Our People

Steve is a corporate and M&A partner specialising in SME and mid-market transactions, with a particular focus on advising owners and shareholders of established privately owned businesses on the sale of their business.

He is often brought in when a business owner has received an unsolicited approach or is considering a potential sale, helping them assess the opportunity and navigate the transaction from early negotiations through due diligence, documentation and completion.

For many owners, selling a business is a significant milestone and the culmination of years, or sometimes generations, of work. The process can bring difficult decisions, unexpected challenges and considerable personal and emotional pressure. Steve takes the time to understand what matters to each owner and brings perspective and patience when issues arise, helping them work through important decisions, maintain momentum and remain focused on what they ultimately want to achieve.

Steve regularly works alongside business owners’ existing accountants, corporate advisers and other trusted advisers. He values those existing relationships and works collaboratively with the advisory team, drawing on their knowledge of the business and its people while bringing the specialist legal expertise required for the transaction.

Selected M&A transactions

Steve regularly advises business owners in transactions with sophisticated and well-resourced buyers, including private equity investors, listed companies and multinational groups.

Key transactions include:

• ActivateRail – sale of the Victorian rail services business to Protech Group
• Exco Partners – sale of the digital services and consulting business to NEC Australia, part of the global NEC Corporation group
• Australian Professional Shopfitters – sale of the commercial fit-out business to ASX-listed SHAPE Australia
• E&S Trading – sale of a majority interest in the specialist appliance retailer to JB Hi-Fi
• Cythera – sale of the cybersecurity business to Bastion, a portfolio company of Quadrant Private Equity
• Alba Cheese – strategic investment in the multigenerational Italian-style cheesemaker by Apta Group
• Nati Access Company – sale of the wind turbine access and maintenance services business to Muehlhan Wind Service, a leading global provider of wind turbine services
• McGing Advisory & Actuarial – sale of the actuarial and consulting business to Accurium, part of ASX-listed Count Group
• WINConnect – sale of the embedded energy networks business to Pacific Equity Partners

Steve’s broader M&A experience includes cross-border and public M&A transactions, including advising The Citadel Group on its acquisition of UK-based Wellbeing Software Group and subsequent sale to Pacific Equity Partners by scheme of arrangement, Aussie Broadband on its acquisition of Over the Wire by scheme of arrangement, and US-based Deel Inc. on its acquisition of PayGroup by scheme of arrangement.

What clients say

Broader legal expertise

In addition to M&A, Steve has a broader corporate and commercial practice, advising businesses and their owners on shareholder arrangements, capital raisings and strategic investments, corporate restructures, governance and Corporations Act matters and significant commercial agreements.

Steve also regularly advises on the establishment and operation of employee share and option plans and other equity-based incentive arrangements.