Steven J. Keeler is an attorney and Certified Public
Accountant whose practice focuses on business law,
venture capital and private equity,
taxation and mergers and acquisitions. He
serves as general counsel to privately held companies in a variety of
industries located throughout Virginia, ranging from large manufacturing and
distribution concerns to technology, publishing, service and
telecommunications companies. Mr. Keeler previously practiced law for 10
years as a partner with LeClair Ryan in Richmond, Virginia before relocating
to that firm's Charlottesville office. While in Richmond, his practice
focused on tax planning and business transactions, including mergers,
acquisitions and equity financings, as well as estate planning for business
owners and investors.
Mr. Keeler has substantial experience in business formations and
conversions, succession planning, private equity financings, and mergers,
acquisitions and divestitures. His practice also specializes in tax planning
for businesses and their investors, as well as sophisticated estate planning
(with particular emphasis in representing family-owned businesses) and tax
planning for corporations, limited liability companies and partnerships.
Experience:
- Represented a Virginia manufacturer with multi-national ownership in
the formation and debt and equity financing of a new subsidiary for the
purpose of constructing and operating an out-of-state manufacturing
facility.
- Represented an industrial distribution platform company and its equity
investors in connection with add-on acquisitions, including bank,
mezzanine and equity financings and mergers and acquisitions.
- Represented several private equity funds in capital raising and
portfolio company acquisitions, add-on acquisitions and divestitures.
- Negotiated and consummated numerous taxable and tax-free business
transactions on behalf of private business clients, including sales of
assets and controlling equity interests, and tax-free merger transactions
involving public company acquirers.
- Represented or advised numerous emerging growth companies, their
founders or angel investors, in connection with private equity and
subordinated debt financings and related entity, executive compensation
and tax planning.
- Structured several domestic and international joint ventures and
strategic alliances between multiple companies.
- Worked with the founders of and investors in many startup and emerging
growth company formations, financings and restructurings, as well as in
the formation of several private equity funds.
Honors and Awards:
- "Legal Elite," Virginia Business Magazine, Business and Tax Law 2000,
2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005
Education:
- The College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia
B.B.A., Accounting, 1983
- Georgetown University Law Center, Washington, District of Columbia
Masters of Law in Taxation (with distinction), 1998
- University of Richmond, The T.C. Williams School of Law, Richmond,
Virginia
J.D., 1986
- University of Richmond Law Review, Notes and Comments Editor, 1985 –
1986
Professional Associations and Memberships:
- Virginia and American Bar Associations, Member
- Virginia Society and American Institute of Certified Public
Accountants, Member
- Association for Corporate Growth, Member
- Estate Planning Councils of Richmond and Central Virginia, Member
- Martha Jefferson Hospital Foundation, Member of the Board
- Make-A-Wish of Virginia, Member of the Board, 2000 - 2002
- Thomas Jefferson Area United Way, Member of the Board
Published Works:
- Author: "Cable Television Update: Capital Cities Cable, Inc. v. Crisp:
Federalism and Frustration of Powers," 19 University of Richmond Law
Review 177, 1984
- Co-Author: "Virginia's Affiliated Transactions Statute: Indulging Form
Over Substance in Second Generation Takeover Legislation," 21 University
of Richmond Law Review 489, Spring, 1987.
Steven J. Keeler
100 10th Street NE, Suite 300
Charlottesville, VA 22902
T: 434.220.6101
F: 434.220.6102
email: Steven J. Keeler
Areas of Practice
Bar Admissions
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