Ranked among the best transactional attorneys, Steve has negotiated and documented over several billion dollars in financing and mergers and acquisitions. He has prepared registration statements (both IPO and secondary) and securities regulatory compliance documents for over 20 public companies on the NYSE American (formerly AMEX), NASDAQ, and the OTCBB. Throughout his long and successful tenure in securities law, Steve has developed unique expertise in “shell” reverse merger transactions. Additionally, he has prepared numerous private placement memoranda for technology, biotechnology, bio-agriculture, software, life science, medical device, manufacturing, internet, restaurant, social media, hospitality, and real estate companies.
For entrepreneurs creating their start-ups, Steve is often retained throughout the life cycle of the business, from drafting organizational documents such as shareholder or operating/partnership agreements, to the right contracts, licenses, and agreements to make acquisitions, raise capital, and comply with securities laws. Steve is a proven advisor to business owners and shareholders seeking to acquire other companies, sell, or go public.
In addition to his work with operating companies, Steve also represents angel investors, investment bankers, and private equity, venture capital, and venture leasing funds, as well as advises and documents fund structures and acquisitions of substantial positions in emerging growth companies.
In July 2024, Steve was elected to serve on the firm's Board of Directors. As the sixth board member, Steve brings a wealth of fresh ideas and valuable insights from his extensive experience advising corporate boards.
REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE
Mergers & Acquisitions
Steve has handled some of Arizona’s largest M&A deals, closing well over $1 Billion in the last two years alone. His M&A experience includes:
- Represented the largest publicly traded commuter airline in the world (at that time), completing mergers and public offerings valued in excess of $500 million.
- Represented co-founders in a buy-out of one of the fastest growing network marketing companies in the United States.
- Advised the largest powersports dealership in the world, RideNow Powersports, in its merger with RumbleOn, Inc. (NASDAQ: RMBL), making it Arizona’s biggest M&A deal in 2021.
- Represented the largest ice manufacturer/distributor in Arizona in its sale.
- Represented the largest veterinary practice group in its sale in the State of Arizona, AzPetVet.
- Represented clients in the successful hostile takeover of NJOY, the first and only FDA-approved electronic cigarette maker.
- Represented metal fabrication holding company in roll-up of manufacturing companies across the Western United States.
Securities
Steve has advised over 20 companies in their public offerings. His securities experience includes:
- Represented American firearms manufacturer Smith & Wesson in taking the company public on its 150-year anniversary.
- Represented a publicly traded NYSE American listed medical device company, Isoray, Inc., in multiple rounds of both public and private equity financing totaling over $200 million.
- Represented a publicly traded internet advertising/loyalty provider and retail goods supplier in ongoing public regulatory compliance work.
- Represented a telemedicine company in private equity financing of over $30 million.
- Represented a locally owned restaurant in raising private equity to grow from one to 14 locations.
- Represented a private equity fund in raising over $50 million for a hybrid real estate and start-up technology company fund.
Capital Raising
Steve’s experience advising business owners and capital raisers and funders includes:
- Represented a venture leasing firm in drafting its partnership agreements and capital raising documents.
- Prepared international distribution agreements for U.S. companies doing business in Europe, China, India, and Russia.
ASSOCIATIONS & MEMBERSHIPS
- State Bar of Arizona, Securities Division
- Arizona Business Council, Co-Founder
- Alliance of Merger & Acquisition Advisors, Board Member
- The Knights of the Round Table, Board Member
HONORS & AWARDS
- AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating, Martindale-Hubbell
- Best Lawyers in America®, Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), 2022-2025; Corporate Law, 2024-2025; Securities Regulation, 2024-2025
- Arizona Business Magazine, Top 100 Lawyers in Arizona, 2024
- Phoenix Magazine, Top Lawyer, Securities Law, 2023-2024
- Up and Comers, Arizona Business Magazine, 2004
- Best Securities Attorney in Arizona, Phoenix Business Journal, 2003
News
- Phoenix Magazine Names 11 G&K Attorneys to 2024 Top Lawyers - September 3, 2024
- Best Lawyers in America® 2025 Recognizes 51 Gallagher & Kennedy Attorneys - August 15, 2024
- Gallagher & Kennedy Elects Stephen R. Boatwright to the Firm's Board of Directors - July 22, 2024
- Three G&K Shareholders Named Top 100 Lawyers in Arizona For 2024 - January 2, 2024
- Phoenix Magazine Names 9 G&K Attorneys to 2023 Top Lawyers - September 1, 2023
- Best Lawyers in America® 2024 Recognizes 52 Gallagher & Kennedy Attorneys - August 21, 2023
- NJOY Sells for $2.75 Billion, 12 Years After Acquisition Deal Led by Steve Boatwright - March 6, 2023
- Best Lawyers in America® 2023 Recognizes 41 Gallagher & Kennedy Attorneys - August 18, 2022
- AZPetVet Acquired by The Aspen Group (TAG) - August 16, 2022
- RideNow and RumbleOn Merge Under the RideNow Brand - August 31, 2021
- Best Lawyers in America® 2022 Recognizes 37 Gallagher & Kennedy Attorneys - August 19, 2021
- Arizona Businesses May Be at Cutting Edge of Cryptocurrency - August 31, 2018
- G&K Represents IsoRay, Inc. in $8,250,000 Registered Direct Offering - July 12, 2018
- G&K Expands Securities Practice, Adding Three Attorneys with Public Company Experience - March 12, 2015
Publications
- Regulating Artificial Intelligence: An Impossible Task? - September 29, 2024
- It’s Lonely at the Top: Empowering CEOs to Be Their Best - March 1, 2024
- Compliance with The Corporate Transparency Act - December 1, 2023
- The Corporate Transparency Act: How to Prepare Your Business for the New Reporting Requirements - October 1, 2023
- Minute Madness - March 30, 2017
- President-Elect Trump Making Capital Great Again - January 10, 2017
- The Top Five Issues That Can Tank Your New Business - March 3, 2016
- Financing Businesses Internationally, The Guide to Doing Business Internationally - 2000
- Issues for Foreign Persons to Consider When Acquiring United States Closely-Held Businesses, Lawyering in the International Market - 1999
- A Nuts and Bolts Approach to Assist General Counsel in Completing the Proxy Statement in Light of the Amended Executive Compensation Rules, N.M. Bus. Lawyer, Vol. 1, No. 2 (1995)
- Reversing the Expansive Trend of Extraterritorial Subject Matter Jurisdiction Over Bad Conduct Under Rule 10b-5 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Tex. Int’l L.J., Vol. 23:3, 487 (1988)