Howard Berlin

Of Counsel

Corporate Law, Bankruptcy and Restructuring

  • Overview
  • News

About Howard Berlin 

Howard Berlin, of counsel with Meland Budwick, P.A., concentrates his practice on corporate law, and corporate bankruptcy and restructuring. He has more than 45 years of experience representing corporate debtors, secured lenders, creditors’ committees, and individual creditors in federal, bankruptcy, and state court insolvency proceedings, and has assisted clients with successful workouts, debt restructurings, and business reorganizations.

Howard is noted for his deep understanding of business from every angle – including organization, management, administration, financial, and vision – and for this reason, clients turn to him as a trusted legal advisor. He also is noted for bringing to insolvency cases the ability to synthesize large amounts of data and recommending the right strategic decisions.

Additionally, Howard is widely recognized for his contributions as Chair of the Business Law Section of The Florida Bar, where he helped advance the development of the Complex Business Courts within Florida’s Circuit Courts. Today, there are three such divisions throughout the state, including in Miami Dade and Broward Counties.

His experience includes serving as Mayor of The City of Bal Harbour from 2001 to 2003 and 2007 to 2009, as Councilman from 2003 to 2005, and as Assistant Mayor from 2005 to 2007.

Education

  • University of Miami School of Law, J.D., 1979
  • The George Washington University, B.A., 1976
  • Circuit Court Mediation Training

 

Memberships

  • Chair, Bankruptcy/UCC Committee of the Business Law Section of The Florida Bar (1995 – 1996)
  • Chair, Business Law Section of The Florida Bar (1999 – 2000)
  • Mayor, City of Bal Harbour, Florida (2001- 2003, 2007 – 2009)
  • Councilman, City of Bal Harbour, Florida (2003-2005)
  • Assistant Mayor, City of Bal Harbour, Florida (2005-2007)

 

Awards & Rankings

  • The Best Lawyers in America, 1995-2025
  • Daily Business Review, Most Effective Lawyer Award in Bankruptcy, 2011 and 2012
  • Chambers & Partners USA, America’s Leading Business Lawyers, Bankruptcy/Restructuring, 2009-2019
  • Martindale-Hubbell, AV Preeminent rated
  • Florida Super Lawyers, 2006-2024
  • The South Florida Legal Guide, Top Lawyer, 2006-2019
  • Florida Trend Magazine’s, Legal Elite, 2004-2006, 2010
  • South Florida Business Journal, Best of the Bar

 

Bar Admissions

  • Florida
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
  • Northern District of Florida
  • Middle District of Florida
  • Southern District of Florida