Steven M. Stankewicz

Experience

Steve’s client needed a complete package of investment documents to cover a series of repeat transactions with a variety of companies. The approach was novel because the investments were pegged to a future valuation to be prepared in a subsequent round of financing.

“We still use the document package, which streamlines the process and is very efficient.”

Merger and Acquisition Transactions

• Acquisition/sale of several automobile parts suppliers
• Joint venture of canning operation
• Acquisition of three optical stores/chains
• Acquisition/sale of retail businesses (3+)
• Acquisition/sale of restaurant/bars (8)
• Acquisition/sale of radio stations (5)
• Acquisition/sale of paper companies (10) including out of bankruptcy proceedings
• Acquisition of athletic club
• Acquisition/sale of tool & die/metal fabricating businesses (10)
• Acquisition/sale of gas stations (3)
• Acquisition of funeral homes and cemeteries in Michigan, Indiana and Minnesota for national Fortune 500 company
• Acquisition of three marinas
• Sale of hair salon chain to national public company
• Sale of machine tool manufacturer to national public company
• Acquisition of fruit tree nursery
• Multiple venture financings and subsequent sale of lighting manufacturer

Real Estate Transactions

• 1031 Exchanges
• Buying/selling commercial real estate
• Buying/selling residential and vacation properties
• Sale of 60+ multi-state commercial properties in single transaction

Lending Transactions

• Numerous loan transactions on behalf of banks and borrowers
• 40+ opinion letters for financing and acquisitions
• 20+ subordinated debt financings
• 18+ venture capital financing and startup financings

Shareholder Dispute Representation

• Appraisal remedy action on behalf of forced out shareholder
• Arbitration of physician/shareholder separation from large practice group
• Numerous shareholder disputes and separations
• Split up of manufacturing and recreation business

Professional Activities

• American Bar Association, Business Law Section
• State Bar of Michigan, 1986, Corporation & Business Law Section; Real Property Law Section
• Kalamazoo Bar Association, Business Law Section
• State Bar of Indiana, 1982

Honors + Awards

• University of Michigan Law School, Managing Editor, Journal of Law Reform Note: Implied Private Rights of Action under the Securities Act of 1933, Section 17(a), 14 U.Mich. J.L. Ref. 563 (1981)
• Best Lawyers, Real Estate 2012

Civic, Cultural + Social Activities

• Kalamazoo Country Club
• Loy Norrix High School Baseball
• High School Hockey
• Kalamazoo Hospital Hospitality House, Former Director
• Junior Achievement/Kalamazoo & Van Buren Counties, Former Director
• Friends of Western Michigan University

Publications

"Introduction to Shareholders' Agreements and Management Control Issues," Coauthor, ICLE Course Handbook, November 1993

"Formation and Operation of a BIDCO," Coauthor, 69:1 Michigan Bar Journal 26, January 1990

"Comparison of Liability and Indemnification of Directors, Officers, and others under Delaware Law, Prior Michigan Law, and the Recently Adopted Amendment to Michigan Law," Coauthor, 9 Journal 102 (Fall 1986) (State Bar Corporation Finance and Business Law Section)

"Charting the Antitrust Minefields," May 1984 (Materials used at hospital law seminar).