Paul Singerman of Berger Singerman (Florida USA) is featured in the latest installment of Above the Law's ATL Interrogatories. This recurring feature will give notable law firm partners an opportunity to share insights and experiences about the legal profession and careers in law, as well as about their firms and themselves.
Paul Steven Singerman is Co-Chair of Berger Singerman and concentrates his practice in troubled loan workouts, insolvency matters, and commercial transactions. Paul is active throughout the United States in large and complex restructuring, insolvency, and bankruptcy cases. Although Paul is best known for his representation of debtors in complex restructuring cases, 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 or European or Asian parties-in-interest.
1. What is the greatest challenge to the legal industry over the next 5 years?
The greatest challenge will be continuing to sustain a healthy, progressive and collaborative law firm culture in the face of unprecedented systemic pressures on law firms and lawyers. These pressures include law firms being viewed by their clients as mere vendors, pricing pressure, an environment of rising costs, and a greater urgency in everything that law firms and lawyers are asked to do. I see other law firms responding to these challenges in different ways, including merging with other firms to create mega-firms. I am not sure that is the answer generally, and I know it's not for our firm.
2. What has been the biggest positive change to the legal profession since the start of your career?
Technology. We now have access to a veritable universe of data in order to help provide client service more efficiently and better solve problems. Things like video conferencing and the ability to easily exchange data allows us to stay informed about what each of us on the team is doing. A broader group of lawyers can help solve problems for a client in real time, and that's a tangible benefit of technology.
3. What has been the biggest negative change to the legal profession since the start of your career?
Also technology. It is oppressive to lawyers and increases the stress of practicing law.
4. What is the greatest satisfaction of practicing law?
Solving problems efficiently and helping a client advance and grow its business interests. We take great pride in being Florida's business law firm. If a company is based in Florida and needs help outside the state, or if a company outside the state needs help in Florida, we stand ready to solve their problems. That challenge, and the ability to work together, invigorates all of us within the firm.
