Introduction
Steve is a shareholder at Fredrikson & Byron and co-chairs the China Practice Group. His practice centers on domestic and international business transactions and strategic advice for both U.S. and international companies. Steve works in the firm’s Minneapolis and Des Moines offices and spends a significant amount of time in the firm’s Shanghai office.
In the U.S., Steve represents clients in transactional matters, such as mergers and acquisitions, public offerings, private placements, and venture capital and private equity investments. These transactions range from angel, seed and venture investments in early-stage businesses to acquisitions and sales valued at over $1 billion.
Steve represents U.S. companies in their international business, including acquisitions, joint ventures, strategic alliances, and distribution arrangements, as well as operational issues such as international tax planning, entity formation, financing, employment, intellectual property, and compliance matters including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and export control regulations. Steve has represented many companies in doing business in China and throughout Asia, as well as in Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, the former Soviet Union and Canada.
Steve also assists international companies in establishing and operating in the U.S., primarily in the Midwest. This includes tax planning, mergers and acquisitions, entity formation, economic development incentives, real estate, construction, financing, contract drafting and negotiation, employment, intellectual property and compliance issues.
Education
- University of Iowa, J.D., with high distinction, 1979
- University of Northern Iowa, B.A., with high honors, 1976
Bar Admissions
- Iowa, 1979
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit, 1979
- U.S. District Court, Northern and Southern districts of Iowa, 1979
- Minnesota, 2005
Practice Areas
- China Practice, Co-Chair
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- International Law
- Corporate Law
- Securities
- Investment Management
- Public Companies
Languages
- Russian
Representative Experience
Representative Domestic and Cross-Border M&A Experience
- Counsel to Iowa Telecommunications Services, Inc. in its $1.2 billion sale to Windstream Communications. This included advising the board on fiduciary duties in considering a possible transaction, coordinating all aspects of due diligence, drafting and negotiation of the purchase agreement, etc. Also advised, together with Fredrikson litigation attorneys, in the shareholder litigation challenging the merger.
- Represented Eurofins Scientific SE of Belgium in its $200 million acquisition of Lancaster Laboratories, Inc. in the U.S.
- Counsel to Iowa Telecommunications Services, Inc. in connection with several acquisitions and divestitures, including its acquisitions of Bishop Communications for $43.9 million and Sherburne TeleSystems for $80.6 million.
- Represented data center services provider in $47 million sale of business.
- Represented European conglomerate in acquisition of
- Represented Midwestern software and systems integration company in acquisition of Canadian competitor.
- Represented founder of utility services company in sale of controlling interest to private investors.
- Represented TeleDirect International, Inc. (now dvsAnalytics, Inc.) in sale of its Liberation product line and related assets and intellectual property to Noble Systems Corporation (price not disclosed).
- Represented MediNotes Corporation in sale of company to Eclipsys Corporation (price not disclosed).
Representative Cross-Border Transaction Experience
- Represented Midwestern manufacturer of construction equipment in a Hong Kong/China joint venture to manufacture and distribute equipment in China.
- Represented Midwestern company in Malaysian software joint venture, including worldwide distribution rights for the software.
- Represented Midwestern agribusiness company in joint venture to build and operate beef production and processing facilities in
- Represented Midwestern software and systems integration company in project management and sales in
- Represented Midwestern equipment distribution company in buying out one of its joint venture partners in
- Representing European agricultural products manufacturer in
- Representing Asian company in establishing $300 million
Selected Publications & Presentations
- “Doing Business in China,” South Dakota Governor’s Office for Economic Development, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, March 21, 2013
- “New Rules for Non-Competition Agreements in China,” co-authored with Lanbo Yang, FredNEWS: International, March 2013
- Panelist, “The Role of Ethics in International Business,” North Dakota Trade Office Global Connections Conference, Bismarck, North Dakota, February 2013
- “Seven Key Questions for China Business,” co-presenter with Gentry Sayad, Iowa Economic Development Authority, February 12, 2013
- “Managers in China: Pay Your Employees or Go to Jail,” co-authored with Lanbo Yang, FredALERT: China, February 2013
- “Securities Industry M&A and Broker Compensation Practices,” FredALERT: Corporate & Securities, February 2013
- “Doing Business in the U.S.A.,” São Paulo and Porto Alegre, Brazil, and Santiago, Chile, July 2012
- “Legal Issues in Emerging Markets,” Executive Briefing: Growth Opportunities in Emerging Markets, June 20, 2012
- “Anti-Corruption Laws and Your Business in China,” co-speaker with Gentry Sayad, Minnesota Trade Office, Shanghai, China, June 14, 2012
- “Global Anti-Bribery and Corruption Laws,” North Dakota Trade Office Global Connections Conference, Fargo, North Dakota, April 11, 2012
- Panelist, “Foreign Corrupt Practices Act,” University of Minnesota International Law Society, Minneapolis, Minnesota, March 22, 2012
- “International Contracts,” North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota, March 20, 2012
- “Recent Developments for Foreign Companies in China,” US China Business Connections, Minneapolis, Minnesota, March 7, 2012
- “Capitalizing on a World of Opportunities,” co-Speaker with Laura Danielson, President’s Club, Mason City, Iowa, February 7, 2011
- “China and Business - Today and Tomorrow,” Global China Connections, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, November 10, 2011
- “International Contracts,” University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, North Dakota, October 26, 2011
- “Exit Strategies: Selling Your Business,” University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, Iowa, October 19, 2011
- “Legal Perspectives on Business in India,” India Practicum, Minnesota Trade Office, Minneapolis, Minnesota, October 14, 2011
- “International Purchase and Sale Agreements,” International Credit Executives Group, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, September 27, 2011
- “International Compliance: Preserving Profits by Avoiding Trouble,” Great Plains International Trade Association Annual Conference, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, August 24, 2011
- “Doing Business in the U.S.A.,” Shijiazhuang, Shenyang and Harbin, China, June 2011
- “Four Legal Considerations for a Profitable Export Strategy,” International Update, Iowa Department of Economic Development, January/February 2011
- “International Business Law,” Iowa State Bar Association Business Law Manual, 2000, 2005, and 2010 editions
Professional Activities
- American Bar Association (Member, Committee on Negotiated Acquisitions)
- Iowa State Bar Association, Section Council, Business Law Section, 2005-2011; Section Council, International Law Section, 2001-2005, 2011-present
- Minnesota State Bar Association
Honors & Distinctions
- Iowa Governor’s Volunteer Service Award, 2006
- Iowa Governor's Export Service Award, 2001
Community Involvement
- Minnesota International Center, Board of Directors
- U.S. – China Business Connections, Board of Directors