we deliver creative and effective business solutions and counsel

In the News  |  Publications Expand All  |  Collapse All

James L. Berger is Managing Partner of the firm. James represents both lenders and developers in real estate restructuring matters and lenders, buyers and sellers in multimillion-dollar complex loan transactions and refinancing.

Representative Experience

  • Represented several developers, investors, buyers and sellers with respect to distressed real estate. Such representations have involved over $1,000,000,000 of troubled real estate assets.
  • Represented a developer in the acquisition, construction financing and related entitlement work for a $70 million office tower, a 350 unit apartment complex and proposed residential communities, including a 1200 acre/1600 home community in Hillsborough County, a 500 acre community being developed in St. Lucie County.
  • Served as legal counsel for work on the acquisition of a proposed 800 acre fly in/fly out community including a self contained FAA and Florida Department of Transportation licensed airport.
  • Worked with various governmental agencies to establish public parks, create public roads, conservation areas, establish utility easements, and create construction and right-of-way easements for public roads, and project infrastructure.  Certain of the projects have also involved the establishment of community development districts and financing of infrastructure through the issuance of tax free bonds. 
  • Represented significant real estate transactions, including the acquisition and financing of a $72 million high rise office tower and separate parking structure (constructed in part on two separate ground leased parcels) in downtown Miami, the sale of a $130 million office complex in downtown Ft. Lauderdale, the acquisition of an $80 million office park and an adjacent $15 million dollar development tract, the acquisition of air rights above the Florida East Coast Railway, and related construction and maintenance easements, for the development of a high rise condominium project in downtown Miami. 
  • Involved in the negotiation and preparation of leases involving office and retail space, ground leases for development parcels and short term leases for the storage of construction vehicles and materials.

Professional & Community Involvement

  • 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
  • Leonardo DaVinci Society, event Co-Chair at Museum of Discovery and Science

Awards & Recognition

  • Chambers & Partners USA, America’s Leading Business Lawyers, Real Estate (2010-2011)
  • The Best Lawyers in America® (2006-2012)
  • Florida Trend Magazine’s "Legal Elite"
  • South Florida Legal Guide "Top Lawyers" (2007-2012)
  • Florida Super Lawyers (2007, 2009-2011)
  • CEO of the Year Diamond Award, South Florida Business Journal
  • AV Rated by Martindale-Hubbell

Articles & Presentations

Articles

  • “Analysis will determine limits of partial guaranties,” Florida Real Estate Journal, April, 2009

Presentations

  • Speaker, Information Management Network, Symposium on Distressed Real Estate, “An Overview Of Opportunities In The Distressed Residential Market”, December 2008
  • Speaker, Information Management Network, Symposium on Distressed Real Estate, “Project-level Workout Issues”, June 2008
  • Speaker, Information Management Network, Symposium on Distressed Real Estate, “Purchasing Distressed Condos”,  March 2008