Atty. Michael Jay Berger
With 44 years of bankruptcy law experience, Michael Jay Berger, Attorney at Law, represents clients in bankruptcy proceedings throughout California. Mr.
Bankruptcy & More Attorney · Serving Beverly Hills, CA · 45+ Years Experience
Profile Summary
About Michael Jay Berger at a Glance
Michael Jay Berger is a Principal based in Beverly Hills, California, practicing at Law Offices Of Michael Jay Berger. They have 45+ years of legal experience, licensed to practice since 1981. Their practice focuses on chapter 7, divorce, chapter 13, bankruptcy, and chapter 11. Admitted to practice in California (1981). Educated at Hastings College of Law, University of California (J.D., 1981) and Duke University (B.A. English, 1978). Recognitions include AV Preeminent. Active member of Beverly Hills Bar Association (Member, Bankruptcy Section Former Arbitrator) State Bar of California Los Angeles Bankruptcy Forum California Bankruptcy Forum Central District Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys' Association American Bankruptcy Institute. Serves clients in Beverly Hills, CA and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About Michael Jay Berger
- With 44 years of bankruptcy law experience, Michael Jay Berger, Attorney at Law, represents clients in bankruptcy proceedings throughout California
- Mr. Berger is a certified bankruptcy law specialist, as determined by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization
- As of September 16, 2023, only 142 attorneys in the State of California were designated as certified specialists in the area of bankruptcy law
- For more than ten years, Mr. Berger was the only certified specialist in bankruptcy law in Beverly Hills, CA
- As of October 3, 2016, Mr. Berger’s Senior Associate Attorney Sofya Davtyan became the second attorney in Beverly Hills, CA to become certified as a specialist in Bankruptcy law
- Mr. Berger has attained the highest possible rating of “AV,” indicating preeminent legal ability and highest ethical standards in the practice of law from Martindale Hubbell, the national directory of attorneys, and has maintained that rating for 26 consecutive years, from 1995-2023
- Mr. Berger is rated 10/10 Superb by AVVO
- Mr. Berger represents debtors, creditors and third parties in Chapter 7, 11 and 13 bankruptcy cases and adversary proceedings
- Please view the Firm Overview page of this website for a more detailed description of Mr. Berger’s practice areas
- Mr. Berger received his Juris Doctor Degree, with Honors, from the University of California, Hastings in 1981 and joined the California Bar later that year
- He graduated with Honors with a Bachelor of Arts from Duke University in 1978
- Mr. Berger is a Mensa, certified genius, with the intellectual ability to craft creative solutions to even the most difficult legal problems
- Mr. Berger began practicing bankruptcy law with Rifkind & Sterling in 1981
- He then established his own firm in 1983
- Mr. Berger served as a Judge Pro Tem for the Beverly Hills Municipal Court and as an Arbitrator for the Beverly Hills Bar Association
- He also served as an Editor of the Beverly Hills Bar Association Journal
- He maintains active membership in the Beverly Hills Bar Association Bankruptcy Section, the Los Angeles Bankruptcy Forum, the California Bankruptcy Forum, the Central District Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys’ Association, and the American Bankruptcy Institute
- Mr. Berger’s clients include accountants, actors, advertising agencies, ambulance companies, artists, bail bond companies, book stores, car washes, churches and synagogues, clothing companies, construction companies, construction supply companies, contractors, cosmetic companies, dentists, designers, doctors, entrepreneurs, film companies, furniture companies, gas stations, hospitals, hotels, insurance agencies, insurance sales people, internet sales companies, investors and investment companies, , landlords and tenants, landscape companies, lawyers, lenders, magazines, manufacturing companies, musicians, nightclubs, online sales companies, pawn shops, physical therapists, radio stations, real estate brokers, real estate developers, real estate investors, restaurants, retail stores, schools, screenwriters, security guard companies, shopping centers, solar energy companies, song writers, stock brokers, students, teachers, television stations, trucking companies and veterinarians
- Mr. Berger is also an accomplished runner, having completed 45 Marathons, 12 ultramarathons and hundreds of other road, track, and trail races
- Mr. Berger is an active member of Track Club Los Angeles, and was its Most Improved Runner in 2002, its Volunteer of the Year in 2013 and its Cross Country Runner of the year in 2021
- Mr. Berger has received the USATF Gold Phidippides Award “For Outstanding Performance and Endurance in Long Distance Running” fifteen years in a row, from 2009 through 2022, and is the first and only person ever to receive the prestigious 15-year Phidippides Award
- Mr. Berger is also the lead singer and occasional guitar player for the rock and roll band DTF
- Recent gigs for the band include our second epic show @ The Whisky a Go Go on June 9, 2023, our headlining show at the world-famous Troubadour on January 28, 2023, opening for Michael Angelo Batio and his MAB Band at The Viper Room on December 10, 2022, a 1 hour set at the Whiskey a Go Go on November 12, 2022 and an epic 2 hour and 20-minute show at the Viper Room on August 27, 2022
- DTF’s next show will be November 15, 2023 at the Viper Room
- To see videos of the band’s performances, check out its YouTube page: www.youtube.com/@dtfrock
- Extra love and FREE TICKETS to the next DTF show for all clients who subscribe to my DTF band YouTube channel!
