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I work hard to help our clients get what they want from a transaction. When problems arise, I always try to have potential solutions available. Ultimately, the clients make the decisions. My job is to make them fully aware of everything they need or want to know to make the best possible choices. Tom Berggren was named one of the top 10 real estate lawyers in Utah in the 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 editions of Chambers' America’s Leading Business Lawyers; his entry included one client’s quote describing him as responsive to clients’ needs. He was also listed in the 2006-2008 editions of "The Best Lawyers in America," Utah Business Magazine’s 2008 Legal Elite , 2007 "Super Lawyers" and received the Utah Bar Association's "Distinguished Real Property Practitioner" award in 2004. Tom represents portfolio managers and asset managers in a wide variety of real estate matters. His experience includes the purchase and sale, leasing, financing, developing and entitlement of commercial office buildings, retail space, industrial parks, professional buildings and multi-family complexes. He has extensive experience in assisting national retailers acquire property for stores in the west, including by both purchase and ground lease. He also serves a diverse group of business clients in buying and selling companies and assets, preparing contracts, leasing equipment, ensuring regulatory compliance and completing other commercial transactions.
Tom has represented a number of Fortune 500 companies in connection with negotiating incentive packages with local redevelopment agencies, including for regional distribution centers. He often acts as local counsel for out-of-state lenders and borrowers in connection with the permanent financing of major real estate holdings. He is outside general counsel to the Utah Housing Corporation in connection with its affordable housing efforts and represents the Salt Lake City Redevelopment Agency in creating new commercial and housing opportunities.
Tom is currently Chair of the Jones Waldo Real Estate Department and a member of the Opinion Letter Committee. He participates in the International Council of Shopping Centers and the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties. He belongs to the Real Property Sections of the Utah and American Bar Associations, and is a member of the ABA’s Committee on Legal Opinions of the Business Law Section.
Tom is a member of the Salt Lake City Board of Adjustment and Zoning Appeals, and was a long-time member (and Chair) of the Salt Lake City Public Utilities Advisory Committee. He has been a member of a number of community organizations, including the Coalition for Utah’s Future, Envision Utah, Salt Lake City Futures Commission and the Utah Museum of Natural History. He has received an "AV" rating from Martindale-Hubbell.
Tom graduated from Harvard College in 1974 (magna cum laude and with a Sheldon Traveling Fellowship) and from Harvard Law School in 1978 (cum laude and with a Williston Prize for contract negotiating). During this time, he served as Administrative Assistant to a Utah congressman for a term. After a year teaching Business Law at Notre Dame Law School’s London Law Centre, he joined Morrison & Foerster and worked for four years in their San Francisco and London offices. He returned to Salt Lake City in 1983.
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