Steven H. (Steve) Hilfinger

Steven H. (Steve) Hilfinger

Steven H. Hilfinger is the managing partner of the Detroit office of Foley & Lardner LLP. Mr. Hilfinger was a founding partner of the firm's Detroit office in 2000. He is co-chair of the firm's Automotive Industry Team and a member of the Transactional & Securities Practice.

Mr. Hilfinger focuses his practice in corporate and securities law matters, including mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructurings, venture capital transactions, debt and equity finance transactions, business formation and corporate governance, and general corporate and contract counseling.

Mr. Hilfinger's practice includes representation of automotive suppliers, venture capital and other private equity funds, financial institutions, and other publicly and privately held businesses.

Mr. Hilfinger is a member of the Transactional & Securities, Private Equity & Venture Capital and International Practices. His international practice focuses on China matters, and he is active in supporting the automotive industry work out of the firm's Shanghai office. Mr. Hilfinger is a member of the Board of Advisors of the Detroit Chinese Business Association and a member of the China Strategy Council of the Original Equipment Suppliers Association (OESA).

Mr. Hilfinger obtained his B.B.A. degree (concentration in accounting) with high distinction from the University of Michigan in 1984, where he received Phi Beta Kappa honors. Following graduation, he was awarded the William A. Paton Award for achieving the highest score on the Michigan CPA examination. Mr. Hilfinger graduated magna cum laude with a J.D. degree from Northwestern University in 1987, where he was selected for the Order of the Coif and served as editor-in-chief of the Northwestern University Law Review in 1986-87.

Mr. Hilfinger has been honored by Chambers USA in 2008 and 2009 as a leading business law attorney in Michigan, and was selected for inclusion in the 2006 - 2009 Michigan Super Lawyers® lists for his work in mergers and acquisitions.

Mr. Hilfinger is an active member of the Association for Corporate Growth, Detroit Chapter. He serves on the board of directors and is a member of the programs committee of that organization.

Mr. Hilfinger has lectured as an instructor for the American Counsel of Corporate Attorneys (on corporate and mergers and acquisitions topics), the National Directors Institute (on "The Board's Role in M&A"), and the Wayne State University Commercial Law Clinic, a course that he helped co-found. He has also taught courses for the Michigan Institute of Continuing Legal Education, including "Drafting Asset Purchase Agreements and Related Documents" and "Formation and Initial Operation of Business Enterprises-Financing Issues."

Among his community activities, Mr. Hilfinger serves as chairperson of the Finance Committee of First United Methodist Church in Birmingham. He also has served as a member of the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce Board of Advisors, was selected for Leadership Detroit XIX, and was an active member of the Detroit Compact Program at Pelham Middle School in Detroit.

Mr. Hilfinger is admitted to practice law in Michigan and Illinois and is a member of the Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association and the Business Law Sections of the American Bar Association and the State Bar of Michigan.