A Miami anesthesiologist thought she had struck gold when her boyfriend surprised her with a luxurious $6.2 million apartment to call home.
But there was a catch: he actually didn’t own the place.
Fatma Heiderzad resided in a spacious three-bedroom, four-bathroom condominium at the Turnberry Ocean Club in Sunny Isles from 2022 to 2024.
According to court documents, investment advisor Tyrone Birkmeyer facilitated her move, representing a foreign investor in the sale.
During her stay, Heiderzad enjoyed amenities that came with memberships to exclusive social and golf clubs, which Berkmeyer, 56, allegedly kept for his own benefit instead of transferring them to clients.
The two reportedly met years ago outside a high-end hotel in Miami.
Some insiders have remarked that Birkmeyer relies on charm and ambition over actual talent.
His conflicting ownership claims are surprising, especially since he reportedly manages $5 billion in assets through his firm, Lula Capital.
Birkmeyer, originally from South Africa, has a background in banking across major cities like London, Zurich, and Cyprus, where his company operates.
Lula Capital is marketed as an exclusive investment firm and has notable celebrity affiliations, including a sponsorship of a high-profile padel tournament.
The firm also purchased a $42 million condo in Miami recently.
Heiderzad, age 39, has been a registered nurse since 2010 and became an anesthesiologist around 2015, moving to Chicago before landing in Miami around 2020.
She’s also listed as a senior vice president at Lula Capital on various platforms.
The ongoing lawsuit, brought forth by Sphere Mia—owned by the actual foreign investors—accuses Birkmeyer of falsely claiming ownership of the condominiums in question.
The complaint also names Heiderzad, real estate firm BRG International, and its CEO Matthias Alem, citing breaches of duty and fraudulent concealment.
Sphere claims that Birkmeyer and BRG massively inflated the prices of the condos, leading to excess fees based on higher transaction amounts.
In December, a similar unit sold for $5.7 million—half a million less than what Sphere paid, which reflects ongoing rising prices in the market.
Initially, Sphere trusted Birkmeyer regarding the property investment and didn’t scrutinize the evaluations closely.
However, they later discovered not only the inflated pricing but also that Heiderzad had been living there without them knowing.
The lawsuit alleges that Berkmeyer arranged for Heiderzad to occupy the apartment rent-free for two years rather than renting it out for income, expecting Sphere to cover the lost rent.
The plaintiffs aim to reclaim unpaid rent for the period Heiderzad occupied the condo.
Efforts to reach Heiderzad went unanswered. Alem’s attorney stated that the claims lack validity and merit against BRG International and himself.
According to the complaint, Berkmeyer supposedly handled various costs and maintenance aspects for the unit.
Alem’s legal team has filed a motion to dismiss the suit, asserting that their clients weren’t involved and that previous cases had been dismissed.
This motion argues that the plaintiffs haven’t provided sufficient evidence to demonstrate Alem’s involvement or any breaches of duty during the transactions.
It also references an amendment in the purchase agreement that designates Berkmeyer as the recipient of the golf club membership.
