Stephen P. Hanson

Steve is highly attuned to the business and legal needs of his clients. He brings a practical business acumen to guide his clients through the complexity of each transaction and prides himself on his long-existing client relationships. Solution-oriented, Steve provides strategic advice and counsel.

Client Work

Private Equity

Steve routinely represents financial sponsors such as private equity and mezzanine debt funds (including SBICs), their respective portfolio companies, principals, sponsors, and investors; and other public and privately-held companies, with a focus on the middle market and lower middle market. He assists clients with domestic and cross-border private mergers and acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, joint ventures, equity co-investments and related fund investment structures, and growth equity and acquisition debt financings.

Venture Capital and Emerging Companies

Steve assists start-up and emerging companies across a range of industries with their business transactions, such as handling financing, structuring investments, and negotiating commercial agreements. He also represents venture capital funds and corporate venture investors in convertible note and equity financings.

ESG/Sustainability

Steve is a founding member of the firm’s Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) practice, and a GRI Certified Sustainability Professional. He helps clients understand the development and application of the varied ESG/sustainability reporting principles and disclosure regimes, and how the benefits of using the ESG/sustainability evaluation and reporting framework can help them both reduce risks and identify opportunities in their organizations – without sacrificing long term strategic and profit considerations.

General Corporate

Steve counsels privately held business clients of all sizes on general corporate matters, including entity formation, corporate governance, and general commercial matters. Although he regularly assists a variety of businesses across industries, he has particular experience advising clients in the aerospace, beverage and food, manufacturing, sports, insurance, and specialty chemicals industries.

Publications, Presentations & Recognitions

• Co-author, "ESG Comparative Guide - United States," Mondaq, September 21, 2022
• Panelist, "Private Equity M&A Key Deal Terms in a Changing Market," Stafford CLE Webinar, September 20, 2022
• Moderator, "Mezzanine Lenders: Navigating an Insolvent Borrower," co-presented by Endicott Peabody IV (Kit), Stephen P. Hanson and Patrick M. Birney, as part of the Small Business Investor Alliance's (SBIA) Lunch & Learn Webinar Series, November 4, 2020

Life Beyond the Law

A native of Minneapolis, Steve currently lives with his daughter in New York City. He enjoys skiing, running, golfing, and travel.