Practice Areas Explained
Michael Jay Berger's Areas of Legal Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Michael Jay Berger handles, with a practical overview of what that area of law involves and how it may apply to your situation in Beverly Hills.
Chapter 7 Bankruptcy in Beverly Hills
Michael Jay Berger is one of 8,822 chapter 7 attorneys indexed nationally. Browse chapter 7 attorneys in California →
Divorce in Beverly Hills
A divorce attorney guides you through property division, spousal support, custody, and the final decree — contested or uncontested.
Michael Jay Berger is one of 50,071 divorce attorneys indexed nationally. Browse divorce attorneys in California →
Chapter 13 Bankruptcy in Beverly Hills
Michael Jay Berger is one of 6,323 chapter 13 attorneys indexed nationally. Browse chapter 13 attorneys in California →
Bankruptcy & Debt in Beverly Hills
A bankruptcy attorney can help you eliminate debt, stop creditor harassment, and protect your home through Chapter 7 or Chapter 13.
Michael Jay Berger is one of 104,458 bankruptcy attorneys indexed nationally. Browse bankruptcy attorneys in California →
Chapter 11 Bankruptcy in Beverly Hills
Michael Jay Berger is one of 5,795 chapter 11 attorneys indexed nationally. Browse chapter 11 attorneys in California →
Jurisdictional Context
Why Local Counsel Matters in Beverly Hills
Practicing law in California. Legal matters in California are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Beverly Hills are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate California state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in California brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this venue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in California courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.
Beverly Hills Courts and Legal Process
Choosing a Beverly Hills-based attorney means your counsel already knows the local docketing timelines, preferred filing formats, and how individual judges typically rule on procedural motions — details that only come from practicing in this jurisdiction day after day. That local familiarity can translate to better strategy, faster filings, and fewer costly surprises.
Looking for additional California attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Beverly Hills or all attorneys in California.
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Professional Profile
Why Clients in Beverly Hills Choose Michael Jay Berger
Selecting an attorney is one of the most consequential decisions you can make when a legal matter arises. Below are the core qualities that distinguish Michael Jay Berger's practice in the field of chapter 7, divorce, chapter 13, bankruptcy, and chapter 11.
Decade-Tested Legal Experience
Michael Jay Berger brings 45+ years of hands-on legal practice — enough to have navigated the recurring fact patterns, procedural traps, and negotiation dynamics that shape case outcomes.
Broad Practice Area Coverage
Covering chapter 7, divorce, and chapter 13, Michael Jay Berger can address the full spectrum of a client's legal needs without requiring referrals to separate specialists for each issue.
Local Presence in Beverly Hills
A Beverly Hills-based practice means Michael Jay Berger attends hearings in the same courthouses, knows the local clerks, and understands the unwritten scheduling norms that affect every case filed here.
Case Types
Common Legal Issues Michael Jay Berger Handles in Beverly Hills
Below is a representative sample of the types of matters Michael Jay Berger has experience with under California law. If your situation involves one of these case categories, this attorney may be well positioned to help you understand your options.
This list is illustrative, not exhaustive. Contact Michael Jay Berger directly to discuss the specifics of your situation.
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How People Find Michael Jay Berger Online
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Michael Jay Berger's Practice Areas & Specializations
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