Steve has practiced law in the Minneapolis - St. Paul metropolitan area continuously since 1967 with a focus on the representation of start-up, development stage and emerging businesses.

Structurally, Steve has helped to determine the appropriate business entity and the business model, appropriate management and management compensation systems, and an appropriate capitalization. Operationally, Steve has installed various stock option plans, assisted the arrangement of financing, and counseled with respect to leveraged buyouts, mergers and acquisitions, private placements of debt and equity. He has negotiated distribution arrangements, joint research and development arrangements and agreements relating to the licensing and transfer of technologies. Upon the establishment of a new business, Steve provides ongoing general corporate legal counsel and advice.

From 1999 through 2003, Steve served as General Counsel and Vice President of Advanced Respiratory, Inc., a manufacturer of a medical device. In that capacity he was responsible for the opening of five sales offices around the country, and the retention and management of nearly 70 direct sales personnel. Steve also attended to the negotiation of all clinical research agreements, various compliance and reimbursement matters with Medicare, and various reimbursement efforts with state Medicaids and commercial payers. As General Counsel he provided overall legal guidance to Advanced Respiratory and managed the efforts of various outside counsel.

From 1985 until joining Advanced Respiratory he was a shareholder in the law firm of Doherty, Rumble & Butler, at various times serving on the Board of Directors, the Compensation Committee, heading the Business Department, and chairing the marketing and recruiting committees.

During that period he was also Doherty, Rumble & Butler's representative to International Lawyers Network, a global network of law firms, and attended various conferences in Northern Ireland, Austria, Switzerland and New York City. Steve is, consequently, personally acquainted with attorneys from over 60 countries worldwide, acquaintances which can be helpful to local clients intending to develop foreign distribution or office networks.

Steve graduated from Amherst College, Amherst, Massachusetts in 1964 with a B.A. degree in Economics, and from the University of Minnesota in 1967 with a Juris Doctor degree.