Steven T. Gersh

Services

• Mergers & Acquisitions
• Capital Markets & Private Placements
• Startups & Emerging Companies
• Private Funds, Sponsors & Family Offices

In addition to serving as the managing partner of Berkowitz Trager, Steve is primarily a corporate transactional lawyer, advising and assisting middle market and private equity portfolio companies in structuring and executing acquisitions and divestitures, joint ventures and strategic alliances, private equity and debt financings, technology licensing and transfers, and employment matters. Steve also provides ongoing general legal, business, and strategic counseling to both established and emerging companies across a broad spectrum of industries, and advises start-up founders and investors on organizational matters, financing, intellectual property protection, and human resources issues.

Steve’s clients include private equity firms and their portfolio companies, venture capital investors and entrepreneurs, and middle market manufacturers, distributors, service providers, direct-to-consumer marketing companies, internet content providers, and craft breweries.

Steve attended Binghamton University where he received his B.A. degree with High Honors in Economics in 1978 and Boston University School of Law where he received his J.D. degree in 1981 and was a member of the Boston University Law Review. Upon graduating from law school, Steve worked as a corporate associate at Breed Abbott & Morgan (1981-1985) and Berlack Israels & Liberman (1985-1989). In 1989, Steve was a founding partner of Kreinik Aaron & Gersh where he led the corporate department for 14 years before joining Berkowitz, Trager & Trager as a Member in 2004.

Education

• Boston University School of Law, J.D., 1981
• Binghamton University, B.A., Economics, 1978

Admissions

• State of Connecticut
• State of New York

Representative Transactions

• Representation of Hatch Holdings in its private placement of Class A Convertible Preferred Units
• Representation of The Brooklyn Brewery in its the acquisition of minority ownership interests in Funkwerks and 21st Amendment Brewery
• Representation of The Second Shift in its private placement of Series A Preferred Units
• Representation of The Brooklyn Brewery in the sale of a minority ownership interest to Kirin Holdings Company and the formation of a joint venture for the production and distribution of Brooklyn Brewery products in Japan
• Representation of Parts Authority in its acquisition of the business and assets of Metropolitan Automotive Warehouse and Star Auto Parts as Chapter 11 debtors in possession
• Representation of Parts Authority and its founders in the restructuring of its operating companies and the sale of a majority ownership interest to The
• Resolute Fund III. L.P., an investment fund managed by The Jordan Company, L.P.
• Representation of The Brooklyn Brewery in the grant of international brand distribution rights to Carlsberg Breweries A/S
• Representation of Nanotronics Imaging in its Series B financing led by The Founders Fund
• Representation of New York Distilling Company from inception through seven rounds of equity and debt financings
• Representation of Nerve.com in its sale to This Life
• Representation of Oxygen Media as outside general counsel from formation through the sale of the cable network to NBC Universal, including work on affiliate agreements, licensing, executive compensation and real estate matters
• Representation of a proprietary trading firm in the acquisition and divestiture of related businesses, including the sale of its trade execution subsidiary to a public company in exchange for equity
• Representation of Babble Media (Babble.com) in its sale to an affiliate of The Walt Disney Company
• Representation of Babble Media in its Series A and Series B financings led by Village Ventures Fund
• Representation of M. Shanken Communications in its acquisition of Malt Advocate Magazine
• Representation of a private equity fund in its $5 million Series A investment in a development stage technology company in the cargo screening industry
• Representation of an IT staffing firm in its $60 million asset sale and subsequent reacquisition of the business, including mezzanine financing
• Representation of a health club chain in connection with multiple acquisitions and divestitures of gyms
• Representation of an online bank in the acquisition and divestiture of commercial paper, including equipment leases
• Representation of GIANT Magazine in its sale to Radio One
• Representation of an equipment leasing company from formation through $50 million sale to American Express
• Representation of a medical education services company as outside general counsel through $30 million sale to WPP