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges, "The Re-Emergence of Lender Liability (TOUSA/YELLOWSTONE AND OTHERS)"
September 30, 2010 - Annual Seminar, "The Northern District of Florida Bankruptcy Bar Association (NDFLBBA)"
May 21, 2010 - Alabama Bankruptcy Bar Association Conference
April 30, 2010 - American Bankruptcy Institute (ABI) 28th Annual Spring Meeting, "Bankruptcy Transformed: Are Reorganizations a Thing of the Past?"
Recent In the News
May 9, 2016 - Berger Singerman Attorneys Honored as Dealmakers of the Year by the Daily Business Review
April 20, 2016 - Berger Singerman Guides Cargo Airline From Bankruptcy to Sale
April 7, 2016 - Atlas Air Worldwide Acquires Southern Air January 11, 2016 - Twenty-Six Berger Singerman Attorneys Listed in South Florida Legal Guide as Top Attorneys
January 5, 2016 - Berger Singerman to be Awarded Technology "Deal Of The Year" at M&A Advisor's 10th Annual Turnaround Awards
August 17, 2015 - Twenty-Five Berger Singerman Attorneys Recognized in the 2016 Edition of Best Lawyers In America July 30, 2015 - Daily Business Review quotes Paul Singerman on "Mindfulness Programs Help Produce Less-Stressed Lawyers"
July 8, 2015 - Eleven Berger Singerman Attorneys Recognized in the 2015 Edition of Florida Trend
June 29, 2015 - Forty Berger Singerman Attorneys Recognized in the 2015 Edition of Florida Super Lawyers
June 22, 2015 - Berger Singerman Named To Law360's Prestigious "Regional Powerhouse" List
May 20, 2015 - Berger Singerman Recognized with High Marks for Twelfth Consecutive Year by Chambers USA
May 6, 2015 - Law360 mentions Paul Singerman and Christopher Jarvinen on "Simply Fashion Sale OK'd After Creditors Resolve Objections"
May 5, 2015 - Law360 mentions Paul Singerman and
Christopher Jarvinen on "Simply Fashion Creditors Slam Insider-Sponsored Sales"
Shahram Siddiqui, Barry Lapides, Isaac Marcushamer, and Paul Singerman on "Berger Singerman Steers $37.7M Auction Bid for Plantation's Fashion Mall"
April 17, 2015 - Law360 mentions Paul Singerman on "Retailer Simply Fashion Hits Ch. 11"
August 6, 2014 - Law360 mentions James Singerman on "Fontainebleau Principal Fights Subpoena Of Financial Docs" July 1, 2014 - Daily Business Review mentions Paul Singerman, Ilyse Homer, Spector and Paul Avron on "Debtors Allowed To Strip Away Valueless Junior Liens"
February 26, 2014 - Above the Law interview Paul Singerman on "The ATL Interrogatories: 10 Questions With Paul Steven Singerman From Berger Singerman"
February 4, 2014 - Yahoo Finance quotes Paul Singerman on "Mindfulness training boosts business"
January 21, 2014 - Miami Herald quotes Paul Singerman on "Working with 'mindfulness' reduces stress in the workplace" December 5, 2013 - Law360 mentions Paul Singerman and Christopher Jarvinen on "Unit Owners' $13M Bid Wins Fla. Resort's Bankruptcy Auction"
December 2, 2013 - South Florida Business Journal mentions Paul Singerman on "Palm Beach billionaire's petrol company files for Chapter 11"
September 28, 2013 - Bud Meyers quotes Paul Singerman on "Hiding CEO and Insiders Pay"
July 18, 2013 - South Florida Business Journal mentions Paul Singerman on "TD Bank costs for Rothstein scandal top $500M" July 11, 2013 - Law 360 quotes Paul Singerman on "Rothstein Firm's Exit Plan OK'd After Settlement with Victims"
June 20, 2013 - Law360 mentions Paul Singerman, Jordi Guso, Christopher Jarvinen and Isaac Marcushamer on "Judge OKs Settlement Over Miami Investor's Rothstein Claims"
June 12, 2013 - Law360 mentions Paul Singerman on "Rothstein Assets Not Subject To Forfeiture, 11th Circ. Says" May 29, 2013 - South Florida Business Journal mentions Paul Singerman on "RRA bankruptcy exit plan moves to a vote" May 9, 2013 - Law360 mentions Paul S. Singerman, Jordi Guso, Christopher Jarvinen and Isaac Marcushamer on "Rothstein Trustee Amends TD Bank Shield Order In New Plan"
