Steven H. Schram

As Managing Principal and Co-President of Shapiro, Lifschitz & Schram, Steve Schram’s broad range of experience in finance and accounting sets him apart from other attorneys in his field. Steve gained real-world experience in these arenas as an audit staff member with Ernst & Young, and during a four-year engagement as COO, CFO and general counsel to Washington, DC's largest furniture retailer. This experience, coupled with over 40 years in private law practice, makes Steve uniquely qualified as a "go to" business, real estate and transactional attorney for entrepreneurs and small to middle market businesses.

Steve focuses his practice in business, commercial transactions, corporate, real estate and tax, and has extensive experience in negotiating, structuring and documenting a broad range of complex transactions, including:

• business/entity formations, including the development of capital and governance structures for corporations, joint ventures, partnerships, limited liability companies and trusts
• mergers, sales and acquisitions of business entities and business assets
• acquisitions, sales, leasing and financing of real estate assets
• secured and unsecured financing transactions

Closely allied to these skills, and of great benefit to his clients, is Steve's depth in other areas affecting business entities, including:

• structuring and negotiating a broad range of business contracts
• executive employment contracts and executive compensation arrangements
• service agreements
• licenses for intellectual property
• healthcare contracts and ventures
• management agreements
• retail private label finance agreements

For organizations who either have chosen not to devote resources to in-house counsel or seek an outside resource to complement their in-house capabilities, Steve serves as an integral part of their team.

Steve brings new meaning to the "24/7 service" concept, as he believes that "time generally works against a transaction," and he will work around the clock to combat this threat. One of Steve's greatest client compliments came in the form of this statement, "My guys are at least as good as the opposing counsel. They do a spectacular job and truly invest in the client relationship to provide me with custom-tailored advice."