Mergers & Acquisitions

Securities

Regulated Business Practice Group, Chair

Diversity Committee, Chair

Loss Prevention/Ethics Committee, Member

• Ohio, 1977

• Harvard Law School, J.D., 1977, cum laude
• Miami University, A.B., 1974, summa cum laude
• • Phi Beta Kappa

Steven was a partner in one of the firm's predecessors, Frost & Jacobs, resigning in 1986 to become secretary and general counsel of The J. M. Smucker Company in Orrville, Ohio.  While at Smucker, he also served as the company’s vice president of administration, vice president of finance, and chief financial officer.  He returned to private practice and rejoined the firm in 2003 and focuses his practice on general business matters with an emphasis on mergers and acquisitions and regulatory matters.  His clients represent a broad range of manufacturing and service companies, including food manufacturers and distributors, domestic and international steel and related products companies, the American subsidiaries of a multi-national consumer products company, and one of the country's premier manufacturers of roof materials.  He currently serves as practice group leader for the firm's Regulated Business Practice Group, which includes its health law, insurance regulation, financial institutions, franchise and distribution, food and beverage, and trade compliance service teams and is chair of the Diversity Committee.

Experience

Served in multiple executive officer capacities from 1986 to 2003 at The J.M. Smucker Company, including chief financial officer (2002-2003), general counsel (1986-2002), vice president-finance and administration (1999-2003), vice president-administration (1996-1999), and secretary (1986-2003).

Responsible at Smucker for management of corporate services (finance, treasury, legal, human resources, government affairs, regulatory, and change management functions).  Served as member of CEO management group and also on information services steering committee.  Closely involved in both strategic and operational matters.  Also responsible for investor and shareholder relations.

Projects while in-house included multiple acquisitions ranging in size up to $750 million and including five international transactions, sale of a major subsidiary, debt financing transactions, stock recapitalizations, a multi-million dollar corporate services cost reduction and design and implementation of the company's corporate compliance program and its Sarbanes-Oxley compliance structure.

Since returning to the firm, Steven's activities have included serving as outside general counsel for clients, acting as securities counsel for several of the firm's public companies, and providing corporate governance advice for both public and closely-held companies. He also has represented clients in multiple merger and acquisition transactions, including the $264 million sale of a major client's heavy equipment division, a $35 million acquisition of an automotive industry supplier by an international client, and a $1.4 billion joint venture in the food industry.

Highlights & Recognition

2011 BTI Client Service All-Stars, recognized as one of 318 attorneys across the nation by BTI Consulting Group for exceptional client service

• Columbus Bar Association
• Ohio State Bar Association
• American Bar Association
• Society of Corporate Secretaries and Governance Professionals

• Communities in Schools of Central Ohio, Board member; Vice President and member of Finance Committee
• St. John's Episcopal Church, Worthington, Ohio, Chair of Finance Committee