Brian Rich's practice includes representation of debtors, creditors' committees, bankruptcy Trustees and secured creditors. Brian has been the firm's primary bankruptcy counsel in numerous complex Chapter 11 cases. He has overseen the wind-down process of several large cases wherein the claims reconciliation process involved claims ranging from $100 million to over $1.5 billion. He services clients throughout the State of Florida and nationally.
Brian has prosecuted and defended numerous of adversary proceedings seeking the recovery of avoidable transfers in Bankruptcy Courts throughout the country. Additionally, he has represented numerous real estate developers in real estate "work-outs" and out-of-court restructurings. Brian has also represented bankruptcy trustees in numerous fraud related cases seeking recovery for victims of "ponzi schemes" and real estate fraud.
During the course of the most recent severe economic crisis, Brian has devoted a substantial part of his practice to representing developers and borrowers in out-of-court restructuring matters. These representations have included the negotiations of restructured loans, deeds-in-lieu of foreclosure and settlement of guaranty claims.
Representative Experience
· Debtor Counsel to AT& T Latin America
· Debtor Counsel to Aloha Airlines in their two Chapter 11 cases (filed in Honolulu HI)
· Debtor Counsel to Pharmed Group Holdings and its subsidiaries
· Debtor Counsel to CDS Manufacturing, Inc.
· Debtor Counsel to American Home Builders
· Counsel to Real Estate Developers in distress situations throughout the State
· Counsel to Bankruptcy Trustees
· Lender counsel in Renata Resort's Chapter 11 bankruptcy case
· Counsel to Bankruptcy Trustee in the Loraine Brooke, Inc. case in which the rights to the book "If I Did It" related to the O.J. Simpson murder trial were sold
Professional & Community Involvement
· Tallahassee Bar Association Pro-Bono Program (2006-Present)
· CARE (Credit Abuse Resistance Education) Program(2007-Present)
· Board of Directors, Northern District of Florida Bankruptcy Bar Association
· American Bankruptcy Institute
· Bankruptcy Bar Association for the Southern District of Florida
Awards & Recognition
· Chapter 11 Reorganization of the Year (Middle Market) for HearUSA, M&A Advisor's 6th Annual Turnarounds Awards, 2012
· Chambers & Partners USA, America's Leading Business Lawyers, Bankruptcy Restructuring (2007-2011)
· Florida Trend Magazine's "Legal Elite" (2005-2010)
· Florida's Super Lawyers Magazine (2008-2011)
· America's Leading Business Lawyers in 2007
· AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell
Articles & Presentations
Articles
· "Providing Utility Service Post Petition and Post BAPCPA" ABI Telecommunication and Technology Newsletter (December 2007)
Presentations
· "Landlord or Tenant Bankruptcy and Collections," Landlord-Tenant Law Update Seminar, February 2011
· Panelist, "Hot Topics in Assignment for Benefit for Creditors," Florida Bar Business Law Section Retreat, Naples, FL, September 2010
· Tallahassee Women's League CLE, Bankruptcy for the Corporate Debtor, Now What, May 2009
· Real Estate Law: Advance Issues and Answers, February 2007
· Landlord-Tenant Law Seminar, November 2006
In the News
Brian Rich and Kelly O'Keefe of Berger Singerman spoke at a seminar on landlord-tenant law in Tallahassee, Florida Bar News, Tallahassee Democrat, Brian Rich, Kelly O'Keefe, January 01, 2007
Peacemakers resolve feud, avert company's breakup, Verdict Search, Brian G. Rich, February 20, 2007
South Beach hotels in Chapter 11, The Daily Deal, Brian Rich, April 02, 2007
Providing Utility Services Post- Petition and Post-BAPCPA, ABI Telecommunications and Technology Committee Newsletter, Brian Rich & Doug Bates, June 12, 2007
Web Site Headed for Court Over Simpson Manuscript, Washington Post, Brian Rich, June 20, 2007
Goldmans get rights to Simpson book, Associated Press, Brian Rich, June 22, 2007
Website sued for posting O.J. manuscript, Lawyers USA, Brian Rich, July 02, 2007
Magazine names 90 local lawyers to list of elite, Tallahassee Democrat, Brian Rich, Dan Thompson, Melanie Hines and Kelly O'Keefe, July 07, 2007
Pharmed finds buyer for unused medical supplies, Miami Herald, Brian Rich, January 03, 2008
News and Notes, The Florida Bar News, Howard Berlin, Dawn Meyers, Brian Rich, August 01, 2009
Bank sues ex-Duke star Hurley over loan, Trading Markets, Brian G. Rich, December 12, 2009
PNC Bank in Lexigton has sued former Duke, Lexingtom Herald, Brian Rich, December 12, 2009
Bank sues ex-Duke star Hurley over loan, Kentucky, Brian Rich, December 23, 2009
Twenty-Four Attorneys Named Florida Super Lawyers By Publishers of Law & Politics Magazine, Daniel H. Aronson, Robert W. Barron, James L. Berger, Mitchell W. Berger, Howard Berlin, Anthony J. Carriuolo, John Eaton, Brian K. Gart, Jorid Guso, Melanie Ann Hines, Nick Jovanovich, Charles H. Lichtman, Sheldon S. Polish, Brian G. Rich, Leonard K. Sam, June 08, 2010
Thirteen Attorneys Named to Florida Trend's 2010 Florida Legal Elite List, Robert W. Barron, Douglas A. Bates, Howard J. Berlin, Jordi Guso, Rene Harrod, Melanie Ann Hines, Andrew M. Hinkes, Charles H. Lichtman, Kelly A. O'Keefe, Brian G. Rich, Leonard K. Samuels, Frank Scruggs, Paul Steven Singerman, July 01, 2010
Berger Singerman Receives High Marks in the World-Famous Chambers USA 2011 Guide, Daniel Aronson, Douglas Bates, James Berger, Mitchell Berger, Howard Berlin, Leslie Cloyd, Brian Gart, James Gassenheimer, Jordi Guso, Brian Rich, Marc Shuster, Paul Steven Singerman, Arthur Spector, Daniel Thompson, June 10, 2011
Berger Singerman Receives High Marks in the World-Famous Chambers USA 2011 Guide, Daniel Aronson, Douglas Bates, James Berger, Mitchell Berger, Howard Berlin, Leslie Cloyd, Brian Gart, James Gassenheimer, Jordi Guso, Brian Rich, Marc Shuster, Paul Steven Singerman, Arthur Spector, Daniel Thompson, June 10, 2011
In the News Report, 6.19.11, June 20, 2011
Publications
Slow-w-w pay, Smart Business Network, 01/01/2007
Please ... tell me it isn't happening, Smart Business Network, 01/01/2005