About Steve

Steve is a partner in the firm’s Business Practice Section and recently served as CCHA's Managing Partner.  He advises clients on a variety of corporate and commercial matters, with an emphasis on emerging business creation, business mergers and acquisitions, and general corporate and business counseling. Steve has an "AV Preeminent" rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest possible rating in both legal ability and ethical standards reflecting the confidential opinions of judges and fellow attorneys. He has also been recognized as a Super Lawyers Rising Star.

As part of his representation of businesses and their owners, a large part of his practice is dedicated to litigating commercial and business matters before state and federal courts as well as state agencies.  Those matters include complex contract disputes, real estate disputes, closely-held corporate shareholder matters, limited liability company issues, creditors' rights issues, construction contracts and lien disputes, secured transactions, non-compete and restrictive covenant agreements, financing and foreclosure matters, and bankruptcy matters. Steve was also a member of the CCHA litigation team that represented the State of Indiana in a nationwide arbitration proceeding against participating tobacco companies under the nationwide Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement regarding participating States' enforcement obligations relating to non-participating tobacco manufacturers. 

Steve counsels and represents business clients from small, family-owned businesses, to multi-million dollar organizations in a broad spectrum of commercial and business transactions and contract negotiations of all types, real estate transactions, reorganizations and restructuring, voluntary dissolutions, shareholder agreements, succession planning, and ownership structures. Steve gives every client, small or large, the same level of commitment and service.

A significant part of Steve's practice is the provision of comprehensive guidance to new business owners and startups regarding proper organization procedures and strategies, securing intellectual property rights, establishing appropriate contractual and employment relationships, UCC best practices when businesses are engaged in the sale or purchase of goods, commercial lease drafting and negotiation, and other real estate matters. As part of his real estate practice, Steve represents both commercial and residential property owners regarding real estate transactions and provides guidance and counsel to homeowner's associations regarding covenant enforcement and organizational matters.

Steve also spends a significant amount of his practice providing specialized legal services to business owners and their family members regarding succession planning, estate planning, trust issues, and estate and trust administration.

Steve was born in Indiana but graduated from Lower Dauphin High School near Hershey, Pennsylvania.  Steve returned to Indiana to attend Purdue University. He holds a B.S. in Industrial Management, with minors in Industrial Engineering and Psychology, from Purdue where he was also a member and served as President of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. Steve stayed in Indiana to attend law school at Indiana University School of Law, where he graduated cum laude, and served as a member of the School of Law Dean's Tutorial Society.

While away from the office Steve enjoys spending time with friends and family, including his wife and daughter. Steve is a Member of the John Purdue Club and enjoys attending Purdue sporting events. Steve is also a Member of The Sagamore Club and is an avid golfer.