Steve is a partner in the business law department and is chair of the corporate law section. He focuses his practice in the business and corporate finance area, including mergers and acquisitions, private equity funds, investing, and venture capital. Steve has represented clients in a wide variety of transactions, ranging from the purchase or sale of public and private companies, recapitalizations, "roll-ups," acquisition of controlling interests in private companies, and establishment of private equity or buyout funds. The industries of these businesses have varied from telecommunications and Internet companies, to paper manufacturers and timber companies. Prior to joining the firm, Steve served as law clerk to the Honorable Roger Robb, United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, 1977-1978 and as a Captain in the United States Army in Europe and the Republic of Vietnam.

 Representative Matters

		Formation and operation of one of the Southeast's largest merchant bank funds, including formation of merchant bank's successor fund.
		Acquisition by public manufactured housing company of another public manufactured housing company.
		Stock-for-stock sale by the majority equity holder of an 18-station radio broadcaster to a publicly traded broadcast company.
		Roll-up acquisition of eleven medical product distributors to form national distributor of critical care products.
		Acquisition by bank holding company subsidiary of subordinated notes and adjustable common stock warrants issued by public company providing interactive selling solutions.

 Publications, Presentations and Awards

		Special Issues in Mergers & Acquitions - Private Equity Considerations, presentation, 2008 Business Law Section and Corporate Counsel Section - Joint Annual Meeting, February 2008
		North Carolina Super Lawyers, Mergers & Acquisitions Law, 2007-2008
		Best Lawyers in America, Corporate Governance and Compliance Law, Corporate Law, 2005-2008
		Winning Legal Strategies for Mergers & Acquisitions," Aspatore Books, Author for Chapter 6, "Letters of Intent: Setting the (Next) Stage," 2005

 Professional, Civic and Community Involvement

		Professional: United Family Services and Agencies, Legal Counsel
		Civic/Community: McColl Center for Visual Art, Board of Directors, 2005